General
MAK holds Go Green Campaign Week
As part of the collaboration between Bangor University-UK and Makerere University which is aimed at promoting sustainable development in the two universities and their communities, Bangor and Makerere students are joining hands through their student engagement initiative, to implement the very first Go Green Week at Makerere. Slated to run from Monday 27th February to Friday 3rd March 2017, the aim of this event is to create awareness about climate change. The campaign will run under the theme, “The Green Makerere We Desire.”
The Go Green week at Makerere is organised by the Sustainability Program-coordinated by the Planning and Development Department (PDD), in collaboration with the Students Sustainability Action Group; and supported by the Sustainability Lab-Bangor University, Hub Cymru Africa and the UNDEB-Student Union Bangor.
Students are taking the lead in creating awareness under this theme and are engaging fellow students and staff to receive their views on the greener Makerere they envision.
According to Ms. Pamela Matovu, the Coordinator of Sustainable Program at Makerere University, the activities of the Go Green Week are basically run by students under their Sustainability Action Group. “The sustainability program is currently engaging University students to actively work together, learn and create sustainable practices. Through the Students Sustainability Action Group, students are engaging with fellow students and staff to receive views on the greener Makerere they desire,” she said.
She explained that students are involved in activities aimed at creating awareness. They are reaching out to students in the respective halls of residence, hostels and colleges. The participants are using placards in strategic areas within the University to exhibit environmental management messages and a photo booth will be set up in the halls of residence.
“Everything starts with awareness. We have engaged students from all Colleges to make this possible. We have also engaged students from plant science. We have concentrated on creating awareness within the University, but later we shall involve the entire community,” said Mr. Ahumuza Emanuel, a fourth year student of Urban Planning and Regional Planning at Makerere University.
Mr. Ahumuza, also the Team leader of the Students’ Sustainability Action Group reiterated that much as Makerere University is green, they needed a pattern in creating a greener Makerere and were looking for a comprehensive plan of attaining a greener institution with a structured pattern.
The Go Green week events can be followed on Twitter via the #gogreenmak hashtag.
About the Go Green Week
Go Green week is an annual week of climate action which is part of the National Green Week- an annual campaign initiated by the Green Education Foundation (GEF) which runs between February and April.
The Go Green week encourages students to run activities throughout the week to raise awareness and demand stronger actions to tackle climate crisis.
In the UK, it is organized by the People and Planet https://peopleandplanet.org/ with support from the National Union of Students (NUS). Students in UK universities run their activities during the week of 13th to 19th February.
Article by: Charles Iga-Mak News
General
Prof. Nawangwe urges young people to take up leadership in innovation for the transformation of Africa
By the Program Communication Team
On Sunday, February 2, 2025, Makerere University hosted the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Council Representatives meeting, which brings together young people from around 45 partner universities of the Mastercard Foundation.
During the event, Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe urged young people to prepare for leadership roles in innovation, especially starting with their communities, if they wish to see the positive transformation they desire in Africa.
“I urge you to connect and network with your peers and discuss how you can form inter-university teams to innovate solutions that will address the development challenges in our communities for the transformation of the African continent.” Prof. Nawangwe remarked.
Prof. Nawangwe applauded the Mastercard Foundation for its partnership with Makerere University and Uganda in general, which has uplifting effects on many young people.
“Makerere University and Uganda have made remarkable strides in providing Higher Education to Young People, thanks to the generous support of the Mastercard Foundation, which has contributed significantly to educating the next generation of African leaders. Through valuable initiatives and partnerships, such as the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Makerere University is poised to continue educating young individuals who will significantly impact Uganda’s and Africa’s economic growth.” Prof. Nawangwe noted.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nawangwe, further urged young people to seize the opportunities the Mastercard Foundation and other like-minded development partners presented to improve their lives and communities.
“The Mastercard Foundation has given you the platform and opportunity to be leaders and beacons of change. Embrace this responsibility with courage. Let the core values of the Scholars Program—humility, listening, kindness and respect, co-creation, and impact—guide your actions,” Prof. Nawangwe emphasized.
While speaking at the same event, the Program Director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, Prof. Justine Namaalwa, enumerated high-level achievements the Program had accomplished for the last decade at Makerere University. She pointed out that in terms of scholarship enrolment, the Program had recruited 1,032 Scholars, of which 76% were Females, 7% were Internationals, 4% were Refugees, and about 1% were Youth with Disabilities.
Prof. Namaalwa further pointed out other post-graduation achievements, including a 94% completion rate of the total number of Scholars enrolled in the Scholars Program. She pointed out that between 2018 and 2025, the Program had graduated 964 Scholars, of which 37% were employed, mainly in the private sector.
Prof. Namaalwa revealed that beyond the Scholars Program, the Mastercard Foundation had put other initiatives supporting the university in numerous ways. She pointed out other initiatives such as the e-learning initiative, a COVID-19 Response measure to ensure continuity of Teaching and Learning at Makerere University and the Climate Resilience and Sustainability Collaborative: Makerere University, in collaboration with the University of Ghana, the University of Cape Town, and the University of Cambridge, is implementing a new initiative that addresses one of the world’s most significant challenges in recent times—climate change.
Prof. Namaalwa revealed that the Research Collaborative would provide opportunities for MSc and PhD scholarships to African students and encourage young people to enrol as graduate students starting in the academic year 2025/2026.
The event was punctuated with fireside chats, during which young people had an opportunity to discuss a number of topical issues related to entrepreneurship and Transformative leadership. Thereafter, the visiting students were taken on a guided tour around Makerere University.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Council comprises student leaders from partner Universities. Each Partner University has one Council Representative. They represent the needs of Scholars and work with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program teams at each institution, the Mastercard Foundation, and Alumni.
On Monday 3rd February 2025, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe handed over three (3) university buses to the respective leadership in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), the College of Health Sciences (CHS), and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB).
The new buses mark a significant improvement in mobility and learning for Makerere University students and staff, furthering the institution’s commitment to practical education and community service.
Speaking at the handover ceremony held at the University’s Freedom Square, Prof. Nawangwe highlighted the significance of the new buses in enhancing teaching and learning. “These buses will play a crucial role in improving students’ practical learning experiences by ensuring reliable transportation for fieldwork and community outreach,” he said.
Prof. Nawangwe expressed gratitude to the Parliament and the Government of Uganda for providing the resources for the new buses, emphasizing their importance in replacing the old fleet, which frequently breaks down. The new 2023 model buses, with a 67-seater capacity, were secured at a cost of UGX 626million each and are expected to save the university significant maintenance costs and improve the learning experience for students.
Principals from the respective colleges expressed their appreciation for the new buses. Prof. Frank Norbert Mwiine, Principal of CoVAB, emphasized the importance of the buses for practical training at locations such as Lake Mburo National Park. Associate Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga, Principal of CAES, and Associate Prof. Bruce Kirenga, Principal of CHS, highlighted the buses’ role in facilitating community engagement and outreach.
He explained that the decision to purchase Isuzu buses instead of those manufactured by Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) a Makerere University partner, was based on prior engagement with the former, as well as the need to utilize the allocated funds promptly within the Financial Year, which couldn’t be accomplished at KMC due to their high demand.
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