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Prof. Nawangwe Leads Delegation to Zurich for 4th Mak-UZH Joint Symposium

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The Vice Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe was at University of Zurich, Switzerland to attend the Dialogue Days under the theme, Global Health Challenges: What Next? Held from 9th to 11th September 2019, the event was organised by the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), Makerere University in collaboration with the University of Zurich (UZH) and the Careum Auditorium.
 
Dialogue Days is a two-day event (symposium) on Global Health sponsored by UZH, University Hospital Zurich, Researchers for Global Health, Makerere University and the Infectious Diseases Institute. The Dialogue days were interactive sessions and discussions with experts and emerging leaders on climate change, migration and infectious diseases. The focus of the dialogue was the interconnectedness of the global community, the challenges faced in different parts of the globe and what can be done to solve the future global health challenges. The event was open to the public and many scientists from Italy, other universities in Switzerland, Belgium, German and UK all joined the discussions.
 
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe makes closing remarks at the Dialogue Days Event
 
Prof. Nawangwe was accompanied by the Principal College of Health Sciences (CHS), Prof. Charles Ibingira and the Head of Dept of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health Dr. Clovice Kankya, who also represented Prof. J.D. Kabasa – Principal College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB). He was also accompanied by the Dean School of Medicine – Prof. Moses Kamya, former Dean School of Medicine – Prof. Harriet Mayanja Kizza, Executive Director IDI – Dr. Andrew Kambugu, Director of the Human Rights and Peace Center (HURIPEC) – Dr. Zahara Nampewo and Ms. Martha Muwanguzi – Head International Office at Makerere University. Also in attendance were senior researchers, young scientists, laboratory technologists, Clinicians and PhD students, among others.
 
The joint scientific symposium is held every other year at UZH and Mak alternately. In 2008, Mak signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UZH to facilitate the forging of a mutually rewarding academic partnership. The MOU has fostered the establishment of multi-disciplinary partnerships across diverse fields including philosophy, social anthropology, ethics, health sciences, veterinary sciences and law.
 
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Branabas Nawangwe (Left) presents a plaque to the President of the University of Zurich, Prof. Michael Hengartner (Right)
 
One such partnership is the collaboration between the Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute of UZH and IDI. The partners exchanged visits including the co-hosting of scientific symposia in their respective institutions over the last ten years.
 
Presentations at the symposium were made on Communicable Diseases in Animals and Climate Change and the impact on our health. As the human population increases, the wrath has been meted on our environment, cutting down trees for firewood and charcoal as well as building houses.
 
This implies that wild animals which were living far away from us have now moved nearer to our homes and have infected our pets with diseases. Without proper vaccination, diseases are transmitted from pets to the humans. Not only to the humans but also to other domestic animals that we keep such as like pigs, goats and cows.
 
Dr. Clovice Kankya from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (standing right) contributes to the discussion during the Migration Boma
 
Migration is another important and key factor in spreading communicable diseases. From time immemorial, people have been on the move from their original places of abode to new places in search of jobs, and others as a result of wars, conflict and even epidemics in some instances. The migrants normally move with their animals such as goats, sheep and cows into new places.
 
Urbanisation has also contributed to the spread of Communicable diseases in big cities where many people are living in unhygienic conditions in slums. In such places, the HIV/AIDS prevalence is high, while cholera, bilharzias and other diseases are a common occurence. Neglected tropical diseases, rabies, scabies, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), oncology, mental health, maternal and child health also pose a big challenge towards our health.
 
The easiest way to deal with some of the health challenges is through advocacy and thorough sensitization of the masses about the dangers of the diseases. The saying goes that “prevention is better than cure “. It was emphasized by the symposium that Leadership for global health has to be visionary and pragmatic, a voice for the voiceless and one that will look into the future of its citizens and plan for better health.
 
Amb. Eunice Kigenyi, Deputy Permanent Representative of Uganda to the UN and Other International Organisations, Geneva, makes her speech
 
Participants were hosted to a dinner at the University cafeteria UniTurm which was attended by H.E. Christopher Onyanga Aparr, Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Other International Organisations, Geneva. In his speech, H.E welcomed the visitors from Uganda led by the Vice Chancellor and appreciated the hospitality by University of Zurich. He hailed the leadership of the two institutions for keeping the platform alive for the last ten years.
 
“Uganda and Switzerland enjoy cordial bilateral relations. The two respective governments have set in motion the requisite foundation upon which both parties can build on. It goes without saying that people to people relations are at the core of any country’s relations and I hence congratulate you for this great initiative.
 
It is worth noting that the Government of Uganda under its Vision 2040, being implemented through the five-year phased development plans, has earmarked Science, Technology. Engineering and Innovation (STEI) as one of the key sectors of the economy where it has and will continue to employ and support policies aimed at its leapfrogging, as we work towards transforming the Ugandan society from a peasant to a modern and prosperous country within 30 years including changing from a predominantly low income to a competitive upper to middle income country” remarked H.E. Onyanga Aparr.
 
