General
Press Release: Hult Prize @Mak On-Campus Challenge A Success
Makerere University on Thursday, 8th November 2018 hosted this year’s Hult Prize On-campus edition Grand Finale with the First Lady Honorable Janet Kataaha Museveni who was represented by Hon. Frank Tumwebaze the Minister of ICT as the Guest of Honor. “Apart from giving her apologies, the first Lady has given you 20 million” Hon. Tumwebaze said.
Over 100 prototypes were presented to the jury of social entrepreneurs and influential personalities around the country. Among the 71 teams that registered, Precotech a waste management system won the Hult Prize On-campus innovations challenge 2018 that took place on Thursday, 8th October, 2018 at Makerere University Main Building. Precotech will advance to the regional finals representing Makerere University and Uganda in March 2019 from where they will interact and compete with like-minded brains for a slot at the Grand Finale in New York City. “You have become the flag bearers of Makerere University in the Next stage of the competition ”declared Silver Walugembe, the campus director.
“Precotech’s innovation aims at breaking barriers to employment through training the unskilled, but also, using a concept that is easy to comprehend, that is, Trash for Cash. The team is comprised of the CEO and Head of the Legal Department, Mukisa Joshua William, a 3rd year law student, Babirye Victoria Sharon, the head of the Software Engineering Department, Ntulume Joseph Brian, the head of the System Engineering Department and Mutambuze Paul, the head of the Waste management, Innovations and Value-Added Chain Department, all final year student at the College of Information Technology at Makerere University. “Don’t come up with these ideas for just your dissertation and making sure you get your degrees. Look at how you can continue with it. The government will support you by not taxing local content” Hon. Frank assured the innovators.
The Hult Prize innovation challenge is a start-up accelerator for impact entrepreneurship which brings together the brightest college and university students from around the globe to solve the worlds most pressing issues through pitching ideas and launching companies. The Hult Prize 2019 challenge is ‘’ Youth Unemployment” and the winning team will win a seed capital of one million USD at the grand finale in New York.
The jury consisted of Mr. Arinaitwe Rugyendo, the proprietor of the Red Pepper, Hakiza Ronald, founder and CEO of Ugabus, Katende Steven, a social entrepreneur and nominee of the Queens Young Leaders Award Nominee, Nyanjura Doreen, the Makerere University LC5 Councilor, Simon Ssenyonga, Eyeru Jacob of the Debating Society of Uganda, Mr. Patrick Enywaru, Founder and CEO Fade Media, Mr. Otim Jimmy Moses, Ms. Sarah Kobusingye, Mr. Hamid Tenywa, Mr. Kagoda Rogers, Ms. Rehma Kirunda and Mr. Mathias Ssemanda.
The competition had two highly competitive rounds, with the first round having two split sessions in the Senior Common Room and the University Main Hall. The jury selected six top teams that advanced to the second round of the competition. In the second round, the competing teams presented before a jury of fourteen that converged after the first round of the competition.
The event was presented by Hon Watum Patrick the 84th Guild ICT Minister, was convened and mobilized by the Campus director Mr. Walugembe Silver, with Ms. Ankunda Esther, Mr. Abdul Twaib Magambo, Ms. Kakai Dorothy, Mr. Kasule Jonathan Kalule and Ms. Ahimbisibwe Prize Mari as the organizing committee and Mr. Oyeki Gerald as moderator.
Special thanks to Honorable Janet Kataha Museveni, Honorable Frank Tumwebaze, Makerere University Management, Mulago METS programme, ResilientAfrica Network, Innovation Village, the Hult Prize team, all the participants and all the people who made this day a success. For more details and graphics about the event follow Hult Prize Makerere on Twitter using @hultatmak.
A CHALLENGE FOR US BY US.
For further details please contact
Silver Walugembe,
Hult Prize campus Director Makerere University,
Erstwhile Legislator- Students' Guild Council,
Makerere University,
Email: walsil.sw[at]gmail.com
General
Prof. Nawangwe urges young people to take up leadership in innovation for the transformation of Africa
By the Program Communication Team
On Sunday, February 2, 2025, Makerere University hosted the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Council Representatives meeting, which brings together young people from around 45 partner universities of the Mastercard Foundation.
During the event, Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe urged young people to prepare for leadership roles in innovation, especially starting with their communities, if they wish to see the positive transformation they desire in Africa.
