Makerere University Environment for Development Initiative (EfD- Mak Centre) has graduated five senior government officials under the 2025 Inclusive Green Economy (IGE) Fellowship Programme, equipping them with advanced knowledge and skills to champion climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and sustainable development in Uganda.

The fellows graduated during a ceremony held on Thursday June 25, 2026 at the Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute, Kabanyolo (MUARIK), where university leaders, government representatives, development partners, researchers and policymakers gathered to celebrate the completion of the year-long training programme.

The graduates included Eng. Thomas Epeet from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries; Ms. Getrude Basiima, a Commissioner in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; Mr. Nicholas Magara from the Ministry of Water and Environment; Ms. Irene Kemigisha from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development; and Mr. Boaz Tumusiime Mboijana from the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities.

Representing the Vice Chancellor, Professor Robert Wamala congratulated the fellows for successfully completing what he described as a rigorous and impactful programme that lasted one year.

“Today’s graduation is more than a celebration of academic achievement. It is a testament to our collective commitment to building the knowledge, skills and partnerships required to address one of the defining challenges of our time — climate change and its effects on agriculture, livelihoods and sustainable development,” Wamala said.

He noted that the 2025 cohort undertook training under the theme, “Accelerating the Adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture,” which aligns closely with Makerere University‘s research agenda on agricultural transformation, food security and livelihoods.

According to Wamala, climate variability and environmental degradation continue to threaten agricultural production, food security and rural livelihoods, making the need for innovative, evidence-based and scalable solutions increasingly urgent.

Through the fellowship, participants gained practical exposure to climate-smart irrigation technologies, resilient farming systems, soil and water conservation practices, and other innovations aimed at strengthening agricultural productivity and resilience.

“The experiences have equipped our fellows not only with technical competencies but also with the capacity to translate knowledge into practical solutions for communities and institutions,” he said.

The programme is implemented by the Environment for Development (EfD) Initiative through the EfD-Makerere Centre and is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). It seeks to strengthen evidence-based policymaking by bridging the gap between research and policy while promoting the use of economic policy instruments to support a just green transition.

Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Edward Bbaale, Director of the EfD-Makerere Centre and Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences(CoBAMS), said the fellowship targets senior civil servants and policymakers from Eastern Africa to strengthen their capacity to formulate and implement green economy policies.

“The goal is to promote the use of economic policy instruments to achieve a just green transition. The programme bridges gaps between research and policy and between researchers and policymakers to strengthen evidence-based decision-making,” Bbaale said.

Since its inception, the programme has trained 30 senior policymakers drawn from ministries, departments and agencies across the region.

Bbaale said, one of the programme’s unique features is its regional approach, which enables fellows from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Tanzania and South Africa to share experiences and learn from one another’s policy interventions.

“We are able to learn from what other governments are doing in these Eastern African countries, compare with our policy environment and identify solutions that can work back home,” he said.

The 2025 cohort focused on accelerating climate-smart agriculture adoption, a priority area as governments seek to mitigate the impacts of climate change on food production and rural livelihoods.

Bbaale announced that the next cohort, to be recruited later this year, will focus on forestry and water management. The programme intends to recruit five additional senior government officials from institutions including the Ministry of Water and Environment, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the National Planning Authority (NPA), and the Ministry of Finance.

Host institution MUARIK also used the occasion to highlight its contribution to agricultural research and innovation.

Welcoming guests to the institute, MUARIK Director Dr. Peter Ebanyat described the facility as a leading centre for agricultural research, training and innovation whose history dates back to 1953.

He noted that the institute has played a significant role in developing agricultural technologies that have had national impact, including the development of soybean varieties grown across Uganda.

“Our vision is to be a thought leader in sustainable agricultural and environmental innovations. Our mission is to generate and disseminate knowledge, innovations and technologies through research, training and community engagement for improved agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability and rural livelihoods,” Ebanyat said.

He said hosting the graduation was particularly significant because MUARIK serves as a living laboratory where researchers, students, policymakers and development practitioners interact to generate solutions to challenges facing the agricultural sector.

The graduation ceremony underscored the growing importance of partnerships among universities, governments and development agencies in addressing climate change, promoting food security and advancing inclusive green growth across Uganda and the wider East African region.

As the fellows return to their respective institutions, university leaders challenged them to become ambassadors of climate-smart agriculture and champions of sustainable development, using the knowledge acquired through the programme to influence policies, strengthen resilience and improve livelihoods in their sectors.

