General
First ever Campus France Antenna opens in Uganda
The French Government through its Embassy in Uganda has opened up a Campus France Antenna at Makerere University to help Ugandan students to have access to information and guidance on education and business projects in France.
Officially launched on 30th January 2018 by the Ambassador of France to Uganda, Her Excellency Stéphanie Rivoal and the Minister in Charge of General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister Hon. Karoro Okurut who represented the Minister of Education and Sports and First Lady Hon. Janet Kataha Museveni, the Campus France offices will be a one stop center for students to access information and resources on scholarships and other study opportunities in France.
Campus France is the French National Agency that promotes international mobility and French Higher Education. Created by the Act on external State Action of 27 July, Campus France focuses on simplifying the French procedures for the reception of foreign students and researchers in an increasingly competitive environment. According to the Director Campus France Ms. Beatrice Khaiat, the initiative supports the development of international academic and scientific mobility by promoting training programmes and ensuring guidance to students as well as inviting teachers and researchers to French institutions.
“This programmes helps to improve the conditions for the reception and stay in France for foreign students, manage French government scholarships and foreign government scholarships granted to foreign students staying in France on an individual or group basis for the purpose of training, gathering information, research among others,” she said.
On 29th September 2017, Makerere University and the Embassy of France in Uganda signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote cultural, linguistic, higher education and research cooperation in Uganda. The MoU also stated the interest of setting up a Campus France Antenna in Makerere University International Relations Office. Since its establishment in Uganda in 2017, Campus France has already guided and sponsored several Ugandan student in their education and business projects.
Addressing students and invited guests in the Makerere University Freedom Square on 30th January 2018, Her Excellency Stéphanie Rivoal encouraged students to learn French and acquaint themselves with the French culture in order to increase their chances of getting jobs both nationally and internationally. The Ambassador mentioned that French as a language is one of the easiest and most spoken language in the world.
“I am quite sure that you are thinking of the very complicated French language. Today 250 million people speak French and they are here on the African continent, they are your brothers and sisters from Congo, Burundi, Djibouti, Ivory Coast, Senegal and many more. Learn French and increase your chances of getting a job in many of the African countries,” she remarked.
She encouraged students to utilize the opportunity and apply for the available study courses to improve and upgrade their academic qualifications. “This is your right and freedom, kindly utilize it. Freedom of access to education, mobility and most of all the freedom of being a citizen of the world is what the Government of Uganda and the Government of France want to humbly contribute to by opening the first ever Campus France Office in Uganda, at Makerere University International relations Office,” she said.
She thanked the Minister of Education and Sports, First Lady Hon. Janet Kataha Museveni and Makerere University for embracing and supporting the idea of hosting Campus France at the noble institution. In a special way she thanked the President of the Republic of Uganda H.E General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for maintaining the long term relationship between France and Uganda that has led to the introduction of Campus France in Uganda.
In a speech read by the Minister in Charge of General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister Hon. Karoro Okurut, the Minister of Education and Sports Hon. Janet Kataha Museveni appreciated the drive by the French Embassy to make France visible in Uganda. According to her, such a move like opening up Campus France at Makerere University will enable students from the region that is predominantly Anglophone to access information about educational opportunities that do exist in France.
“It came to our notice that few students seek access to higher education in your great country, even though is a well-known fact that France has some of the most deeply cultured and most excellent institutions of higher learning in the world. I am sure that the advent of Campus France in Uganda and in the Great Lake Regions, opens a door for our scholars and researchers to more readily access those opportunities,” she said.
The Minister was glad to learn that the Antenna will assist students to apply and access various scholarships open to international students, and also assist them to process their applications, assess their documents and send them to colleges of their choice. The Minister appreciated the move in which students will be assisted to apply for visas to France and the guidance on how to obtain suitable accommodation once they are in college.
“Such a degree of detailed care assures us that Campus France will indeed be ‘a home away from home’ for our students who will be fortunate enough to access higher education programmes in France. I have no doubt that the presence of Campus France in this region, and at Makerere University specifically, will take cooperation between Uganda and France to a new level, because the more students we send to France, and the more French students we receive at Makerere University and other institutions in the region, the richer that cooperation will be across the borders” she explained.
“Such a program will also go a long way in bridging the cultural chasms that were created among the various African regions by colonial divisions, complicated as they were by the fact that the different colonizers spoke different languages which has continued to make it difficult to Africans to communicate with one another,” the First Lady added.
At the same function, the Ambassador officially unveiled the French Corner at Makerere University Main Library. Located in the IDA Section of the Library, the French Corner will host French books and learning materials purposeful to students and other learners. The University Librarian Dr. Helen Byamugisha thanked the Embassy of France in Uganda for the up to date learning package, saying that it will simplify the lives of students learning French and those pursing their courses in French.
