General
Mak to partner with Belgium in agricultural production and vocation skills training
“In Uganda, agriculture is for livelihoods, but we would like to focus on Agriculture for production and agribusiness. I am glad that young people are developing an interest in agriculture. The young people are willing to train and acquire relevant skills in modern Agriculture,” said the First Secretary and Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Belgium in Uganda, Mr. Alexandre Brecx.
Mr. Alexandre Brecx who was accompanied by two guests from the Embassy made the remarks during a visit to Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute (MUARIK) on Monday 13th May 2019.
The historic visit aimed at strengthening the relationship between Makerere University and Belgium, understanding the operations of MUARIK and exploring possible opportunities for partnership in the field of agriculture as well as vocational skills training.
During the interaction with Staff from Makerere University’s Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, MUARIK and Mak Public Relations Office, Mr. Alexandre Brecx revealed that the Government of Belgium will focus on agriculture and vocational skills training as the next 5-year country programme.
“In the next country programme, we would like to focus on agriculture. Uganda has a huge potential for agriculture. We would like to partner with Makerere University to provide an important platform for students, youths and farmers to embrace the latest technologies in agricultural production,” he said.
Mr. Alexandre commended Makerere University for championing vocational skills training in Uganda. “I recognize Makerere University for its unmeasured effort to provide hands-on skill to the youth and farmers prioritizing agriculture. We acknowledge the important research undertaken by the Institution to solve farmers’ problems and the great innovations done from Makerere University geared towards improving Uganda’s agricultural sector,” he said.
The Belgium Government has immensely invested in building capacity of Makerere University staff especially in the area of Food and Agricultural Engineering and other related science subjects. According to Mr. Alexandre Brecx, every year the Government of Belgium sponsors students and staff from Makerere University to pursue their studies (graduate, postgraduate and research programmes) in Universities in Belgium.
On behalf of Makerere University, Prof. Noble Banadda, the Head, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering and an alumnus of Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium acknowledged support from the Government of Belgium that has enabled staff from Ugandan Institutions of Higher Learning to upgrade academically. He recognized the tremendous support the Government of Belgium is extending to Uganda through ENABEL to improve the agricultural sector of Uganda. He looked forward to a fruitful partnership between Makerere University and the Embassy of Belgium to Uganda that will lead to knowledge transfer in Agricultural Engineering and technological Incubation.
“We have the leading agricultural college in the region. It is also well known in capacity building and hands-on skills however, we need more knowledge and skills on mechanization, irrigation, equipment maintenance, agricultural and food processing equipment fabrication and welding. I am aware that Belgium mastered the art of these skills and we hope that when a partnership is sealed, we shall learn from them,” said Prof. Banadda.
Led by Mr. Tweyambe Chrysestom- the Farm Manager at MUARIK, the delegation visited the Engineering workshop where machinery and other agricultural tools are fabricated. They also visited the feed processing unit, the soil mixing and sterilization unit, the dairy chain, the banana plantation and the goats breeding unit. Throughout the tour, visitors interacted with students from Ssese Farmers Institute; who are undertaking their internship training at MUARIK.
Makerere University Agricultural Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK) is an arm of Makerere University that interfaces with the National Agricultural research system (NARS). Seated on 650 hectares of land, the institute is being managed as a multi-disciplinary facility for training, research, outreach, and production under the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.
The Institute is located 19 kilometers North-West of Kampala off Gayaza Township on the Kampala-Zirobwe Road. It houses;
- The Center for Continuing Agricultural Education Centre (CAEC),
- A Biotechnology Lab renowned globally for undertaking continental plant breeding programmes
- The Makerere University Regional Centre for Crop Improvement (MaRCCI) focused on an African continent free from hunger and malnutrition through the provision of improved varieties of food crops in Africa
- The Graduate Training and Research Laboratory, with state-of-the-art facilities aimed at enhancing the quality of analysis of practical field work for graduate students
- The Modern Poultry Unit (KOICA) comprising three (3) sub-units with a capacity of five thousand (5000) birds each, a brooder house, a drying shed for dehydrating chicken manure and a microbial facility to grow microorganisms to be used in the fermentation of chicken manure
- The Coffee Value Addition Centre (CURAD) focused on agri-business incubation to create employment opportunities for students.
- The Dairy Value Chain Unit and the Feed Mill
Article by Mak Public Relations Office
The Ambassador of Japan to Uganda H.E. Fukuzawa Hidemoto during his first official visit to Makerere University on 20th April 2020 handed over a donation 52 books and launched the Japanese Corner in the Main University Library. The donation of books on contemporary Japan was made possible by the Nippon Foundation through the “READ JAPAN PROJECT”.
Welcoming the Ambassador, the University Librarian Dr. Helen Byamugisha shared that at over 12,000 square metres and seating capacity of over 2,800, the Library was one of the biggest in Africa. She added that the Library has special access and facilities for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and offers the Document Delivery Service for any materials that library users both on and off campus may require, among other services.
Turning to the benefits of digitization, the Librarian shared that though physically closed, the University Library continued serving users during the COVID-19 orchestrated lockdown thanks to its vast array of over 27,000 electronic journals and other digital resources. She therefore thanked the Ambassador for the book donation, which would enhance the library’s ability to serve the needs of its diverse users.
“The book donation has already been processed by our staff and can be accessed through the electronic catalog on the Library’s website from anywhere in the world” added Dr. Byamugisha.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe said that Makerere University has enjoyed a good relationship with the Government and people of Japan, which resulted in the construction of the JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) building, home to the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS). The building was officially handed over on 23rd January 1992.
He informed the Ambassador that the University, which will celebrate 100 years of existence in 2022, conducts a lot of research and is world-renowned for the large number of publications in clinical research as well as tropical medicine. The Vice Chancellor added that Makerere enjoys an excellent relationship with Japanese Universities through which staff and student exchanges are conducted.
“Japanese institutions have trained a lot of our staff and students particularly in geology and seismology and we sincerely thank you Ambassador and the people of Japan for this generous support” said Prof. Nawangwe.
The Vice Chancellor concluded by emphasizing that Makerere values her relationship with the Government and people of Japan and sincerely thanked the Ambassador for the book donation that will enhance knowledge about Japanese culture and economic success. “Makerere is an international university and we are always happy to bring more cultures and languages on board so as to further enhance the diversity of our community.”
In his remarks, H.E. Fukuzawa thanked the Vice Chancellor, University Librarian and staff for the warm reception and noted that the donation was aimed at promoting the understanding of Japan among the people of Uganda, and especially students at Makerere.
“In particular, it (the donation) aims to reach out to young researchers who are interested in Japan, as well as opinion leaders and intellectuals specializing in areas other than Japanese studies” explained the Ambassador.
He reiterated that Japan has close ties with the University, by observing that eleven out of the twelve Japanese Universities that have partnerships in Uganda each have one with Makerere. “We have been sending Japanese government sponsored scholarship students to Uganda every year and many of them are graduates of this University.”
H.E. Fukuzawa expressed happiness that the COVID-19 pandemic had not halted the enhancement of academic relations between Japan and Uganda and looked forward to continued collaboration with Makerere University.
The Ambassador was accompanied by his First Secretary-Ms. Tomoko Ohyama and Public Affairs Officer-Ms. Martha Nankasa. In attendance at the handover were the Deputy University Libarian-Dr. Ruth Nalumaga, Ms. Ferrie Nalusse-Head Technical Services, Ms. Maria Nankya Mwebe-Head Book Bank and Ms. Clementine Namusisi-Head Law Section. Also present was Dr. Edith Natukunda-Togboa, the Head, Department of European and Oriental Languages, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS).
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