General
Mak Management and Director General NARO Officially Welcome MaRCCI Cohort VI Graduate Students
- Students tipped on becoming better breeders back home
- DGRT proposes turning MUARIK into a graduate training school for Mak
Makerere University Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs (DVCAA) Dr. Ernest Okello Ogwang has officially welcomed the new MSc and PhD students admitted under the Regional Centre for Crop Improvement (MaRCCI).
This was during the second day of orientation on Tuesday, 11th September 2018 where over 40 students from 13 sub-Saharan African countries are being inducted at the Continuing Agricultural Education centre (CAEC) at the University Research Institute in Kabanyolo.
The three day orientation concludes on Thurday, 13th September 2018 with briefing from Bankers and Insurers, a familiarization tour of the Makerere University main campus and briefing on programme activities and expectations from MaRCCI Administrative staff.
In his speech, Dr. Okello Ogwang commended the program for taking into account the gender aspect. The 2018 intake consists of 15 PhD students (8 females and 7 males) and over 20 MSc. students (12 females were present), representing a 1:1 ratio.
Dr. Okello Ogwang commended MaRCCI upon transforming itself from the Makerere Regional Graduate programmes in plant breeding initiated in the Department of Agricultural Production with support from RUFORUM in 2008.
He further acknowledged the 127 MSc and 57 PhD students trained since the programme was initiated, saying that as a result, Makerere has attained global reputation for the quality of its graduates who have stayed in the region applying the skills they have acquired.
“Plant Breeding is a discipline that has tremendous potential to improve the food and nutritional security and livelihoods of small scale farmers who represent 70% of the population of Uganda and sub-Saharan Africa”, Ogwang noted.
He said Plant Breeding and Seed Systems (PBSS) and Plant Breeding and Biotechnology (PBB) training operates as a model programme – designed to produce fit-for purpose, market ready graduates who have the competencies and mentality to develop crop varieties that are responsive to the value chain needs, including producers, processors and consumers.
Dr. Ogwang noted that in order to address significant problems in crop production, the centre has exemplary cooperation with NARO and other national, regional and global institutes and universities. He expressed happiness that the management of the center is overseen by an advisory board of world class scientists, educators and representatives of commercial seed companies.
Similarly he added that in order to deliver exceptional quality, the programme benefits from highly trained young scientists as well as regional and international experts such as Prof. Albert Chiteka.
Dr. Ogwang said in support of global academic excellence in the applied sciences, Makerere University administration fully backs the centre’s model programme through which the university can adopt progressive approaches.
“We pledge our support to assist the centre overcome the challenges of inefficient administrative processes, uptake of staff into regular Makerere positions and operational sustainability.
We are indeed eager to see the centre continue to expand in scope and quality and confident that it can serve as model for other programmes, as we pursue the goal of becoming a progressive international, research-led university producing real innovations to solve national and regional problems”. Dr. Ogwang promised.
In his welcome remarks, Prof. Bernard Bashaasha, the Principal, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) represented by his Deputy Dr. Gorettie Nabanoga welcomed students to CAES and Uganda.
Nabanoga was grateful for the program’s culturally diverse intake, describing Uganda as a beautiful country where students will enjoy their stay and studies.
“Count yourselves privileged for having chosen Makerere so as to be part of the team developing the world in terms of food. You have the best course at heart and that is the reason you chose Uganda. Makerere sets the scene for you to become the greatest leaders, plant breeders and agriculturalists”, Nabanoga told students, adding that:
“This is the best place you can ever find. It is by design that you are in Kabanyolo, a stone’s throw away from a leading research centre. We are blessed to have the Director General NARO here today, a sign of our warm collaboration”.
Dr. Nabanoga applauded the program choice of 50% gender distribution, saying that any successful intervention must put women at the forefront to realize success. She reassured students that despite the fact that they are going to study from Kabanyolo, they are part of Makerere and would have some time to spend on the main campus to interact with other students.
“Our role is to make it possible for you to go through the academics. MaRCCI is a centre of excellence and the programmes are designed by the Department of Agricultural Production where you belong, which falls under the School of Agricultural Sciences and then the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
As you stay at Kabanyolo, you will interact with research stations, learn the challenges we have, bring your wealth of experience, share and find solutions for a better Africa”. Nabanoga implored.
“We are training you to surmount challenges and to advise management on what can be done. Be very proactive in solving problems and be sure to communicate because our role is to make your stay comfortable, “the Deputy Principal advised.
