General
Mak-ASLC to use research-based policies to enhance Africa’s Socio- Economic Development
On 1st August 2018, Makerere University Signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Africa Strategic Leadership Centre (ASLC), in which the two parties agreed to use research-based policies to enhance Africa’s social and economic Development. Signed by the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and the Chairman, Board of Africa Strategic Leadership Centre, Dr. Robert Mwesigwa Rukaari on behalf of the two institutions respectively, the MoU stipulated that the two parties will:
- Explore opportunities for collaboration in fostering relationships between political actors, civil societies, academia and private sectors in understanding the binding constraints to Africa’s development and identifying opportunities for Africa’s transformation.
- Foster peace and security on the continent through offering pro-active solutions to the cause of conflict in Africa
- Harmonize national, regional and continental interest and highlight a positive and balanced perspective on Africa
- Contribute and influence policy using independent evidence based research
The Africa Strategic Leadership Center (The Centre) is a collaborative initiative of leaders from public and private sectors, committed to Africa’s progress, cultivating growth opportunities and investing in the continent’s human capital. The Center engages key leaders from governments, business and industry, civil society, academia and other socio-economic influencers and opinion leaders to drive Africa’s next transformation agenda.
The Africa Strategic Leadership Centre was officially launched on Tuesday, July 31st 2018 by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda at Sheraton Hotel, Kamapala. The High Profile launch that focused on understanding the pivotal role of think-tanks towards Africa’s growth was attended by prominent persons among which; was Mrs. Samia Yaba Nkrumah, the daughter of the legendary Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
“Our focus is to achieve a shared agenda, followed with complementary actions for building social order, political stability and inclusive economic growth across the African continent. We are equally committed to achieving actions representing a realistic image of Africa and supporting African countries in developing critically needed leadership and systems for catalyzing development,” said Awel Uwihanganye, the Associate Director and Secretary to the Board, Africa Strategic Leadership Centre.
The signing of the MoU at Makerere University, was graced by Samia Yaba Nkrumah and was witnessed by; Betty Bigombe, the Senior Director for Fragility, Conflict, and Violence at the World Bank; Rt. Hon. Daniel Kidega, Speaker of the 3rd East African Legislative Assembly (EALA); Irene Ikomu,member of Parliamentary Watch Uganda; Mr. Henry Mwebe, the Director Legal Affairs, Makerere University; Prof. Edward Kirumira, thePrincipal, College of Humanities and Social Sciences; Dr. Nansozi K. Muwanga, Former Head, Department of Political Science and Public Administration; Dr Andrew Elias State, Dean, School of Social Sciences; and Dr. Paul Omach, Head, Department of Political Science and Public Administration.
Commenting on the partnership, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe said that Makerere University is ready to engage in research and develop policies that will inform several changes and developments in Africa. He applauded the Africa Strategic Leadership Centre (ASLC) for the commitment to pool resources with the aim of identifying leadership and institutional ingredients necessary to address Africa’s growth bottlenecks.
In a special way, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe welcomed Ms. Samia Yaba Nkrumah to Makerere University, the incubation Centre of African leaders.
“At Makerere University, we are committed to ensuring that this partnership succeeds. We have the best human resource; this means that the potential is huge. Many of our staffs have engaged in research to find solutions to Africa’s problems and we are therefore up to the task,” he said.
The Chairman to the Board of Africa Strategic Leadership Centre, Dr. Robert Mwesigwa Rukaari, commended Makerere University for the various initiatives that the institution has put in place to find home-grown solutions to Africa’s challenges. “You have made extensive research and found solutions on aspects such as transformational leadership, ICT, peace and security, climate change and environmental conservation, food security and agriculture, economy, trade and investment, leadership and governance. We greatly appreciate your efforts,” he said.
Samia Nkrumah thanked Makerere University for the warm welcome and applauded the institution for upholding Africa’s legacy through research, innovations, leadership training and mentorship, and the immense investment in production of human capital.
“I am happy to visit Makerere University, a renowned leadership academy that has groomed many African leaders. Your research has informed the world on the greatness of Africa as a continent,” she remarked.
The delegation led by Samia Yaba Nkrumah also visited the Nkrumah Hall, at Makerere University.
Africa Strategic Leadership Centre is soon organizing, the “Africa Now” conference. The conference will be an annual signature leadership event bringing together leading African minds to consider key constraints to socio-economic growth, an act of achieving drivers to secure a better future for Africa.
Article by: Mak Public Relations Office.
Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. The tournament was held in three preliminary rounds, followed by semi-finals and a grand finale.
The first round covered democracy and youth participation in politics, while the second round covered inequality and wealth distribution, and the third, the ban on export of raw materials. The semi-final round debated apprenticeship for blue-collar jobs, while the grand finale debated national budget allocations for healthcare and education. In the spirit of inclusivity, all colleges, including the Jinja Campus participated in the tournament.
Commenting on the choice of topics, the organisers noted Makerere University as a bastion of academic excellence has a profound responsibility to cultivate the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of our nation. These leaders, they added, ought to be equipped with 21st century skills of self-expression, critical thinking, and problem-solving so as to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving world.
On the whole, Makerere Inter-college Debates were conceived as a strategic initiative to foster a culture of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and innovation. The Debating Union aims to empower the future leaders by providing a platform for students to engage in respectful discourse, articulate their thoughts, as well as develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Furthermore, the Debates serve as a platform for not only honing the intellectual prowess of students but also cultivating leadership skills, teamwork, and communication abilities that are essential for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. It is envisaged that this initiative will have a lasting impact on the lives of students, by exposing them to debates on topical issues that can shape the mindsets of transformative leaders our nation needs.
After a thrilling two days of debate, Daphine Kemigisha and Jibril Ssekandi from the School of Law (SoL) emerged as winners of the Makerere University Inter-college Debate Tournament 2025, while Olara Emmanuel George from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) was the Public Speech Champion, and Namujuzi Martha Mociita from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) was the Poetry Champion.
The 2025 Tournament was organized by Mayanja Owen and Nkalubo Oprah – 91st Guild Representative Councils (GRCs) of the Debate Union, Akatwijuka Arthur – Chairperson Debate Union, and Debate Union Representatives from colleges. The Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) partnered with the Debate Union to deliver the 2025 edition.
Addressing students at the award ceremony, UNNGOF’s Mr. Derrick Baluuku encouraged the youth to step out of their comfort zones and think of solutions to inspire change in their communities.
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