On 15th May 2018, the Secretary General of African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Prof. Ernest Aryeetey visited Makerere University. During the historic visit, Prof. Aryeetey who also doubles as the Vice Chancellor of University of Ghana, met with Makerere University Top Management to discuss the various ways through which Makerere University can actively participate in the Alliance activities that are geared towards making African researchers and institutions globally competitive while contributing to the generation of knowledge for socio-economic transformation in Africa.

The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) is a network of universities from different countries and different historical backgrounds, but with a common vision of expanding and enhancing significantly the quality of research done in Africa.   

Inaugurated in Dakar in March 2015, ARUA brings together sixteen (16) of the region’s leading universities with the aim of strengthening African research through effective capacity-building. Its intention reflects what Africa needs at the moment from its leading universities.

The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) is focusing on;
•    Increasing significantly the amount of  research that is being done in the 16 universities
•    Expanding the graduate training activities in the 16 universities 
•    Research management on the African continent
•    Africa’s Research advocacy 

“We need to improve research in both natural and social sciences and the research areas we are keenly looking at include; Climate change, Food security, on-communicable diseases, Materials development, and nanotechnology,  Energy, Mobility & migration, Poverty & inequality, Unemployment & skills development, Notions of identity, Good governance, Post-conflict societies and Water conservation,” he said.

According to Prof Ernest Aryeetey, over the years, African researchers have gained international recognition for their research that is majorly based on find solutions to societal problems.  However, such tremendous research has been hindered by challenges such as financial constraints the sector is facing.

“One of the major challenges that African researchers are facing is finding money to finance research activities and this has greatly impacted the rate at which research is being carried out on the continent.  One university in Africa is not strong enough to overcome these challenges and the best way is to collaborate and work together. We are pooling resources to relevant areas that we believe if handled very well can yield good results in communities,” he said.

Prof Ernest Aryeetey commended Makerere University for its vital research that has developed solutions to community problems. He urged collaborating Universities to look at the Alliance as a pan-African network that brings research and academic excellence to the fore front throughout the region by developing strong and viable research universities.

The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, warmly welcomed Prof Ernest Aryeetey to Makerere University. He thanked the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) for recognising the tremendous contribution of Makerere University towards Africa’s research development.  

“Makerere University has for long engaged in activities that are geared towards finding solutions to African problems. The institution is well known for developing human resource capacity that has strongly supported the economic and industrial sector of Uganda and Africa at large. We have engaged in research that provided solution to the ramming climate change, food insecurity and the rising epidemic diseases. I would like to mention that Makerere has the best tropical medicine school in the whole world with some of the best centres of excellence on the continent.” He vehemently said.

On behalf of Makerere University, the Vice Chancellor pledged to participate and support the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) to ensure that it meets its objectives. 

Article by Proscovia Nabatte, Mak Public Relations Office.