General
KNU-South Korea Signs IT Collaboration MoU with Mak
Makerere University has today Monday, 15th January 2018 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kyungpook National University (KNU), Daegu, Korea to facilitate staff and student exchanges, research collaboration as well as coming up with joint education programmes in the field of Information Technology (IT). The Vice Chancellor-Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe signed the MoU on behalf of Makerere University, while the Vice Dean, School of Computer Science and Engineering-Prof. Soon Yong Park signed on behalf of KNU. The Principal College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS)-Prof. Tonny Oyana and the Acting Director Legal Affairs-Mr. Goddy Muhumuza signed as witnesses.
Also present at the ceremony were the; First Secretary, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kampala-Mr. Yoon Jung Tae, Prof. Dongik Lee-KNU, Deputy Principal CoCIS-Dr. Agnes Rwashana Semwanga, Dr. George William Kiyingi, Dr. Gilbert Maiga, Dr. Evelyn Kigozi, Dr. Engineer Bainomugisha and Mr. Francis Ekwaro.
Making the introductory remarks, Prof. Tonny Oyana welcomed the delegation from KNU and thanked them for the preparations leading up to the signing ceremony. He shared that research at CoCIS is conducted in key areas of excellence namely: artificial intelligence and data science; software systems; networked systems and systems security; impact of digital technology on records management in libraries, museums, and archives; and learning, policy, and information-seeking behavior in health, agriculture, and finance.
Giving a background to the MoU, Dr. Gilbert Maiga paid tribute to Dr. Constant Okello-Obura, the former Principal CoCIS and Dr. Evelyn Kigozi for making initial contact with KNU and proposing areas of collaboration that eventually formed the terms of the agreement.
“We visited South Korea, where we partnered with the Korea Education and Research Information Service (KERIS) and together, we trained over forty secondary school teachers,” supplemented Dr. Rwashana. The training equipped the teachers with IT skills for the 21st century digital age.
Speaking on behalf of KNU, Prof. Soon Yong Park said that it was a great honour for his delegation to visit Makerere University and sign the MoU. He shared that KNU’s strength in the field of IT-related research attracts a lot of funding from both the South Korean Government and leading corporate firms.
“KNU is strong in research and development in the fields of sensors and semiconductors where we have a cooperation with Samsung. A lot of our staff focus their research in these areas as well as mobile communication technology. This MoU therefore presents a great opportunity for KNU and Makerere University to work together in the fields of both hardware and software,” said Prof. Soon Yong Park.
In his remarks, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe thanked Prof. Park and Prof. Lee for travelling all the way from South Korea to sign the MoU. He paid special tribute to Mr. Yoon Jung Tae for sparing time to attend the MoU signing ceremony. “Your presence here today shows the importance that the Embassy of the Republic Korea in Kampala places on academic collaboration and research.”
Prof. Nawangwe noted that whereas the GDP of both Uganda and South Korea were considered low in the early 1960s, South Korea initiated a number of unique measures that saw its economy transform rapidly. He therefore hoped that through the MoU, Makerere would learn some of those unique initiatives and contribute to propelling Uganda’s economic growth back to double digits.
“Uganda is experiencing both economic and population growth, with the latter outstretching the former. As a University we want to learn from the Korean people and through this collaboration, we should be able to enable our country’s economy to grow much faster. We hope that the Embassy in Kampala will continue being our link to Universities in South Korea.”
The Vice Chancellor further stated that CoCIS is home to the leading School of Computing in Africa with a number of cutting-edge research projects being conducted by the faculty. “We are confident that our collaboration with Kyungpook National University will take our research to the next level, As the University Management, we shall do all that is possible to ensure that this collaboration succeeds,” he reassured.
Following a brief interval during which the MoU was signed and souvenirs were exchanged between the Vice Chancellor and South Korean delegation, the first secretary thanked Prof. Nawangwe for his kind remarks and expressed his pleasure at witnessing the MoU signing. He shared that in the early 1960s, the South Korean Government embarked on an ambitious project to develop her academia. “This they did by sending citizens to study in the leading universities all over the world” explained Mr. Yoon Jung Tae.
He noted that South Korea and Uganda had previously collaborated in the field of agriculture, which was greatly aided by research. He noted that academic collaboration is very important to his Government and the MoU signing had marked a historic moment for both South Korea and Uganda as their Universities embarked on collaboration in IT. He hoped that the progress made in the bilateral collaboration in agriculture would also be experienced in the field of IT.
