General
CAES Honours Three Professors for Distinguished Service to Mak
- DVCAA hails CAES Principal for the spirit of recognizing colleagues and instituting the culture of togetherness
- Staff dine, wine and dance to their last drop
- All staff get Christmas coupons worth UGX120,000
Three professors in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University were on Friday, 14th December 2018 honored for their distinguished service offered to Makerere University after serving in leadership positions for many years.
Prof. Mnason Tweheyo and Prof. John Muyonga were recognized for serving as Deans for the past 8 years since the university turned collegiate in 2011 in the School of Forestry, Environmental and Geographical Sciences and the School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering respectively.
Prof. Phinehas Tukamuhabwa was honored for serving as Director Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK) from 2014 to 2018.
The ceremony held at the Forestry Gardens Quadrangle was presided over by the First Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs (DVCAA) Dr. Umar Kakumba.
Dr. Kakumba hailed the Principal CAES, Prof. Bernard Bashaasha for the spirit of recognizing colleagues for their services and instituting a culture of togetherness.
“I understand the importance of building human enterprise to be motivated. It is not about working and making money all the time because as humans you reach a saturation point where you need to relax. Such events build cohesion, understanding and appreciation for one another”, Dr. Kakumba said.
The DVCAA congratulated the outgoing leaders for their contributions to the nation and Makerere University.
Dr. Kakumba appreciated the great work done by Prof. Muyonga, saying that as first Deans of their respective Schools, they were both involved in pertinent negotiations during the constitution of the collegiate system.
“Prof. Muyonga has done great to commercialize the School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bio engineering as well as promoting agro-processing at the Food Technology and Business Incubation Centre.” Kakumba said.
Kakumba described Prof. Tweheyo as a colleague they studied with at the undergraduate level who grew very fast through academic ranks and also a contemporary with whom they came into leadership.
“The School of Forestry has expanded and has done a lot in entrepreneurship and building programs in terms of protecting natural resources, adding value and making them more important to the nation.
Under Prof. Tweheyo’s leadership the school has played a great role in helping the nation to take care of the environment. He has positioned and positively transformed human resources in different aspects like climate change.” The DVCAA acknowledged.
Dr. Kakumba also thanked Prof. Tukamuhabwa for leading MUARIK for four years and face-lifting it to an admirable institute not only in research but also other mandates like production and outreach.
He recognized CAES as one of the strongholds who have supported him in terms of sharing knowledge in the Senate with regard to the constitution and creation of colleges.
The DVCAA expressed commitment to support, visit CAES off campus sites for training and to champion the programs that contribute to the vision and mission of Makerere University.
“We should work together not as adversaries. We should not jeopardize each other. We shall support CAES innovations. You are our flag bearers in research and innovations and the university is aware of that. This is what we need as a university to promote multi-disciplinarity”, he said.
Prof. Bernard Bashaasha thanked the DVCAA for sparing time to attend the function, and all staff for turning up in big numbers saying, the main objective of the ceremony was to say thank you to the outgoing Deans and Director MUARIK.
The second objective according to the Principal was to end the year together as they appreciate the services rendered by colleagues.
“In a special way, I thank the outgoing leaders for their great service to the university. They have served with courage and acted with love, led with respect, integrity and passion.
They have been value adding men and we are proud to have had them and hopefully, we will be guided in their way of management.” Prof. Bashaasha stated.
The Principal also appreciated the incoming Deans for their willingness to serve. Dr. Abel Atukwase replaces Prof. John Muyonga while Prof. Fred Babweteera replaces Prof. Mnason Tweheyo.
He advised the new deans to consider themselves as God-given with a major assignment of developing the youth.
He said, although there many demands and expectations, they should not worry about the great things that their predecessors have done but rather identify and run their own race and seek support.
He described CAES as a diverse college made up of three schools and two off campus institutes deriving its strength in that diversity.
He pledged to invite the new DVCAA for a visit to appreciate the college’s opportunities and needs.
Every end of year, the CAES organizes a get together party to appreciate services offered by outgoing or retiring staff. The event also offers the opportunity to staff to have fun and network. Staff are also given Christmas coupons worth UGX120, 000 as take-home appreciation.
Report compiled by:
Jane Anyango,
Principal Communication Officer, CAES
In a landmark event symbolizing Uganda’s stride towards sustainable transportation, Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero Masanza, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, commissioned the first Electric Fast-Charging Station at Makerere University on Friday 13th March 2026. The ceremony, held at the Senate Building Parking Lot, marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s e-mobility journey, blending academic innovation with industrial application and governmental support.
