General
Cambridge Trust Explore Collaboration with Mak
Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is one of the oldest in the world, with a student population of 21,000; 58% being undergraduate and 42% postgraduate. 11% of the undergraduate student population and approximately 53% of postgraduate applicants originate from outside the European Union (EU). The Cambridge Trust is the principal provider of scholarships at the University of Cambridge supporting around 1,200 students at any one time.
Despite the focus on international graduate students, Cambridge Trust receives few applications from Uganda and Makerere in particular. This nagging question therefore prompted Dame Barbara Stocking, and Mrs. Helen Pennant to visit Makerere University and interact with the Management, Leadership, Staff and Students on 12th September 2017. Dame Barbara Stocking is the President of Murray Edwards College and Trustee of both the Gates Cambridge Trust and the Cambridge Trust, while Mrs. Helen Pennant is the Director of the Cambridge Trust.
Welcoming the delegation, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe thanked the ladies for seeking to strengthen and extend the existing connections between Makerere and the University of Cambridge. He noted that just like Cambridge, Makerere is a collegiate university with 10 constituent colleges and is home to the best and most vibrant faculty on the African continent, with over 60% PhD holders.
“Makerere is also a vibrant research institution and is ranked second in Africa in terms of research output and publications. Our research agenda targets both national and regional challenges such as climate change, high population growth rates, food security and emerging diseases,” said Prof. Nawangwe.
The Vice Chancellor added that as a result, Makerere is world renowned for research in tropical diseases and the breeding of fast maturing, drought tolerant and disease resistant crop varieties. “Makerere University went collegiate to streamline her academic and research functions. Our research output has increased as a result and a college review is underway to see how we can perfect the system.”
Dame Barbara Stocking in her remarks expressed her happiness at visiting Makerere and congratulated the Vice Chancellor and staff upon the fruitful collaborations with Cambridge and all other universities. She noted that the Cambridge-Africa programme had serious ongoing partnerships in the names of THRiVE (Training Health Researchers into Vocational Excellence) and CAPREx (Cambridge-Africa Partnership for Research Excellence) and these were going to be further strengthened.
She added that despite the availability for PhD and Masters scholarships tenable at Cambridge, there were few applicants from sub-Saharan Africa. “Our visits to Kenya and Uganda this month are to help us clearly understand why scholars from this region aren’t successfully taking up these opportunities.”
Reiterating her colleagues point, Mrs. Helen Pennant shared that the Cambridge Trust and Gates Cambridge Trust are an opportunity to address the imbalance of few Graduate students from sub-Saharan Africa in general and Makerere in particular.
“The Gates Cambridge Trust offers 100 fully funded scholarships for PhD study which cover tuition fees and other allowances and for the Ugandan scholars, the offer also covers the airfare” enthused Mrs. Pennant. She however recognised the importance of the Alumni chapter engaging directly with prospective students and shared that sessions for applicants to be held later on the same day would feature four former students, including Dr. John Kitayimbwa an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics.
“The Gates Cambridge scholarship further looks at how much leadership potential the applicants have and how much they have already done for their communities” said Dame Stocking, further adding “There is no reason why we should have more Ugandans securing these opportunities.”
Prof. Nelson Sewankambo is the Director of the THRiVE Consortium at Makerere University. Weighing in on the day’s discussion, he observed that his last nine years at the helm of the consortium had been the most exciting and rewarding of his years spent at Makerere. THRiVE has been able to sponsor a number of PhD students from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda and currently has four PhD and two Postdoctoral students on scholarship.
“The reason why students from Uganda and Makerere in particular are not featuring highly in Cambridge’s scholarship awards is because they imagine that the standards are too high. It is therefore important that members of the alumni share their personal experiences with these applicants” said Prof. Sewankambo.
