General
Pro-Rector Hagen & Delegation Arrive Ahead of 30Year Mak-UiB Collaboration Celebrations
The Pro-Rector, University of Bergen (UiB), Prof. Margareth Hagen together with four members of UiB staff on Tuesday 5th November 2019 visited a number of units at Makerere University ahead of the 7th November 2019 celebrations commemorating 30 years of the Mak-UiB Collaboration programme. The delegation was hosted by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), Makerere University Library and the College of Health Sciences (CHS).
The Pro-Rector was accompanied by the Assistant University Director-Mr. Tore Tungodden, Vice Dean for Research-Prof. Marit Bakke, Academic Coordinator Mak-UiB Collaboration (UiB)-Prof. Thorkild Tylleskär and Higher Executive Officer, Communication Services-Ms. Elinor Bartle. They were guided around the Campus by the Academic Coordinator Mak-UiB Collaboration (Mak)-Dr. Ronald Semyalo.
The first stopover for the delegation was CHUSS where they were welcomed by the Acting Principal-Assoc. Prof. Josephine Ahikire. With her were the Dean, School of Languages, Literature and Communication-Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi; Head, Department of Literature- Dr. Mark Okot Benge; Former Head, Department of Literature-Assoc. Prof. Dominica Dipio; and UiB Alumnus-Dr. James Taabu Busimba.
Assoc. Prof. Ahikire in her remarks welcomed the delegation to Makerere University and CHUSS in particular, noting that at 30 years, the collaboration had indeed matured and was worth celebrating. She added that colleagues not only in the Humanities but also in the Natural Sciences had obtained their degrees at UiB and sincerely thanked the Pro-Rector for the generous support extended to staff capacity development at Makerere University.
Complementing the Acting Principal, Assoc. Prof. Mushengyezi noted that the Department of Literature had made significant strides in oral literature, research and publication with support from the Mak-NUFU (Norwegian Programme for Development, Research and Education) Folklore Project under Assoc. Prof. Dipio and Prof. Stuart Sillars.
The Dean added that the Department of Journalism and Communication with funding from the Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED) had managed to recruit and train four PhD students. The funding was received under the Strengthening Media in Post-Conflict societies through Education and Research: Bridging Gaps, Building Futures in Uganda, Norway, South Sudan and Nepal project.
Contributing to the discussion, Assoc. Prof. Dipio appreciated the holistic support that her Department had received especially through the PhD training for staff. She also lauded multidisciplinary nature of the UiB Summer Research Schools and prayed that future schools would accord opportunity to more Humanities Scholars keen to share their knowledge with other disciplines.
Dr. James Taabu Busimba is a Lecturer in the Department of Literature who undertook the “madness” Re-language-ing Shakespeare for a Ugandan Readership as part of his PhD study. Recounting his experience, JTB as he is popularly known at the Department thanked UiB for the generous support accorded to him, which involved extensions to his stay as he finalized his thesis. This support, he said, enabled him to graduate with the highest distinction in philosophy, a feat he reckoned would have been hard to repeat elsewhere.
Delivering her remarks, Prof. Hagen thanked Makerere University and CHUSS for the warm reception accorded to her delegation as well as the invigorating discussions. The Professor of Italian Literature could not hide her excitement at being ‘home’. She noted that UiB under its Department of Foreign Languages offers degrees in nine languages namely; Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish.
She commended the Department of Literature for producing 4 PhDs under the NORHED programme added that UiB through its Department of Information Science and Media Studies seeks to address the convergence between journalism, communication and evolving technologies. She added that the UiB joined leading media and technology companies in Norway to form the Media City Bergen cluster, which gives its students all-round exposure to trends in the industry.
As collaboration coordinator on the Mak side, Dr. Semyalo thanked UiB for sending close to 400 students annually to Makerere for short term study opportunities. He noted that almost two-thirds of these students belonged to the clinical sciences and urged other faculties to explore sending their students as well.
Prof. Tylleskär on the other urged more PhD students at Makerere University to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the two-week Summer School at UiB. Six parallel courses with an application deadline set for 1st February 2020 will run from 8th to 18th June 2020 focusing on; climate governance, sustainable cities, sustainable oceans, media and democracy, global food systems, as well as migrant health.
As a way forward, the meeting agreed to lay strategies for the teaching of a short course in Norwegian every summer. This, it is envisaged, will help prospective students to be grounded in the culture and language basics prior to setting off for their studies in Norway.
