General
Mak-Sweden APM 2019 off to Inspiring Start
The Makerere University-Sweden Bilateral Research Programme’s Annual Planning Meeting (APM) 2019 got off to an inspiring start as participating institutions underlined their intention to comply with the theme; Building a Collaborative Research Future. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe’s remarks on Ugandan partner universities working on exit strategy to sustain the research investments beyond 2020 and reactions from Swedish partners expressing willingness to collaborate with Session 1 presenters on application of research findings all clearly attested to this.
Addressing participants and dignitaries at the opening ceremony of the APM on Monday, 8th April 2019, the Ambassador of Sweden to Uganda, H.E. Per Lindgärde welcomed the discussion on strengthening the ownership and securing the sustainability of his Government’s investment in Uganda’s research over the past twenty years.
“Despite the challenges faced in the implementation of this programme, 361 scholars have been recruited and a number of new curricula have been developed. I congratulate you for this and other important achievements” remarked Ambassador Lindgärde.
He nevertheless urged the implementing Ugandan Public Universities to strengthen the quality of supervision and put in place systems for monitoring and analyzing data concerning student progress on the programme.
Earlier, Ambassador Lindgärde had noted with pleasure the Uganda Government’s plans to review the Higher Education Sector Strategic Plan and National Policy for Science, Technology and Innovation. “This will help to facilitate the very much needed transformation of the Higher Education Sector in Uganda and reequip the sector with the policies and resources to make it a dynamic engine that can help power the Ugandan economy as stated in the Vision 2040.”
The Ambassador also thanked the Department of Performing Arts and Film (PAF) students for singing Swedish Anthem “so beautifully.”
In his opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe thanked the Government of Uganda for allocating UGX30billion in the 2019/2020 financial year to support research at Makerere University. This, he noted, would go a long way in enabling Makerere’s pool of researchers; including over 250 PhDs and 100 Masters and 50 Postdoctoral fellows trained under the Bilateral Research Programme since 2000, to gainfully contribute to national development.
“This support has greatly improved the research culture of the University. I must say that many proposals are now being funded both in the basic and social sciences. Our publications have also greatly increased and this achievement is largely due to the support from Government of Sweden through Sida.
“The Swedish support has enabled us to implement all our research priorities including Health and Health Systems; Agricultural Transformation, Food Security and Livelihoods; Natural Resources Governance and Climate Change; Education and Education Systems; Governance, Culture, Social Justice and Sustainable Development; Science and Technology. The cross-cutting areas include Biotechnology, Knowledge Translation, Gender and Human Resource Development” added the Vice Chancellor.
Prof. Nawangwe further noted that Makerere University has with the support of Sida been able to establish strong collaborations with leading universities including those from Sweden. “We have learnt best practices from these universities and also benefitted from joint supervision, which has ensured high quality of our graduates.”
In this regard, he thanked Swedish institutions such as Karolinska Institute for working with Ugandan universities on programmes beyond the current phase of Swedish Government support. The final phase of the Makerere-University Sweden Bilateral Research Programme runs until June 2020.
The Director, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT) and Overall Sida Programme Coordinator, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi noted that the five-day APM has been organised to provide an opportunity for the five Ugandan Public Universities to share research findings, take stock of performances as per the agreed research undertakings and engage with policy to transform society.
“In recent years, Makerere has placed more emphasis on research and scholarly productivity of faculty. Despite the regional faculty shortage, we were able to recruit and appoint a number of PhD-prepared and research-active faculty and to support junior faculty to get their PhDs. Capacity building has been a major goal of the University and will continue to be so in the future” reassured Prof. Buyinza.
Prof. Buyinza also introduced participants from the eleven Swedish collaborating institutions namely; Stockholm University, Karolinska Institute, University of Boras, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, University of Gothenburg, Uppsala University, Chalmers University of Technology, Lund University, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Linköping University and Mälardalen University.
The APM’s Science Day presentations kicked off in a session chaired by the Sida Programme Coordinator in Kyambogo University, Assoc. Prof. Nabalegwa Wambede. Dr. Gaston Ampek Tumuhimbise from the Department of Food Technology and Human Nutrition, Makerere University presented on the use of amaranth leaves and skimmed milk powders to enrich orange fleshed sweet potato flour while Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)’s Mr. Vincent Mwesigye presented on the sero-antigen prevalence, risk factors of lymphatic filariasis and podoconiosis in Busiriba, Kamwenge District.
