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MaRCCI Embarks on Cowpea and Sorghum Research for Disease, Drought and Other Tolerances

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Makerere University’s Regional Centre for Crop Improvement (MaRCCI) has initiated two breeding programmes on cowpea and sorghum not only for research but also to address the issue of nutritional security and increasing income for farmers.

A seven (7) acre cowpea research and demonstration field under MaRCCI has been established at the Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK) where most students admitted on the cowpea breeding programme are based.
 
Dr. Dramatri Onziga explained that MaRCCI’s breeding program is focusing mainly on cowpea and sorghum because they are drought-tolerant semi-arid crops that can be bred for Northern Uganda and other areas prone to drought.

The Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (Green Cap & Tie) examines a sample of cowpeas during a tour of one of the demonstration plots under MaRCCI at MUARIK

“We are also filling a gap in the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS). We are trying to complement and be part of NARS to make it more collaborative,” he said.

A global collection of 360 different cowpea lines referred to as “a Minicore” and the Multi-parent Advanced Generation InterCross (MAGIC) population of 260 cowpea traits and 250 Ugandan collections and crosses are being evaluated on this site.

The cowpea project is addressing the issues of cowpea pests and diseases like thrips and scab, fusarium virus, cerospora, leafspot, bacterial blight, pod borer, pod sucking bugs and others.

“We are evaluating a lot of materials for different traits. The Minicore and the MAGIC populations were obtained from University of Riverside Califonia, some came from IITA, and we also have 250 Ugandan collections and crosses.

Two of the students (Left) explain to Dr. Edema (in red) and other officials during a tour of one of the sorghum demonstration plots

“From all those unique crosses; 1000 lines, the one of California are all genotyped (have molecular data) available” Dr. Patrick Ongom said.

Several similar cowpea experiments are being conducted in Serere, Arua and Ngetta. Another 8 acre cowpea site is located at Kyentume, Kabanyolo.

Another research and demonstration field on Sorghum has been established on 5 acres of land at MUARIK where the MAGIC population of sorghum obtained from Perdue University USA and the cold-tolerant populations are under evaluation.

In addition, the program is testing potential sorghum hybrids for the commercial beer production industry and other high yielding sorghum lines that can tolerate cold in mountainous areas like Kisoro and Elgon.

Visitors tour one of the cowpea demonstration plots in MUARIK

“The idea is that we want to see if sorghum adopted to cold can be grown in the cold areas of Uganda like Kisoro, Mt. Elgon area etc. So we are testing lines that can tolerate cold and give high yields. The programme is also testing the potential of hybrids which are popular in maize, targeting the beer industry” explained Dr. Onziga.

Value Addition

The programme is also looking at value added products from leaves and seeds of cowpea. The cowpea flour can be used for making porridge which is highly nutritious and this is the centre’s future prospect. The programme intends to work with the School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering to come up with these complementary products.

The programme’s focus on sorghum is in line with the beer industry’s high demand for the raw material. Besides food, the sorghum can be processed into local bushera for commercial household income.

“We are trying value addition potential for better products and how to combine sorghum and cowpea with other crop products.” Dr. Dramatri said.

Report compiled by;
Jane Anyango,
Principal Communication Officer, CAES

Mark Wamai

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General

75th Graduation Highlights

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Front View of the reconstructed Main Building, Makerere University. Date Taken 8th November 2024. Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The 75th Graduation Ceremony of Makerere University will be held at the Freedom Square. A total of 143 PhDs (64 female, 79 male), 1,813 Masters (768 female, 1,045 male), 243 Postgraduate Diplomas (96 female, 147 male), 11,455 Undergraduate Degrees (6,369 female, 5,086 male), and 8 Undergraduate Diplomas (2 female, 6 male) will be graduating from all the Colleges.

Mr. Abdul Latif Umar Bagoole emerged as the best overall and best student in the Humanities with a CGPA of 4.97 in the Bachelor of Leisure and Hospitality Management. Mr. Mubiru Enock Joel emerged as the best student in the Sciences with a CGPA of 4.91 in the Bachelor of Science.