The Inclusive Green Economy Fellowship Programme will continue until 2027 under Sida funding, with Makerere University remaining one of the key regional centres driving research, policy engagement and capacity building for sustainable development.

Graduating Fellows Call for Stronger Climate-Smart Agriculture Policies

Senior government officials who completed Makerere University‘s IGE Fellowship Programme called for stronger policy interventions, increased investment and wider public awareness to accelerate the adoption of climate-smart agriculture in Uganda.

The  senior civil servants highlighted climate change as a growing threat to agriculture, food security and rural livelihoods.

Speaking on the sidelines of the graduation ceremony, Makerere University‘s Policy Engagement Specialist and coordinator of the programme, Dr. Peter Babyenda, said the 2025 cohort focused on developing policy instruments that can accelerate the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices across the country.

“This cohort has been looking at accelerating the adoption of climate-smart agriculture because agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy and one of the sectors most affected by climate change,” Babyenda said.

He explained that the year-long fellowship trains senior civil servants and policymakers to design economic and policy incentives that promote environmentally sustainable development.

According to Babyenda, previous cohorts focused on issues such as clean cooking energy, biomass reduction and electric mobility, while the latest group examined how government can encourage farmers to adopt climate-smart technologies such as solar-powered irrigation systems and sustainable farming practices.

“We have trained them on how to design policy packages and interventions that encourage adoption of climate-smart agriculture and improve resilience among farming communities,” he said.

The graduation brought the number of fellows trained under the Sida-funded programme to 30 since its inception. The initiative is implemented by Makerere University‘s Environment for Development (EfD) Centre in partnership with the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.

Babyenda revealed that the next cohort, expected to be recruited later this year, will focus on forestry and water management as part of efforts to reduce emissions and strengthen climate resilience.

He also disclosed that Makerere University is considering upgrading the fellowship into an academic programme offering diploma and master’s qualifications in green economy studies.

“We are already developing a curriculum. The idea is to transform this capacity-building programme into an academic award programme that could eventually offer both diploma and master’s degrees in green economy,” he said.

Representing the graduating fellows, Engineer Thomas Epeet from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries said climate-smart agriculture is critical to safeguarding Uganda’s agricultural sector against the effects of climate variability.

“Agriculture contributes significantly to employment, rural livelihoods and the country’s GDP. However, prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall patterns are threatening production, making climate-smart agriculture more important than ever,” Epeet said.

The fellows identified weak extension services, limited awareness, counterfeit agricultural inputs and inadequate access to modern technologies as some of the major barriers to the adoption of climate-smart agriculture.

Epeet said the cohort’s research found that women farmers face particular challenges, including limited access to land ownership and agricultural resources, which affects their ability to adopt climate-smart practices.

He called for stronger involvement of the private sector in supplying quality agricultural technologies and inputs needed to support sustainable farming.

“The private sector has a critical role in providing irrigation equipment, improved seeds and other technologies that farmers need. Without a strong private sector, government interventions alone may not achieve the desired impact,” he said.

Nicholas Magara, Acting Assistant Commissioner in the Ministry of Water and Environment, said the training had equipped him with practical knowledge on how economic incentives can be used to address climate-related challenges.

He noted that environmental degradation, including forest and wetland destruction, continues to affect rainfall patterns and agricultural productivity.

“As policymakers, we must encourage farmers not to depend solely on natural weather patterns. Technologies such as irrigation, mulching and minimum tillage are becoming increasingly important in ensuring year-round production,” Magara said.

He recommended expanding the programme to accommodate more participants and upgrading it from a certificate programme to a diploma-level qualification.

“The content is extensive and highly professional. It deserves a higher academic recognition,” he added.

Irene Kemigisha, an economist from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, emphasized the need to strengthen land tenure security, particularly for women, to improve access to credit and increase investment in climate-smart agriculture.

She said many women are unable to access agricultural financing because they lack land ownership documents that financial institutions require as collateral.

“We need to ensure that women have secure land rights and access to affordable agricultural credit if we are serious about increasing adoption of climate-smart agriculture,” Kemigisha said.

She also called for stronger agricultural extension services and improved market access for farmers to ensure that increased productivity translates into higher incomes.

Meanwhile, Boaz Tumusiime from the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities said the programme had highlighted the strong links between climate change, agriculture and tourism.

He said participants discovered that many climate-smart solutions already exist, but limited dissemination of information continues to slow adoption.