CAPREx is a tripartite collaboration involving the University of Cambridge, University of Ghana, Legon and Makerere University. The programme started in 2012 and has so far supported 65 Academic Fellowships, 34 from Makerere University and 31 from the University of Ghana. The Director of Research and Graduate Training-Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza who coordinated the visit acknowledged that Dame Stocking’s and Mrs. Pennant’s coming to Makerere brought the foundations of the application process closer to Uganda. He observed that although the CAPREx programme started at a slow pace, it has since picked up as applicants are better informed of the opportunities.
In her concluding remarks, Dame Stocking acknowledged that although Cambridge’s ancient buildings, application fees and English tests were a put-off for many applicants, it was important that the alumni help to walk the prospective applicants through the process. She also urged all academic referees to write helpful supporting letters as these greatly boosted the applicant’s chances of being selected.
The Vice Chancellor once again thanked Dame Stocking and Mrs. Pennant for their visit, noting that the tips they had shared during the interaction were very helpful. “Uganda is the centre of Africa. It has ethnic groupings from almost all parts of the continent and once you have studied Uganda, you have studied Africa. Makerere should be the coordinating centre for Cambridge in Africa as we look forward to exploring more collaborations” concluded Prof. Nawangwe.
At the end of the meeting attended by Members of Management, Directors and Principals of Colleges, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe handed over Makerere souvenirs to ladies and received a Cambridge souvenir from Mrs. Pennant.
Article by Public Relations Office
General
Minister Janet Museveni Lays Foundation Stone for School of Graduate Studies Building, Commissions the School of Law Building and the renovated Lumumba Hall
The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, has laid the foundation stone for Makerere University’s School of Graduate Studies building, whose construction is now underway.
The Minister laid the foundation stone for the USD8 million project during a brief function held on Wednesday 18th December 2024 at the site opposite Makerere University’s Lumumba Hall. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including the State Minister for Primary Education, Hon. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, University Council Chairperson Mrs. Lorna Magara, and Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe.
Others in attendance included Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration, Professor Henry Alinaitwe; Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Professor Buyinza Mukadasi; University Secretary Mr. Yusuf Kiranda; Dean of Students Winfred Kabumbuli; Guild President Vincent Lubega Nsamba; and the Vice Guild President, Joy Eve Serunjogi among others.
The building is a donation (in-kind) from the late Hasmukh Patel, an industrialist and former Chairman of Tororo Cement who passed away on August 29, 2024, after a short illness. The journey to this befitting donation to Makerere University started in December 2022, when Hasmukh Patel accompanied by some members of his family and friends visited the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe to declare his donation. From December 2022, a number of meetings were convened involving the Minister of Education and Sports, the University leadership, Mr. Hasmukh Patel, his family and Tororo Cement regarding this donation. Living true to his commitment during those meetings, his family and Tororo Cement are implementing his wishes to construct the building, which will house the School of Graduate Studies at Makerere University.
Before laying the foundation stone for the School of Graduate Studies building, Hon. Janet Museveni first unveiled a plaque to officially open the new building for the School of Law. She then headed to Lumumba Hall, where she unveiled another plaque marking the completion of its renovation.
The First Lady, who had initially laid the foundation stone for the School of Law building on May 17, 2022, returned to the main campus to officially open the completed structure. Funded by the Government of Uganda to the tune of UGX 7.3 billion, the new three-storeyed building features lecture rooms, tutorial and seminar rooms, a library, a moot court, offices, a cafeteria, a lactation room, and other teaching and learning facilities. Construction was undertaken by M/S CK Associates, with Symbion serving as a consultant.
The renovation works for Lumumba Hall commenced in June 2023, with the site handed over to the contractor, National Enterprise Corporation (NEC). Funded by the Government of Uganda to the tune of UGX 9 billion, the project involved extensive renovations to restore Lumumba Hall to its original splendor. Lumumba Hall now accommodates about 725 students.
Lumumba Hall was the first hall of residence to undergo renovation, followed by Mary Stuart Hall, which has also been handed over to NEC for refurbishment. These renovations, which began last year, are a result of the Government of Uganda’s efforts to improve the nine (9) halls of residence at the main campus.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Janet Museveni thanked the University Council and management for their dedication to rebuilding the institution. She expressed confidence that the physical restoration efforts would also rebuild the character of young people.
