General
DVCFA Asks for Continuity as Mak Go Green Week Closes
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance & Administration)-DVCFA, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe has today Friday, 3rd March 2017 officially closed the Go Green Week and tasked participating students to ensure that their calls for energy efficiency and environmental conservation continue perpetually. Prof. Nawangwe was speaking to a group of students from all disciplines who throughout the week displayed placards with environmental messages at their halls of residence, colleges and hostels.
The Go Green Week at Makerere University was organised by the Sustainability Program and coordinated by the Planning and Development Department (PDD), in collaboration with the Students Sustainability Action Group. The campaign was supported by the Sustainability Lab-Bangor University, Hub Cymru Africa and the UNDEB-Student Union Bangor.
The Sustainability Program Coordinator Ms. Pamela Matovu thanked the DVCFA, Director PDD-Dr. Florence Nakayiwa and Dean School of Forestry, Environmental and Geographical Sciences (SFEGS)-Prof. Mnason Tweheyo for gracing the close of the week-long campaign.
“We thank the University for supporting the Go Green Week. Today marks the close of a week-long campaign led by students to raise awareness about climate change and the need to conserve energy and protect the environment” said Ms. Matovu.
She commended the Students Sustainability Action Group for coming up with all the messages on the placards as well as all the energy conservation strategies shared with the Makerere Community. As a way forward, the Sustainability Program will continue working with students and other units to make the energy and environmental conservation message a part of their daily life.
Dr. Florence Nakayiwa commended the students for ushering in a new wave of positive demonstration by students at Makerere University. “It was very pleasing to see students holding placards with positive messages at strategic locations on Campus throughout the week. This is a commendable change and we thank you for channelling positive energy. You are our good will Ambassadors,” she said.
In his remarks, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe thanked the students for their positive messages aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change though their active participation in the Go Green Week.
“Climate Change is a bigger challenge to the younger generation than the older generation. You still have many more years to live and a bigger burden to bear. The forest that I used to walk through to fetch water from the village stream as a young boy is now no more” shared Prof. Nawangwe
He therefore charged the students to take the lead. “Everybody looks up to Makerere and so we must be a good example. The people in the village and general public will believe your message more if they see a green Makerere.” Prof. Nawangwe further urged the Sustainability Program to join existing initiatives by the School of Forestry, Environmental and Geographical Sciences (SFEGS) as well as share any other concepts and resources they might have, so as to further strengthen their environmental conservation agenda at Makerere.
Concluding the remarks, Prof. Mnason Tweheyo thanked the Sustainability Program and the students for their efforts “we are very happy that other parties are joining the School of Forestry (SFEGS) to disseminate and promote the message of energy conservation” he said.
Prof. Tweheyo also thanked the Estates and Works Department (EWD) represented by Pastor Grace Kityo and Mr. Bavuga Vincent for their efforts to re-green the Main Campus. He however tasked them to always seek the professional input of SFEGS in order to ensure that re-greening projects have the requisite technical backstopping.
To crown the week, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Dr. Florence Nakayiwa, Prof. Mnason Tweheyo and the students posed for a group photograph while holding placards with various environmental messages and thereafter planted a hedge around the freedom square with help from the Estates and Works Department.
Please see Downloads for Go Green Week brief
Article by Public Relations Office
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.
-
General2 weeks agoCelebrating Dr. Irene Rebecca Namatende
-
General6 days agoCall for Applications: Masters Student Mobility to Norway 2025
-
Business & Management2 weeks agoStaff of School of Statistics undertake training in Data Science
-
General2 weeks agoMak Planning and Development Department gets new leadership
-
Education2 weeks agoOver 40 UBTEB Students Graduate from the Centre for Life-Long Learning at CEES