General

Hon. Dr. Tumwesigye Tours Presidential Initiative Projects, Pledges Support

Published

4 years ago

April 4, 2017

Mark Wamai

Hon. Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye (4th R), flanked by the VC-Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu (4th L), Mr. David O. O. Obong (3rd R), Principal CEDAT-Dr. Henry Alinaitwe (3rd L) and Ministry of STI officials during visit, 4th April 2017, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda

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.
Hon. Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye (R) is received upon arrival by the Vice Chancellor-Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu
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.
Hon. Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye (R) and his Permanent Secretary-Mr. David O. O. Obong share a light moment during the courtesy call in the Vice Chancellor's Office, Makerere University
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

General

Veteran Professor changed Makerere and Higher Education

Published

3 days ago

June 21, 2021

Mark Wamai

Professor Pancras John Mukasa Ssebuwufu (L) receives a plaque and citation from RUFORUM Board Member and Vice Chancellor Ndejje University-Professor Eriabu Lugujjo (Right) on 6th May 2021 at the RUFORUM Secretariat, Plot 155 Garden Hill, Makerere University Main Campus,

When Professor John Ssebuwufu ambled up to receive a certificate of recognition for his ‘exceptional’ contribution to higher education from the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) at Makerere University (MU), he was thinking of many things, such as rewarding staff, that he could have done differently to impact university education more.

But he did what he could have done, under the circumstances.

He presided over MU (in 1993) when student enrolment was 5,000 and left in 2004 when the population was surging to more than 15,000.

He emphasised the use of information communication technologies in almost all the institutions he had been involved in and sent many academic staff on exchanges to boost research and innovation. Now, more African universities engage in ground-breaking research.

So, he proceeded to accept his recognition and make his acceptance speech, which was mostly about gratitude.

Ssebuwufu, 74, who is currently the chancellor at Kyambogo University and the vice-chancellor of the University of Kisubi, is credited for his exemplary leadership and pragmatic methods that have shaped higher education in Uganda and Africa as a whole.

General

Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) Program 2021/2022

Published

3 days ago

June 21, 2021

Mark Wamai

Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) Program 2021/2022. Photo credit: AfDB

The Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) Program is a capacity building project by the AfDB and Japan which was initiated in 2017 with the aim of providing two-year scholarship awards to highly achieving African graduate students to enable them to undergo post-graduate studies (i.e. a two-year Master’s degree program) in selected priority development areas on the continent and Japan. The overarching goal the AfDB and the Government of Japan seek to attain is to enhance skills and human resources development in Africa in under the Bank’s High 5s agenda (i.e. “Feed Africa”, “Light up Africa”, “Industrialize Africa”, “Integrate Africa” and “Improve the quality of life of the people of Africa”) and key Japanese development assistance initiatives. JADS core areas of study focus include energy, agriculture, health, environmental sustainability, and engineering. The program also seeks to promote inter-university collaboration and university-industry partnerships between Japan and Africa. Upon completion of their studies, the JADS scholars are expected to return to their home countries to apply and disseminate their newly acquired knowledge and skills in the public and private sectors, and contribute to national and continental socio-economic development.

About the JADS program

The JADS Program is open to applicants from AfDB member countries with relevant professional experience and a history of supporting their countries’ development efforts who are applying to a graduate degree program in energy development and related discipline. The program does not provide scholarships to any other graduate degree program.

The scholarship program provides tuition, a monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance.

Upon completion of their studies, the beneficiary scholars are expected to return to their home countries to apply and disseminate their newly acquired knowledge and skills, and contribute to the promotion of sustainable development of their countries.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

The program is open to those who have gained admission to an approved Masters degree course at a Japanese partner university. Candidates should be 35 years old or younger; in good health; with a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in the energy area or related area; and have a superior academic record. Upon completion of their study programs, scholars are expected to return to their home country to contribute to its economic and social development.

Application Procedures

Applicant requests for information and application forms and procedures from the chosen JADS partner university. For any inquiries, please contact JADS@AFDB.ORG
Applicant completes required documents and sends them to the university.
University evaluates and selects applicants.
University sends selected candidates to the AfDB.
AfDB reviews submissions from universities, prepares and approves the final list.
AfDB contacts selected awardees, and informs the universities.