“I urge you to connect and network with your peers and discuss how you can form inter-university teams to innovate solutions that will address the development challenges in our communities for the transformation of the African continent.” Prof. Nawangwe remarked.
Prof. Nawangwe applauded the Mastercard Foundation for its partnership with Makerere University and Uganda in general, which has uplifting effects on many young people.
“Makerere University and Uganda have made remarkable strides in providing Higher Education to Young People, thanks to the generous support of the Mastercard Foundation, which has contributed significantly to educating the next generation of African leaders. Through valuable initiatives and partnerships, such as the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Makerere University is poised to continue educating young individuals who will significantly impact Uganda’s and Africa’s economic growth.” Prof. Nawangwe noted.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nawangwe, further urged young people to seize the opportunities the Mastercard Foundation and other like-minded development partners presented to improve their lives and communities.
“The Mastercard Foundation has given you the platform and opportunity to be leaders and beacons of change. Embrace this responsibility with courage. Let the core values of the Scholars Program—humility, listening, kindness and respect, co-creation, and impact—guide your actions,” Prof. Nawangwe emphasized.
While speaking at the same event, the Program Director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, Prof. Justine Namaalwa, enumerated high-level achievements the Program had accomplished for the last decade at Makerere University. She pointed out that in terms of scholarship enrolment, the Program had recruited 1,032 Scholars, of which 76% were Females, 7% were Internationals, 4% were Refugees, and about 1% were Youth with Disabilities.
Prof. Namaalwa further pointed out other post-graduation achievements, including a 94% completion rate of the total number of Scholars enrolled in the Scholars Program. She pointed out that between 2018 and 2025, the Program had graduated 964 Scholars, of which 37% were employed, mainly in the private sector.
Prof. Namaalwa revealed that beyond the Scholars Program, the Mastercard Foundation had put other initiatives supporting the university in numerous ways. She pointed out other initiatives such as the e-learning initiative, a COVID-19 Response measure to ensure continuity of Teaching and Learning at Makerere University and the Climate Resilience and Sustainability Collaborative: Makerere University, in collaboration with the University of Ghana, the University of Cape Town, and the University of Cambridge, is implementing a new initiative that addresses one of the world’s most significant challenges in recent times—climate change.
Prof. Namaalwa revealed that the Research Collaborative would provide opportunities for MSc and PhD scholarships to African students and encourage young people to enrol as graduate students starting in the academic year 2025/2026.
The event was punctuated with fireside chats, during which young people had an opportunity to discuss a number of topical issues related to entrepreneurship and Transformative leadership. Thereafter, the visiting students were taken on a guided tour around Makerere University.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Council comprises student leaders from partner Universities. Each Partner University has one Council Representative. They represent the needs of Scholars and work with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program teams at each institution, the Mastercard Foundation, and Alumni.
On Monday 3rd February 2025, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe handed over three (3) university buses to the respective leadership in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), the College of Health Sciences (CHS), and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB).
The new buses mark a significant improvement in mobility and learning for Makerere University students and staff, furthering the institution’s commitment to practical education and community service.
Speaking at the handover ceremony held at the University’s Freedom Square, Prof. Nawangwe highlighted the significance of the new buses in enhancing teaching and learning. “These buses will play a crucial role in improving students’ practical learning experiences by ensuring reliable transportation for fieldwork and community outreach,” he said.
Prof. Nawangwe expressed gratitude to the Parliament and the Government of Uganda for providing the resources for the new buses, emphasizing their importance in replacing the old fleet, which frequently breaks down. The new 2023 model buses, with a 67-seater capacity, were secured at a cost of UGX 626million each and are expected to save the university significant maintenance costs and improve the learning experience for students.
Principals from the respective colleges expressed their appreciation for the new buses. Prof. Frank Norbert Mwiine, Principal of CoVAB, emphasized the importance of the buses for practical training at locations such as Lake Mburo National Park. Associate Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga, Principal of CAES, and Associate Prof. Bruce Kirenga, Principal of CHS, highlighted the buses’ role in facilitating community engagement and outreach.
He explained that the decision to purchase Isuzu buses instead of those manufactured by Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) a Makerere University partner, was based on prior engagement with the former, as well as the need to utilize the allocated funds promptly within the Financial Year, which couldn’t be accomplished at KMC due to their high demand.
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