However, the shock and awe moment of the day belonged to Mr. Okot Fred David whose presentation on partial findings of characterisation of anti-venom compounds from selected plants locally used for treatment of snakebites in Uganda left the audience gaping. His findings will seek to document and determine the anti-venom potential of medicinal plants used by traditional medical practitioners to treat snakebites since time immemorial. This indigenous knowledge, he observed, is sadly not so prevalent among the youth and risks being lost with the passing on of the older generations.
Article by Public Relations Office
The two-week training programme aims to equip government officers with practical skills to assess project viability, manage investment risks and ensure public resources deliver value for money.
The Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE) is strengthening the capacity of government officers to undertake financial appraisal and risk analysis of public investment projects through a two-week training programme designed to improve the quality of project preparation, appraisal and decision-making in Uganda.
The training, which started in Fort Portal on October 19, 2026, brought together participants from various government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), alongside facilitators from Makerere University, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Cambridge Resources International (CRI), the National Planning Authority and the Uganda Development Bank.
Officially opening the training on behalf of the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury, Ms Esther Ayebare, Acting Assistant Commissioner in the Project Analysis and Public Investment Department of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, emphasised the importance of rigorous project appraisal in strengthening Uganda’s public investment management system.
She noted that projects admitted into the public investment plan must be aligned with national priorities, technically sound, financially viable and capable of delivering value for money.
“Government must be able to compare investment alternatives and ensure that only viable projects proceed through the public investment process,” she emphasised.
Ms Ayebare explained that sound appraisal enables government to make informed investment decisions, maximise returns on public expenditure and ensure that limited public resources are directed towards projects with the greatest potential to deliver development outcomes.
Building practical skills for better investment decisions
The training builds on the Public Investment Management course conducted in June, which introduced participants to Uganda’s public investment management framework, including project conceptualisation, stakeholder analysis, project costing, implementation action plans, the Integrated Bank of Projects, and monitoring and evaluation of public investment reforms.
The current programme advances this foundation by equipping participants with technical competencies in financial appraisal, financial modelling and risk analysis.
Participants will explore integrated investment appraisal, alternative investment criteria, cash-flow statements, inflation and exchange-rate movements, asset valuation, project financing, project scale and timing, risk-sharing arrangements and cost-effectiveness analysis.
Through practical exercises and case studies, participants will apply these concepts to investment scenarios in sectors such as roads, health, education and water. The programme will also examine how climate change, social considerations and other risks can be integrated into project preparation and appraisal.
Ms Ayebare encouraged participants to engage actively with the facilitators, question the practical application of the tools and consider how the skills acquired could improve investment decisions within their respective institutions.
She also reminded participants that the programme includes an examination and that certification requires more than attendance. Participants are expected to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and acquire practical skills that they can apply in their work.
Reducing dependence on externally prepared studies
A key objective of the training is to strengthen the ability of government institutions to undertake high-quality project appraisal studies using their own technical teams.
Ms Ayebare observed that many studies submitted to the Development Committee have traditionally been prepared by external consultants, often at considerable cost. Building the capacity of public officers to conduct these studies independently can help institutions strengthen their technical expertise and improve the quality of project proposals presented for consideration.
She urged participants to take full advantage of the facilitators’ expertise and return to their institutions equipped to undertake sound financial appraisals and provide evidence-based advice to decision-makers.
She further emphasised that project approval requires thorough preparation, analysis and justification, rather than simply identifying available funding and proposing a project to utilise it.
Strengthening public investment management through capacity development
In his remarks, Prof. Edward Bbaale, Director of the PIM CoE, thanked the Ministry of Finance for its financial support and for identifying participants from government institutions. He also recognised the contributions of the facilitators and partner institutions in delivering the programme.
Prof. Bbaale noted that the Centre’s work extends beyond training to include research and advisory services aimed at improving public investment management practices. He encouraged continued collaboration with government institutions and other partners to advance research, knowledge sharing and capacity development.
Speaking during the training, Dr John Sseruyange, Manager of the PIM CoE, highlighted the importance of commitment, active participation and punctuality throughout the programme. He encouraged participants to engage with the facilitators, ask questions and apply the knowledge gained to the projects they support.
