General
Mak Wins 4 Multi-institutional African Union Research Grants
On Wednesday, 6th March 2019, I represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe at the launch of the multi-institutional research projects funded by the African Union Commission through the African Union Research Grants with support from the European Commission. Makerere won four of the ten projects funded by the African Commission and will implement the grants in collaboration with University of Eduardo Mondlane Mozambique; and University of Zambia.
We congratulate the Principal Investigators (PIs) including:
i. Prof. Jessica Nakavuma – College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB): Development of bacteriophage cocktails as disease biocontrol agents for improved aquaculture productivity, food and nutrition safety in Uganda and Ghana
ii. Prof. Donald Kugonza – College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES): Marker-assisted breeding of native chickens in Uganda and Mozambique
iii. Mak as a partner: Aflatoxin contamination among Maize and Groundnut value chains in Zambia and Uganda
iv. Dr. Jackson Efitre – Department of Zoology, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS)
We thank our scientists who worked tirelessly to develop quality proposals that are a reflection of our drive to research excellence. It is gratifying to see our Faculty deploy their vast research capacity in Science, Technology and Innovations to solve the challenges bedevilling the agricultural sector and ultimately reduce hunger and improve the wellbeing of our people. I was overjoyed to know that our multi-institutional projects’ focus on – food, nutrition security, sustainable agriculture, is reflection of a new paradigm of Mak research agenda aimed at optimizing our relevance and contribution towards SGD 1: No poverty and 2: Zero hunger by 2030.
The kick-off meeting yesterday was attended by scientists from over 15 RUFORUM member institutions in Africa that have all demonstrated research excellence in fisheries, aflatoxin management and breeding of local chicken. From my own assessment, I could predict that the
implementation of these projects will not be a challenge because, at Makerere we have the Fisheries research centre at the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) as well as a great team of Professors in these two colleges who will ensure success of the fisheries project.
Our Food Technology and Business Incubation Centre (FTBIC) has done significant research in Aflatoxins and will be of great benefit for the Aflotoxin research project and through the School of Agricultural Sciences has done significant research in Poultry breeding. All these human and physical endowments will in no doubt contribute significantly to the scientific success of the local chicken breeding project.
Evidently, Food, nutrition security and sustainable agriculture has been areas of focus of training and research at Makerere University and we are grateful to be provided with this opportunity to deploy our expertise to make a difference in our countries and continent at large through scientific research.
Our great respect goes to the RUFORUM Network through the Executive Secretary, Prof. Adipala Ekwamu, for mobilizing African universities to team up and develop quality research projects. This affirms Makerere's research leadership on the continent. We congratulate all the successful PIs.
Article by Professor Buyinza Mukadasi, Director, DRGT, Makerere University
Makerere University is participating in the New Vision Education Expo 2023 to strengthen its niche as the leading provider of education services.
The three-day New Vision Expo (Friday 27th January 2023 to Sunday 29th January 2023) at the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT) Nakawa brings on board players in the education and business fields to forge partnerships to improve the quality and outcomes of education in Uganda.
Makerere University seeks to maximally utilize the three days to ensure that the participants at the Education Expo gain a deeper understanding of its 100 year journey of providing excellent services to humanity through academic programmes, services offered and ongoing efforts aimed at producing employable graduates as well as entrepreneurs.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe highlights that Makerere University values stakeholder engagements and partnerships. “The New Vision Expo 2023 presents Makerere University with an opportunity to enhance stakeholder engagements. It is about consolidating the relationships with schools, prospective students and parents, and partners in the education sector. I applaud the CEO of Vision Group-Mr. Don Wanyama for coming up with the Education Expo.”
To respond to the information needs of stakeholders, Makerere University has lined up a team of experienced staff from the Department of the Academic Registrar, the Admissions Office, Public Relations Office, Career Guidance experts as well as the Institute of Open Distance and e-Learning (IODeL) under the College of Education and External Studies (CEES).
According to the Principal PRO of Makerere University Ms. Ritah Namisango, the Education Expo provides a platform to reach out to the clients that Makerere University exists to serve. “You must be in touch with your prospective parents, students as well as schools and partners that continue to recommend you as the leading university in the region. Makerere University has celebrated 100 years of excellent service to humanity (1922-2022). So, as we continue to promote the academic programmes, innovations and services that we offer, we are ready to listen, interact and learn from respective stakeholders about what they expect from the University as we embark on the next 100 years.”
The New Vision Expo 2023 is happening at an opportune (holiday) time, which accords the students, parents and guardians quality time to visit the exhibition and interact with experts in the education sector.
In addition, Makerere University has recently advertised its academic programmes and it is preparing to receive students for the Academic year 2023/2024. Sharing her experience about the interaction with participants who visited the Makerere University exhibition space, Ms Joyce Muhanguzi, Senior Assistant Registrar in the Department of the Academic Registrar noted that most of the prospective students and parents wanted to know about the academic programmes, the subject combinations that students should study to qualify to apply for the respective academic programmes, and the available admission avenues i.e. government sponsorship, private sponsorship, diploma entry, direct entry, national merit, talented sports entry and district quota programme).
Ms Joyce Muhanguzi and Mr. Dennis Kibuuka’s interaction focused on students who expressed their desire to join Makerere University in the coming years, and needed a case by case approach to their information needs, career guidance and linkages to Professors and Administrative staff in the respective Colleges at Makerere University.
The prospective students and parents also disclosed that in addition to the information on the Makerere University website, they welcome interactive and friendly approaches such as the New Vision Education Expo where they are presented with a golden opportunity to interact with Makerere University officials face-to-face.
At the New Vision Education Expo 2023, Makerere University joins other exhibitors that include; Government agencies, NGOs, Telecom companies, Banks, Insurance companies, Kindergartens/Daycare Centres, Primary and Secondary schools, Ugandan and Kenyan Universities, International schools, Study Abroad Agencies, Vocational institutions, Scholastic materials suppliers and SME service providers.
-
General2 weeks agoHEST Graduate Programme: Internship Placement Advert
-
Health1 week agoFrom Working as a Houseboy to Being the Best in School: Ssembuusi’s Story of Overcoming Hardships & Achieving Success
-
Research2 weeks ago17 Postdoctoral Research Teams Mentored as SECA Project Winds up
-
Education1 week agoScholarships for the MSc in Digital Education
-
General3 days agoMak Participates in New Vision Education Expo 2023