Under the Ethnomusicology in Uganda Project, the Department of Performing Arts and Film with the support from the Grieg Academy at UiB and other partners established Music Archive in the Main Library Makerere University. This was the first stopover for the UiB delegation as they made their way to meet the Deputy University Librarian, Dr. Ruth Nalumaga.
The Deputy Librarian in her remarks thanked UiB for the support extended in establishing the Library Information System (MakLIBIS) as well as conducting the Learning and Teaching in a Digital World (LATINA) course. She also thanked the Government of Uganda for advancing UGX1.5billion to the Library’s E-Resources budget for this financial year.
The discussions with the UiB team then centered around the increasing struggles by University Libraries the world over; especially in smaller countries, to meet the high subscription fees charged by important international scientific journals. The officials agreed that forming national or regional consortia should be encouraged to advocate for lower annual subscription fees.
As an innovation, Dr. Nalumaga shared the Main Library has plans to digitize its entire newspaper collection, so as to create a paid E-resource accessible to the whole world, a novelty that was welcomed by the UiB delegation. The meeting further discussed the need to conduct information literacy training for not only students but staff as well so as to help fight the growing ‘fake news’ trend.
Article by Public Relations Office
#MakUiB30
Through the Food for Peace initiative, the Rotary Club of Makerere Passport is stepping in to provide meals to over 200 students who struggle to afford meals, especially during the examination period.
According to Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University and President of the Rotary Club of Makerere Passport, hundreds of students drop out of Makerere University every year due to financial constraints. The reality for those who remain is sometimes tougher, for they struggle to survive.
While addressing the media at a press conference held at Makerere University on November 11, 2026, Prof. Nawangwe shared that many of these students skip meals, a situation that is more frequent during examination periods, when the demands on the brain are much greater.
The University is aware of these reports and in his capacity as Vice Chancellor and President of the Rotary Club of Makerere Passport, Prof. Nawangwe lobbied the club to take action.
In preparation for intervention, a comprehensive needs assessment was conducted, inviting students to come forward and share their needs. About 200 students responded to the survey, indicating a pressing need for food support during examinations.
The findings birthed a legacy project code-named “Food for Peace”, targeting, for a start, 206 students at Makerere University, regardless of their sponsorship status, as long as they participated in the survey. The Makerere Rotary Peace Centre spearheaded the survey that helped identify the first cohort of those who will benefit from the initiative and guided that for a dignified experience, the beneficially names will remain in records and not disclosed.
Prof. Nawangwe emphasised that the core mission of this cause is to move a step up with efforts to ensure that economically challenged students at Makerere University do not go a day without a meal. Service providers in halls of residence will serve these students their food following a meal card.
Seeding the Project
The Guest of Honour, Mr. Emmanuel Katongole, the Rotary International Director (RID) for Zone 22, while launching the initiative shared his personal experience of facing challenges that almost barred him from attaining an education. He believes education is an equaliser in life and that everyone should have a chance to access it. He reminded those in the room that they were all there together because of education.
RID Katongole highlighted the importance of supporting people, both as individuals and as a community. He expressed pride in being part of the launch of this project because it is going to create many more “Emmanuel Katongoles” through the provision of a meal.
He therefore personally committed to contribute UGX 5 million annually, starting this year, for as long as he lives or until the project ends. He also pledged to remain part of the initiative.
92nd Guild Commends “Service above Self”
From a student perspective, H.E. Kadondi Gracious, the 92nd Makerere University Guild President, delivered a vote of thanks for the initiative. She noted that students had petitioned Parliament to intervene in the matter and were happy that solutions had started coming from within.
She framed this move not just as charity, but as a way of restoring hope to Makerereans who were unsure of how they were going to maneuver through the examination period without lunch. In appreciation, the Guild President commended Rotary for showing what it actually means to offer service above self.
Sustainability of the “Food for Peace” Project
Although the immediate intervention is directed towards fewer than 300 students who expressed a need for assistance, the vision is bigger and looking beyond the current examination season.
As the Rotary Passport Club President noted, “if this is going to be sustainable, it means we are going to look out for partners to create a fund to sustain this initiative.”
The Club Secretary, Associate Professor Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala, explained that as a legacy project, it is not a one-off. She committed the services of the Passport Club to supporting this legacy project.
Grounding the sustainability move, RID Emmanuel Katongole set the pace by pledging annual cash and in-kind support towards providing consistent assistance to students throughout subsequent academic periods, thereby enhancing student welfare over the long term.
