General
H.E. Elin Østebø Johansen Applauds Longstanding Mak-UiB Collaboration
The Ambassador of Norway to Uganda H.E. Elin Østebø Johansen has highlighted the need to increase support towards development of the African Education System. This was at the 30years celebrations of the Makerere University (Mak)-University of Bergen (UiB) Collaboration that were held on 7th November 2019 at the CTF 2 Auditorium, Makerere University.
In 1988 Makerere University entered into a partnership with the University of Bergen to enhance academic activities through joint research, teaching, staff and students exchange programs, knowledge and information sharing. Over the years, the collaboration has successfully registered tremendous achievements in capacity building, knowledge and information generation and technological developments.
Speaking at the colorful event, the Ambassador said that supporting the education systems is an investment in economic and social development among countries. “In his Address to Parliament on 26 April last year, the then Norwegian Minister of Development, Nikoli Astrup, said, ‘Education is the foundation for all other development. It is the key to finding employment and to being able to lead an independent life with different options and opportunities.’”
She urged academic institutions to align their objectives and academic curriculum to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education. H.E Elin Østebø Johansen highlighted the tremendous support the Norwegian government is extending to the Government of Uganda to improve higher learning and promote vocation and technical skills training.
“In addition to basic education, we fully recognize the importance of higher education. Well trained citizens are needed in all areas of the economy in order for Uganda to develop and prosper. The Ugandan labor market needs to sustain industrial development, high quality tourism and a self-sustained and diversified agricultural sector,” she said.
The Ambassador acknowledged the long-standing and successful collaboration between Makerere University and the University of Bergen. The nature and structure of the collaboration has over the years evolved from one-way scholarship programme to extensive partnership projects under the Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED) with multiple partners. She noted that the relationships developed through these collaborations have often continued long after the projects have ended, which is an indication of strong ties, friendships and commitment by all parties.
“The Makerere-University of Bergen 30years celebration is proof of successful partnership and academic collaboration between Norway and Uganda. I am confident that this great partnership between Makerere University and the University of Bergen will continue for another 30 years, to the benefit of the young generations both in Uganda and Norway,” she concluded.
The Pro-Rector University of Bergen, Prof. Margareth Hagen described the Mak-Bergen 30year collaboration as a historic relationship of intensive research and scientific competence. “Throughout our history, the University of Bergen has always sought to collaborate with and befriend universities that are defined by their quality work and research. And, the collaboration between University of Bergen and Makerere University is an example of this,” she said.
According to Prof. Hagen, Universities are institutions that not only keep historical records of societal development but also enable citizens to develop tools that address the great challenges of the time. Through creative and free thinking the institutions have engaged in research and innovate solutions for a better future.
She mentioned that Makerere University and University of Bergen are both pillars of peace and stability in their respective societies. She attributed this to their ability to plan, strategize and think in the long term.
“We influence and learn from each other and that has indeed meant a lot for the many students who travel between our countries for their studies. Today we celebrate the benefits of the long-lasting partnerships, dialogue and open minded research, developed over the many years,” she stated.
The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe in his remarks on the occasion recognized the late Prof. Endre Lillethun and his team who started the journey of the Makerere– University of Bergen Collaboration in the 1988.
He extended sincere appreciation to the Royal Norwegian Government for the support rendered to capacity building at Makerere University under the Norwegian Programme for Development, Research and Education (NUFU) phases I, II and III between 1991 and 2011. Prof. Nawangwe also acknowledged the ongoing support to collaborative efforts under the Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED).
“As a result of the Norwegian Government support, hundreds of students and staff have received funding towards their education development. For example, data shared from our Norwegian brothers and sisters shows that the University of Bergen alone has trained over 300 Masters and 150 PhDs for Uganda. This is by no means a small achievement,” said the Vice Chancellor.
“Similarly, under NORHED (2013 – 2020) Makerere University is involved in 11 projects with partner institutions in the North and South. These are in the thematic areas of; Pediatric Health, Anthropology, Aquatic and Environmental Health, Water Management, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation and Weather Information Management. Other areas include; Health Informatics, Distance Education and Lifelong Learning, Interdisciplinary MPhil and PhD Studies among others,” added Prof Nawangwe.
The Vice Chancellor thanked the Organising Committee led by Prof. J.Y.T Mugisha for organising a successful ceremony to mark 30 years of Mak-UiB collaboration.
