General
Mak – Hunan Province, China to partner in research and academic development
![[L-R] Mr. Jiang Changzhong, the Director General, Hunan Provincial Department of Education, Prof. William Bazeyo - Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) Makerere University, Mr. Yusuf Kiranda- Deputy University Secretary at a meeting held in Council Room on 13th June 2019.](https://news.mak.ac.ug/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/field_image_IMG_0584-edt-group-1.jpg)
On 13th June 2019, a delegation from Hunan Provincial Department of Education, China met the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration (Makerere University) Prof William Bazeyo, Members of Management together with directors and staff from Makerere University Confucius Institute. Led by Mr. Jiang Changzhong, the Director General of Hunan Provincial Department of Education, the delegation consisted of Prof. Cheng Chenyang and Prof. Zhen Chijian, Vice Presidents of Central South University and Xiangtan University respectively.
Mr. Jiang Changzhong was also accompanied by Mr. Lui Jing-Director, Department of Human Resources, and Mr. Zhou Fangyou- Director, Office of International Exchange- Hunan Provincial Department of Education; Prof. Zou Wei- Deputy Dean, School of International Exchange, Prof. Lui Qin- School of Continuous Education, Mr. Chen Yang- Director, Department of Psychical education and Mr. Chen Xingua- Deputy Dean, School of Civil Engineering and Mechanics- Xiangtan University; and Mrs. Li Xinhua- Deputy Director, Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, Central South University.
In an intensive meeting that was held in Makerere University Council Room, the team discussed the possible areas of collaboration that will culminate into signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Makerere University and Hunan Provincial Department of Education. Among the areas discussed included;
- Support scientific research in areas of engineering, medicine, agriculture, and social sciences
- Students and staff exchange
- Construct a ten stored multi-facility building that will house the Makerere University Confucius Institute and a museum
- Academic construction and communication
- Available scholarships and fellowships
- Academic opportunities at Chinese Universities.
The fruitful meeting also focused on strengthening ties between Makerere University and Xiangtan University as well as Makerere University and Central South University. In 2010, Makerere University entered into a long-term partnership with Xiangtan University under the framework of Chinese and African Universities 20+20 Cooperation Plan. The collaboration focused on training and teaching Chinese language and culture in Uganda. This partnership led to the birth of Makerere University Confucius Institute in 2014. In 2017, Makerere partnered with Central South University to enhance knowledge transfer in areas of engineering and medicine.
In the remarks he made on 13th June 2019, Prof. Bazeyo warmly welcomed Mr. Jiang Chanzhong, and other delegates to Makerere University. In a special way he welcomed Prof. Cheng Chenyang and Prof. Zhen Chijian, Vice Presidents of Central South University and Xiangtan University respectively and appreciated their tremendous support that has shaped the academic setting and research at the helm of Makerere University.
Prof. Bazeyo informed the visiting delegation that Makerere is a comprehensive University whose research output is highly ranked on the Africa continent. According to him, the institution is known for having the best tropical medicine school in the whole world where research on tropical medicine is done.
“Makerere University has for long engaged in activities that are geared towards finding solutions to African problems. The institution has engaged in developing human resource capacity that has strongly supported the economic and industrial sector of Uganda and Africa at large. Our students excel internationally and we probably have the largest number of collaborations in Africa,” he said.
He hailed the strengthened cooperation between China and Uganda in various sectors including education and business. “Uganda established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in 1962 and has since enjoyed excellent relations in bilateral trade, cultural exchange, technology and scientific transfers,” he stated.
In an overview about Makerere University, the Head, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Prof, Noble Banadda outlined the research trends at Makerere University that have been geared towards solving African challenges.
The Director General, Hunan Provincial Department of Education Mr. Jiang Changzhong, thanked Prof. Bazeyo for the warm reception accorded to his delegation. He was happy to visit Makerere University; the oldest, biggest and most influential University in Uganda.
He appreciated the strong relationship China has with Uganda and Makerere University and hoped for an enhanced mutual understanding that will broaden their areas of collaboration.
Mr. Jiang Changzhong, in a synopsis on the education status in Hunan Province said that Hunan is a big province featured with developed economy, technology, education, culture, openness and tourism. The area is taking advantage of the opportunities brought by the developments in belt and road initiatives to build a strong education system in the country. Currently Hunan is implementing the strategy of innovation and openness to become more comprehensive.
