Connect with us

General

Mak-Karolinska Institute to establish a Centre of Excellence in Non-Communicable Diseases

Published

on

On 8th  June 2018, a delegation from Makerere University led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, together with a team from Karolinska Institute (KI), Sweden led by its President, Prof. Ole Petter Ottersen concluded discussions on further areas of collaboration.

During their meeting at KI, the delegates agreed to jointly fundraise for the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs). They also underscored the need to develop capacity in managing the growing incidences of NCDs, particularly stroke, breast cancer and others. 

Building on the collaborative history and mutual commitments between KI and Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS), opportunities are being explored to address common research interests, such as different aspects of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs). The global economic burden of NCDs is large. In almost all countries, development of health systems that are responsive to the challenge of prevention and treatment of NCDs is a priority. NCDs consist of a vast group of conditions, but in terms of premature mortality emphasis has been on cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases. The challenge is truly global. The generation of knowledge is global, and research results a global public good. Strategic alliances are essential. 

from L-R, T he Vice Chancellor of Makerere University Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the  of Principal College of Health Sciences Prof. Charles Ibingira, a delegate from Karolinska Institute   and Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, Director of Research and Graduate Training.

In August 2016 a delegation from KI led by Professor Maria Masucci, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for International Affairs, visited Makerere University and had successful discussion on how KI and Makerere University can work together and be partners regarding NCD research. Since then, project leaders have been identified at both universities. Project proposals have been submitted for funding and the ethical permit has been processed and approved for the pilot study ”Exploring the feasibility of a population cohort to facilitate long-term studies on risk factors for cardiovascular disease in Uganda”. 

Professor Anders Gustafsson, Dean of Research, Associate Professor Bruna Gigante and Ms Monika Berge, International Co-ordinator had successful meetings at Makerere University in February 2018, and participated in the NCD conference organised by Makerere University. The feasibility study – Advances in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in Uganda, is planned to start at the The Iganga-Mayuge Demographic Surveillance Site in June 2018.

During their discussions on further collaboration held on 8th June 2018, the team from Makerere University and KI also agreed to conduct joint research and education programmes. The Makerere University delegation, comprising Prof. Charles Ibingira, Principal College of Health Sciences and Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, Director of Research and Graduate Training also held discussions with various departments at KI including the departments of Dentistry and Comparative Medicine.

the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University  Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, together with the President of  Karolinska Institute (KI) Prof. Ole Petter Ottersen.

The collaboration between KI and Makerere University (MU) is the most comprehensive international collaboration at KI, from education to research activities. The first Memorandum of Understanding confirming the partnership, and the initiation of the double degree program, was signed in 2003. In 2011 the two universities entered into a new Memorandum of Understanding for their mutual development. It was signed and endorsed during a formal ceremony at Makerere University in Kampala. 

The MOU was in 2016 extended for a new five-year period. An implementation Agreement was signed on 11 February 2015, regarding a Joint Doctoral Training towards degree of Doctor of Philosophy PhD, under which a substantial number of students affiliated to Makerere University College of Health Sciences have completed a double PhD degree at KI and Makerere University in the past years. As of 2018, there have been 37 PhD thesis defended as a result of the collaboration. Over 200 students and teachers from KI and Makerere University, have taken part in exchange studies on undergraduate and advanced level, financed by the Swedish Linnaeus-Palme program.

Article by: Mak Public Relations Office 

Proscovia Nabatte

Continue Reading

General

Special Exam Results -Diploma in Performing Arts 2025/26

Published

on

The results for the 2025/2026 special entry examination for the Diploma in Performing Arts held on Saturday 17th May, 2025. Candidates who scored a final mark of 50% and above passed the Examination and have been recommended to the university’s Admissions Committee for consideration.

Mak Editor

Continue Reading

General

Mature Age Scheme Exam Results for 2025/2026

Published

on

The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released full results for the Mature Age Entry Scheme Examinations for the Academic Year 2025/2026 held on Saturday 14th December, 2024.

The Candidates who scored a final mark of 50% and above passed the examination and have been recommended by the Pre-Entry & Mature Age Committee to the University’s Admissions Board for Consideration.

The Aptitude Exam  Results for 2025/2026 Academic Year released in February 2025 can be found here.

Mak Editor

Continue Reading

General

Call for Application: 2025 SNRM session 4 Summer School

Published

on

Participants in focused group discussions. Leiden-Delft-Erasmus East Africa Research Network (LEARN) in collaboration with the Urban Action Lab at Makerere University a workshop to deliberate strategies for mitigating the impacts of climate change in urban centres in the East African Region, Theme: “Resilient Urban Futures: Adapting Livelihoods to Climate Change”, 4th-5th September 2024, School of Public Health Auditorium, Kampala Uganda.