Article by Public Relations Office
Hundreds of mourners gathered at St. Augustine Chapel, Makerere University on May 30, 2026 to pray for the soul of Mr. Sylas Ruhweza, the first President of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Alumni Community at Makerere University.
The requiem mass was filled with emotional tributes celebrating Ruhweza’s life of service, leadership and dedication to community causes. Ruhweza passed away on Friday, May 29, 2026, at Mildmay Uganda Hospital.
Speaker after speaker described him as a humble and visionary leader who was passionate about uplifting others and deeply committed to excellence.
“We thank God for the life of Sylas, for the years he granted him among us, and for the impact he made on countless lives. He carried himself with humility and grace, and wherever he went, he built friendships, inspired confidence, and left people better than he found them,” Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki, said during the Mass.
Mr. Rwomiire urged mourners to honour Ruhweza’s legacy by embracing the values he stood for, including integrity, compassion, hard work, service to community, and his unwavering love for Tooro Kingdom.
The main celebrant, Rev. Fr. Charles Lwanga Makoboza, echoed the message in his homily, reminding Christians to remain rooted in Jesus Christ throughout their lives.
“Sylas has gone to be with God, in a place where there is no pain, missed calls, struggle, corruption, betrayal, jealousy and tears. He is in a place with absolute peace. So, in life, never be the cause of someone’s tears, and if you do, seek reconciliation,” Fr. Lwanga, said.
Fr. Lwanga also reminded mourners that what Ruhweza needs most are prayers, not wreaths.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Ms. Grace Kabasita, Ruhweza’s maternal aunt, described him as a loving and dedicated young man whose life touched many people.
“Sylas was a counsellor, teacher, and a brilliant, loveable young man who fitted into every society. His life was marked by service, friendship, dedication, and commitment to the wellbeing of others and his culture,” she said.
Addressing mourners, Prof Justine Namaalwa, the Coordinator of the Mastercard Foundation Initiatives at Makerere University, noted that though Sylas’s life was cut short, he leaves behind a lasting legacy of service, leadership and impact on the communities he served.
“Sylas, you have gone too soon. But it is well with our souls. May your legacy of Transformative Leadership live on,” Prof. Namaalwa, said.
She thanked the Mastercard Foundation for supporting his education through BRAC Uganda, supporting his university education through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, and nurturing his leadership journey through the Youth Advisory Board.
Ruhweeza at glance
Born on 19th July 1994 to the late Mr. Paul Tinkasimire Paul Adyeeri and Ms. Ategeka Margret Abwooli of Bunyangabu District.
The ninth born of eleven children attended Kaboyo Primary School for his Primary Education, and later joined Fort Portal Secondary School where he sat for his O-Level. He then proceeded to A-Level at Hannah International School.
He joined Makerere University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Geoscience and Production in 2022, supported by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme at Makerere University.
At the time of his passing, he was pursuing a Master’s degree at Victoria University.
Leadership, Service and Professional Contributions
Mr. Ruhweza served as Chairperson of the Mastercard Foundation Alumni Network at BRAC from 2020 to 2022, demonstrating transformative leadership and commitment to social change.
He later became the President of the Makerere AlumNet Foundation, an umbrella organization that brings together the Scholars Makerere Alumni chapter.
He worked as an eLearning Support Officer at the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) under the e-learning initiative at Makerere University.
He was a member of the Steering Committee of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, representing the Scholars Makerere Alumni chapter.
At the time of his passing, he was serving as the Minister of Information in the Tooro Kingdom, Strategy and Engagement Lead for the Mastercard Foundation Alumni Network-Uganda Chapter, and Programme Associate at the Africa Climate Collaborative, one of the Mastercard Foundation initiatives at Makerere University.
Legacy
Ruhweza is remembered for his dedication to education, leadership, mentorship, and community service. He passionately championed youth empowerment, collaboration, and social responsibility.
His life reflected the transformative power of education, servant leadership, and a commitment to uplifting others.
May Sylas’s soul rest in eternal peace.
General
Makerere University Pushes for Stronger Support for Research Ethics Committees amid Growing Research Demands
By Moses Lutaaya
Makerere University has intensified efforts to strengthen research governance and ethical oversight, with university leaders calling for greater institutional support for Research Ethics Committees (RECs), whose role has become increasingly central to the institution’s research-led agenda.
The call was made during a high-level meeting between University Management and Chairpersons of Research Ethics Committees held at the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom at the Makerere University Main Building on May 25, 2026.
Opening the meeting, the Director of Research Innovations and Partnerships (DRIP), Prof. Robert Wamala, highlighted a number of operational and administrative challenges affecting the effectiveness of RECs at Makerere University.