On behalf of Makerere University, the Acting Vice Chancellor Dr. Ernest Okello Ogwang appreciated the support rendered to the University by the Embassy of France in Uganda through provision of scholarships for PhD students, the student exchange programmes with French Universities particularly Sciences. In the same spirit, the Makerere University Chairperson of Council Eng. Dr. Charles Wana-Etyem thanked the Embassy of France in Uganda through their hardworking Ambassador for opening yet a fresh chapter of Internationalization in Makerere University.
“I am aware that the Embassy has held a number of activities in partnership with Makerere University such as the public debate and dialogue on ‘the use of the French language’ and a debate on the theme “Let’s Save the World Together” as well as the debate to discuss “the Role of the Youth in Media on one hand and Politics on the other Hand. Through these various interactions, the Embassy has been able to expose the young minds to international approaches and solutions aimed at addressing challenges that affect global village, through constructive dialogue. I am therefore confident that the exposure the students are receiving is the spark that will ignite the fire in tomorrow’s leaders that go through the gates of Makerere to think beyond the scope of solutions that solely fit in the Ugandan setting,” he said.
The Chairperson of Council assured the Ambassador of the University’s commitment to creating the policy and governance atmosphere that provides an environment conducive to the promotion of networking, exchange of ideas and the creation of truly global citizens.
The launch of Campus France Antenna was accompanied by a “French Expo” in which different French companies, restaurants, and other enterprises as well as Makerere University exhibited their research, services, culture and innovations. Impressed with the way Juliet Anena is developing Tissue Culture Technology to generate new planting materials especially sweet potatoes, cassava and banana plantains, the Ambassador awarded Juliet Anena; a Makerere University student pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture a scholarship to go to France and share knowledge and experience with the French agricultural experts.
Through a lottery, the Ambassador also awarded three Makerere University students with grand prizes. The students included Mr. Tenywa Hamid who received Campus France Promotional goodies, Ms. Amina Nannozi who was awarded with a French training session at Alliance Française and Ms. Mollen Nyiraneza; awarded with a Cultural & linguistic scholarship in France.
The Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Dr. Eria Hisali congratulated the winners and urged them to support the initiative and work as Ambassadors of Campus France. He thanked the organizing team comprising Embassy of France, Mak Public Relations Office, International Office, Estates and Works Department, and Security Departments for putting up a successful function and encouraged students to utilize the Campus France offices for more opportunities.
Article by Mak Public Relations Office
The Board of the Zambia Research and Education Network (ZAMREN) led by the Chairperson, Prof. Mundia Muya on 14th October 2025 paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor, Makerere University. The Board which is on a two-day exposure visit to the Research and Education Network of Uganda (RENU) was received by the Acting (Ag.) Vice Chancellor and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Sarah Ssali in the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom.
The Chairperson was accompanied by Mr. Ronald Hatoongo and Mr. Stein Mkandawire, the Board Secretary and CEO of ZAMREN respectively, as well as RENU’s CEO-Mr. Nicholas Mbonimpa and RENUMESH Technologies CEO-Mr. Brian Masiga. In attendance were Mr. Samuel Mugabi-Director DICTS, Prof. Robert Wamala-Director Research, Innovations and Partnerships (DRIP), and Prof. Tonny Oyana-Principal College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS).
Also present were; Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda-Director Institute of Open, Distance and eLearning (IODeL), Dr. Godfrey Mayende-Deputy Director IODeL, Dr. Michael Walimbwa- College of Education and External Studies (CEES), Dr. Cathy Mbidde- Ag. Manager. Makerere University Innovation Pod, Ms. Eunice Rukundo-Deputy Chief-Public Relations and staff from the Office of the Vice Chancellor.
In her welcome remarks, Prof. Ssali thanked the ZAMREN Board for including the courtesy call on their Kampala itinerary and extended warm greetings from the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe. She noted that Makerere as a founding member of RENU has enjoyed a mutually beneficial collaboration, that has benefited both staff and students in the form of supporting growing connectivity needs, as well as training, mentorship, and development of technical skills for both continuing students and graduates.
Turning to the gist of the courtesy call, the Acting Vice Chancellor noted that the Makerere University through the Centre for Artificial Intelligence (MAK-AI) seeks to harness the transformative power of AI to address society’s most pressing challenges. “Projects undertaken by our Centre tackle real-world challenges in health, agriculture, languages, and beyond.”
Prof. Ssali nevertheless underscored the importance of upholding ethics in all AI undertakings “Mindful of global trends elsewhere, the work of the Makerere AI Centre is guided by the principles of Responsible AI, ensuring that systems are transparent, accountable, fair, and designed to benefit society.”
She therefore called upon the delegation to thoughtfully engage with the ideas presented during their visit with the aim of collectively exploring both institution can better equip staff and students to meaningfully make the most of this fast-evolving trend.
On behalf of the Board, Prof. Muya who is substantively the Vice Chancellor of the University of Zambia thanked Prof. Ssali and Members of Management present for according his delegation a warm reception to Makerere University, “one of Africa’s most distinguished centres of higher learning.