Nabanoga however told students that little can be adjusted in some areas like stipend and allocations for research because these were terms and conditions they appended signatures to upon admission.
She said the University’s role is to ensure that the teaching is done and supervisors assigned to the students. The Deputy Principal advised students to fulfill their roles, balance their time and finish on time.
She also advised foreign students to establish networks with local students for guidance and to enable them cope with the social and academic work.
Dr. Nabanoga further implored students to be good flag bearers of their countries and to avoid leaving bad memories. She thanked DVCAA for the support extended from the University Administration, NARO, Dr. Richard Edema and other staff for crafting and working so hard to put the program together.
The Deputy Director General, National Agriculture Research Organisation (NARO) Dr. Yona Baguma stressed that in order to have a functional breeding program, there must be a good human resource base which must have the capacity to manage data, be able to do quality phenotyping, do quality genotyping and also have the capacity to create a clear and functional breeding pipeline.
“By the breeding pipeline, we mean that if you are breeding for drought adaptation, you must know what it takes you from the point you select the parents through crossing them, up to the time when you get the product that is adapted to drought, “he said.
He pointed out that at present time, if you are breeding for resistance to fall army worm; the pest that is ravaging the maize, it means that from the time you select the parents, make the crosses and then select the best candidates for resistance or tolerance to the pest.
Dr. Baguma also the Board Chair MaRCCI noted that the best functional breeding program must have the capacity to design products that are suited to different industries for food, feed and for nonfood applications.
He observed that most breeding programs in Africa today have a lot of challenges ranging from low human capacity which require continued training of more plant breeders.
“They are very low in terms of funding and above all they are low in terms of their capacity to manage quality data that can be used for reference in future, you are on board because you have the capacity to manage a breeding program, without data you will walk along streets well knowing that you are not breeders”, he added.
He stated that MaRRCI has got a good international rating noting that the students are lucky to be part of it to get knowledge and other tips which can help their respective countries get to another level.
Baguma applauded Dr. Edema and his Deputy Prof. Paul Gibson for writing the proposal which materialized into a centre of excellence. He told the students not to focus on the infrastructure but on the academics noting that while he was at Makerere in 1986, the whole research institute was filled with bushes.
“It was emerging out of the bush war and it was the dining and the lecture room that were visible, we persevered and studied and changed its look. This centre which stemmed from a small meeting at royal suites where the proposal was written, has given it a different look, “he revealed.
He challenged the students to understand how to do things that will benefit their countries, saying that a degree that is not beneficial to society is as good as nothing.
“You must know from today that if you fail to learn, you will never learn. You need to create demand around yourself because if you miss out on this, you will be like any other person. Commit time and put away all the destructions surrounding you.
Africa is looking for high quality experienced experts and if you are the leaders of tomorrow, you need to emerge as experts, “Dr. Baguma encouraged.
He expressed pride at being associated with NARO which has the best human resource base with the highest number of PhDs.
The Deputy Director, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT) Assoc. Prof. David Okello Owiny hailed Dr. Edema and Prof. Gibson for the initiative and keeping the fire burning. He also congratulated students upon getting the award to study under MaRCCI.
Owiny implored students to be mindful of what they want to achieve at the end and advised them to register so as to qualify as students of Makerere. He however decried the delaying tactics by some supervisors who make it hard for students to complete on time and advocated for expansion of the scope of supervision to ensure timely graduation by bringing on board expertise from private universities.
Dr. Owinyi informed students that teaching; supervision and examination will be handled by the CAES and NARO. He implored program directors not to restrict supervision only to crop scientists, saying supervision can be done by veterinarians especially in aspect of technology.
Advising students on their social life, Dr. Owinyi implored those with families to keep in touch so as to avoid crumbling, “find a way of killing boredom by visiting friend’s functions, engaging in church activities and playing games.”
He reported that in the January 2017 Graduation, CAES presented 18 PhD students out of the 72 university wide number.
“Last year, CAES was second to the College of Health Sciences which had 19 PhDs. Makerere is moving to a research-led university and this means an increase in our graduate output and number of foreign students and impact, number of staff and research output and publications.
Dr. Owiny however said the university should know that there other new entrants in graduate output including MUBS which is set to present its highest number of PhDs from 1 – 11 at the next graduation ceremony.
