General
Ambassador Kameda Visits AICAD Mak Office, Receives Reports
The Ambassador of Japan to Uganda, H.E. Kazuaki Kameda on Wednesday, 17th April 2019 made a courtesy visit to the African Institute for Capacity Development (AICAD) Office, Makerere University. He was received by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Dr. Bitek Titus Watmon who represented the Vice Chancellor Kyambogo University and AICAD officials led by the Acting Executive Director-Prof. Dominic Byarugaba. Also present from AICAD were the Director Research and Development Division-Dr. Benson Odongo, Director Training and Extension-Patrick A. Wakhu as well as former AICAD Uganda Country Office Director-Prof. Oswald Ndoleriire.
Welcoming H.E. Kazuaki Kameda, Prof. Nawangwe thanked the Government and people of Japan for the immense support received through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and AICAD shortly after Uganda had emerged from the civil war in 1987. He thanked JICA for the continued support to AICAD, which has enabled the Secretariat to fund research and training activities.
“Makerere benefitted a lot in the form of research and training through AICAD support. This support was timely, because we developed a critical mass of staff in a select number of disciplines such as security and population studies which are pertinent to Africa’s development” remarked the Vice Chancellor.
Prof. Nawangwe also appreciated the construction of the then Faculty of Science Extension (JICA Building) completed in 1992 as well as support to the Department of Geology which led to additional mineral discoveries through joint research activities. “I implore Your Excellency to use your office to renew support to our joint research with Japanese colleagues for the mutual benefit of both our countries.”
He also acknowledged the Japanese Government’s contribution to infrastructural development through the construction of projects such as the newly completed Source of the Nile Bridge. The 525metre cable-stayed bridge was officially opened to traffic on 17th October 2018 and has a lifespan of 120 years.
In his remarks, the Ambassador thanked the Vice Chancellor and leaders present for the extremely warm welcome to Makerere University. He highly appreciated Prof. Byarugaba’s efforts in organising his visit to the AICAD offices.
“I am happy to see that AICAD has continued to carry out its activities with support from the Regional Governments of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania” added H.E. Kameda.
Prof. Dominic Byarugaba informed the meeting that AICAD’s Headquarters are located within the main campus of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). The three AICAD Country Offices are located at Egerton University in Kenya, Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania and Makerere University. He added that the Institute’s mandate is poverty reduction in Africa through human capacity development especially in the area of agriculture, which employs the largest portion of the population.
Prof. Byarugaba further noted that AICAD supports key projects such as value addition to clay products in Kyambogo University as well as Namanve and Kajjansi areas where large deposits of clay exist. “Industries with advanced glazing machinery have gone ahead to produce tiles and other ceramic products.”
He shared that in response to threats posed by climate change, AICAD had conducted value addition trainings for products such as milk and vegetables. He added that the Institute had partnered with JICA to promote intensification of the New Rice for Africa (NERICA) variety in the East African regions of Mbeya and Morogoro in Tanzania, Ahero and Busia in Kenya as well as Eastern Uganda.
“The choice of crop AICAD promotes is informed by the agro ecological zones of Uganda. For example in Eastern Uganda, JICA and AICAD conducted a lot of trainings on rice growing in partnership with Busitema University. In Western Uganda, we concentrated on bananas but also appended other crops such as coffee and tea and partnered with the Operation Wealth Creation in the distribution of seedlings. In Northern Uganda, we partnered with Gulu University to conduct training on simsim growing, as well as other foods that improve the health and nutrition status of the previously displaced communities” Prof. Byarugaba further explained.
Dr. Bitek Titus Watmon in his contribution however called for the need to AICAD and JICA to set up a professional training centre where students from Universities and Technical Institutions can acquire professional hands-on skills. This, he said would help to stem the rising tide graduates from these institutions whose skills in areas such as torch welding do not meet professional standards and as such, their products cannot be accepted by international markets. This intervention will be necessary if these graduates are to match skills required by Uganda’s and the region’s promising oil and gas sector.
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Article by Public Relations Office
On 20th August 2026, Makerere University welcomed another cohort of 258 recipients of the prestigious Mastercard Foundation scholarship for the 2026/2027 academic year with pomp and fanfare. The colourful Scholarship Award Ceremony was presided over by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, who was represented by Prof. Ibrahim Mike Okumu, the Dean of the School of Economics and the Chairperson of the Scholars Selection sub-committee of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University.
While addressing the gathering, Prof. Nawangwe reminded the Scholars that the scholarship was both an honour and a responsibility, and that they ought to make the most of it to improve their lives and communities.