Amb. Eunice Kigenyi (Right) shakes hands with the Dean of Medicine, UZH, Prof. Rainer Weber (Left) after her speech
 
The question of who is responsible for global health, kept recurring. Is it the developed world acting against the developing worlds through manufacturing expensive drugs for various illnesses in order to continue offering markets for their pharmaceutical companies? Do we have to train more people to handle the health challenges? Is it a political issue and some countries are out to make money and therefore not concerned about the health of others? Is it a leadership of our countries that is responsible?
 
Professor Christoph Lubbert, a senior researcher from Leipzig University Hospital, Germany said that global health challenges are due to multi-drug resistance in the treatment of illnesses. In many countries such as Uganda, people suffer from more than one disease. Treatment is given for the different illnesses and medication is taken at the same time. Many medicines taken together have an impact and form resistance in the body. There is constant use of antibiotics for treatment but at times, patients mistake the prescribed doses and the sickness does not go away. Doctors are forced to change the drugs of one illness which combine with drugs of another sickness which also form resistance in the body.
 
Dr. Christine Sekaggya-Wiltshire (Standing Left)’s PhD thesis work received international acclaim, with a 2018 New York Times piece and the Stephen Lawn TB/HIV Research Leadership Award.UZH granted her PhD the status of Anerkennung
 
Dr. Christine Sekaggya-Wiltshire elaborated on drug resistance in TB patients. She studied her PhD at Makerere University and was also recognized by the UZH and given the joint (Mak-UZH) supervision arrangements for the degree. She said that, drug resistance was a result of several factors namely; poor adherence to medical prescriptions, late presentation whereby patients report to health facilities late when then sickness is advanced, drug interactions (many drugs at the same time) leading to resistance; some patients are too weak to tolerate drugs taken for a long period of time such as anti-TB drugs. There was a general feeling that drug concentrations manufactured for developing countries are low compared to those manufactured for developed countries. The drugs do not completely cure but provide relief to patients.
 
The Migration ‘Boma’ (fireside chat) was opened by Prof. Marina Carobbio, President of the Swiss National Council and moderated by Mr. Rudolf Kung, a renowned BBC journalist. It had four panelists discussing migration of humans and animals and its effects on health. Dr. Zahara Nampewo, Director of the Human Rights and Peace Centre (HURIPEC), School of Law discussed migration at the intracontinental level between countries starting in Africa mostly due to armed conflict.
 
Dr. Zahara Nampewo, Director of the Human Rights and Peace Centre (HURIPEC), School of Law (Standing Left), contributes to the discussion during the Migration Boma
 
Uganda is a hosting around one million refugees from South Sudan, DR Congo, Burundi, Somalia, Rwanda, Eritrea, Sudan and Ethiopia. The Government of Uganda’s open door policy is a disadvantage to the local population whose land is freely given out to the refugees without compensation. The health care facilities in the refugee camps are far better than what the locals have for their communities. This creates tension and conflicts between the local communities and the refugees. Refugees normally move with their animals which bring diseases to animals in the host communities. Since migration is not about to end, it will remain a future global health challenge.
 
Prof Beatrice Beck Schimmet, the Vice President of Medicine at the University of Zurich, Prof. Marina Carobbio, the President of thw Swiss National Council participated at the closing of the event. Both highlighetd the the importnace of discussing these complex topics so that, together we can confront them. The dialogue at the tea breaks, lunch and coffee breaks was the highlight of the event.
 
Participants had the opportunity to engage with collegues from different fields and expressed interest in working together in the future. It is evident that global health challenges call for global solutions and what unites us is greater than what separates us. Future global health challenges can only be propoerly addressed in an international framework, in which everyone; NGOs, politicians, scientists, pharmaceutical companies and scholars need to operate with a global vision and awareness.
 
Written by Martha Muwanguzi
International Office, Makerere University
 

Mark Wamai

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Special Exam Results -Diploma in Performing Arts 2025/26

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The results for the 2025/2026 special entry examination for the Diploma in Performing Arts held on Saturday 17th May, 2025. Candidates who scored a final mark of 50% and above passed the Examination and have been recommended to the university’s Admissions Committee for consideration.

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Mature Age Scheme Exam Results for 2025/2026

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The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released full results for the Mature Age Entry Scheme Examinations for the Academic Year 2025/2026 held on Saturday 14th December, 2024.

The Candidates who scored a final mark of 50% and above passed the examination and have been recommended by the Pre-Entry & Mature Age Committee to the University’s Admissions Board for Consideration.

The Aptitude Exam  Results for 2025/2026 Academic Year released in February 2025 can be found here.

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Call for Application: 2025 SNRM session 4 Summer School

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Participants in focused group discussions. Leiden-Delft-Erasmus East Africa Research Network (LEARN) in collaboration with the Urban Action Lab at Makerere University a workshop to deliberate strategies for mitigating the impacts of climate change in urban centres in the East African Region, Theme: “Resilient Urban Futures: Adapting Livelihoods to Climate Change”, 4th-5th September 2024, School of Public Health Auditorium, Kampala Uganda.