Context:
Natural resources in Africa are being depleted at an alarming rate due to several factors, including unsustainable human activities, climate change, and population growth. A primary condition of sustainable development is to ensure that the pressures do not exceed the environmental limits, and that demand for the resources does not exceed levels that can be sustainably provided by nature. Therefore, there is a pressing need for transformative, systems-thinking approaches and tools that can tackle the diverse challenges facing these systems. In Africa, this need is compounded by a lack of data and monitoring, which significantly hinders sustainable decision-making.

Investing in young scientists who are committed to take lead in sustainable management of Africa’s natural resources is very important. Capacity building of young scientists will enhance their knowledge and skill on sustainable natural resources and their involvement for implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDG’s) in Africa. To this effect, SNRM summer schools have been implemented in three sessions in 2019, 2020, and 2022 with support from Volkswagen Foundation; to build a critical mass of skilled and competent young natural resource scientists in Africa through training, capacity building and mentorship. Session 4 (2025) will target competent young scientists (MSc and PhD students) in Africa and Germany to further develop their knowledge and skills in systems thinking, advanced data collection and analysis, and application of emerging digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), internet of things (IoT), and embracing transdisciplinary approaches. In addition, we include an ideation workshop where students can work on real problems to come up with solutions for sustainable transformations in natural resource use.

Organizers: Leibniz Universität – Hannover (Germany), University of Antananarivo, University of Abomey Calavi (Benin), Makerere University (Uganda), University of Ghana (Ghana), University of Parakou (Benin), The Technical University of Kenya, with financial support from the Volkswagen Foundation (Germany).

Venue and dates: Nairobi, Kenya, 16-28 November 2025

Target: MSc and PhD students, early in the program of less than 35 years of age from any university/research institution in either sub-Saharan Africa or Germany with an interest in natural resources management.

Participants and Scholarships: The course is fully funded and open to 20 MSc and PhD students from Africa, and 5 from Germany. Funding will cover the costs of air ticket, accommodation, meals, visa, and transportation. However, participants will cover the cost of their travel health insurance.

Topics

SNRM Summer School Session 4: Transformative pathways in biodiversity management and conservation.
This summer school is designed to deliver four modules over a two-week period. The modules are designed to enable the students to acquire new ways of designing data collection protocols and analysis for transformative sustainable natural resources management.

Module 4.1: Data collection I
Skills in data collection for a transformative and sustainable management of natural resources (water, wildlife, forest, land, livestock, crops) monitoring and data collection techniques; remote monitoring tools, earth observation system data, e.g. satellite data sources, LIDAR, and UAV aerial images. Collect and analyse In-situ data on biotic and abiotic parameters, map and analyse data using R or Google Earth Engine, field data collection and retrieving data from online databases.

Module 4.2 Data management and processing
Introduction to tools and methods of managing large and diverse data sets of natural resources such as time series, spatial, directional, and multivariate data. Practicals will include data storage, organization and conversion into various formats using databases such as PostgreSQL and statistical programming software such as R and Python; scripts.

Module 4.3 Ecological monitoring, modelling and management
This module aims to teach participants how to anticipate and validate trends that can be observed in various ecosystems. Lectures include ecological monitoring and its design; population monitoring studies; metrics in population monitoring; methods for monitoring and assessing marine ecosystems; human ecology to socio-ecological systems; climate change impact of ecosystems; suitability assessments; overview of the principles underlying wildlife monitoring and prediction systems for climate change adaptation. Practicals will include field data collection (individual and group); ecological data analysis using R or PAST; modelling and experiencing the behaviour of complex systems using Vensim.

Module 4.4 Natural habitat restoration ideation lab
This module is designed to spur students’ innovation and creativity, and to help students comprehensively identify interdependencies across the 17 SDG goals. Participants will be trained on ideation processes for solutions and intervention for transformative natural resource management. They will work collaboratively in small groups on case studies and develop pathways of transformative sustainable natural resource management. Examples of projects include forest (mangrove) ecosystem and habitat restoration, improved technologies for agricultural production, nature-based solutions for improving water quality, and reversing land degradation.

Language: The course will be delivered in English. Participants are expected to be fluent in writing and speaking the English language.

How to apply

Applicants are kindly requested to fill in the application form available from https://snrmafrica.com/ and submit the following documents in English through the system.

  • a curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages)
  • a letter of motivation (maximum 1 page)
  • a confirmation of university enrolment
  • a reference letter from the academic supervisor
  • project summary of MSc/ PhD project (1 page including objectives, methodology
    and key findings or expected outcomes).

Important dates
Application deadline: 30th June 2025.
Announcement of accepted applicants: 15th August 2025.
Confirmation of attendance by selected participants: 12th Sept 2025.
Summer school held: 16 – 28 Nov 2025.

Further information is available from

The secretariat info@snrmafrica.com
Dr Lydia Olaka lydiaolaka@tukenya.ac.ke
Prof. Dr. Hartmut Stuetzel stuetzel@gem.uni-hannover.de

Mak Editor

Continue Reading

Trending