General
MaRCCI Set to Receive Gates Foundation US$565,026 to Promote Cassava Breeding
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has injected US$565,026 (approx UGX2.1bn) into Makerere University’s Regional Centre for Crop improvement (MaRCCI) to promote cassava breeding in addition to similar efforts in cowpea and sorghum. The funds will be channeled through the Cornell University under the next generation cassava project.
Dr. Richard Edema the Director MaRCCI confirmed this and said that the funds are part of the second phase of funding to MaRCCI from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
“We are putting this money into training five students; three of them are Masters Students from Uganda, Nigeria and Tanzania while two of them are PhDs both from Tanzania.
These funds are in support of the MaRRCI regional training programme because we have been trying to raise funds from all corners.
We initially got the funds from the World Bank to set up this centre at the Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK) and admitted 45 students at Masters and PhD level, all fully funded, “he added.
He explained that the five students will be trained in collaboration with the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) Namulonge Cassava program, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria and the Ministry of Agriculture, Tanzania.
“The five students are part of the junior staff in these institutions and they are in need of further training to support their programs back home but overall, the next generation cassava program goal is to improve cassava breeding in Africa, “he said.
He observed that despite its importance in Uganda, cassava has been one of the crops that have been very difficult to breed due to a variety of problems surrounding it, noting that lately it has suffered from a lot of viruses.
“We grow is for its root and 2/3 of the people from Northern Uganda eat it. It used to be a small crop but now it is becoming an industrial crop, a raw material for beer, on top of being a source of starch under which a starch industry can be supported, “he said.
Additionally, Dr. Edema noted that cassava can also serve as a source of starch when making chicken feeds. He emphasised that if the breeding programme can improve cassava’s starch quality and protect it from viruses and diseases, then overall, its productivity can be improved.
He stated that cassava can thrive in semi-arid conditions where other crops fail, hence making it an important crop in which money can be invested.
For that reason therefore, Edema stated that through the next generation cassava project, scientists are helping to build human capacity that will trickle down to improvement in the three countries of Uganda, Tanzania and Nigeria.
“We did this before, where nine students from the same countries trained, and this is additional money to the centre of excellence to continue doing the same work.
We are proud that many of these students would go to Europe for their PhDs but this funding means that Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Cornell University recognise the quality of education that comes from the Makerere University graduate program, mostly from the Master of Science in Plant Breeding and Seed Systems and the PhD in Plant Breeding and Bio-technology, “he said.
He applauded the Gates Foundation for the funds extended to MaRCCI saying it will make Makerere contribute towards the development of Cassava improvement in Africa.
The support, he revealed, is part of the total funding to Cornell University amounting to about US$35m, with Tanzania being a new entrant. The original institutions were Cornell University, Makerere University, NaCRRI and National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike, Nigeria.
“This funding has been supporting infrastructure, research and training. We are therefore very proud that they are recognizing the quality of our education. However, despite the importance of cassava for food security on the African continent, it has received relatively little research and development attention compared to other staples such as wheat, rice and maize. The key to unlocking the full potential of cassava lies largely in bringing cassava breeding into the 21st century, “explained Edema.
According to him, ensuring the future of cassava breeding will require training young scientists to excel. “We are proud of NextGen’s new graduates and we are excited to see their contributions to research in the years to come, “he added.
Brief about cassava
Cassava (Manihot esculenta), a major staple crop, is the main source of calories for 500 million people across the globe. No other continent depends on cassava to feed as many people as does Africa. Cassava is indispensable to food security in Africa. It is a widely preferred and consumed staple, as well as a hardy crop that can be stored in the ground as a fall-back source of food that can save lives in times of famine.
Story compiled by Agnes Nankebe Nantambi,
For Communication Office, CAES
Makerere University, through the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) and the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), has signed an open Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). This MoU is one of several initiatives aimed at strengthening the university’s global collaborations and research partnerships.
In his remarks, Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe highlighted Makerere’s recent centenary celebrations as a testament to its long and influential history in Africa. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to serious, research-driven collaboration, noting Makerere’s aspiration to become a leading student-centered research university that develops solutions to regional challenges.
Prof. Nawangwe emphasized that Makerere’s research addresses critical issues such as widespread poverty, high youth unemployment, the devastating effects of climate change on agriculture, rapid population growth, and political interference in production. These challenges, he explained, call for climate-resilient agriculture, stronger health systems to address emerging diseases, and more inclusive governance. He further observed that Africa’s ambitious goal of producing one million PhDs in the next decade remains constrained by inadequate supervision capacity across the continent, stressing that collaborations like this MoU are key to bridging that gap.
EPRC Executive Director, Dr. Sarah Sewanyana, described the signing as particularly significant for EPRC and its Board of Directors as they embark on a new five-year strategic plan (2025/26–2029/30). She explained that the plan strongly emphasizes strategic collaborations, with this partnership serving as a prime example of leveraging collective strengths to deepen impact. She underscored EPRC’s role in advancing evidence-based policymaking for national development, aligning with Uganda’s National Development Plan IV.