The celebrations were enriched by a keynote address on “The role of inter institutional partnerships in attaining education for all and National Development” delivered by Prof. Edward Kirumira. He currently serves as Director of the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) and was the former Coordinator of the Mak-UiB programme at Makerere University.
Prof. Kirumira noted that the future of African Countries is heavily dependent on the future of African Universities. He further argued that the universities’ future is based on successful cooperation in the increasingly competitive global arena. He therefore mentioned that universities’ research should focus on training concerned scholars with a purpose to help community and not just advance themselves.
Discussing institutionary interdisciplinary and interdepartmental collaborations, Prof. Kirumira noted the need for universities to develop national curricula with long term goals. He also mentioned the need for universities to develop strong internal networks when he said, “universities need to be networked from within. Even when they seek regional and international networks, it is the internal cohesion that comes across. You must therefore bond internally for you to take the university to greater heights.”
Delivering her remarks, the Senior Advisor, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), Jeanette Da Silva congratulated Mak and UiB upon the momentous 30year collaboration, noting that Education including Higher Education is one of the NORAD’s funding priorities.
She also took the opportunity to announce that NORHED II will be launched in February 2020 as a framework to perpetuate North-South collaborations for more years to come. The Senior Advisor noted that funding is not only about capacity building but also capacity sharing and prayed that NORHED II will contribute to the formation of strong, mutually beneficial North-South relationships.
Other activities that preceded the celebrations included; a plenary session on the Role of the Youth in Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: A Focus On SDG 4 “Ensure Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education and Promote Lifelong Learning Opportunities for All”. It was organized by the Uganda-Norway Alumni Network (UGNAN) in partnership with the Mak-UiB collaboration Office and Norway UiB alumni.
During the Plenary session, participants discussed the SDG4 status in Uganda and the actions put in place to achieve the goal by 2030. Participants reflected on how the SDGs are calling for the transformation of ideas and how the country’s education institutions need to be transformed in line with SDG 4 goal especially for the vulnerable groups such as girls and People With Disabilities (PWDs).
Article by Proscovia Nabatte, Mak Public Relations Office.
By Moses Lutaaya
Makerere University has challenged newly admitted postgraduate diploma and master’s students to take ownership of their academic journey, produce knowledge that addresses Africa’s challenges and use their training to create opportunities for society.
The call was made on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, during the orientation of postgraduate diploma and master’s students held at the Main Hall, Main Building, Makerere University. The orientation was conducted under the theme “Harnessing the Power of Graduate Training to Transform Africa’s Research Trajectory.”
Addressing the students, Prof. Sarah Ssali, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, said admission to postgraduate education marked an important transition from undergraduate study and should come with greater independence, critical thinking and responsibility.
“Postgraduate study is not just the accumulation of knowledge. You are now active researchers, critical thinkers and creators of your own knowledge,” Prof. Ssali said.
She said postgraduate training should enable students to deepen their expertise, strengthen their analytical abilities and develop solutions to real-world problems.
“Through your projects, dissertations, innovations and professional practice, you have the opportunity to contribute knowledge that can influence policies, improve services and transform lives. Your research matters, and your contribution matters,” she said.
Prof. Ssali urged students to see their studies beyond the pursuit of a degree, encouraging them to ask themselves why they had chosen postgraduate education and what contribution they intended to make to their communities and professions.
“See your coursework as an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills that will help you propose new solutions to real-world challenges,” she said.
She also encouraged students to embrace collaboration with communities and non-academic partners, saying many of them were already coming to the University with professional and community experiences that could enrich their research.
“Don’t think that your scholarship is only for those who look academic. Embrace community, embrace networks,” she said.
Prof. Ssali further cautioned the students against wasting time, noting that many postgraduate students have employment, family and other responsibilities alongside their studies.
“Make the most of your time and don’t waste it,” she said, urging students to use available study time productively even when there are changes in their lecture schedules.
She also emphasised the need for students to take responsibility for their progress instead of waiting for lecturers or supervisors to push them.
“Postgraduate education requires independence, independent inquiry, independent research, independent interrogation and also active participation,” Prof. Ssali said.
Prof. Julius Kikooma, Director of Graduate Training, told the students that their admission was a significant achievement given the large number of applicants seeking postgraduate opportunities at Makerere.