“Makerere University is not only a symbol of academic excellence but also a beacon of leadership in higher education on the African continent”, remarked Prof. Muya.
The Chairperson equally expressed the delegation’s keenness to understand how AI is being adopted, and how the academia is embracing the technology as an enabler of teaching and research. “At ZAMREN, we view digital transformation and AI integration as critical enablers of academic excellence, efficiency, and competitiveness across higher education institutions,” he remarked, adding that “We therefore look to Makerere University’s experience to draw practical lessons that can inform and inspire our efforts back home.”
Turning to the lessons from Makerere in line with digital transformation and ICT, the Director DICTS shared that owing to the partnership with RENU, internet bandwidth, a vital enabler of AI transformation currently stands at 5 Gbps of monthly consumption, with plans to scale-up to 8 Gbps. He added that RENU has also facilitated Makerere’s access to Open Libraries, and Eduroam – a secure, encrypted Wi-Fi network across to staff and students freely access the internet across partner institutions in Uganda using their University emails.
Furthermore on the enablers of AI integration, Mr. Mugabi noted that in line with digitalization of institutional business process, the University Council took a bold step to develop all information systems in-house, a move that has reduced costs spent on offshore solutions, and hemorrhage of skills. He pointed to the introduction of open source solutions, and AI policy and global collaborations with corporations such as Google as additional enablers.
Addressing AI readiness, Prof. Tonny Oyana pointed out the need for the University of Zambia to start early, citing Makerere efforts which began as far back as 2007, when Dr. John Quinn joined the institution after his PhD. He added that Dr. Quinn together with other former staff from Makerere formed Sunbird AI, a thriving initiative creating practical systems for the benefit of community.
Prof. Oyana also pointed to AI initiatives that have attracted up to USD 5million from Google Awards, staff with specialized skills in the creation and development of sensor technologies, top notch students that win continental and global awards from companies such as Huawei, and active engagements with partners to produce solutions to enhance diagnosis of malaria, tuberculosis and cancer as some of areas that demonstrate Makerere’s AI readiness.
Addressing academic and research innovation, Prof. Robert Wamala pointed out that Makerere, in recognition that the institution cannot achieve its vision alone is intentional about seeking and nurturing mutually beneficial partnerships. Furthermore, he shared that Vice Chancellor’s Annual Research Excellence Awards reward and recognize the efforts of staff who have excelled in publication, teaching and winning grants.
The Director DRIP equally underscored the need for dissemination of research produced by staff and students, pointing out the annual research and innovation week as a flagship event for not only showcasing research but also forging meaningful partnerships with stakeholders. In line with technology transfer, Prof. Wamala said that the University through the Intellectual Property Management Office ensures that innovations developed by staff and students packaged for adoption by other individuals or organisations.
Addressing the use of technologies in academic work, Prof. Birevu noted that IODeL conducts capacity building in instructional design, online facilitation, use of AI in teaching and digital assessments. “We have also advised the University on ODeL and Distance Education strategies, for instance, we have developed a ten-year masterplan for distance education with support from the Korean Government to outline how Makerere University is going to integrate distance education within its offering” he added.
At the close of the deliberations the ZAMREN expressed sincere appreciation to the Ag. Vice Chancellor and Members of Management for the free sharing that pointed out a number of priorities.
Business & Management
PIM Centre Holds 9th Steering Committee Meeting, Set to Benefit from World Bank Support
The Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence at Makerere University today, October 10th, 2025, held its 9th Steering Committee Meeting to review progress made in the first quarter of the financial year and plan for the months ahead.
The meeting was chaired by Ms. Getrude Basiima, who represented Mr. Hannington Ashaba, Director Budget at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED). Ms. Basiima commended the Centre for its continued commitment to strengthening public investment management capacity across government institutions.
In her remarks, Ms. Basiima applauded the Centre for successfully hosting the Public Investment Management Conference held in August at Makerere University. The conference attracted key policymakers, development partners, and academics who deliberated on how to enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and impact of public investments in Uganda.
She further shared exciting news that the Government of Uganda has secured funding from the World Bank to support the public investment management function. The PIM Centre, she announced, will be among the key beneficiaries of these funds — receiving support for the construction and acquisition of a permanent home to enhance its institutional sustainability and training capacity.
Reviewing the Centre’s quarterly performance, Ms. Basiima congratulated the team for successfully conducting three specialized trainings in the first quarter, reaching officials from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. These trainings continue to strengthen the technical competencies required for effective project preparation, appraisal, and implementation in line with Uganda’s National Development Plan.
She encouraged the Centre to integrate climate change considerations into its future training programmes, noting that sustainable public investment must now account for environmental resilience and climate adaptation.
The centre team presented the proposed structure/ organogram, the financial performance of 2024/2025, research areas for 2025/2026 and the strategic plan for 2025 – 2030.
The Steering Committee reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the PIM Centre’s vision of becoming a regional leader in building capacity for efficient, transparent, and sustainable public investment management.
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