“There is a restoration of dignity that comes to an institution or a community when we choose to rebuild and it is not only physical, there is a spiritual restoration that comes as well. For Nehemiah, it was not just the rebuilding of a physical wall it was the rebuilding of broken lives and a broken covenant. It was the rolling away of the reproach they had suffered as a nation,” she said.
Adding; “I therefore salute the Council and the management of Makerere for your dedication to the rebuilding of this University. I am confident that as you rebuild physically, you are rebuilding the character of our young people. My prayer is that the physical restoration is translating into the spiritual restoration of this great institution.”
The first lady, Hon. Janet Museveni recalled her earlier visit to Makerere University, where she observed the dilapidated state of the halls of residence, which prompted her to initiate the renovation works.
“I remember taking a tour of the halls of residence in this University and Kyambogo University in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic. My heart bled when I saw the state of the halls of residence. Like Nehemiah, I took my burden to the Lord and now see what the Lord has done! Commissioning of the refurbished Lumumba Hall today is a testament to the faithfulness of our God. It is even more gratifying to know that other projects are ongoing and these include: the renovation of Mary Stuart Hall, the construction of the Perimeter Wall, and improvements at the University Hospital, including setting up an operating theatre and ICU.” She said.
Hon. Janet Museveni also expressed gratitude to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, for his leadership, which facilitated the realization of the Tororo Cement project. “This Project would not have been possible without the guidance and leadership of the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Nawangwe, who drew my attention to this offer by Tororo Cement, and requested me to endorse this Project, which will be named after Mr. Hamukh Patel,” she said.
Adding: “I am informed that the construction of this building is estimated to cost 8 Million US dollars and will consist of: lecture and seminar rooms, smart classrooms, laboratories, an innovation space, a conference hall, offices and other facilities. We remain forever grateful for this donation, which will increase access and contribute to improving the quality of postgraduate education.”
Speaking at the event, Vice Chancellor Prof. Nawangwe commended Hon. Janet Museveni for prioritizing the development of Makerere University, which has seen remarkable progress under her leadership. “Hon. Minister, from the time you took over the Office of Minister of Education and Sports and the Higher Education Sector, Makerere University in particular has transformed tremendously. Most notable is the infrastructure revolution at Makerere. On several occasions, you have come to Makerere to lay the foundations for new buildings and to open completed buildings, including our iconic Main Administration Building,” he said.
“When you inspected the halls of residence in 2021, I could see the frustration in your eyes, looking at the dilapidated state the halls were in, especially Lumumba, part of which had been condemned for 2 years,” Prof. Nawangwe said.
“Hon. Minister, I am sure that today, after seeing the glamorous new building for the School of Law and the glittering renovated Lumumba Hall, you are in a completely different mood compared to that visit in 2021. We are as delighted as you must be and your efforts are the reason for our happiness today. Our law students and professors can now comfortably study, work and conduct research in the best building for any school of law that I have seen,” Prof Nawangwe added.
Reflecting on the Graduate School Building, Prof. Nawangwe recalled when he received a proposal from Mr. Hasmukh Patel in 2022 who had initially intended to donate the Main Administration Building, which had been destroyed by fire, but opted to donate School of Graduate Studies Building after finding that the main building reconstruction had already started.
“Hon. Minister, in the morning of 13th December 2022, a miracle happened in my office in the Frank Kalimuzo Building. General David Muhoozi and Major General Apollo Gowa walked into my office with the Late Hasmukh Patel. Gen. Muhoozi introduced Mr. Hasmukh Patel as the Chairman of Tororo Cement, who after learning about the destruction by a fire of our Main Administration Building, expressed the wish to reconstruct that iconic building. On reaching Makerere, Mr. Hasmukh Patel found a contractor already on site, and he told us, that he would all the same donate a building to Makerere University as a gift on our 100th anniversary,” Prof Nawangwe said.