“Our transformative initiative focused on improving access to information and climate-smart solutions because the biggest challenge is often the gap between researchers, policymakers and the public,” Tumusiime said.

He praised the programme’s regional approach, which allows participants from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Ethiopia to share experiences and learn from successful policies implemented across East Africa.

The fellows urged government, development partners and academic institutions to expand climate-smart agriculture training beyond senior civil servants to include private sector actors and grassroots agricultural practitioners.

They argued that broader participation would help accelerate the adoption of sustainable farming practices needed to strengthen food security, improve rural livelihoods and support Uganda’s climate adaptation efforts.

Panelists Call for Climate-Smart Agriculture Integration

The graduation ceremony was also marked by a roundtable discussion moderated by Prof. Edward Bbaale.and focused on how Uganda can integrate climate-smart agriculture into its national development agenda. The dialogue brought together leading academics, policymakers and development practitioners to explore strategies for sustainable agricultural transformation.

Key discussants included Prof. Robert Wamala, Director of Research, Innovations and Partnerships at Makerere University; Michael Ahimbisibwe from the National Planning Authority (NPA), representing Dr. Ronald Kaggwa; Victor Olejje from SunCulture Uganda; Wilson Asiimwe from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, representing Dr. Sam Koojo; and Robert Turyakira from AGHNET.

The discussions highlighted Makerere University‘s commitment to research translation and intellectual property protection, the National Planning Authority’s emphasis on climate-smart agriculture as a key driver of economic growth, and the Ministry of Finance’s focus on integrated financing and market alignment. The panel also underscored the importance of ensuring that climate-smart interventions are properly costed, financed and implemented.

Responding to a question on how Makerere University is strengthening the translation of research into climate-smart solutions, Prof. Robert Wamala, Director of Research, Innovations and Partnerships at Makerere University, explained that the institution coordinates research across its nine colleges under strategic themes, including agricultural transformation. He noted that Makerere has established an Innovation and Technology Support Centre to help researchers protect intellectual property, build industry partnerships, and commercialize innovations.

“We are developing a Research Impact Framework so that every project considers its long-term effect on policy and community livelihoods right from the design stage,” Prof. Wamala said.

He added, “An idea is not truly yours until it is protected,” emphasizing the importance of patents and copyrights in transforming research into sustainable livelihoods.

Addressing the role of climate-smart agriculture in advancing Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy, Michael Ahimbisibwe, representing the National Planning Authority, emphasized that climate-smart agriculture is central to both the strategy and Uganda’s Vision 2040. He outlined its contribution to ensuring sustainable raw material supplies, building resilience to climate change, enhancing export competitiveness, supporting inclusive livelihoods and unlocking access to green financing.

“By embedding these approaches, agriculture becomes the backbone of our growth strategy,” Ahimbisibwe said, pointing to drought-tolerant crop varieties, water harvesting technologies, and compliance with international trade standards as critical interventions.

Responding to a question on how public investment and financing mechanisms can support climate-smart agriculture, Wilson Asiimwe from the Ministry of Finance argued that climate-smart agriculture must be approached holistically, with policies integrated across sectors. He explained that government investments, such as valley dams for livestock production, should be aligned with existing development programmes, while additional financing can be mobilized through carbon credit schemes, climate funds, and international grants.

“Productivity must be matched with markets; otherwise, we risk food mountains with no buyers,” Asiimwe cautioned.

He further noted that emerging export regulations, such as the European Union’s deforestation requirements, make climate-smart agricultural practices essential not only for environmental sustainability but also for maintaining trade competitiveness.

Explaining how planning processes ensure that interventions are properly costed and implemented, Ahimbisibwe further noted that planning serves as the bridge between policy and financing. Under Uganda’s National Development Plan IV, the government employs a programme-based approach, with agro-industrialization identified as a key programme. Each programme includes costed interventions that are monitored annually through compliance assessment mechanisms.

“This way, climate-smart agriculture is not just a policy idea but a funded and monitored reality,” he said, stressing that planning ensures government allocations, releases, and expenditures remain aligned with national development priorities.

The panel underscored a shared vision in which Makerere University drives research translation and intellectual property protection, the National Planning Authority positions climate-smart agriculture as a pillar of economic growth, the Ministry of Finance ensures integrated financing and market alignment, and planning frameworks guarantee effective implementation of costed interventions. Together, these efforts aim to embed climate-smart agriculture at the heart of Uganda’s long-term development strategy.

