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Mak-MAP Sign Agreement on Modern Pig Farming at MUARIK
Makerere University has today, Friday 22nd December 2017 entered into a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with Moon Agriculture and Processing Company Limited (MAP Co. Ltd.) aimed at setting up a modern pig farm and processing facility at the Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK). The Agreement was signed on behalf of Makerere University by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and Principal-College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Prof. Bernard Bashaasha and on behalf of MAP by Mr. Joseph Moon and Mr. Peter Moon.
In the introductory remarks Prof. Bashaasha thanked Mr. Joseph and Peter Moon for choosing to partner with Makerere University. In particular, he observed that Mr. Joseph Moon was no stranger to the Ugandan business scene, having been the brains behind Kampala’s first street parking company Green Boat Entertainment Limited (GBEL), hi-tech photo studio DOLICO as well as other businesses.
Prof. Bashaasha noted that whereas CAES had for a long time been engaged in pig farming and production, the JVA would enable Makerere students to be exposed to the industry’s latest modern practices, especially elements related to disease control.
In his remarks, Mr. Joseph Moon said that the JVA is framed on the basis of improving the pig value chain in Uganda, with the CAES being the starting point. He hoped that the agreement would go a long way in boosting Uganda’s pig production during the initial 10 year period, especially as the country still imports semen for specific pig breeds.
The Vice Chancellor in his remarks thanked MAP for choosing to partner with Makerere, noting that this was timely, in an era where Public-Private-Partnerships (PPPs) are being encouraged. He went on to say that although Makerere has in the recent past been pushing for real estate developments on its prime lands around Kampala, PPPs in agriculture; owing to its great potential, were a welcome innovation.
“Makerere has approximately 1,000 acres of agricultural land within an 80km radius of Kampala. We are therefore happy that you are going to set up a facility to not only improve the University’s revenue but also equip our students with skills in modern pig production and processing,” said Prof. Nawangwe.
After the JVA signing ceremony, the Vice Chancellor handed over Makerere souvenirs to the delegation. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Mrs. Lillian Helen Kuteesa on behalf of MAP’s Lawyer-Nangwala, Rezida & Co. Advocates, Mr. Gordon Murangira-PA to the Vice Chancellor and Mr. S.L. James Lee, a MAP official.
Article by Public Relations Office
By Moses Lutaaya
The Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) has in collaboration with Centre for Teaching and Learning completed the training of the first cohort of Graduate Supervisors.
Participants were academic staff from two colleges namely, College of Engineering, Art and Design (CEDAT) and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES).
The three-day training that took place at the Telepresence Centre, Senate Building ended on Friday 20thJune 2025.
In his closing remarks to the participants, the Director of Graduate Training Prof. Julius Kikooma said, “This is the first cohort we are working together with the Center for Teaching and Learning to put together continuous professional development Program so that we are able to enforce the new teaching and learning policy.”
He said that before lecturers are allocated students for supervision, they must first go through this form of formal teaching and learning training to equip them thoroughly with certification required of supervision of graduate students.
“We are coming up with process to ensure that the certificates earned by participants allow you to supervise graduate students. This is the direction of the university and we must ensure that such trainings are concluded and completed successfully by all participants”, Prof. Kikooma.
“We can only have you certified upon completing all the exercises in the training process. This is when you will be eligible to receive the work load for supervision”, He added.
“This training of Supervisors is going to be continuous so that all academic staff in colleges and schools are equipped. This first cohort is going to be our building block to the future trainings in the colleges.”
With such capacity building trainings, Prof. Kikooma said that the university is on the right path to achieving its targets in the new strategic plan of increasing the number of graduate students while progressively reducing the under graduate students.
He further hinted that, “We are in the process of writing a curriculum on this, which will be presented for approval before it is rolled out.”
He echoed all participants to share the knowledge they have acquired adding, “Share all you have learnt, do not keep it. Be open minded, have proper communication channels and the sky will be the limit for you.”
Dr. Robinah N. Kulabako, The Head of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at CEDAT welcomed the training adding, “This training is very pertinent. I have had the opportunity to supervise Masters and PhD students for over 15 years and I must say that the need to be subjected to this training cannot be over emphasized because there is need to learn, unlearn and relearn many aspects involved in the supervision process.”
She added, “We are moving towards knowledge-based supervision rather than experience-based supervision. This means we must be informed and equipped to be able to advise, guide and mentor to be able to lead a successful supervision journey for both supervisor and supervisee.”
Dr. Andrew Gilbert Were – a lecturer at CEDAT and a participant said, “It is important that all supervisors of graduate students receive this certification from Makerere University through a systematic training process that enables them to attain diverse skills to facilitate learning of graduate students from diverse cultures and with unique set of circumstances.”
“This training is long overdue. In fact, it was an oversight that we could be allowed to supervise students without undergoing supervisors’ training.”
Dr. Dorothy Ssebowa, The Director Centre for Teaching and Learning support- CEES said, “The training this time round has had a mix of early career professionals including Lecturers, Supervisors and Professors share experiences. We have learnt a lot more from experienced supervisors who have shared practices on how they have done supervision over the years.”
“The knowledge and experience-based approaches have made this collaboration very active, interactive and learner centered which has resulted into a collaborative learning from the interdisciplinarity of staff from CEDAT and CAES. The issue now is to continue with professional development across all levels.” She added.
The Makerere University Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) in collaboration with the Centre for Teaching and Learning completed the training of the first cohort of Graduate Supervisors. This activity was supported by the iCARTA – Institutionalization of Advanced Research Training in Africa, a NORHED II Project at Makerere University.
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