Context:
Natural resources in Africa are being depleted at an alarming rate due to several factors, including unsustainable human activities, climate change, and population growth. A primary condition of sustainable development is to ensure that the pressures do not exceed the environmental limits, and that demand for the resources does not exceed levels that can be sustainably provided by nature. Therefore, there is a pressing need for transformative, systems-thinking approaches and tools that can tackle the diverse challenges facing these systems. In Africa, this need is compounded by a lack of data and monitoring, which significantly hinders sustainable decision-making.

Investing in young scientists who are committed to take lead in sustainable management of Africa’s natural resources is very important. Capacity building of young scientists will enhance their knowledge and skill on sustainable natural resources and their involvement for implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDG’s) in Africa. To this effect, SNRM summer schools have been implemented in three sessions in 2019, 2020, and 2022 with support from Volkswagen Foundation; to build a critical mass of skilled and competent young natural resource scientists in Africa through training, capacity building and mentorship. Session 4 (2025) will target competent young scientists (MSc and PhD students) in Africa and Germany to further develop their knowledge and skills in systems thinking, advanced data collection and analysis, and application of emerging digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), internet of things (IoT), and embracing transdisciplinary approaches. In addition, we include an ideation workshop where students can work on real problems to come up with solutions for sustainable transformations in natural resource use.

Organizers: Leibniz Universität – Hannover (Germany), University of Antananarivo, University of Abomey Calavi (Benin), Makerere University (Uganda), University of Ghana (Ghana), University of Parakou (Benin), The Technical University of Kenya, with financial support from the Volkswagen Foundation (Germany).

Venue and dates: Nairobi, Kenya, 16-28 November 2025

Target: MSc and PhD students, early in the program of less than 35 years of age from any university/research institution in either sub-Saharan Africa or Germany with an interest in natural resources management.

Participants and Scholarships: The course is fully funded and open to 20 MSc and PhD students from Africa, and 5 from Germany. Funding will cover the costs of air ticket, accommodation, meals, visa, and transportation. However, participants will cover the cost of their travel health insurance.

Topics

SNRM Summer School Session 4: Transformative pathways in biodiversity management and conservation.
This summer school is designed to deliver four modules over a two-week period. The modules are designed to enable the students to acquire new ways of designing data collection protocols and analysis for transformative sustainable natural resources management.

Module 4.1: Data collection I
Skills in data collection for a transformative and sustainable management of natural resources (water, wildlife, forest, land, livestock, crops) monitoring and data collection techniques; remote monitoring tools, earth observation system data, e.g. satellite data sources, LIDAR, and UAV aerial images. Collect and analyse In-situ data on biotic and abiotic parameters, map and analyse data using R or Google Earth Engine, field data collection and retrieving data from online databases.

Module 4.2 Data management and processing
Introduction to tools and methods of managing large and diverse data sets of natural resources such as time series, spatial, directional, and multivariate data. Practicals will include data storage, organization and conversion into various formats using databases such as PostgreSQL and statistical programming software such as R and Python; scripts.

Module 4.3 Ecological monitoring, modelling and management
This module aims to teach participants how to anticipate and validate trends that can be observed in various ecosystems. Lectures include ecological monitoring and its design; population monitoring studies; metrics in population monitoring; methods for monitoring and assessing marine ecosystems; human ecology to socio-ecological systems; climate change impact of ecosystems; suitability assessments; overview of the principles underlying wildlife monitoring and prediction systems for climate change adaptation. Practicals will include field data collection (individual and group); ecological data analysis using R or PAST; modelling and experiencing the behaviour of complex systems using Vensim.

Module 4.4 Natural habitat restoration ideation lab
This module is designed to spur students’ innovation and creativity, and to help students comprehensively identify interdependencies across the 17 SDG goals. Participants will be trained on ideation processes for solutions and intervention for transformative natural resource management. They will work collaboratively in small groups on case studies and develop pathways of transformative sustainable natural resource management. Examples of projects include forest (mangrove) ecosystem and habitat restoration, improved technologies for agricultural production, nature-based solutions for improving water quality, and reversing land degradation.

Language: The course will be delivered in English. Participants are expected to be fluent in writing and speaking the English language.

How to apply

Applicants are kindly requested to fill in the application form available from https://snrmafrica.com/ and submit the following documents in English through the system.

  • a curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages)
  • a letter of motivation (maximum 1 page)
  • a confirmation of university enrolment
  • a reference letter from the academic supervisor
  • project summary of MSc/ PhD project (1 page including objectives, methodology
    and key findings or expected outcomes).

Important dates
Application deadline: 30th June 2025.
Announcement of accepted applicants: 15th August 2025.
Confirmation of attendance by selected participants: 12th Sept 2025.
Summer school held: 16 – 28 Nov 2025.

Further information is available from

The secretariat info@snrmafrica.com
Dr Lydia Olaka lydiaolaka@tukenya.ac.ke
Prof. Dr. Hartmut Stuetzel stuetzel@gem.uni-hannover.de

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