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African Union Team Visits ASF-RESIST Action at CoNAS

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A team from the African Union (AU) led by Dr. Monica Ebele Idinoba accompanied by Ms. Khadidiatou Meissa Gaye visited the ASF-RESIST action from the 23rd April to 26th April 2019 at the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) to review progress of the action since its inception in 2018. The African Union supported by the European Union awarded a research grant of USD 1,249,988 to a consortium of scientists led by the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Makerere University to implement a research action aimed at 'Developing innovative and sustainable approaches to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Africa (ASF-RESIST)'. The Principal Investigator (PI) of ASF-RESIST is Dr. Charles Masembe, an
Associate Professor in the Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences (ZEFS).

During the visit, the AU team held a meeting on the 24th April 2019 with the team at CoNAS led by the Principal (Prof. Joseph Y.T. Mugisha) and Head of ZEFS (Dr. Eric Sande). The Director of Research and Graduate Training at Makerere University (Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza) and a RUFORUM representative also attended the meeting.

In his remarks at the meeting, Dr. Masembe reiterated the strengths of ASF-RESIST noting that 'ASF-RESIST has put together a partnership of members from across Africa and the northern hemisphere. The action will allow us to train more and thereby build a critical mass of scientists/experts working on African Swine Fever (ASF) in Africa and globally'. He also underlined the support of the AU in leveraging the capacity available in Africa to solve
the continent's problem.

Dr. Ebele as head of the AU team encouraged Makerere to comply to agreements reached with the funders otherwise penalties might accrue affecting future project grants for the institution as a whole.

Dr. Sande as Head of ZEFS welcomed the AU team and partners present to the department. He highlighted his belief that the ASF-RESIST action will bring more skills and knowledge to the department.

Prof. Mugisha noted that ZEFS is one of the most qualified departments across Makerere University with all the academic staff PhD holders. He also reiterated thanks of CoNAS and Makerere for the support of AU and EU with confirmation that the action will be well implemented.

It gives me great pleasure to give remarks at a review of multi-institutional project, Prof. Buyinza said. He recalled his presence the inception meeting where the pace for implementation was set. He reminded everyone that 'winning a project is only a short celebration but the issue for Makerere and partners as institutions is compliance and brand protection. This can only be possible by implementing the project as stipulated in the proposal and agreement with funders'.

Prof. Buyinza thanked Dr. Masembe for the zeal exhibited by winning the project grants that he leads and implementing them satisfactorily. 'I request that you continue to do thus but also train and mentor others',

Prof. Buyinza continued. The Director reminded all present that 'we are transforming communities with research that we do. He assured all that Makerere has lessons to share as a leader in home grown solutions as exhibited by the work implemented at the various units of the University'.

Prof. Buyinza reminded the meeting that it is important to always think ahead to sustainability and human resource capacity building for any grant worn. He also commended CoNAS under the leadership of Prof. Mugisha for the work accomplished.

The AU team also visited project sites including the Molecular Genetics Laboratory and farmers in Mukono District.

Partners working with Makerere University on the ASF-RESIST action include MRC – University of Glasgow, Centre for Virus Research – Scotland, UK; National Veterinary Research Institute, Nigeria. Associate Partners: BecA-ILRI Hub – Kenya; National Veterinary Institute – Sweden. Networking Support: Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture
(RUFORUM).

Article by Communications and PR Office, CoNAS

 

Mark Wamai

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Call For Abstracts: National Symposium on Climate Migration among Youths in Uganda

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Call For Abstracts: National Symposium on Climate Migration among Youths in Uganda. Submission Deadline: 9th June 2026

Makerere University, in collaboration with the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Tufts University, and Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), invites researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and community actors to submit abstracts for the National Symposium on:

Climate Migration among Youths in Uganda: Local Voices for Policy Impact

Date: Wednesday, 12th August 2026
Venue: Makerere University Main Hall

The symposium will examine the drivers, patterns, and impacts of climate-induced youth migration in Uganda, while advancing evidence-based and community-informed policy responses.