“He said it in such a simple way, that I thought I was dreaming. That evening, at the invitation of Mr. Patel, I visited the building that Mr. Patel had built for a school at Bukoto and I told him that a similar building for Makerere would be just what we needed for our School of Graduate Studies and Research that we needed. The University Council unanimously voted to thank Mr. Patel for his magnanimous offer and, you, Maama Janet graciously endorsed the project. I later visited Mr. Patel in Mombasa and was amazed at the humanitarian work he was doing among the communities. He was such a rare human being,” Professor revealed.
“Today we are here to witness the laying of the foundation stone for this, the largest academic building at Makerere University, and the first such donation I know by an African philanthropist to a university in Africa. The building will have lecture and seminar rooms, a conference hall, innovation spaces, PhD student rooms, computer and other laboratories, a restaurant, staff offices and other facilities. I thank Tororo Cement and the family of the Late Hasmukh Patel for honoring his wish and I wish to assure Mr. Patel, who must be in heaven smiling at us, that we will honor his legacy in this building and that we will put the building to its best use in the service of humanity, which is what Mr. Patel lived for,” Prof Nawangwe added.
On her part, the state Minister for Primary Education, Honorable Joyce Moriku Kaducu acknowledged Hon. Janet Museveni for prioritizing the Education sector in her leadership, which has led to the tremendously development of the sector.
“On behalf of the education sector, we want to thank you as the mother of the nation, indeed you are a big gift and a blessing to the nation and education at large, all this achievement would not have been possible if it was not under your visionary leadership and the guidance you have offered,” Minister Kaducu said.
Hon. Kaducu also hailed Makerere University for playing a very critical role in sensitizing, disseminating knowledge, and raising awareness to the public on the message of the Parish Development Model, which is intended to create wealth among citizens.
“As President Museveni is preaching the message of wealth creation, I want in a special way to thank Makerere University for playing a very critical role in sensitizing, disseminating knowledge, and raising awareness to the public on the message of the Parish Development Model (PDM), and they have a committee that monitors and informs government. They are indeed part of the team promoting wealth creation in this country,” she said.
Mrs. Lorna Magara, the Chairperson of the Makerere University Council said that the construction of the Graduate studies building speaks to the University’s mission of being a research-led institution because it comes as a dedicated building to house the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, which marks the resolution of a critical gap in our institutional framework
“At the heart of Makerere University’s current strategy is the promotion of a research-led institution, with a strong focus on graduate training. The establishment of a dedicated facility for the School of Graduate Studies, which also houses the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, marks the resolution of a critical gap in our institutional framework. The late Patel’s timely and generous contribution will undoubtedly advance graduate training and research for generations to come. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your exceptional support,” she said.
Mr. Manish Varsani who represented the Patel family took the first lady through how Mr. Hasmukh Patel started the idea of donating the building to Makerere. He explained that, Mr. Patel intended to present a gift that was coming from the bottom of his heart, and he teamed up with General Muhoozi who led him to Prof. Nawangwe’s office.
He also recalled when Mr. Patel met H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Museveni in Bukoto where he (Patel) had donated a building to a school and told the President that he would want to donate the same building to Makerere University as a gift to the First Lady Janet Museveni because he loved her so much, and in response, the President said he would take the message back to the First Lady.
The Guild President Lubega Vincent Nsamba asked the First Lady to consider constructing another hall of residence for the female students to solve what he described as an accommodation imbalance.
“Maama Janet Museveni, allow me to report to you that we still have only three halls of residence gazetted for female students against the six halls of residence gazetted for male students. These halls of residences were built back in colonial and independent times when the female students were fewer compared to their male counterparts, and to me Maama, this accommodation imbalance is something that should be addressed,” he stated.
“To me Maama, this speaks to the sense of how there is a dire need to invest in another additional hall of residence for the girl child here at Makerere University, and Maama, without any fear of contradiction, we humbly request that you consider building an additional hall of residence named after you in recognition of the contribution and honor of the service you have made for this country as a mother and as an educator,” he said.
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