On Tuesday, 12th March 2019, Makerere University College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) hosted the thematic workshop session on Food Security and Climate Science as part of the three day Mak-North Carolina State (NC State) University summit. Key presentations were made by Dr. Steven A. Lommel, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), NC State and José Cisneros, Director, CALS International Programs; Assistant Professor of Practice, Horticulture International & Entrepreneurship.
Dr. Lommel addressed the global challenges facing food and agriculture systems and noted that the main aim for this collaboration is to set possible solutions to end food challenges in the world. He stated that the collaboration will include exchange of staff and students. NC State CALS has 12 Departments, 291 Faculty members (Tenure-Track), 72 Faculty members (Non-Tenure-Track), over 3,500 students and over 31,000 alumni.
The workshop session hosted in the School of Forestry, Environmental and Geographical Sciences (SFEGS) Conference room was attended by the Principal CAES – Prof. Bernard Bashaasha, who revealed to the guests that CAES was one of the most diverse colleges with three schools. Present during the session were the Dean SFEGS – Prof. Fred Babweteera, Dean School of Agricultural Sciences – Prof. Johnny Mugisha and Acting Dean School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering – Dr. Abel Atukwase among other staff.
Prof. Bashaasha added that the college has some supporting centres and these include;
i) Makerere University Centre for Climate Change Research and Innovation (MUCCRI)
ii) Centre of Excellence in Waste management
iii) Makerere University National Biodiversity Data Bank
iv) Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK) the leading research Centre in East Africa located on 600 acres of land in Kabanyolo, among others.
Documentaries showcasing the different actives that take place in both Universities were watched and the two sides agreed to come up with specific areas of collaboration.
Article by Rachael Kanyi, Volunteer, Mak Public Relations Office
The results for the 2025/2026 special entry examination for the Diploma in Performing Arts held on Saturday 17th May, 2025. Candidates who scored a final mark of 50% and above passed the Examination and have been recommended to the university’s Admissions Committee for consideration.
The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released full results for the Mature Age Entry Scheme Examinations for the Academic Year 2025/2026 held on Saturday 14th December, 2024.
The Candidates who scored a final mark of 50% and above passed the examination and have been recommended by the Pre-Entry & Mature Age Committee to the University’s Admissions Board for Consideration.
The Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) has in collaboration with Centre for Teaching and Learning completed the training of the first cohort of Graduate Supervisors.
Participants were academic staff from two colleges namely, College of Engineering, Art and Design (CEDAT) and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES).
The three-day training that took place at the Telepresence Centre, Senate Building ended on Friday 20thJune 2025.
In his closing remarks to the participants, the Director of Graduate Training Prof. Julius Kikooma said, “This is the first cohort we are working together with the Center for Teaching and Learning to put together continuous professional development Program so that we are able to enforce the new teaching and learning policy.”
He said that before lecturers are allocated students for supervision, they must first go through this form of formal teaching and learning training to equip them thoroughly with certification required of supervision of graduate students.
“We are coming up with process to ensure that the certificates earned by participants allow you to supervise graduate students. This is the direction of the university and we must ensure that such trainings are concluded and completed successfully by all participants”, Prof. Kikooma.
Prof. Julius Kikooma – Director of Graduate Training
“We can only have you certified upon completing all the exercises in the training process. This is when you will be eligible to receive the work load for supervision”, He added.
“This training of Supervisors is going to be continuous so that all academic staff in colleges and schools are equipped. This first cohort is going to be our building block to the future trainings in the colleges.”
With such capacity building trainings, Prof. Kikooma said that the university is on the right path to achieving its targets in the new strategic plan of increasing the number of graduate students while progressively reducing the under graduate students.
He further hinted that, “We are in the process of writing a curriculum on this, which will be presented for approval before it is rolled out.”
He echoed all participants to share the knowledge they have acquired adding, “Share all you have learnt, do not keep it. Be open minded, have proper communication channels and the sky will be the limit for you.”
Dr. Robinah N. Kulabako, The Head of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at CEDAT welcomed the training adding, “This training is very pertinent. I have had the opportunity to supervise Masters and PhD students for over 15 years and I must say that the need to be subjected to this training cannot be over emphasized because there is need to learn, unlearn and relearn many aspects involved in the supervision process.”
She added, “We are moving towards knowledge-based supervision rather than experience-based supervision. This means we must be informed and equipped to be able to advise, guide and mentor to be able to lead a successful supervision journey for both supervisor and supervisee.”
Dr. Andrew Gilbert Were – a lecturer at CEDAT and a participant said, “It is important that all supervisors of graduate students receive this certification from Makerere University through a systematic training process that enables them to attain diverse skills to facilitate learning of graduate students from diverse cultures and with unique set of circumstances.”
“This training is long overdue. In fact, it was an oversight that we could be allowed to supervise students without undergoing supervisors’ training.”
Dr. Dorothy Ssebowa, The Director Centre for Teaching and Learning support- CEES said, “The training this time round has had a mix of early career professionals including Lecturers, Supervisors and Professors share experiences. We have learnt a lot more from experienced supervisors who have shared practices on how they have done supervision over the years.”
“The knowledge and experience-based approaches have made this collaboration very active, interactive and learner centered which has resulted into a collaborative learning from the interdisciplinarity of staff from CEDAT and CAES. The issue now is to continue with professional development across all levels.” She added.
The Makerere University Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) in collaboration with the Centre for Teaching and Learning completed the training of the first cohort of Graduate Supervisors. This activity was supported by the iCARTA – Institutionalization of Advanced Research Training in Africa, a NORHED II Project at Makerere University.