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.
In a vibrant celebration of youth leadership and African unity, Makerere University hosted the Second Annual Guild Leaders’ Summit, an event that brought together high-profile dignitaries, student leaders, and international partners for a powerful dialogue on the future of the continent. The summit, organized by the Guild Presidents Leadership Academy, served as a rallying point for East Africa’s young leaders to confront Africa’s most urgent challenges—on their own terms and with their own solutions.
A Warm Welcome and Reflections on Makerere’s Legacy
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, welcomed the distinguished guests, who included Former President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo, former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, Justice Simon Byabakama, Hon. Mathew Rukikaire, and European Union Deputy Ambassador Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, among others.
In his address, Prof. Nawangwe reflected on Makerere’s deep historical ties to East Africa’s liberation and development movements. He reminded the audience that Makerere University has been a crucible for the continent’s leadership, stating:
“Jomo Kenyatta was the first person to receive a degree from Makerere when, in 1963, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by then Chancellor Julius Nyerere. All freedom fighters in East Africa studied at Makerere.”
H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta is received upon arrival at Makerere University by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.
Building on this rich history, Prof. Nawangwe affirmed the university’s current mission to tackle pressing continental issues. “Today,” he said, “Makerere is committed to addressing Africa’s challenges—climate change, disease, poverty, food security, conflict resolution, and economic development. But we cannot do this alone.”
He echoed sentiments later shared by the keynote speaker, stressing that Africa must no longer depend on external interventions:
“Foreign agencies will not solve all Africa’s problems. It is our young people who must step forward and lead the change.”
Uhuru Kenyatta: “You Are the Last Line of Defence”
In a keynote address that resonated deeply with the students and delegates in attendance, Former President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a bold and urgent call to action for Africa’s youth.
“No one is coming to save us,” Kenyatta declared. “You are the last line of defence in the battle to rescue the heart and soul of Africa.”
H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta (2nd Right) poses for a group photo during the courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor with Left to Right: Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Ms. Sarah Kagingo and Guild President-H.E. Churchill James Ssentamu.
Positioning today’s youth as the heirs of the continent’s freedom fighters, Kenyatta described the current moment as a new “independence era”—not of political liberation, but of economic and intellectual sovereignty. He urged students to think critically about intra-African trade, which currently accounts for less than 2.5% of global commerce, and to advocate for the removal of internal barriers to trade, innovation, and mobility.
“You are the freedom fighters of this generation,” he said. “Universities must be incubators of change, and students must be the trustees of tomorrow’s Africa.”
Pan-Africanism, Leadership, and Action
Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo encouraged students to take up the mantle of Pan-Africanism with unwavering commitment. She acknowledged that while the rhetoric of African unity is inspiring, real progress demands more than words:
Left to Right: The Vice President-H.E. Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister Emeritus-Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, Hon. Matthew Rukikaire and other dignitaries follow proceedings.
“You must embrace the spirit of Pan-Africanism. But it is easy to say these words—the challenge lies in collective implementation.”
She emphasized the importance of action-oriented leadership and urged the youth to harness their creativity, energy, and education for the benefit of the continent.
European Union’s Message: Leadership with Integrity
Representing Team Europe, the EU Deputy Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, gave a passionate speech on the values of authentic leadership, integrity, and inclusive development. He praised Makerere University as a space where “intellectual ambition meets civic responsibility” and emphasized that leadership is not about prestige, but purpose:
“Be a leader because of what you want to be—not because of what you want to have,” he said.
Citing former Makerere alumni such as Julius Nyerere and Wangari Maathai, Chartrain called on students to model courage, resilience, and humility:
“True leadership emerges in moments of loss—when resilience, not triumph, becomes the measure of one’s character.”
The EU, he said, remains committed to supporting youth through programs like Erasmus+, the EU Youth Sounding Board, and partnerships with organizations like Faraja Africa Foundation and Restless Development. These initiatives empower youth not as symbols, but as active participants in shaping policy and governance.
The Legacy Continues
Throughout the summit, speakers highlighted the importance of legacy and long-term impact. They challenged young leaders to think not just about the present, but about the systems and institutions they will leave behind. In the words of Former President Kenyatta:
“Leadership is not about the next election. It’s about the next generation.”
The summit ended on a high note, with students invigorated and inspired to lead with purpose. As global support grows less predictable and Africa stands at a crossroads, the message from Makerere was clear: the future of the continent is in the hands of its youth. And as the Guild Leaders’ Summit demonstrated, they are ready.
The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released lists of Diploma holders admitted under the Government Sponsorship Scheme for the Academic Year 2025/2026.
Under the Diploma Holders Government Sponsorship Scheme admission does not exceed 5% of the intake capacity to the respective Degree Programme.
The list can be accessed by following the link below:
Are you a researcher or student working in protein-related research, structural biology, or bioinformatics?
The African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data Intensive Sciences (ACE) Uganda with support from Google DeepMind, invites researchers and students seeking to integrate AlphaFold into their work to apply for the AlphaFold Workshop to be held at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University-Kampala, Uganda from 16th to 20th June 2025.