Oriented by the strategy of innovation and openness, Mr. Jiang Changzhong also mentioned that Hunan Province highly values international communication and cooperation in the field of education. According to him, Schools in Hunan have established stable connection with 300 education institutions from 50 countries.
“We have hired 1500 foreign experts and teachers, built 1 China foreign cooperative institute, created 48 China foreign cooperative programmes and 14 Confucius institutes, constructed 6 Confucius class rooms and sent more than a thousand volunteers to teach Chinese language,” he mentioned.
“In recent years, education in Hunan province is more internationalized. The cooperation in education field between Hunan and Uganda has reached a very constructive level. Except the fruitful cooperation between Xiangtan University and Makerere University, Hunan international, business vocational college has signed cooperation agreements with Uganda side covering students and teachers’ exchanges and human resource training,’’ he added.
The Vice President of Xiangtan University Prof. Zhen Chijian, applauded Makerere University for hosting and building a strong foundation for Makerere University Confucius Institute. “Makerere University Confucius Institute was selected one of the best among others in the world. Currently the institute has 6000 students across all the programmes offered,” he said.
Impressed by the historical achievements of Makerere University, the Vice President of Central South University Prof. Cheng Chenyang, said that the institution is ready to strengthen ties with Makerere University in areas of medicine and engineering.
Article by: Nabatte Proscovia- Mak Public Relations Office
By Moses Lutaaya
Makerere University has challenged its newly admitted PhD students to go beyond pursuing academic qualifications and become independent scholars capable of generating knowledge, solving societal problems and contributing to Africa’s transformation.
The call was made by the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Sarah Ssali, during the orientation of the 2026/2027 PhD cohort at Makerere University’s Main Hall in the Main Building on 10th August 2026.
Prof. Ssali told the new scholars that a PhD marks a fundamental shift from previous levels of education, requiring students to take greater responsibility for their academic progress rather than depending entirely on lecturers and supervisors.
“You will have to push yourself and also push your supervisor to move with you,” Prof. Ssali said, urging the students to take ownership of their doctoral journey.
She acknowledged that many PhD students have to balance their studies with employment, family responsibilities and community leadership, making doctoral training demanding. However, she urged them to remain focused on completing their programmes within the prescribed three, four or five years.
Prof. Ssali said Makerere expects its doctoral training to produce scholars who can create knowledge, challenge existing ideas and develop solutions to societal problems.
She encouraged the students to embrace ambiguity and become comfortable questioning what they already know, noting that doctoral education requires scholars to identify important questions, investigate them and generate answers that advance knowledge.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor also urged the students to develop interdisciplinary collaborations and scholarly networks rather than confining their research to their individual disciplines.
She said the success of doctoral education should not be measured merely by the number of dissertations completed or papers published, but by the extent to which research contributes to society.
With Africa facing complex challenges, including climate change, disease, population growth and development pressures, Prof. Ssali said PhD scholars have a responsibility to generate evidence that can influence policy, strengthen institutions and advance innovation.
She challenged each scholar to continually ask what problem their research addresses, what solution it advances and whether that solution can create sustainable value.
The Director of Graduate Training, Prof. Julius Kikooma, said the new cohort was joining Makerere at a time when the University is implementing reforms aimed at strengthening graduate education and improving completion rates.
Prof. Kikooma revealed that Makerere received close to 12,000 applications across its master’s, postgraduate and PhD programmes but admitted about 6,000 students.
He said graduate education has been placed at the centre of the University’s efforts to strengthen research capacity and prepare scholars to contribute to knowledge production and innovation.
Under the reforms, PhD students will undertake compulsory cross-cutting courses designed to provide foundational knowledge and skills for doctoral research. They will also be required to undertake teaching in either their second or third year under the guidance of their supervisors.
In addition to completing their theses, students will be required to produce at least two publications before graduation, a requirement intended to prepare them to become the next generation of researchers, innovators, inventors and creators.
Makerere has also introduced a digital system to monitor the progress of every PhD student each semester. The system is intended to enable students, supervisors and university officials to identify challenges early and intervene in real time.
Prof. Kikooma urged the scholars to write regularly, think critically, maintain open and constructive relationships with their supervisors and protect their academic integrity and professional reputation.
He also encouraged them to build scholarly networks and remain resilient, noting that rejected papers, disappointing data and unexpected challenges are normal aspects of doctoral training.
