General
Mak-UPC Set to Establish Institute of Geoscience and Petroleum
On 7th January 2019, Makerere University together with the China University of Petroleum (UPC) signed an agreement to co-establish and operationalize the Institute of Geoscience and Petroleum at Makerere University. The agreement was signed by the Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe and the Vice President of China University of Petroleum Prof. Jun Yao on behalf of the two universities respectively. The two parties agreed to develop and implement;
1. A curriculum System Construction and Development Plan for both undergraduate and postgraduate-level students of petroleum engineering programs including short professional development courses
2. Teaching – staff training and upgrading plan
3. Students Joint Education Designing and Implementation plan
4. Textbooks compiling and development plan
5. Teaching infrastructure and equipment building plan
6. Internship base establishment and development plan and China University of Petroleum Training Centre Expansion Plan
7. Joint International Lab Establishment and Development Plan
8. Research Capacity Building and Upgrading Plan
9. Academic Exchange Implementation Plan
The agreement activates the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed on 19th December 2017 by the two universities to establish the institute of Geosciences and Petroleum. According to Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Makerere University is ready to engage in research and build capacity in the area of oil and gas in Uganda and the region.
“We are all aware that Uganda and the nearby countries are exploring oil and they are on the stage of production however, we are facing immense challenges of lack of qualified manpower and expertise in the petroleum industry. Therefore, establishing the Institute of Geosciences and Petroleum at Makerere University will be an open opportunity to carry out research and build capacity in this area,” said the Vice Chancellor.
Prof. Nawangwe commended UPC for its expertise in preparing qualified engineers and technical service personnel for global oil industry through its education and research. “We are happy that you accepted to share with Makerere University your knowledge and experience in geoscience and petroleum,” he said. He thanked the Government of Uganda for working hand in hand with Makerere University to bridge the knowledge gap that exist in the gas and oil sector.
In 2009, Makerere University introduced the Bachelor of Science programme in Petroleum Geosciences and Production to bridge the knowledge gap that exists in the oil and gas sector in Uganda. The course aims at training Petroleum Geoscientists who can contribute effectively to programmes of exploration and development of petroleum resources.
“At the end of the training, we expect our students to be able to identify the key geological features associated with petroleum resources in the context of their discovery and economic viability; execute and interpret information from remote sensing, geological, geophysical and geochemical data during petroleum exploration; apply geological, geophysical and geochemical knowledge in the development of petroleum resources among others,” he said.
“Petroleum resources have been discovered in the region, in Uganda and Sudan in particular whereas gas has been discovered in the Songo Songo Island and Mnazi Bay in Tanzania. There is little experience in the area of petroleum geoscience and production in Uganda and the region as a whole. There is therefore a need to train local human resource in the development and sustainability of the petroleum industry,” added the Vice Chancellor.
In his remarks, Prof. Jun Yao commended Makerere University for the tremendous research that is carried out in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). He looked forward for a successful implementation and operational journey of the establishment of the Institute of Geosciences and Petroleum at Makerere University.
The 19th December 2017 MoU was signed by Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and the Vice President of China University of Petroleum, Qingdao (UPC) – Prof. Liu Huadong. The MoU stipulated that the universities agreed to jointly apply for funding from international funding agencies to support establishment of state of the art petroleum engineering labs at China University of Petroleum and Makerere University. This fits in well with the appointment of Makerere University as the Centre of Excellence for petroleum and minerals by the Northern Corridor States.
Prof. Jun Yao was a companied by eight delegates from UPC who proceeded to tour some of the labs at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT).
Article Written by: Mak Public Relations Office.
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CEDAT Hosts Delegation from the China University of Petroleum
The Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe has today, Friday, 26th June 2026 handed over the CCE (Complex) Hall of Residence Site to National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) Managing Director and CEO, Lieutenant General James Mugira for renovation and overhaul works. The UGX 12billion Government of Uganda-funded works, expected to be completed within a year, are the fourth project to be undertaken by NEC. They were preceded by; construction of the University Perimeter Wall, Renovation of Lumumba Hall, and Renovation of Mary Stuart Hall.
NEC’s Record Lauded
Prof. Nawangwe in his remarks at the handover ceremony lauded these projects. “The quality of work done by NEC makes us proud because we can finally say that we have Ugandans who can do the things, which we previously depended on foreigners to do.” He therefore thanked the Government of Uganda for fully funding the projects and the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Museveni, whose visit set the renovation projects in motion.
The Vice Chancellor added that as the Alma mater for most members of both the Contractor and Project Management Teams, this was a moment of great pride as their expertise and skills have saved the country billions of taxpayers’ money. “Thank you for being patriotic”, he commended.
Prof. Nawangwe concluded by noting that CCE Hall, by virtue of its location, provides a first impression of Makerere University as a whole. He therefore urged the contractor to ensure that upon renovation, CCE Hall would create a memorable and lasting first impression, exceeding even that of the renovated Mary Stuart Hall.
A Project Fueled by Nostalgia
Speaking of impressions, Lt. Gen. Mugira, with nostalgia recalled that close to 42 years ago, he not only attended his first lectures in Hall 1 of the CCE Complex but also, on a more personal note added, “my wife was a resident, and so I have every motivation to put in a lot of effort and make sure that I deliver more than was done with Mary Stuart and Lumumba.”
He therefore extended heartfelt appreciation to his Alma mater Makerere University for the trust and confidence bestowed in NEC, which underscored their ability to deliver. “Trust is earned through performance, through integrity and consistency, and your decision to engage us motivates us to work even harder to exceed your expectations.”
In his remarks, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) Prof. Henry Alinaitwe reechoed the need to ensure that the project is executed with adherence to the cost, quality, specifications and safety related issues as earlier shared by the Acting (Ag.) Chief Engineer of Estates and Works, Eng. Ezra Sekadde.
“NEC has already demonstrated this (with previous projects), and that is why we have all the confidence that you can deliver this project within 12 months” remarked Prof. Alinaitwe. He equally lauded the Project Management Team (PMT) led by Arch. Dr. Kenneth Ssemwogerere whose supervision ensures timely project completion.
Relatedly, Arch. Dr. Semwogerere was on 25th June 2026, the eve of the handover, promoted to the rank of Associate Professor, a milestone Prof. Alinaitwe attributed to his track record as Head of PMT. He therefore, on a light note, urged him to keep up the good work as this could equally contribute to his promotion to the rank of full Professor.
Also present at the handover ceremony was the Principal, College of Education and External Studies (CEES) Prof. Anthony Mugagga, whose unit will be greatly affected by the renovations. He nevertheless welcomed and reiterated his full support for the project, noting that just as renovation of Lumumba and Mary Stuart Halls had resulted in many alumni revisiting, the CCE Complex would upon renovation attract former residents and teaching professionals to give back or forge new partnerships.
Student Welfare at the Forefront
On her part, the Dean of Students Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli lauded the renovations of Halls of Residence as a clear demonstration of Government’s dedication to the improvement of student welfare, and creating an environment conducive for nurturing responsible citizens who can contribute to national development. She pledged her Office’s and the Student Leadership’s readiness to ensure that the renovated facilities used responsibly for the benefit of future generations.
As a resident of the recently renovated Mary Stuart Hall, 92nd Guild President H.E. Kadondi Gracious could not help but appreciate how impactful the renovation of CCE Hall would be to student welfare. “The female students will be very excited (to occupy CCE Hall) but the male students will be left complaining – so we shall be expecting more renovations, not just for the female but also the male students,” she amiably concluded.
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