Prof. Wamala observed that RECs continue to operate with gaps in institutional framework outlining their position within the university governance structure, a gap he said has affected institutional support and long-term sustainability.
According to Prof. Wamala, inadequate facilitation continues to affect the operations of several committees, especially in areas of staffing, administrative coordination, and remuneration for REC administrators.
He also pointed to challenges arising from new regulatory requirements governing the appointment of REC members, particularly the need for appointment letters to be authorized or signed by the Vice Chancellor.
Prof. Wamala further raised concern over the high cost of mandatory accreditation and training processes required by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST), especially the Good Research Regulatory Practice (GRRP) training undertaken every three years. “Payment for training is too high for individual RECs to cover,” he noted, adding that many committees are struggling to independently raise the money to undertake the training for all their members.
He also emphasized the need for stronger institutional monitoring systems to support timely submission of accreditation renewal applications, oversight of approved research activities, and coordination of REC operations across the university.
In her remarks, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, Prof. Sarah Ssali, commended the growing contribution of RECs in advancing Makerere University’s research agenda and acknowledged the concerns raised by Prof. Wamala and committee members.
“There were not very many RECs,” Prof. Ssali said. “So now that we are 10, it is really impressive because it speaks to our cause for a research-led university.” She admitted that despite their importance, many RECs still operate outside the formal university establishment, making staffing and operational support difficult.
“The only challenge that I see is that they are not fully institutionalized. So it is upon units to start them or not to start them,” she explained. Prof. Ssali added that because RECs are not fully integrated into the public service structure of the university, recruiting and remunerating staff through conventional university systems remains complicated. “Hiring for them staff will be a little bit cumbersome because the university will say they are not part of our structure,” she said.
She nevertheless emphasized that university management recognizes the strategic importance of RECs in strengthening ethical research oversight and supporting Makerere’s position as a research-led institution. “RECs are doing a great job of furthering our strategic agenda of being a research-led university,” she noted.
Prof. Ssali explained that the growing reliance on institutional RECs by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology demonstrates the trust placed in Makerere University’s ethical review systems.
Addressing concerns about the cost and frequency of mandatory training, Prof. Ssali acknowledged the financial burden on RECs but explained that many of the requirements are set by national regulators. “Many of the things you have raised are with National Council, they are not with us,” she said. “We can only pledge to lobby.”
To address logistical challenges associated with training senior academics, she proposed more flexible scheduling arrangements. “For a professor to give you a whole day is going to be a challenge,” she said. “Maybe you can do half days throughout the week.”
Prof. Ssali also encouraged colleges and schools to allocate part of their enhanced research budgets toward supporting REC activities, including staffing, training, and operational facilitation.
She suggested that colleges and schools hosting RECs should directly take responsibility for sustaining them. “For me, that’s the way out — to ensure that the colleges and schools that have RECs take them as their responsibility,” she noted.
The DVC-AA also addressed concerns related to intellectual property rights, Material Transfer Agreements (MTA), and the need for researchers to formally communicate scientific discoveries and innovations to the university to ensure institutional protection and benefit-sharing. “All you are saying is true, but it depends on you as researchers informing the institution that we have made this discovery,” she said.
Prof. Ssali reiterated Makerere University’s commitment to strengthening research governance systems and pledged continued engagement with both university management and national regulatory bodies to address the concerns raised by REC members. “Where they are, they enable research, publication and growth,” she said of the RECs. “Most importantly, they enable us to be ethical with the way we do our things.”
The meeting was attended by chairpersons of the various Research Ethics Committees across Makerere University and affiliated institutions. These included Dr. Ponsiano Ochama from the School of Medicine Research Ethics Committee (SOM-REC), Dr. Moses Ocan from the School of Biomedical Sciences Research Ethics Committee (SBS-REC), Dr. Paul Kutyabami from the School of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, Dr. David Kyaddondo from the Uganda Cancer Institute Research Ethics Committee, Dr. Stella Neema from the School of Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee (MAKSS-REC), Dr. Joseph Kagayi from the School of Public Health Research Ethics Committee, Dr. Joseph Kateete from the Infectious Diseases Institute Research Ethics Committee, Dr. Fred Okuku from the Uganda Heart Institute Research Ethics Committee, Dr. Kassim Sadik from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Research Ethics Committee, and Dr. Eddy Walakira from the College of Business and Management Sciences Research Ethics Committee.
The discussions reflected Makerere University’s broader ambition to consolidate its position as a leading research-intensive institution while ensuring that ethical standards, accountability, and innovation protection remain central to its academic mission.
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