He attributed this to their strategy of having a special school to train graduates. He proposed the need for Makerere to turn MUARIK into a school for graduate training for all university units.
“MUARIK has a good environment. Why not turn this research institute into a graduate school for all MSc and PhD programmes. MUBS has succeeded by creating such a school headed by the Dean.
This will strengthen the college because we already have the basic infrastructure.
Given the capacity of 500 graduate students who cannot be handled at the main campus, yet most of the research is done at Kabanyolo, this can easily increase on the number of students recruited.
It will also increase the research output in terms of publications and graduate students who will complete and in turn increase the visibility of Makerere University. This in one way answers the quest for Makerere to be a research led university.
What we need here are student’s hostels and university buses running say in two hour intervals so that if you are a lecturer, you know and plan accordingly.
Let’s make the lives of international students easy,” Dr. Owiny suggested.
He also implored students to avoid dirty politics and troublesome spots that may land them into problems and always seek advice in case of challenges.
Article Compiled by;
Jane Anyango and Agnes Nankebe Nantambi,
Communication Office CAES.
General
Makerere University Launches First Writing Summer School to Strengthen Professional Writing Skills.
KAMPALA, UGANDA, EAST AFRICA.
On Monday 6th, Makerere University has officially launched its inaugural writing summer school, a week long professional development program aimed at equipping students, graduates, researchers and staff with practical writing skills required for academic excellence and success in today’s competitive job market. The program jointly organized by the Makerere University Writing Centre and Makerere University Press (MakPress), reflects the University’s commitment to nurturing graduates with not only academic knowledge but also the communication skills needed to thrive professionally.
Held virtually, the launch attracted more than 280 participants from Makerere University and other higher education institutions, demonstrating the growing demand for structured writing support beyond the classroom.
Building the Next Generation of Writers.
Speaking at the launch, the Director of Makerere Writing Press, Prof. William Tayeebwa, said the summer school represents an important investment in developing writers before their work reaches publication.
“The press has traditionally focused on publishing books, journals and scholarly work. Today, we are expanding that mission by helping and develop the writers who will produce tomorrow’s publication.
He noted that MakPress continues to support the publication of books and scholarly works produced by members of the Makerere Community. Using recently published books authored by a member of staff and a student as examples, he encouraged participants to submit manuscripts for publishing support rather than relying solely on self publication.
Writing as a Foundation for Academic and Professional Success.
Chairperson of the Makerere University Writing Centre, Prof. Frederick Muyodi, said the center was established to strengthen the writing competences among students, researchers and university staff.
” The Writers Center is here to support every stage of the writing process from CVs and application letters to research manuscripts, grant proposals, reports and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in writing.”
He explained that the Centre supports writing across multiple disciplines and professional contexts, adding that its long term vision is to extend writing support beyond Makerere University to institutions across Uganda and the East African region.
Equipping Graduates for the Labour Market.
Officially launching the summer school, the First Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Sarah Ssali, described the initiative as a strategic investment in preparing graduates for an increasingly competitive labour market.
She observed that while universities successfully impart disciplinary knowledge, many graduates leave campus without the practical writing skills required to secure employment and other professional opportunities.
“We teach content very, but many students are never taught how to write an effective CV, application letter, motivation statement or scholarly essay. Yet these are the documents that often determine whether someone secures an opportunity.”
Prof. Ssali said the writing summer school would bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional practice by equipping participants with market ready communication skills.
Reaffirming her office’s commitment to the initiative, she added:
“My office is pleased to support this initiative as we institutionalize the Writing Summer School to ensure that Makerere graduates leave not only with degrees but also with practical competencies needed to thrive professionally,”
She officially declared the inaugural Writing Summer School open and expressed optimism that future editions would attract even more participants and resources.
Participants Gain Practical CV Writing Skills.
The first technical session was facilitated by Mr. Abdul Noor Luttamaguzi, a PhD student in the Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences within the School of Bio sciences at Makerere University, a Senior Fisheries Officer with Luweero District Local Government, and the founder and director of the ANL Foundation, an organization that supports youth employment and capacity building.
During the session, he guided participants on developing competitive CVs tailored to specific professionals and employer expectations. He emphasized that applicants should customize their CVs to suit each opportunity instead of submitting the same document for every application. Participants also learned how effectively present their education, work experience, leadership roles technical competencies and professional achievements, while avoiding unnecessary personal information. Practical demonstrations using professional specific CVs provided participants with hands on examples of preparing competitive job application documents.