The station, a DC Fast Charger C6-180 installed in collaboration with Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC), is designed to power electric vehicles efficiently, supporting Uganda’s shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. This setup ensures high-power DC charging ideal for fleet operations.
Hon. Dr. Musenero, in her keynote remarks, highlighted the profound significance of the occasion, tracing its roots back to 2011 when Makerere unveiled the Kiira EV – Uganda’s first electric vehicle prototype. “This infrastructure is the physical manifestation of a journey that began on this very hill nearly two decades ago,” she stated, emphasizing how the university’s initial proof-of-concept challenged skepticism about Africa’s role in automotive technology.
The event, she noted, completes a narrative full circle, with the birthplace of the Kiira EV now hosting the infrastructure to sustain a modern electric fleet. The commissioning aligns seamlessly with Uganda’s National E-Mobility Strategy, which aims to localize 65% of the e-mobility value chain by 2040 and create over 500,000 high-quality green jobs.
Hon. Dr. Musenero underscored the strategy’s focus on reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels while enhancing environmental well-being. “We are transforming Uganda into a net source of e-mobility solutions,” she declared, pointing to the potential for Ugandan intellect to produce vehicle parts and charging systems domestically.
In his remarks at the event, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe described the launch as a “multi-faceted achievement,” not only advancing the institution’s inclusive agenda but also setting an example for public institutions in adopting e-mobility. In so doing, Makerere University has positioned itself at the forefront of this transition.
On September 26, 2025, President Yoweri Museveni commissioned the Kiira Vehicle Plant in Jinja and handed over three Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) buses to Makerere University to enhance staff and student mobility. The fleet included two diesel-powered Kayoola Coaches and one electric Kayoola EVS 8.5m bus donated by KMC specifically to aid the movement of differently-abled staff and students. This move demonstrates academia’s capacity to integrate home-grown solutions into daily operations, impacting the economy through practical science.
The commissioning of the fast-charging station is rooted in a long history of collaboration. The Kiira Electric Vehicle Project, hatched in the former Faculty of Technology, has evolved into a national movement for automotive manufacturing. Hon. Dr. Musenero praised this progression: “We have moved beyond proving that an electric vehicle can be built in Uganda. We are now ensuring our electric vehicles are deployed across the continent, solving Africa’s mobility problems.”
Academia’s role remains central, as Hon. Dr. Musenero elaborated. While government provides policy frameworks and the private sector offers capital, universities supply the essential knowledge. The E-Mobility Skilling Programme at Makerere University‘s Innovation Pod (Mak-UniPod) is training the next generation of electric vehicle engineers, who are tackling “moonshot projects” to redefine urban transport. Research into optimizing local resources, such as Uganda’s lithium and cobalt deposits for battery production, is also underway.
A key environmental highlight of this development is Uganda’s renewable energy advantage. With over 95% of the national grid powered by hydroelectric dams, every charge at this station utilizes clean energy. “We are using our own water to power our own vehicles, keeping our wealth within our economy rather than exporting it to purchase foreign oil,” Hon. Dr. Musenero remarked, framing the launch as Uganda plugging into the global renewable shift. She pledged the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Secretariat’s continued collaboration with Makerere University, KMC, and partners to proliferate such stations across Kampala and beyond.
Addressing Makerere students, Hon. Dr. Musenero issued a challenge: “See this charging station as a symbol of your own potential. The engineers who built the first Kiira EV were once sitting exactly where you are. They did not wait for permission to be great.” She urged them to leverage available resources to innovate, building on a legacy that has shifted national conversations.
The event drew distinguished guests, including Members of Management, Eng. Paul Isaac Musasizi, KMC’s CEO and his management team, private sector partners, development agencies, and university faculty.
Looking ahead, this launch propels Uganda towards a “Qualitative Leap” in its economy, as Hon. Dr. Musenero described. By fostering innovation and investing in young minds, the nation aims to lead in technological advancement. The station not only powers vehicles but ignites progress, ensuring Uganda remains at the forefront of Africa’s e-mobility revolution.
As the ceremony which was intermittently “blessed” by drizzles drew to a close, the feeling of hope for a cleaner, self-reliant future – one charged by Ugandan ingenuity, was unmistakable.
