General
DAAD GHRP Training Leaves Participants Transformed for Life
The four day hands-on training on Good Health Research Practices (GHRP) funded by DAAD (the German Academic Exchange Service) came to a resounding end on Thursday, 21st February 2019 with participants admitting that they had been transformed for life. Officially opened by in-Country DAAD Office Representative, Mr. Steven Heimlich on Monday, 18th February 2019, the training was organized by the School of Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences (CHS), Makerere University in partnership with Heidelberg University and WHO /TDR, and facilitated by Heidelberg’s Dr. Pauline Grys and Jamila Nabieva. TDR is the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases.
“I have learnt that the planning stage is very important” testified a participant, “planning helps you to come up with mitigation measures; not that you will need them, but just in case you encounter challenges along the way” she added.
“Having come from a qualitative research background, it was interesting to see how the human sciences use theories to construct their arguments. This has been a good learning experience” remarked a male participant.
“I must give credit to the organisers for being able to bring together anthropologists, sociologists, engineers, pharmacists, philosophers, public health specialists and putting them in groups. This was a great choice of participants and we held very enriching discussions in our groups” remarked a male pathologist.
Speaking on behalf of the facilitators, Jamila Nabieva thanked all participants for the great patience exhibited during the all-day sessions and their various contributions. “We strongly believe in working in groups with peers and we thank Juliet (Dr. Kiguli) and Dr. Paul Kutyabami, the Chair Institutional Review Board (IRB) /Research Ethics Committee (REC) for organising and preparing all this” she added.
“I sincerely thank Dr. Pauline Grys and Jamila Nabieva for facilitating this training. Pauline and Jamila are quite popular and well respected in Germany for holding summer GHRP trainings” remarked Dr. Juliet Kiguli, the GHRP Uganda DAAD Alumni training organiser.
Dr. Kiguli further thanked the DAAD Regional Office in Nairobi and the DAAD in Uganda Office based at Makerere University for ensuring that the training takes place by availing the much-needed resources.
Earlier in the week, Dr. Kiguli and Dr. Grys paid a courtesy call on Mrs. Martha Loy Muwanguzi, Head International Office in the Office of the Vice Chancellor, who spoke highly of Makerere’s relationship with DAAD. “Mrs. Muwanguzi who hosted us at her office spoke about DAAD as a strong supporter of Higher Education in Uganda, especially the sciences” affirmed Dr. Kiguli.
Representing the Head, Department of Pharmacy – Dr. Pakoyo Fadhiru Kamba, Dr. Khalid Rajab thanked the IRB/REC Chair-Dr. Kutyabami, Ms. Stella Imot, Ms.Evelyne Katusiime and Dr. Kiguli for organising the training as well as DAAD for sponsoring the four-day event.
“I would most importantly like to thank our facilitators because we have all learnt a lot. I had initially thought that the training was all about ethics but I am happy that we have received a package consisting of both ethics and science” remarked Dr. Rajab, before quoting Sophocles – great tragedian of ancient Greece’s “Rather fail with honour than succeed by fraud”.
Concluding the day’s remarks, the Acting Dean School of Health Sciences, Prof. Charles Rwenyonyi Mugisha thanked all participants for taking part in the course and DAAD for availing the resources. He also thanked the Principal Prof. Charles Ibingira for supporting the School and the lecturers for drafting the proposal that led to DAAD’s sponsorship of the training.
“This training is the first of its kind in the history of the School of Health Sciences Institutional Review Board (IRB). It is not easy to commit yourselves for a whole week but I am sure that after today, you are all going to conduct research in a different way” said Prof. Rwenyonyi Mugisha.
He asked the facilitators to take time off to enjoy Uganda’s rich wildlife before returning to Germany and on a humorous note, promised to award each participant a non-graded certificate for in the health sciences, “no one fails”.
