The Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) in partnership with Makerere University will hold the first Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday 19th November 2019. The objectives of the Town Hall meeting are to: raise awareness about AAP to the leadership and faculty of Makerere University; increase the level of participation of faculty members in AAP's activities; and highlight key findings of some of the research conducted by AAP grantees across Africa.
AAP is a collaborative and cross-disciplinary platform formed to address today’s global challenges in a way that is sustainable, effective, and equitable. It was formed in May 2016 following a consultation with 14 African leaders including Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe hosted by Michigan State University (MSU).
Meeting the Vice Chancellor on Monday 4th November 2019, Prof. Isaac J. Minde the Associate Director AAP shared that the Alliance was formed based on the need to change the structure of prevailing development-oriented trends. “We can no longer form partnerships based on the same terms we did 40 years ago: African institutions have built capacity over the years and so we need to have mutual respect and two-way traffic between partners in the North and South.”
Prof. Minde added that the AAP Consortium is currently made up of ten institutions namely: Michigan State University; Makerere University; Egerton University in Kenya; Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) in Malawi; University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania; Unviersite Cheikh Anta Diop in Senegal; Universite des Lettres et des Sciences Humaines de Bamako in Mali; University of Botswana; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and the latest admitted member University of Pretoria in South Africa.
In his remarks, Prof. Nawangwe warmly welcomed Prof. Minde to Makerere University and expressed the institution’s keenness to host the Town Hall meeting. “As one of the founding members of the AAP that attended the convention at East Lansing in May 2016, I wish to reassure you of our willingness to host the Town Hall meeting and any such future events.”
The Vice Chancellor added that as a show of Makerere’s strong support for AAP, the University nominated its Director of Research and Graduate Training-Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi to be the contact person. He commended the AAP for identifying six interrelated themes that match Makerere’s research agenda. AAP’s six priority areas include: Agri-food systems; Culture; Health and nutrition; Water, energy, and the environment; Youth empowerment; and Education.
“Agriculture is one of our number one priority as a Nation, owing to our rapidly growing population. As the academia, we must constantly think of how we are going to feed all these people and transform our agriculture sector to meet growing demands” explained Prof. Nawangwe.
The Town Hall meeting will precede the Regional Network of Agriculture Policy Research Network (ReNAPRI) 2019 Conference that is slated for 20th to 22nd November 2019. The AAP Advisory Board Chairperson-Dr. Thelma Awori, AAP Director, Africa Secretariat-Prof. Richard Mkandawire, MSU staff, directors of research institutions, Mak academia, researchers, graduate students among others are expected to grace the Town Hall meeting.
The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released lists of Successful appeals and supplementary lists. Below is a list arising from appeals of Government Sponsored candidates who have been admitted:
Makerere University and DFCU Bank have today signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bolster innovation, student leadership, research and community impact initiatives.
The collaboration which will see the equipping of the Disability Support center for students living with disabilities through the MAK run and more leadership trainings for students will begin this July.
“The MoU will strengthen research collaborations across sectors like agriculture and health and it will also support the Mutebile Centre to assist private sector growth, which is crucial in lifting Africa out of poverty,” said Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice Chancellor.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (R) flanked by Mr. Charles Mudiwa (L) makes his remarks at the MoU signing ceremony.
Speaking during the event, Mr. Charles M. Mudiwa, the DFCU Bank Chief Executive Officer, welcomed the move, noting its alignment with the bank’s mission to transform lives and support national development through four pillars: funding, financial inclusion, enterprise development, and vocational education.
“This MoU crowns years of effort and shared intent between our institutions,” he stated. Mr. Mudiwa highlighted the bank’s commitment to skilling youth through internships, curriculum development, and support for innovation hubs and centres of excellence at the university. “We consume the graduates of Makerere. In our most recent graduate intake of 87, 60% were Makerere alumni. The bank allocates around 30 internship positions annually to equip young people with the skills necessary for future roles within the institution,” Mr. Mudiwa, noted.
Representing the student body, Guild President His Excellency, Sentamu Churchill James, commended the partnership as a timely intervention that will empower youth, support SMEs, and expand internship and leadership development opportunities.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (2nd L) presents a framed portrait of the Main Building to Mr. Charles Mudiwa (C) as L-R: University Secretary-Mr. Yusuf Kiranda, 91st Guild President-H.E. Ssentamu Churchill James and Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration)-Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta witness.
“Students are the heartbeat of the university. This collaboration will empower youth and strengthen their role in national development,” His Excellency Ssentamu, said.
About MAK RUN 2025
The Makerere Run 2025 (#MakRun2025), hosted by the Makerere University Endowment Fund (MAKEF) on 17th August 2025, returns for its fifth edition as Kampala’s premier charity marathon, uniting 8,000+ runners—students, alumni, corporate teams, and elite athletes—to tackle the city’s iconic hills under the theme “Run the Hills for the Future.” This landmark event combines competitive racing with transformative impact, channeling proceeds to strengthen Makerere University’s community programs while offering unmatched branding opportunities for partners through Kampala’s largest university-led sporting spectacle.
The Mak Run, scheduled this year for August 17th, is a flagship initiative that mobilizes students, staff, alumni, and partners to raise funds for projects such as the Disability Support Unit and the Student Centre.