Prof. James Wokadala, Acting Principal of CoBAMS, emphasized that the collaboration seeks to preserve and expand vital human knowledge while strengthening partnerships between academic institutions and global research networks. He noted that these networks are instrumental in advising legal and policy professionals, as well as aligning research agendas with both national and corporate priorities. He expressed pride in the extensive efforts of the School of Economics that have expanded these activities in recent years. He pointed to significant accomplishments that have been achieved in collaboration with IGC, including hosting a 2025 high-level international conference on mobile money payment systems, which positioned Makerere University as a thought leader on critical African economic issues. He also celebrated the successful bid by the School of Economics to host the ‘Africa Meeting of the Econometric Society’ in 2027, further demonstrating its contribution to impactful scholarship and policy influence.
The Acting Principal further emphasized that the new partnership with LSE will build on these achievements, offering immense benefits such as expanding capacity-building opportunities for faculty and students, especially in research and Public Infrastructure Management (PIM). The collaboration will also provide platforms for knowledge dissemination and policy dialogue, while addressing pressing socio-economic and health challenges. Ultimately, he said, formalisation of the partnership amplifies CoBAMS’ commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and innovation.
Speaking on behalf of LSE’s International Growth Centre (IGC), Executive Director Dr. Jonathan Leape expressed delight at formalizing the long-standing collaboration with Makerere and EPRC. He highlighted current joint projects, including research on the impact of the 2020 gender-based vaccine program on women’s skills and learning, studies on reforms in STEM education, and investigations into barriers limiting business growth for entrepreneurs. He stressed that the core mission is to bring researchers and policymakers together to address pressing policy challenges with robust, reliable evidence and innovative solutions.
The event, held on 27th August 2025, was attended by several dignitaries including Dr. Richard Newfarmer, Country Director for Uganda and Rwanda (IGC); Dr. Nhial Kuch, Senior Country Economist (IGC); and Mary Teddy Nakyejwe, IGC Programme Officer. Also present were the Director of Research, Dr. Ibrahim Kasirye and other members of EPRC leadership.
Makerere University has hosted a delegation from the Ghent University Association, led by Prof. Mieke Van Herreweghe, Vice Rector of Ghent University. The delegation included representatives from Howest University and Hogent University of Applied Sciences.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe welcomed the team and highlighted Makerere University’s commitment to addressing the pressing challenges in the region. These include climate change, which continues to hinder investment, and Uganda’s rapidly growing population that has surged from 5 million in the late 1940s to nearly 50 million currently, creating socio-economic challenges such as high youth unemployment.
He emphasized that Makerere’s research agenda focuses on understanding the fast-growing population, tackling health challenges, advancing governance and human rights, and fostering peace through initiatives such as the Rotary Peace Center—the only one of its kind on the African continent. Research at Makerere also seeks to provide solutions to youth unemployment in one of the world’s youngest nations.
The Vice Chancellor further noted that Makerere University teaches and conducts research across a wide spectrum of disciplines, organized into colleges including Agriculture, Business and Management, Computing, Education and External Studies, Engineering and Technology, Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine. The university also hosts over 60 specialized research centers, among them Centers of Excellence such as the Regional Centre for Crop Improvement, which works to enhance food security, manage pests and diseases, and improve agricultural productivity. Another key institution is the Infectious Diseases Institute, which leads research on HIV/AIDS. With these initiatives, he added, Makerere continues to expand its research footprint while strengthening global partnerships.
Prof. Van Herreweghe provided an overview of Ghent University, founded in 1817 and ranked among the top 100 universities globally for decades. With its motto “Dare to think,” Ghent University has built a strong international reputation. It also holds the distinction of being the only Belgian, and currently the only European, university with a campus in South Korea. Established in 2014, the campus offers bachelor’s programs in applied biotechnology.
She highlighted Ghent’s joint PhD programs, which are structured as sandwich programs to support African universities. Under this arrangement, PhD candidates spend two years funded at Ghent University and another two years at their home university (such as Makerere), with joint supervision from both institutions. These programs, she noted, are a strategic way of fostering international collaboration.
During the visit, Ghent University signed a Student Exchange Agreement with Makerere University to complement the existing Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement will pave the way for more joint initiatives and strengthen collaboration in the years ahead.
The delegation also included Mr. Lieven Theys, International Coordinator for Business Management at Howest University, who explained that Howest clusters its programs into three key domains: Design and Technology, Human Well-being and Health, and Business and Organization. Dr. Robin Stevens represented Hogent University of Applied Sciences, which runs programs across nine schools including Business and Management, Computer Sciences, Biosciences, Industrial Technology, Teacher Training, and Healthcare.
The visit, held on 27th August 2025, was attended by Makerere University officials and members of various colleges, among them Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) and Principal of the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Prof. Tonny Oyana-Principal College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Prof. Moses Musinguzi-Principal College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Prof. Julius Kikooma-Director Graduate Training, Assoc. Prof. Yazidhi Bamutaze-Deputy Principal College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Assoc. Prof. James Wokadala-Deputy Principal College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Assoc. Prof. Richard Idro-Deputy Principal College of Health Sciences, and Dr. Cathy Mbidde, Manager of the Makerere University Innovation Pod (Mak UniPod).
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