Dr Sseruyange also acknowledged the Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, for financing the training, and appreciated Cambridge Resources International for its continued support towards improving public investment preparation and analysis in Uganda.
The training reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen Uganda’s public investment management system by equipping public officers with the knowledge and practical competencies needed to assess projects rigorously, identify potential risks and make informed investment decisions.
By developing in-house expertise across government institutions, the programme seeks to contribute to better-prepared projects, more efficient use of public resources and improved delivery of Uganda’s development priorities.
President Yoweri K. Museveni while officiating as Chief Guest at the Julius Nyerere Annual Symposium 2026: Nyerere-Museveni Dialogue at Makerere University called upon the audience not to merely hold Nyerere’s Legacy as a historical footprint but as a masterplan for the future that remains unfinished. Organised by the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC), the symposium was a two day event that started with “ekyooto” on 13th October at the JNLC gardens and climaxed on 14th October in Freedom Square. The second day hinged on the theme: Borrowing from the Past, Building the Future.
In the President’s message delivered by Rt. Hon. Dr. Crispus Walter Kiyonga the Second Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of Makerere University, the president spotlighted, “Mwalimu Nyerere as the greatest African that ever lived in terms of contribution to the African people’s efforts for freedom, human rights, and dignity.”
This greatness, he notes, spilled not just to political ideals but also to economics and security. The President agreed with him and warned that “freedom without economic transformation and economic prosperity, without a robust strategic security, remains incomplete.”
Reaching out to the younger generation of scholars and leaders, the President issued a strong warning to move beyond simply remembering Nyerere to action. He said, “you must carry forward the torch of pan-Africanism, reject sectarianism and tribalism, build our regional markets, and champion the total political integration of our motherland.”
He appreciated Mwalimu for his; unwavering support for the struggle of the East African Federation, courageous backing of the armed anti-colonial struggles in the southern half of Africa, principled and decisive support for the anti-Idi Amin struggle, pro-people and pro-unity policies that kept Tanzania peaceful for decades, and ensuring that Tanzania remained a strategic rear base for the entire African resistance.
As a believer in Nyerere’s ideals, the President urged the audience to honor Mwalimu “not merely through commemorative speeches, but through completing the historical task of uniting, defending, and prospering our motherland,” for the motive is to ensure that the independence wars won by our predecessors were not in vain.
To this note, he reiterated the case for Uganda, saying “we shall never forget his profound contribution” to Africa.
Professor Nyamsenda’s Keynote Unparked Pan-Africanism
During the Nyerere-Museveni Dialogue symposium at Makerere University, Professor Sabatho Nyamsenda, a lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam delivered the Keynote Address titled “The Unfinished African Project: From Liberation Legacies to a New Generation of Transformation” during the symposium”.
He started on a lighter noticing “Nyerere is being Ugandanised.” This he said looking at the annual Public Lectures dedicated to his name and felt like challenging his home institutions to follow suit.
At the calm of the room, he presented a critique of the current state of Pan-Africanism, arguing that it has been grabbed by the ruling elites, a challenge Professor Nyamsenda identifies to have started in the period of 1960 -1980.
He explained that it was around this time period that Pan-Africanism was snatched away from the masses and it became a state project. Currently, he said the ideology exists in two forms: Boardroom and Street Pan-Africanism.
Professor, characterised Boardroom Pan-Africanism as a State Project. He said “boardroom Pan-Africanism sits comfortably with imperialism and elite-centered accumulation.” While Street Pan-Africanism to which Professor advocates, he emphasised that historically, this approach “united the African liberation movement and liberated the African continent from the most barbaric colonial powers.”
As he concluded, Professor Nyamsenda joined Mwalimu and the President of Uganda in urging youth to consider joining and leading the struggle for a better Africa.
Role of JNLC in Realising Nyerere’s Ideas
Professor Saturninus Kasozi Mulindwa, the JNLC Board Chair highlighted the primary objective of the center as “imparting knowledge and sharing experiences from the old generations to the new generations.” Therefore, JNLC contributes to the actualisation of Nyerere’s ideas by focusing on the development of the next generation of African leaders.