Looking Ahead.
The Writing Summer School continues throughout the week sessions on application letter writing, responsible use of artificial intelligence, professional communication and other essential writing skills aimed at improving academic productivity and employablity.
Through initiatives such as the Writing Summer School, Makerere University continues to strengthen its commitment to producing graduates who are not academically accomplished but also equipped with practical communication skills that enable them to compete and lead in today’s global workplace.
General
Makerere Launches Strategic Plan 2025-2030 to Drive Research, Innovation and National Development.
Kampala, Uganda East Africa.
Makerere University has officially launched its Strategic Plan 2025-2030, reaffirming its commitment to advancing research, innovation, academic excellence and human capital development in support of Uganda’s national transformation agenda.
The Strategic Plan, unveiled by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi, provides a road map for strengthening the University’s contribution to Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy through research, innovation, entrepreneurship and the production of highly skilled graduates.
The launch, held at the University’s Main Hall, brought together government officials, members of the University Council, management, development partners, staff and students to witness what leaders described as the beginning of Makerere University’s next phase of institutional transformation.
Positioning Makerere for National Transformation.
Delivering his remarks, Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe said the Strategic Plan reflects Makerere University’s ambition to become an even stronger research led institution that responds directly to Uganda’s development priorities.
He noted that the University intends to restore student enrollment to pre COVID levels while significantly increasing postgraduate training to produce more researchers, innovators and professionals capable of addressing national challenges.
Prof. Nawangwe also highlighted the University’s growing research portfolio, commending researchers and research centers that continue to attract substantial international funding.
“when you combine the grants won by all our researchers through competitive international funding, the total exceeds US$200 million,” He said.
The Vice Chancellor also pointed to the need to strengthen the University’s academic workforce, noting that although progress has been made, more investment is required to fill approved academic positions, particularly at professor and associate professor levels.
Strategic Plan Sets Ambitious Institutional Targets.
Chairperson of the University Council, Dr. Lorna Magara, described the Strategic Plan as more than an institutional document, calling it “a public covenant with the people of Uganda.”
She said the Plan outlines measurable commitments that will guide the University’s performance over the next five years, including expanding postgraduate enrolment, increasing STEM participation, improving doctoral completion rates and strengthening research productivity.
“Ambition is precisely what this moment demands. A strategic plan is not measured by the elegance of its language, but by the lives it transforms,” she said.
Dr. Magara emphasized that every investment in Makerere University should translate into tangible benefits for society through research, innovation, leadership and skilled graduates.
She also called for reforms to Uganda’s Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act to strengthen university governance and create an enabling environment for innovation and knowledge production.
Government Reaffirms Support.
Launching the Strategic Plan, Hon. Henry Musasizi commended Makerere University for aligning its institutional priorities with Uganda’s Vision 2040, the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and the country’s Tenfold Growth Strategy.
He observed that universities remain central actors in national development because they produce the knowledge, innovation and skilled workforce required to transform Uganda’s economy.
“Universities are central actors in national transformation. they are engines of knowledge creation, innovation and human capital development,” he said.
The Minister emphasized government’s commitment to supporting research, innovation and stronger collaboration between universities and industry to ensure that knowledge generated within higher education institutions contributes directly to economic growth.
Universities Critical to Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy.
Presenting the national development perspective, Samuel Kasule, Senior Planner at the National Planning Authority, explained that the Strategic Plan aligns closely with the Uganda’s long term development framework.
He noted that achieving the country’s ambitious economic growth targets will depend heavily on universities producing competent graduates, expanding research and strengthening innovation ecosystems that support priority sectors including agriculture, tourism, ICT, minerals, manufacturing, and oil and gas.
Kasule further underscored the importance of competency based education and post graduate training in building the human capital required for sustainable national development.
A Shared Vision for the Future.
Throughout the launch, speakers emphasized that Makerere University’s future lies in becoming an increasingly research intensive, innovation driven institution that responds to national and global development challenges.
The Strategic Plan 2025-2030 outlines priorities that include strengthening research excellence, promoting innovation and commercialization, expanding digital transformation, enhancing partnerships with industry, and producing graduates equipped to drive socioeconomic transformation.
Its launch marks a renewed commitment by Makerere University to remain at the forefront of knowledge generation and to contribute meaningfully to Uganda’s long term development aspirations.
General
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