Compiled and written by Jane Anyango, Communication Officer

Photo Credits: Peninah Nalubega
(Fourth-Year Journalism and Communication Student)

A consortium of African and European universities has intensified efforts to mainstream gender equality in higher education through the MAGNETISE project, with Makerere University taking a leading role in hosting a high-level workshop that brought together policymakers, researchers, and gender experts to reflect on institutional progress, persistent gaps, and future strategies.

The initiative, focused on Mainstreaming Gender in Higher Education Institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa (MAGNETISE), is supported by the European Union and implemented through a multi-country partnership involving institutions in Uganda, South Africa, and Europe. It aims to move beyond policy formulation to practical implementation, monitoring, and institutional accountability in gender equality.

At the heart of the discussions was a shared concern: while universities across the region have developed gender policies over the past decades, translating these frameworks into measurable, lived institutional change remains uneven.

A Consortium Approach to Gender Mainstreaming in Academia

Opening the workshop, held at Makerere University recently, the project lead, Professor James Acai Okwee  who is also deputy Principal CoVAB, described MAGNETISE as a collaborative effort designed to strengthen institutional capacity for gender equality planning across higher education systems in Sub-Saharan Africa.

He explained that the consortium includes Ugandan partners such as Makerere University and Muni University, alongside South African institutions including University of KwaZulu-Natal, Rhodes University, and Nelson Mandela University. European partners include Katholieke Hoge school VIVES Zuid (VIVES) and KMOP Policy Centre from Belgium, as well as Research Innovation and Development Lab (ReadLab) and University of Peloponnese. The consortium also includes additional European academic collaboration through the University of Applied Sciences and related policy and research networks.

According to Acai, the core objective is not simply to produce policies, but to ensure universities develop functional gender equality plans supported by implementation tools, monitoring frameworks, and institutional accountability systems.

“We have had policies since the early 2000s, but the real question is: where is the implementation plan, and how do we track progress?” he noted. “If a policy says 40 percent representation for women in leadership, we must be able to measure whether that is being achieved.”

He emphasized that MAGNETISE would support training, capacity-building exchanges with European institutions, student engagement programmes, and the development of a digital knowledge hub for gender equality.

Makerere University’s Institutional Position on Gender Equality

Representing university leadership, Dr. Suzan Mbabazi of Makerere University’s Gender Mainstreaming Directorate reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to advancing gender equality across its academic, research, and community engagement mandate. She highlighted significant progress made over more than two decades, citing policies such as the Gender Equality Policy and the Regulations Against Sexual Harassment, alongside governance frameworks that have institutionalized gender equity. Makerere has also established key structures, including the Institute of Gender and Development Studies and the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate, to coordinate initiatives across faculties. Yet, Dr. Mbabazi cautioned that structural achievements do not erase systemic challenges. “Despite progress globally and locally, we must acknowledge persistent gaps, biases, and inequalities within higher education institutions,” she said, stressing the need to bridge policy and practice. She urged participants to prioritize awareness creation, institutional analysis of existing gaps, and deliberate action to dismantle structural barriers. Reaffirming management’s support, she called for continued collaboration among institutions and stakeholders to sustain momentum in gender mainstreaming.

Preliminary Survey Findings Reveal Mixed Progress

Presenting the initial findings of a university-wide survey, Dr. Peace Musiimenta of the School of Women and Gender Studies at Makerere University revealed that responses from 82 participants across various units highlight both progress and persistent challenges in advancing gender equality. While many acknowledged strides in gender mainstreaming, structural and cultural barriers remain entrenched. The study found that although gender policies exist, their implementation is often inconsistent, and initiatives risk being treated as isolated projects rather than integrated institutional practices. Dr. Musiimenta noted that some staff perceive gender programs as overly focused on women, fueling resistance and ideological tensions within academic spaces. She emphasized that the challenge is no longer the absence of policy but the need to ensure visibility, ownership, and effective application of existing frameworks to embed gender equality across the institution.

Gender Audit Highlights Structural Gaps and Progress

Expanding on the institutional audit, Dr. Florence Ebila outlined the methodology and preliminary findings of the gender audit conducted between May and June 2026.She explained that the audit examined institutional policies, governance systems, practices, organizational culture, and perceptions of gender equality.

The study drew data from multiple administrative units including human resources, academic registrars, estates and works departments, and student leadership structures. Ebila reported that Makerere University has made significant institutional progress, including the establishment of gender-focused units and integration of gender considerations into teaching, research, and governance. However, she identified persistent disparities in representation, particularly in science-related disciplines where male staff and students remain dominant.