Article by Public Relations Office
In a vibrant celebration of youth leadership and African unity, Makerere University hosted the Second Annual Guild Leaders’ Summit, an event that brought together high-profile dignitaries, student leaders, and international partners for a powerful dialogue on the future of the continent. The summit, organized by the Guild Presidents Leadership Academy, served as a rallying point for East Africa’s young leaders to confront Africa’s most urgent challenges—on their own terms and with their own solutions.
A Warm Welcome and Reflections on Makerere’s Legacy
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, welcomed the distinguished guests, who included Former President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo, former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, Justice Simon Byabakama, Hon. Mathew Rukikaire, and European Union Deputy Ambassador Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, among others.
In his address, Prof. Nawangwe reflected on Makerere’s deep historical ties to East Africa’s liberation and development movements. He reminded the audience that Makerere University has been a crucible for the continent’s leadership, stating:
“Jomo Kenyatta was the first person to receive a degree from Makerere when, in 1963, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by then Chancellor Julius Nyerere. All freedom fighters in East Africa studied at Makerere.”
Building on this rich history, Prof. Nawangwe affirmed the university’s current mission to tackle pressing continental issues. “Today,” he said, “Makerere is committed to addressing Africa’s challenges—climate change, disease, poverty, food security, conflict resolution, and economic development. But we cannot do this alone.”
He echoed sentiments later shared by the keynote speaker, stressing that Africa must no longer depend on external interventions:
“Foreign agencies will not solve all Africa’s problems. It is our young people who must step forward and lead the change.”
Uhuru Kenyatta: “You Are the Last Line of Defence”
In a keynote address that resonated deeply with the students and delegates in attendance, Former President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a bold and urgent call to action for Africa’s youth.
“No one is coming to save us,” Kenyatta declared. “You are the last line of defence in the battle to rescue the heart and soul of Africa.”
Positioning today’s youth as the heirs of the continent’s freedom fighters, Kenyatta described the current moment as a new “independence era”—not of political liberation, but of economic and intellectual sovereignty. He urged students to think critically about intra-African trade, which currently accounts for less than 2.5% of global commerce, and to advocate for the removal of internal barriers to trade, innovation, and mobility.
“You are the freedom fighters of this generation,” he said. “Universities must be incubators of change, and students must be the trustees of tomorrow’s Africa.”
Pan-Africanism, Leadership, and Action
Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo encouraged students to take up the mantle of Pan-Africanism with unwavering commitment. She acknowledged that while the rhetoric of African unity is inspiring, real progress demands more than words:
“You must embrace the spirit of Pan-Africanism. But it is easy to say these words—the challenge lies in collective implementation.”
She emphasized the importance of action-oriented leadership and urged the youth to harness their creativity, energy, and education for the benefit of the continent.
European Union’s Message: Leadership with Integrity
Representing Team Europe, the EU Deputy Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, gave a passionate speech on the values of authentic leadership, integrity, and inclusive development. He praised Makerere University as a space where “intellectual ambition meets civic responsibility” and emphasized that leadership is not about prestige, but purpose:
“Be a leader because of what you want to be—not because of what you want to have,” he said.
Citing former Makerere alumni such as Julius Nyerere and Wangari Maathai, Chartrain called on students to model courage, resilience, and humility:
“True leadership emerges in moments of loss—when resilience, not triumph, becomes the measure of one’s character.”
The EU, he said, remains committed to supporting youth through programs like Erasmus+, the EU Youth Sounding Board, and partnerships with organizations like Faraja Africa Foundation and Restless Development. These initiatives empower youth not as symbols, but as active participants in shaping policy and governance.
The Legacy Continues
Throughout the summit, speakers highlighted the importance of legacy and long-term impact. They challenged young leaders to think not just about the present, but about the systems and institutions they will leave behind. In the words of Former President Kenyatta:
“Leadership is not about the next election. It’s about the next generation.”
The summit ended on a high note, with students invigorated and inspired to lead with purpose. As global support grows less predictable and Africa stands at a crossroads, the message from Makerere was clear: the future of the continent is in the hands of its youth. And as the Guild Leaders’ Summit demonstrated, they are ready.
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