The 75th Graduation Ceremony will be held at the Freedom Square from Monday 13th to Friday 17th January 2025 following the schedule below:

Monday, 13th January, 2025
College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS)
College of Education and External Studies (CEES)
College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-security (CoVAB)
School of Law (SoL)

Tuesday, 14th January, 2025
College of Health Sciences (CHS)
College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS)
College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS)

Wednesday, 15th January, 2025
Makerere University Business School (MUBS)
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research
Faculty of Business Administration
Faculty of Tourism, Hospitality and Languages
Faculty of Marketing and International Business
Faculty of Economics, Energy and Management Science
Faculty of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management

Thursday, 16th January, 2025
Makerere University Business School (MUBS)
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research
Faculty of Computing and Informatics
Faculty of Management
Faculty of Commerce
Faculty of Procurement and Logistics Management

Friday, 17th January, 2025
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES)
College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT)
College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS)

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Education

Application for Admission to Bachelor of Education External (BED) 2025/26

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Senate Building

1.        HOW TO APPLY

Application will be online using the AIMS System after getting a pay reference number but you will have to submit certified copies of your Diploma transcripts and certificates and a passport size photograph to office 310, level 3 Senate Building after payment of application fees.

2.        MAKERERE UNIVERSITY ONLINE APPLICATION PORTAL USERGUIDE

  1. Applicants should access the Institution’s Admissions URL http://apply.mak.ac.ug
  2. Sign up using full name, e-mail and Mobile No.  Please note that your name must be similar to the one on your supporting academic documents for your application to be considered valid.  If you changed your names please go to Senate Building Office 301 with an affidavit supporting the name change.
  3. A password will be sent to both your e-mail and mobile number.
  4. The system will prompt you to change the password to the one you can easily remember.
  5. To fill a form the applicant clicks on the APPLY NOW button displayed on the running scheme.
  6. Obtain a payment advice slip by clicking on “Pay for Form” button
  7. Make a payment at any of  bank used by URA
  1. Print the filled form and attach certified copies of your academic documents.

3.        PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING A PAYMENT REFERENCE NUMBER FOR

            PAYMENT OF APPLICATION FEES

  1. Go the payment reference site: https//:payments.mak.ac.ug
  2. Fill in your name;
  3. Fill in your email;
  • Fill in your telephone number – Go to the next
  • Click on the option number;
  • Application fee is 50,000/=(Undergraduate) continue and get the pay reference number
  • Go to the Bank and pay
  • Go to room 310 Senate Building and submit certified copies of your academic documents.

WARNING

  •      Applicants are strongly warned against presenting forged or other people’s

Academic documents to support their applications for admission.  The                          consequences, if discovered, are very grave indeed.

  •      Do not buy any other documents not originating from the Academic Registrar’s Office.  Those who buy them do so at their own risk.
  •      The Academic Registrar has not appointed any agents to act on his behalf to solicit for additional funds other than the application fee stated above.

The deadline for receiving applications is 28th February 2025.

Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi
ACADEMIC REGISTRAR

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Admissions for Diploma Holders under Government Sponsorship for 2025/2026 AY

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Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, the Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs)/Academic Registrar, delivers his remarks at the Freedom Square. Freshers Orientation for Academic Year 2024/2025, 5th August 2024. Freedom Square, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The Academic Registrar, Makerere University invites applications from Diploma Holders only for admission under the Government Sponsorship Scheme (not exceeding 5% of the intake capacity) to the University Degree Programmes for the 2025/2026 Academic year listed in the Document in the link below.

  • Each applicant should possess at least a Credit or Second Class or equivalent Diploma in a relevant field from a recognised Institution plus a Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) with at least 5 Passes (or its equivalent) and a Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) with at least One Principal Pass and Two Subsidiary Passes obtained at the same sitting (or its equivalent).
  • A non refundable application fee of Shs.50,000/ = (Fifty thousand shillings only)plus the Bank Charge using an ACMIS Pay Reference Number should be paid to any bank used by URA before submitting a system generated application form to the Admissions Office, Room 315 Level 3, in the Senate Building, Makerere University.
  • Certified copies of Diploma Transcripts (not photocopies of certified copies) from the awarding Institutions must be attached to the application forms. Incomplete application forms shall not be processed.
  • Details of the Diplomas required for each programme can be viewed on Undergraduate Admissions Notice Board on Level 3, Senate Building, Makerere University and the University website- www.mak.ac.ug
  • N.B. Applicants will be responsible for verification of their academic documents from the awarding Institutions after admission.
  • Each applicant should also attach a copy of the Birth Certificate to the application form.

The closing date for returning the system generated application forms and certified copies of the academic documents to the University is Friday 28th February, 2025.

Mak Editor

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