General
Mak-Sida APM Ends: Senior Faculty Trained in Graduate Research Supervision and Mentorship
On Friday, 12th April 2019, the weeklong Makerere University-Sweden Bilateral Research Programme Annual Research Planning Conference concluded with a certificate award ceremony to the first cohort of Senior Faculty trained in Graduate Supervision and Mentorship. The Quality Assurance Directorate (QAD), Makerere University together with Uppsala University Sweden conducted this first training.
I represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe at the closing ceremony where we took note of the milestones of our research cooperation which started in 2000 and will come to an end in 2020. The ceremony was held in the Quality Assurance Telepresence Centre, Makerere University.
This being the last Planning Conference, we conducted a SWOT analysis and noted that the significant enhancement of academic sustainability at Mak has been a major achievement of the Swedish support. Over 250 staff have completed their PhD, Master and Postdoctoral training.
We are optimistic that the sustainability/future of research at Mak will be secured through a multiple interventions including: Development of institutional systems and structures aimed at continued implementation of research capacity building activities; Creation of an enabling, harmonious and efficient environment for research and innovations; Maintenance of internal systems to improve research and publications culture; Revision of policies and guidelines to strengthen research management and coordination; Establishment of staff retention strategies; Supporting mechanisms to sustain the established collaborations; and Continued fundraising strategies and increased funding streams for research and innovations.
During the last four years of implementing the programme, we have noted that Makerere will only sustain the current momentum in the research arena if it mentors our early-career researchers during the five years following their PhD completion. We need to provide adequate research support leading to a well planned career progression from postdoctoral appointment to tenure, promotion and beyond. We need to attract, retain, develop, and promote our researchers.
In this regard, mentorship of early-career researchers by senior colleagues who have successfully navigated those transitions is critically important. To address this shortfall, we have taken a deliberate decision to develop our own research leaders from the existing stock of staff.
Article by Professor Buyinza Mukadasi, Director DRGT
In a vibrant celebration of youth leadership and African unity, Makerere University hosted the Second Annual Guild Leaders’ Summit, an event that brought together high-profile dignitaries, student leaders, and international partners for a powerful dialogue on the future of the continent. The summit, organized by the Guild Presidents Leadership Academy, served as a rallying point for East Africa’s young leaders to confront Africa’s most urgent challenges—on their own terms and with their own solutions.
A Warm Welcome and Reflections on Makerere’s Legacy
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, welcomed the distinguished guests, who included Former President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo, former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, Justice Simon Byabakama, Hon. Mathew Rukikaire, and European Union Deputy Ambassador Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, among others.
In his address, Prof. Nawangwe reflected on Makerere’s deep historical ties to East Africa’s liberation and development movements. He reminded the audience that Makerere University has been a crucible for the continent’s leadership, stating:
“Jomo Kenyatta was the first person to receive a degree from Makerere when, in 1963, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by then Chancellor Julius Nyerere. All freedom fighters in East Africa studied at Makerere.”
Building on this rich history, Prof. Nawangwe affirmed the university’s current mission to tackle pressing continental issues. “Today,” he said, “Makerere is committed to addressing Africa’s challenges—climate change, disease, poverty, food security, conflict resolution, and economic development. But we cannot do this alone.”
He echoed sentiments later shared by the keynote speaker, stressing that Africa must no longer depend on external interventions:
“Foreign agencies will not solve all Africa’s problems. It is our young people who must step forward and lead the change.”
Uhuru Kenyatta: “You Are the Last Line of Defence”
In a keynote address that resonated deeply with the students and delegates in attendance, Former President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a bold and urgent call to action for Africa’s youth.
“No one is coming to save us,” Kenyatta declared. “You are the last line of defence in the battle to rescue the heart and soul of Africa.”
Positioning today’s youth as the heirs of the continent’s freedom fighters, Kenyatta described the current moment as a new “independence era”—not of political liberation, but of economic and intellectual sovereignty. He urged students to think critically about intra-African trade, which currently accounts for less than 2.5% of global commerce, and to advocate for the removal of internal barriers to trade, innovation, and mobility.
“You are the freedom fighters of this generation,” he said. “Universities must be incubators of change, and students must be the trustees of tomorrow’s Africa.”
Pan-Africanism, Leadership, and Action
Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo encouraged students to take up the mantle of Pan-Africanism with unwavering commitment. She acknowledged that while the rhetoric of African unity is inspiring, real progress demands more than words:
“You must embrace the spirit of Pan-Africanism. But it is easy to say these words—the challenge lies in collective implementation.”
She emphasized the importance of action-oriented leadership and urged the youth to harness their creativity, energy, and education for the benefit of the continent.
European Union’s Message: Leadership with Integrity
Representing Team Europe, the EU Deputy Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, gave a passionate speech on the values of authentic leadership, integrity, and inclusive development. He praised Makerere University as a space where “intellectual ambition meets civic responsibility” and emphasized that leadership is not about prestige, but purpose:
“Be a leader because of what you want to be—not because of what you want to have,” he said.
Citing former Makerere alumni such as Julius Nyerere and Wangari Maathai, Chartrain called on students to model courage, resilience, and humility:
“True leadership emerges in moments of loss—when resilience, not triumph, becomes the measure of one’s character.”
The EU, he said, remains committed to supporting youth through programs like Erasmus+, the EU Youth Sounding Board, and partnerships with organizations like Faraja Africa Foundation and Restless Development. These initiatives empower youth not as symbols, but as active participants in shaping policy and governance.
The Legacy Continues
Throughout the summit, speakers highlighted the importance of legacy and long-term impact. They challenged young leaders to think not just about the present, but about the systems and institutions they will leave behind. In the words of Former President Kenyatta:
“Leadership is not about the next election. It’s about the next generation.”
The summit ended on a high note, with students invigorated and inspired to lead with purpose. As global support grows less predictable and Africa stands at a crossroads, the message from Makerere was clear: the future of the continent is in the hands of its youth. And as the Guild Leaders’ Summit demonstrated, they are ready.
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