“We received over 12,000 applications to our postgraduate programmes, but we are only able to take just a small percentage of that. That means you are just the few people who are able to do this,” Prof. Kikooma said.
He urged the new students to appreciate the opportunity and understand that graduate education carries responsibilities beyond attending lectures and completing examinations.
According to Prof. Kikooma, Uganda and Africa require highly trained human capital capable of driving national and continental development priorities.
“The country needs more highly trained people if it is going to achieve its aspirations and priorities for national development,” he said.
He challenged the students to consider what Uganda and Africa would look like in the coming decades and to question whether the continent would continue relying on ideas, innovations and creations generated elsewhere.
“Will it still be a country that always depends on ideas, innovations and creations that come from outside?” he asked, before urging the students to become part of the generation that develops home-grown solutions.
Prof. Kikooma said much of what Uganda would need in the future would depend on what the country invests in today, particularly in human capital and research.
He also explained that the Directorate of Graduate Training works with colleges, schools, departments and central University units to strengthen the quality of graduate education.
“We want to make sure that what you are taking away from here is of a certain quality,” he said, adding that the University has established policies, standards and systems intended to create an environment in which postgraduate students can succeed.
However, Prof. Kikooma stressed that the University cannot take responsibility for the entire academic journey on behalf of students.
“We will not replace your programme. We will not replace your lecturers. We will not replace your supervisors. Each of those has a different role to play along your journey,” he said.
He encouraged students to be proactive by understanding their programmes, colleges and the various support services available to them.
“Successful graduates tend to be proactive rather than reactive. So don’t wait until you have a problem, then you start running from it,” Prof. Kikooma said.
He further urged the students to work within the stipulated programme period, noting that most master’s programmes take about two years while postgraduate diploma programmes generally take one year.
Prof. Robert Wamala, Director of Research, Innovations and Partnerships, urged the newly admitted students to use their graduate training to produce knowledge capable of addressing challenges facing their communities, Uganda and Africa.
He challenged them to move beyond consuming knowledge generated elsewhere and instead become producers of knowledge and solutions.
Prof. Wamala emphasised the importance of connecting research to society, innovation and professional practice, encouraging students to identify problems within their workplaces and communities that could become areas for meaningful research.
He said Africa needed researchers capable of generating evidence, innovations and practical solutions to support development rather than simply importing solutions from other parts of the world.
The Director encouraged the students to build collaborative networks during their studies and to regard the University as an ecosystem in which researchers, professionals, communities and other partners can work together.
Dr. Kizito Ongaya, Deputy University Librarian, introduced the students to Makerere’s extensive library and information resources, urging them to make the library a central part of their postgraduate studies.
He said the University Library operates a hybrid system combining physical collections with electronic resources.
“We have over 200,000 types of books in our library, with 45 e-journal databases,” Dr. Ongaya said.
He encouraged students to make use of the University’s electronic databases, noting that substantial resources are invested in providing access to scholarly journals.
“If you don’t use e-journals, you are unacceptable,” he told the students, emphasising that postgraduate research requires extensive engagement with scholarly literature.
Dr. Ongaya also highlighted the University’s archival collections, specialised libraries and information centres located across its colleges.
He said students would be guided on how to access both physical and electronic resources and encouraged them to explore specialised collections that could support their individual research areas.
Dr. Mike Barongo, Team Leader ICT, Department of the Academic Registrar, told the new students that Makerere had increasingly digitised its academic and administrative processes and urged them to complete their online registration as an immediate priority.
He said students could access their provisional admission letters through the online application system and use the student number provided to activate their student portals.
“The student portal is very, very critical,” Dr. Barongo said.
He explained that students must enrol and register in order to access key University services, including institutional email and Wi-Fi.
“Once you enroll, you create an institutional email address. That institutional email address is the gateway for you to access so many things, like Wi-Fi,” he said.
Dr. Barongo also informed students that ICT support centres were available to assist those experiencing challenges with enrolment, registration or access to digital services.
He urged students to ensure they enrol and register every semester so that the University systems can accurately capture their academic and financial information.
Others senior members in attendance include the Deputy University Bursar Mr. George Mugabi Turyamureeba and Mr. Henry Nsubuga, the Manager Makerere University Counselling and Guidance Centre.
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.
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