General
Mak Regional Centre for Crop Improvement (MaRCCI) acquires vehicles worth over one billion shillings
The vehicles, Model 2018, include a 29 seater minibus Registration No. UBD 487Q procured at a cost of $106,000 USD and two double cabins Registration Nos. UBD 485Q & UBD 488Q procured at $50,000 USD each.
The three vehicles were supplied by Toyota Uganda Ltd and received by Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe at the University Freedom square in the afternoon of Wednesday 1st August, 2018.
Receiving the vehicles, Prof. Nawangwe hailed the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and MaRCCI Programme Coordinators for the immense research and infrastructural achievements.
A month ago, MaRCCI procured and delivered the first class agricultural equipment worth one billion shillings that will help in students’ field experiments and cultivation on the university farm at MUARIK.
“ This is a demonstration that there is value for the money that Government of Uganda has borrowed. It also shows that money has been put to correct use”, Prof. Nawangwe stated.
The Vice Chancellor disclosed that given the tremendous work being undertaken by the CAES at MUARIK, he had interested the Minister of Education and Sports Hon. Janet Museveni to visit the University farm to see what was taking place.
Prof. Nawangwe implored CAES Management, the MaRCC project coordinators and all staff to continue doing their work professionally to lead Makerere to its vision of being a research led university.
“Agriculture is not only the backbone of this country but the only sector that can deliver this country from her economic challenges to improve livelihoods and feed the ever rising population,” Prof. Nawangwe noted.
The Principal CAES Prof. Bernard Bashaasha congratulated the MaRCCI Centre Director, Dr. Edema upon this achievement saying, the college prides in this centre.
“The centre is one of the biggest and trains the biggest number of post graduate students especially plant breeders from across the continent and we are proud to be associate with it”. The Principals said.
MaRCCI centre Director who is also the Principal Investigator of the project Dr. Richard Edema said, as part of the centre, they have been trying to strengthen on the teaching and training infrastructure.
“We have a lot of research and scientists need vehicles for movement, field trails and monitoring. The minibus will help in transportation of our students and staff during teaching and field trials,” Dr. Edema said.
He said the center’s efforts in improving the training and research infrastructures is in response to the university call to position itself as a research led university.
“This is the second procurement. We are now left with equipping the laboratory, establishing an office and classroom block at MUARIK to help CAES in teaching her programmes”, Dr. Edema said.
Makerere University won a $ 6 million USD World Bank Grant to support the establishment of the Makerere University Regional Centre for Crop Improvement (MaRCCI) within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Through MaRCCI, the university will strengthen the PhD program in Plant Breeding in Biotechnology, the MSc. in Plant Breeding and Seed Systems, applied research in various crops, and outreach activities to improve Ugandan agriculture through enhancing the skills of public and private personnel supporting crop breeding and production activities.
The grant also provides for additional scientific and support staff and enhancement of facilities and equipment with the goal of modernizing and expanding the teaching, research, and service activities of MaRCCI in a sustainable manner.
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In a vibrant celebration of youth leadership and African unity, Makerere University hosted the Second Annual Guild Leaders’ Summit, an event that brought together high-profile dignitaries, student leaders, and international partners for a powerful dialogue on the future of the continent. The summit, organized by the Guild Presidents Leadership Academy, served as a rallying point for East Africa’s young leaders to confront Africa’s most urgent challenges—on their own terms and with their own solutions.
A Warm Welcome and Reflections on Makerere’s Legacy
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, welcomed the distinguished guests, who included Former President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo, former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, Justice Simon Byabakama, Hon. Mathew Rukikaire, and European Union Deputy Ambassador Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, among others.
In his address, Prof. Nawangwe reflected on Makerere’s deep historical ties to East Africa’s liberation and development movements. He reminded the audience that Makerere University has been a crucible for the continent’s leadership, stating:
“Jomo Kenyatta was the first person to receive a degree from Makerere when, in 1963, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by then Chancellor Julius Nyerere. All freedom fighters in East Africa studied at Makerere.”
Building on this rich history, Prof. Nawangwe affirmed the university’s current mission to tackle pressing continental issues. “Today,” he said, “Makerere is committed to addressing Africa’s challenges—climate change, disease, poverty, food security, conflict resolution, and economic development. But we cannot do this alone.”
He echoed sentiments later shared by the keynote speaker, stressing that Africa must no longer depend on external interventions:
“Foreign agencies will not solve all Africa’s problems. It is our young people who must step forward and lead the change.”
Uhuru Kenyatta: “You Are the Last Line of Defence”
In a keynote address that resonated deeply with the students and delegates in attendance, Former President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a bold and urgent call to action for Africa’s youth.
“No one is coming to save us,” Kenyatta declared. “You are the last line of defence in the battle to rescue the heart and soul of Africa.”
Positioning today’s youth as the heirs of the continent’s freedom fighters, Kenyatta described the current moment as a new “independence era”—not of political liberation, but of economic and intellectual sovereignty. He urged students to think critically about intra-African trade, which currently accounts for less than 2.5% of global commerce, and to advocate for the removal of internal barriers to trade, innovation, and mobility.
“You are the freedom fighters of this generation,” he said. “Universities must be incubators of change, and students must be the trustees of tomorrow’s Africa.”
Pan-Africanism, Leadership, and Action
Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo encouraged students to take up the mantle of Pan-Africanism with unwavering commitment. She acknowledged that while the rhetoric of African unity is inspiring, real progress demands more than words:
“You must embrace the spirit of Pan-Africanism. But it is easy to say these words—the challenge lies in collective implementation.”
She emphasized the importance of action-oriented leadership and urged the youth to harness their creativity, energy, and education for the benefit of the continent.
European Union’s Message: Leadership with Integrity
Representing Team Europe, the EU Deputy Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, gave a passionate speech on the values of authentic leadership, integrity, and inclusive development. He praised Makerere University as a space where “intellectual ambition meets civic responsibility” and emphasized that leadership is not about prestige, but purpose:
“Be a leader because of what you want to be—not because of what you want to have,” he said.
Citing former Makerere alumni such as Julius Nyerere and Wangari Maathai, Chartrain called on students to model courage, resilience, and humility:
“True leadership emerges in moments of loss—when resilience, not triumph, becomes the measure of one’s character.”
The EU, he said, remains committed to supporting youth through programs like Erasmus+, the EU Youth Sounding Board, and partnerships with organizations like Faraja Africa Foundation and Restless Development. These initiatives empower youth not as symbols, but as active participants in shaping policy and governance.
The Legacy Continues
Throughout the summit, speakers highlighted the importance of legacy and long-term impact. They challenged young leaders to think not just about the present, but about the systems and institutions they will leave behind. In the words of Former President Kenyatta:
“Leadership is not about the next election. It’s about the next generation.”
The summit ended on a high note, with students invigorated and inspired to lead with purpose. As global support grows less predictable and Africa stands at a crossroads, the message from Makerere was clear: the future of the continent is in the hands of its youth. And as the Guild Leaders’ Summit demonstrated, they are ready.
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