Dr Winfred Kabumbuli, the Makerere University Dean of Students, showed strong support for the initiative since it falls within the core mission of student welfare. She appreciated the collaboration with Makerere University Passport Club, and pledged to rally internal support.
Call to Action and Contributions
The Club President made an appeal to alumni, corporate bodies, development partners, individuals and institutions of goodwill to join this noble cause, intended to ensure that students not only remain at the University but also attain their full potential on a full stomach.
The immediate fundraising goal is UGX 10 million shillings, which is required to implement the initial phase of food support. Excess amounts collected will facilitate an increase in the number of beneficiaries and after the examination period, add to the kitty for subsequent semesters.
Support and assistance can come in the form of financial contributions, food supplies, corporate partnerships, logistical support, and long-term partnerships.
To facilitate support, the club, through its Charter Treasurer (C.T.), Professor Winston Tumps Ireeta, shared the banking details as follows
Bank: NCBA Uganda Limited.
Account Name: Rotary Club of Makerere Passport
Uganda Shillings (UGX) Account Number: 228129200017
United States Dollar (USD) Account Number: 228129200027
SWIFT Code: CBAFUGKA
Bank Code: 36
Students were left with one final promise from the Chief Guest, “you are no longer alone. You have a partner in the Rotary Club of Makerere Passport.”
Prof. Edward Bbaale, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration at Makerere University, on November 10 2026 welcomed a delegation from the International Water Association (IWA), led by Mr. Keith Robertson, the Learning and Events Director at International Water Association (IWA). Mr. Robertson, in his remarks, highlighted their visit to Makerere University as a fact-finding mission regarding the potential establishment of a new regional IWA office in Africa to support the continent in solving challenges relating to water.
The International Water Association is a leading global nonprofit organisation and knowledge hub for the water and sanitation sector. Connecting more than 10,000 individual members and 500 corporate entities across 140 plus countries, the association bridges the gap between scientific research and practical engineering to solve global water crises, improve sanitation, and secure clean water systems. Currently, IWA is evaluating potential host cities in Africa; Makerere University in Kampala is the first they have visited out of their three countries and venues earmarked.
This meeting held at Makerere Main Administrative Building, was attended by university leadership, faculty from College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), and representatives from the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC). Discussions explored possibilities of the yet to be established office bridging the gap between academic research and practical application in the water sector not only in Uganda but also on the continent.
On behalf of University Management, Prof. Edward Bbaale underscored this engagement that focused on possible Water and Sanitation advancement partnership as one that aligns well with the strategic direction of the University.
Projected Impact of a Kampala-Based IWA Office
Dr Philip Nyenje, Head of Department, Civil and Environmental Engineering (DCEE), expressed optimism about the collaboration, saying, “this is a very good opportunity for us to grow our interest in the sector of water and sanitation.”
In addition, Dr Seith Mugume, a Senior Lecturer at DCEE, noted that the regional office would unlock research and innovation opportunities in the real world for our students and also provide incentives for them to pursue projects within local research and innovation angles.
Eng. Zainab Mpakiraba, Acting Senior Manager at NWSC framed Kampala as a very unique venue for the centre and highlighted Makerere as one of the core academic partners for the regional Eastern and Southern Africa hub of the Global Sanitation Graduate School. Eng. Mpakiraba further endorsed Makerere, saying that, as a top-notch university in Uganda and in the region, when it leads on any aspect, it is able to pull most of the other universities.
Makerere’s Strategic Initiatives and Activities so far in the Area of Water
Dr Nyenje noted that his Department has a very strong base in water and sanitation, covering disciplines like water resources, environmental, structural, and highway engineering. Dr. Mugume added that they are conducting research on “modeling of water resource systems, hydrological and hydraulic modeling,” “water quality management,” and “fecal sludge management, sanitation in low-income and peri-urban areas.”
The two also mentioned that the department has introduced a “master’s in sanitation, and also a postgraduate program… a diploma in sanitation” to address growing interest in the sector.
All these strategies have been made possible through good will and funding from the Government of Uganda, strategic partnerships, and International Collaborations that have positioned Makerere as a key player in the region.
Concluding the session, Prof. Edward Bbaale reaffirmed Makerere’s ability to run this Office when established as the University has human resources in multidisciplinary research, global credibility and working relationships with many organisations and institutions on the continent and far.
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