She also highlighted infrastructural gaps, noting that while newer buildings are increasingly accessible, several older facilities lack adequate support for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

Another concern raised was limited gender-responsive budgeting, with insufficient allocation of resources to sustain gender mainstreaming activities across all units. “The challenge is not just policy design, but operationalization at all levels of the institution,” she said.

Gender, Identity, and Institutional Culture: A Critical Reflection

A keynote reflection by Dr Josephine Ahikire introduced a deeper theoretical lens to the discussion, situating gender mainstreaming within broader questions of institutional power, identity, and cultural norms.

Ahikire emphasized that gender mainstreaming is not a technical exercise but a structural transformation process that challenges entrenched systems of privilege.

She used the example of Makerere University’s centenary monument, where a male graduate is prominently positioned in front view while a female graduate is placed at the rear, to illustrate how symbolic representations can reflect deeper institutional biases.

“What appears natural often hides embedded inequality,” she argued. “Even symbolic structures matter because they reflect how institutions imagine gender.”

Ahikire acknowledged Makerere University’s progress in policy development and institutional frameworks but cautioned that deeper cultural transformation is still required.

She emphasized the need to interrogate curriculum design, research systems, and informal institutional practices that may perpetuate inequality despite formal commitments to inclusion.

She further argued that gender discourse must retain its political dimension, noting that terms such as feminism should not be avoided but engaged critically in order to address structural inequality.

“Gender equality work is not about comfort,” she said. “It is about questioning established norms and rethinking how power is distributed.”

Institutional Achievements and Remaining Challenges

Across presentations, several common themes emerged.

Participants acknowledged that Makerere University has developed one of the most advanced gender mainstreaming frameworks in the region, including:

• A dedicated gender equality policy framework
• Sexual harassment regulations and safeguarding policies
• Institutional gender mainstreaming structures
• Student engagement programmes and gender clubs
• Scholarships supporting women in science and disadvantaged backgrounds
• Increasing integration of gender into teaching and research

However, speakers consistently highlighted persistent challenges, including:

• Limited implementation of gender policies at departmental level
• Uneven representation of women in senior academic ranks
• Infrastructure gaps affecting accessibility and inclusion
• Weak gender-responsive budgeting mechanisms
• Resistance and misunderstanding of gender equality concepts
• Fragmentation of gender work across isolated units

Towards a Comprehensive Gender Equality Plan

A key outcome of the MAGNETISE project is the development of a comprehensive institutional gender equality plan for Makerere University, supported by monitoring tools and a sustainability framework.

The plan is expected to consolidate existing policies into a coherent implementation strategy, linking institutional commitments to measurable outcomes.

It will also include a handbook for monitoring gender equality initiatives and a digital platform for knowledge sharing among students and staff.

Project leaders emphasized that sustainability will depend on institutional ownership beyond donor funding, particularly through integration into university governance systems.

A Continuing Institutional Journey

The workshop concluded with a shared recognition that gender equality in higher education remains a work in progress, requiring sustained institutional commitment, cultural transformation, and accountability mechanisms.

While Makerere University has made notable progress over the past decades, speakers agreed that the next phase of gender mainstreaming must focus on implementation, visibility, and structural change.

As the MAGNETISE project continues across partner institutions in Africa and Europe, it positions itself not only as a research initiative, but as a long-term institutional reform effort aimed at reshaping how universities understand and operationalize gender equality in higher education.

In December 2010 Makerere University Council approved establishment of a Fees Waiver Scholarship Scheme that supports bright female students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds to access education at Makerere University. The first cohort of the scheme was recruited in 2011, and the scheme’s implementation is coordinated by the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate. The University waives off tuition and functional fees for the duration of the study programme of the beneficiaries of the scheme.

In the 2026/2027 academic year 40 scholarship slots are available for female students joining the University who meet the criteria competitively. All Programmes in the Colleges at Makerere University main campus and at Makerere University Jinja Campus are eligible for the Scholarship. Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

NOTE: The Scholarship covers tuition and functional fees ONLY. Successful applicants must be able to pay for their feeding, accommodation and other learning necessities required by the University for the duration of their study period.

The Application deadline is Friday, 7^th August 2026 at 5:00 pm.

See downloads for detailed announcement and application form.

For more information or inquiries, please use any of the following contacts:

Mobile Number: +256757391098 +256700198999 & +256774618071 (During working hours.)
Email Address: director.gendermainstreaming@mak.ac.ug