General
Makerere University and International Partners Sign MoU for the 9th Kampala Geopolitics Conference
Makerere University, on 10th March, 2026, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Embassy of France in Uganda, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), and Alliance Française de Kampala to organize the 9th edition of the Kampala Geopolitics Conference (KGC), scheduled to take place on 15–16 April 2026 at Makerere University.
The signing formalizes the continued partnership that has established the Kampala Geopolitics Conference as one of the region’s leading platforms for dialogue on global affairs, bringing together scholars, policymakers, civil society leaders, and students to debate the major geopolitical and socio-economic transformations shaping the world.
The conference, inspired by the Nantes Geopolitics Conference in France, was first launched in Kampala in 2018 and has since grown into a unique intellectual space for cross-continental exchange between Africa and Europe.
A Platform for Ideas, Dialogue, and Youth Engagement
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, emphasized the importance of the Kampala Geopolitics Conference as a platform that connects academic discourse with global policy conversations while empowering students to engage with the complex challenges shaping the international system.
The Vice Chancellor noted that hosting the conference reflects Makerere University’s long-standing commitment to fostering intellectual exchange and positioning the institution as a hub for regional and global dialogue.
“Makerere University is proud to host the Kampala Geopolitics Conference because it creates an important platform for debate and exchange on the global issues shaping our world, while giving our students the opportunity to engage directly with leading thinkers and policymakers,” said Prof. Nawangwe.
Prof. Nawangwe further commended the Embassy of France in Uganda, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and Alliance Française de Kampala for their continued collaboration with Makerere University in organizing the conference over the years. He expressed confidence that the 2026 edition will once again provide a dynamic platform for dialogue, bringing together scholars, policymakers, and students to examine the geopolitical trends shaping Africa and the wider world.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, H.E. Virginie Leroy, Ambassador of France to Uganda, highlighted the significance of the conference as a platform that encourages dialogue on global issues while empowering young people to participate in shaping the future.
Since its inception, the Kampala Geopolitics Conference has created opportunities for students, researchers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to engage with some of the most pressing global debates. The Ambassador noted that the curiosity and engagement of Ugandan students have become one of the defining features of the conference.
“This conference has become a unique space where students, researchers, policymakers and civil society exchange ideas on the major transformations shaping our world,” Ambassador Leroy said, adding that the event demonstrates the intellectual vitality of Uganda’s youth and the strength of the partnerships that sustain it.
Strengthening Partnerships for Global Dialogue
The Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a long-standing partner in the initiative, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting platforms that foster meaningful discussions on international affairs and regional dynamics.
Speaking during the ceremony, Anna Reismann, Director of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Uganda, emphasized the importance of the conference in connecting local perspectives with global debates.
She noted that Africa has increasingly become a focal point in global geopolitics, attracting engagement from a wide range of international actors through investments, trade, security cooperation, and diplomatic partnerships. While these engagements create new opportunities for economic growth and technological advancement, they also raise important questions about sustainability, governance, and the terms of international cooperation.
According to Reismann, the conference provides an important forum to examine these issues and to encourage dialogue that bridges academic perspectives with practical policy considerations.
The 2026 edition of the Kampala Geopolitics Conference will focus on key global and regional issues shaping international relations and development.
Among the themes to be explored are the future of development cooperation, particularly as global aid dynamics evolve and countries explore more sustainable and balanced partnerships. Another panel will examine youth and public policy in Africa, recognizing the critical role that young people play in shaping governance, innovation, and development across the continent.
With Africa home to the youngest population in the world, discussions will highlight the importance of ensuring that young people are not only beneficiaries of public policies but also active contributors to their design and implementation.
Makerere University at the Centre of Global Conversations
Hosting the conference reflects Makerere University’s continued commitment to fostering intellectual exchange and positioning the institution as a hub for regional and international dialogue.
Through its partnerships with global institutions such as the Embassy of France, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and Alliance Française de Kampala, Makerere continues to create platforms that connect academic knowledge with policy discussions and real-world challenges.
The Kampala Geopolitics Conference is expected to once again bring together leading experts, scholars, and practitioners from across Africa and Europe, while providing students with a rare opportunity to engage directly with global debates.
As preparations for the 2026 edition gather momentum, the partners expressed confidence that the conference will continue to inspire critical thinking, encourage dialogue across disciplines and generations, and strengthen cooperation between Africa and its international partners.
Caroline Kainomugisha is the Communications Officer, Advancement Office, Makerere University.
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