The Director of Research, Innovations and Partnerships, Prof. Robert Wamala, challenged the scholars to ensure that the knowledge they produce is trustworthy, responsible and ethically sound.
Prof. Wamala emphasized the importance of respecting the dignity, rights, safety and autonomy of research participants, particularly where studies involve individuals, communities and personal information.
He highlighted informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, justice and accountability as critical principles of ethical research and urged students to maintain transparency throughout the research process, from developing research questions and collecting data to analyzing and reporting findings.
Prof. Wamala also cautioned the students on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in research.
He said although AI can assist researchers with activities such as language improvement, it does not remove the researcher’s responsibility for the final product.
Researchers, he said, must verify AI-generated information and remain accountable for inaccurate statements, misleading interpretations and incorrect references.
He further urged students involved in international and other research collaborations to establish clear agreements on roles, authorship, data ownership, access and intellectual property before commencing their research.
The Deputy University Librarian, Dr. Kizito Ongaya, meanwhile, urged the new scholars to make full use of Makerere’s library and information resources throughout their doctoral journey.
Dr. Ongaya said the University operates a hybrid library system combining physical and electronic resources, with more than 200,000 books, 45 e-journal databases and over 16,000 archival materials available to researchers.
He encouraged the students to participate in library training to learn how to access and effectively use electronic resources and to explore specialized libraries and information centers across the University’s colleges.
These include resources covering natural sciences, agriculture, veterinary medicine, health sciences, education and humanities, as well as museums, botanical gardens, specialized collections and other research facilities.
The newly admitted doctoral students were also addressed by Mr. Henry Nsubuga, the Manager Makerere University Counselling and Guidance Centre, Mr. George Mugabi Turyamureeba, the Deputy University Bursar and members of Makerere University Convocation.
Makerere University has once again cemented its place as a regional leader in academic excellence after successfully hosting the East African Universities Debate Championships (EAUDC) 2026, welcoming the continent’s brightest young minds for a week of intellectual competition, cultural exchange, and leadership development.
Held from 26th July to 1st August 2026, the championship brought together more than 200 student debaters, adjudicators and delegates from 25 universities across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and other invited institutions, transforming the Ivory Tower into East Africa’s premier arena for ideas, innovation and public discourse.
The week-long tournament featured rigorous British Parliamentary debate rounds, public speaking competitions, adjudication workshops and networking sessions designed to sharpen critical thinking, leadership and persuasive communication. Participants debated contemporary issues ranging from governance and economic transformation to technology, public health, climate change and Africa’s future.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Deputy Vice Chancellor welcomed delegates to Makerere University, emphasizing the institution’s enduring commitment to nurturing graduates who are not only academically accomplished but also capable of leading meaningful conversations that shape society. The championship reflected Makerere’s vision of producing graduates who are innovative, analytical and prepared to address regional and global challenges.
Beyond competition, EAUDC 2026 became a celebration of East African unity. Delegates experienced Uganda’s rich cultural heritage through social events, campus tours and cultural showcases that fostered friendships beyond national borders. The interactions reinforced the championship’s belief that dialogue remains one of the strongest foundations for regional integration and peaceful cooperation.
The tournament concluded with an electrifying Grand Finale witnessed by students, alumni, university leaders, invited guests and debate enthusiasts. The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Sports Hon. Eng. Cuthbert Abigaba represented the Speaker of Parliament as the Guest of Honour. In his remarks he congratulated Makerere University on the successful event and encouraged debate among students.
Prof Sarah Ssali the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs at Makerere University pledged continuous support from the administration towards Makerere Debate Union. Teams demonstrated exceptional research, analytical reasoning and eloquence before a distinguished panel of international adjudicators, bringing to a close one of the most competitive editions of the championship.
The successful hosting of EAUDC 2026 marks another milestone in Makerere University‘s growing reputation as a centre of excellence for debating and public speaking. The event builds on the university’s long-standing tradition of producing outstanding debaters while providing students with opportunities to engage with peers from across the region in meaningful intellectual exchange.
As the championship drew to a close, participants departed Kampala with new friendships, stronger networks and renewed inspiration to continue using debate as a tool for leadership, democratic participation and social transformation.
With the East African chapter successfully concluded, attention now turns to the Pan-African Universities Debating Championship (PAUDC) 2026, where Makerere University will once again represent East Africa on the continental stage.
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