Theme: Climate-Induced Youth Migration and Urban Futures in Uganda: Evidence, Voices, and Pathways for Action

Submission Deadline: 9th June 2026

Submit Abstracts To: citiesofyouth@musph.ac.ug

Researchers and practitioners are encouraged to contribute research findings, case studies, policy analyses, and practice-based experiences. Abstracts will be considered for oral and poster presentations.

Mak Editor

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Call for Research Support Applications from Master’s Students who have Completed their First Year of Taught Classes at Makerere University

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Call for Research Support Applications from Master’s Students who have Completed their First Year of Taught Classes at Makerere University. Photo: Nano Banan 2

Makerere University, in partnership with Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Independent University of Bangladesh, Eduardo Mondlane University, and Pokhara University, with funding from Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED), is implementing a project: ‘Co-creating Knowledge for Local Adaptation to Climate Change in LDCs (COLOCAL).

The expected outputs of the project include strengthened educational and research capacity, improved knowledge on inclusive Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) and Community Based Adaptation (CBA) including delivering skilled knowledge co-creators, and partnerships to support needs-driven, locally-based and contextually sensitive adaptation. The outputs are anticipated to influence policy, planning and practice around LLA and CBA through collaborative learning and knowledge translation.

In line with targets and activities for 2026/2027, COLOCAL project is offering research support for three (3) Master’s students who have completed their first academic year of taught classes at Makerere University and are interested in undertaking research under one of the following thematic areas. The students MUST have undertaken the course offered under the auspices of the project on Disability, Social Justice and Climate Resilient Development.

Requirements:

  • A first degree from a reputable university in a field related to the focus of the project
  • Ugandan citizen below 35 years
  • Good command of English (spoken and written)
  • Demonstrated interest in inclusive and climate resilient development
  • Evidence of practical experience in conducting relevant research during and after undergraduate level
  • Evidence of full payment of all university fees for the first academic year
  • The Masters programme being undertaken MUST have explicit content on climate change mitigation and adaptation
  • Special consideration will be given to students with disabilities, financial challenges, students from ethnic minority groups, internally displaced students, among others

Scholarship and study/research conditions

Availability to complete all research activities in a maximum of 10 months.

Scope of the scholarship

The project will specifically cover stipends and support for field activities only. Support with tuition fees, for the research year, will be provided for students who will complete and submit the research thesis for examination within 10 months from the date of receiving the scholarship offer letter.

How to apply

Interested and eligible candidates should submit the following documents: Application letter, research concept note of not more than 2 pages, academic transcripts/certificates, an updated CV (including contacts of at least two referees) and two recommendation letters.

Send applications via email to: colocal.caes@mak.ac.ug, not later than 20th May, 2026. This contact can as well be used for inquiries, where necessary.

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Request For Consultancy Services: Training & Digital Solutions Expert

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Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) Request For Consultancy Services: Training & Digital Solutions Expert. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa

The Makerere University Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) Limited implemented a Gates Foundation training program dubbed “Principle of Management Excellence for Research training” PRIMER in francophone countries, namely, Mali, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This training was delivered by content experts and experienced practitioners, not professionally trained experts. As such, limiting the quality of slide decks, which were largely fragmented with text rather than graphical and infographic elements that suit a mature audience. To effectively deliver a research training program, advanced, engaging, and efficient tools are critical for fostering audience engagement and participation, and for learning and assessment in research management excellence. To achieve this, IDI seeks to hire an expert to:

  1. design and deliver a set of integrated advanced slide decks combining text, visual learning materials (graphical and infographics) and case scenarios
  2. develop a virtual bilingual community learning platform (VBCLP), i.e. with in-built French and English to engage alumni,
  3. develop and automate a pre-course assessment system that potential trainees fill out, and it automates results that are presented in statistical form for easy interpretation and decision making.

Details: https://shorturl.at/Rzn8d

Apply to: EAkankwasa@idi.co.ug

Deadline: 5 June 2026, 5 PM EAT

Mak Editor

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