“Now that you have stepped through the gates of Makerere University, remember that a scholarship is both an award and a responsibility. You have been chosen because we believe in your potential to lead, innovate, and serve. Makerere University offers you world-class academic resources, mentorship, and networks—but the impact you make with these resources will depend on your discipline, integrity, and vision,” Prof. Nawangwe remarked.
A Call for Responsible Living
The Vice Chancellor further urged the new recruits to embrace university life responsibly and form lasting bonds that will support future networks.
“I encourage you to engage fully and responsibly in University life, build lasting bonds with your peers, and, equally important, keep your home communities close to your heart. Let the knowledge and skills you gain here become the seed for innovative solutions to the challenges facing your communities, our country, Uganda, and the African continent.” Prof Nawangwe emphasised.
Prof. Nawangwe further expressed his gratitude to the Mastercard Foundation for recognising Makerere University as a worthy partner and pledged to continue supporting all the Mastercard Foundation’s initiatives at Makerere University.
Leadership starts with self
Mr. Adrian Bukenya, the Senior Director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program globally and the Country Director for Uganda, urged Scholars to embrace leadership, particularly through self-leadership. He emphasised that the Scholars Program is fundamentally a leadership development program.
“The Scholars Program offers more than just a scholarship; it is a leadership development Program. I encourage you, Scholars, to embrace leadership, and leadership starts with leading yourself, then your community, your country and the continent,” Mr. Bukenya emphasised.
Mr. Bukenya expressed his gratitude to the Management of Makerere University for partnering with the Mastercard Foundation on various initiatives. He emphasised that the Foundation is committed to continuing this partnership to educate young people and nurture the next generation of leaders on the African continent.
Selection Process Highlights
On his part, the Chairperson of the Scholars Selection Committee, represented by Mr Charles Ssentongo, the Deputy Academic Registrar responsible for Undergraduate admissions, congratulated all the Scholars who had made it through a very competitive and watertight selection process. To illustrate how tight the selection process had been, he shared compelling statistics that clearly demonstrated its competitiveness.
“We received 3,664 Applications for the Scholarship; 2,904 Undergraduates and 760 master’s students. Of these scholarship applicants, 1,440 Undergraduates and 280 Master’s students were admitted to Makerere University on private sponsorship, and they were all eligible for the Scholarship,” Mr Ssentongo pointed out.
Mr Ssentongo informed the attentive audience that one of the biggest challenges the Committee faced was the very high number of applicants, while the number of scholarships available was always very small. Mr Ssentongo then highlighted further statistics that characterised the tedious selection process.
“For the Undergraduates, 650 applicants were shortlisted for interviews, while 58 Master’s applicants were also shortlisted. Of these, 245 undergraduates and 13 Master’s students were selected for the final award,” Mr Ssentongo highlighted.
Celebrating A Diverse Cohort
The Program Director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere, Prof. Justine Namaalwa, used the occasion to highlight achievements made in the years gone by.
“Today, we are overjoyed to have successfully recruited 258 Cohort 9 Scholars—bringing us to the mark of 546 Scholars, 54.6% of the target recruitment of 1,000 Scholars under Phase II of the Program. To date, a total of 1,596 Scholars have been recruited since 2013, when the Scholars Program started at Makerere University,” Prof. Namaalwa announced.
Prof. Namaalwa showcased the diversity created by the Scholars Program, highlighting the arrival of international students from across the African continent at Makerere University through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
“For Cohort 9 Scholars, it’s time to celebrate our diversity in the Program. Let me call out the nationalities represented in the room: Lesotho (1 Scholar), Malawi (1 Scholar), Ghana (1 Scholar), D.R. Congo (13 Scholars), Cameroon (7 Scholars), Burundi (3 Scholars), Rwanda (10 Scholars), South Sudan (40 Scholars) and Tanzania (1 Scholar).” Prof. Namaalwa revealed.
Scholars Speak Out
Nathan Tamba, an international student from Cameroon, conveyed his enthusiasm regarding the opportunities afforded by the scholarship, particularly the prospect of pursuing his studies at Makerere University, recognised as one of the leading institutions on the continent.
“On behalf of my fellow scholars, I would like to express our gratitude to Makerere University and the Mastercard Foundation for awarding us this scholarship. It has given me the opportunity to study at this prestigious university and to experience Uganda for the first time.” Tamba remarked.
Tamba, clearly delighted like his fellow scholars, committed to using the scholarship opportunity to gain knowledge and skills he will use to benefit himself and his community.
The function was punctuated by entertainment from the Makerere University Choir, networking, and plenty of joyous celebration.
Bernard Buteera is Principal Communications Officer for the Scholars Program at Makerere University.
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