To supplement this, Dr. Nansozi K. Mwanga the Executive Director at JNLC said that the center is committed to “nurturing ethical, conscious, and transformative leaders inspired by Mwalimu’s ideas of service, human dignity, self-reliance, and Pan-African solidarity.”
She explained their focus is on several key areas with training as core. They have “trained over 1,500 young people and young leaders from across Uganda.”, and developed leadership programs “grounded in ethical decision-making, civic responsibility, public service, and action.”
In her remarks, it was observed that training alone is not enough; they are also doing mentorship, to provide opportunities for networking and learning from experienced leaders. There are already testimonies when you visit the Centre wall of fame. To which Dr. Nansozi revealed “leadership development matters when learning becomes service and meaningful action.”
The Centre remains proud of those they have touched and are eager to support as many cohorts.
Julius Nyerere Family Pour their Heart out
Mama Maria Nyerere, addressed the Symposium virtually and commended the Centre for keeping Mwalimu’s values alive.
As a memory of her husband, she reminded the audience that his greatest legacy was anchored on the values by which he lived: service, humility, integrity, unity and love for Africa and its people. She also urged the young people to take up leadership responsibilities and lead with humility, integrity and always remember the people they serve.
Mama Nyerere also advised the youth to learn from those who came before them like her husband with courage to build a better Africa for their generation and those who will come after them.
Joining Mama Nyerere, on behalf of the Nyerere family was Ms. Julia Nyerere, a granddaughter, who attended physically and thanked H.E. Kaguta Museveni for supporting the establishment of the Julius Nyerere Centre at Makerere University and also commended the Keynote Speaker Professor Nyamsenda for Critiquing Nyerere’s ideas.
Julia further shared an understanding of her grand-father’s interest in preserving humanity as a moral.
As a family they are happy that his (Nyerere) values and legacies continue to inspire Africa and beyond.
Appreciation for All who Made the Symposium Possible
Addressing the symposium, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, represented by Professor Henry Alinaitwe the Deputy Vice Chancellor in Charge of Finance and Administration expressed the University’s appreciation and commitment.
He thanked “the government of Uganda for the support they are giving to the Julius Nyerere Leadership Center,” and requested Dr. Kiyonga to “convey the message to the fountain of honour for this initiative that Makerere University is happy for, and is going on well.”
To the leadership of the Center, he specifically thanked the Director Dr. Nansozi for her focused leadership. He stated, “I commend my friend, Dr. Nansozi, for the work that you are doing.”
Professor Alinaitwe also emphasized “we” value these symposiums, saying, “as a university, we acknowledge that such activities create great visibility.”
Dr. Kiyonga was also thanked for delivering the President’s message, together with veterans like Professor Kabwegyere, among other distinguished guests and partners that attended.
Professor Tarsis Bazana Kabwegyere as well appreciated all and emphasised the collective duty of the youth in building the next generation.
He advised “your responsibility is to identify and build Africa forward, building on the legacies and foundations of our forefathers,”.
The Professor also argued that “being young on its own is not a virtue. It is what you are when you are young.” He challenges the audience to avoid being ignorant and claim that you are young.
Background of the Nyerere Symposium
The Julius Nyerere Annual Symposium is an intergenerational gathering hosted at Makerere University. For more than six years now, it has been connecting past leadership legacies of Nyerere and other revolutionaries with current regional and continental priorities under the (JNLC) centre.
The Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC) serves as a training ground and research hub designed to mentor the next generation of African leaders. Co-hosted by Makerere University and the Uganda Management Institute (UMI), the Centre bridges the gap between older statesmen and youth by focusing on Pan-African ideals, ethical governance, and social transformation.
-
Agriculture & Environment2 weeks agoMakerere University Welcomes 50 Youth Skilling Program trainees under the Africa Climate Collaborative, Supported by Mastercard Foundation
-
General2 weeks agoTimothy Khabusi: From Barefoot Walks to shaping Uganda’s Eye health Future
-
Humanities & Social Sciences1 week agoFrench Embassy Presents Four Makerere Scholars with Academic Palms
-
General2 weeks agoMakerere Hosts EU Uganda Research and Study Fair
-
Agriculture & Environment2 weeks agoAfter 10 Years Out of Education, Africa Climate Collaborative at Makerere University Opens a New Chapter for Okello