“I applaud Makerere University and Tottori University for signing the MoU that has enabled the exchange of knowledge and ideas between staff and students from both institutions. This has given students an opportunity to study, research and experience new things,” said the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs)-DVCAA, Dr. Umar Kakumba in a speech read by Dr. Gorreti Nabanoga.

Dr. Gorreti Nabanoga, an Associate Professor and Deputy Principal of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) represented Dr. Umar Kakumba at the closing ceremony of the three-week Practical Education Program in Uganda held on Thursday, 21st March 2019 at Makerere University.

The DVCAA urged the Fifteen (15) students from Tottori University who participated in the Practical Education Program in Uganda to share their findings and knowledge with fellow students when they return to Japan.

Dr. Kakumba said that the Program will help students examine different professions and skills in agriculture, veterinary medicine, engineering, health and social sciences fields and how they have influenced social and economic transformation in Uganda. “Tottori students will learn from our people and the Ugandans will also learn from them” he added.

Tottori University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Makerere University for the delivery of the Tottori University overseas Practical Education Program in Uganda with an aim of fostering students’ global competence skills development and facilitating the building of networks with developing and emerging nations.  

In line with the vision of Fostering Global Citizenship, the program was designed to expose Japanese students to the outside world.

The Fifteen (15) students spent three weeks understanding the social-economic conditions and cultural context in which development processes are taking place.  They attended special lectures organised by Makerere University, the Embassy of Japan in Uganda and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and participated in guided-field excursions to various establishments across the country.

Through this program, Japanese students learn about the different aspects of life in the host country such as the education system, health system, the culture, forests and nature conservation, transport, agricultural systems, refugees, economy as well as visiting tourist attractions in the host country.

The Students carried out research and presented findings on topics of interest namely:

•    Problems of refugees in Uganda
•    Education in Uganda
•    Causes of poverty in Uganda
•    Agricultural practices in Uganda
•    Ecosystem and nature conservation
•    Traffic system in Uganda
•    Forest degradation among others

Presenting findings on forest degradation, one of the students from Japan, Mr. Tomoki Kinugasa reported that Uganda’s forest cover had greatly decreased due to the usage of a lot of wood to make charcoal in addition to illegal logging. He said that to save forests, people should start using electricity to cook and government should enact strict laws to end logging.

The students were also concerned that people in various parts of the Uganda had built houses in wetlands thus affecting the ecosystem of the country.  “Many activities are happening in the wetlands diverting water flows and flooding low-lying areas.”

They also shared that the narrow city roads lead to a lot of traffic jam by motorists, bodaboda riders and cyclists. Additionally, there is no space for pedestrians to move freely on the roads. Bodaboda riders go against the traffic lights and therefore easily cause accidents.

Ms. Martha Muwanguzi, the Head International Relations Office said that the student and staff exchange was fundamental in internationalizing Makerere University. Without the exchanges, internationalization will remain on paper and the benefits will be minimal to both institutions.

She also expressed Makerere University’s gratitude to Tottori University for the fully funded scholarships that had been awarded to students for Masters and PhD programs in Japan. A similar program for Makerere University students and staff to visit Japan was recommended so as to promote the exchange for the mutual benefit of both institutions.

Written by: Esther Joyce Nakibombo, Volunteer-Mak Public Relations Office