General
Hon. Dr. Tumwesigye Tours Presidential Initiative Projects, Pledges Support
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation and Sheema County North MP Hon. Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye has today 4th April 2017 paid his first courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu. Accompanied by his Permanent Secretary Mr. David O. O. Obong and other Ministry staff, the Minister thanked the Vice Chancellor and his leadership for making the advance preparations to facilitate his visit. Hon. Tumwesigye’s visit is aimed at establishing the status of various projects under the Presidential Initiative on Science and Technology, with a view of determining the resources required implement large-scale production of the various enterprises.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor congratulated Hon. Dr. Tumwesigye upon making history as the first Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation and thanked him for choosing to make Makerere University one of his first stops. Prof. Ddumba-Ssentamu reported that Makerere has been allocated approximately UGX 70bilion since the Presidential Initiative was started, which has greatly facilitated research and innovation.
“The support that we have received from the Presidential Initiative has boosted our research and innovations, which have consequently improved our institutional visibility. Makerere currently ranks third in Africa in terms of research, with the other two institutions coming from South Africa,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor nevertheless noted that Makerere continues to face a lot of challenges; the biggest being inadequate financing, which affects the implementation various academic and administrative programmes. He was however happy to note that the University has established an Endowment Fund as a strategic avenue to attract funding from her alumni and the general public. This, he said would help Makerere University to reduce her overdependence on Government subvention.
Hon. Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye in his response commended Makerere for continuing to play a key role in the country’s Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) ecosystem. He thanked the President for creating a separate ministry that supports STI at the national level.
“Several Science, Technology and Innovation branches are currently located under different Ministries such as Education, Agriculture, Gender and so many others. My work is to coordinate the National Innovation system and we exist to use the best available tools to influence solutions to issues that affect society such as Food and Nutrition, Health and Poverty” added the Minister.
He congratulated Makerere for utilizing the School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering to address food and nutrition challenges, as well as the College of Health Sciences to address the health-related ones. The Minister however stated that the task at hand was to implement the President’s instruction to ensure that Uganda’s imports worth approximately USD 7billion are reduced, by promoting local production.
In order to facilitate this, the Minister shared that the Government through the Innovation Fund will firstly identify and support existing prototypes that are ready to be commercialized and secondly facilitate technology transfer that empowers the youth to produce all kinds of items. Hon. Dr. Tumwesigye identified Makerere’s solar irrigation pump projects as likely beneficiaries of the Government’s programme to promote solar powered irrigation. “We need to prioritize our own initiatives and we intend to have inter-ministerial meetings to fast track these projects,” added the Minister.
The honourable Minister is scheduled to visit various projects in the Colleges of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB), Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) and Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). He will thereafter hold discussions with the leadership of the three Colleges as well as project Principal Investigators.
Article by Public Relations Office
Waste Management efforts at Makerere University have been boosted by a donation of 30 waste bins by Centenary Bank’s Makerere Branch. The bins received on Monday 11th May 2026 in the Freedom Square by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe in the company of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Sarah Ssali, Deputy University Secretary, Mr. Simon Kizito and other officials were handed over by the Branch Manager, Mr. Sunday Julius.
Appreciating the donation from Centenary Bank on behalf of University Management, Prof. Nawangwe noted that Makerere University strives to maintain “the cleanest environment in Kampala”, especially as a good example to future leaders, the students.
Acknowledging earlier donations to the Halls of Residence by Centenary Bank, Prof. Nawangwe described the ceremony as “the beginning of a long journey of collaboration in environmental stewardship,” with separation of plastics from biodegradable waste earmarked as the next step in user education.
In his remarks, Mr. Sunday noted that the donation was in line with the Bank’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) objectives, particularly the Social component, where supporting institutions with waste management facilities to enhance hygiene is key. “It is important for Centenary Bank to give back to the society where it makes money”, he emphasized.
Describing Makerere University as the “main institution that Centenary Bank operates a branch”, Mr. Sunday recognised the donation as a step in the right direction with a valuable partner.
The newly-donated bins will be placed in various public locations under supervision of the Estates and Works Directorate.
Makerere University and the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA (ND) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which opens opportunities for collaboration between the two historic and leading research institutions in the areas of staff and student exchange, joint research and training, joint supervision of graduate students, and others.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe signed on behalf of Makerere University and Rev. Robert A. Dowd, the 18th President signed on behalf of the University of Notre Dame. The ceremony, which was held at the University of Notre Dame campus at South Bend, Indiana was witnessed by Dr. Lorna Magara, the Chairperson of the Council of Makerere University, who led the Mak delegation.
Dr. Magara appreciated the institutionalisation of the collaboration between the two universities and the very warm hospitality accorded to the Mak delegation.
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