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Professor Johnson Acon: A Humble, Selfless Mentor

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Makerere University Management, staff and students especially from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-Security (CoVAB) paid tribute to Prof. Johnson Opio Acon during a service that took place at St. Luke Church Ntinda on 20th January 2020. The fare thee well ceremony was also attended by the late Professor’s family and friends and government officials.

Prof. Acon joined Makerere University in 1979 as a Special Assistant in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies. He gradually rose through the ranks to the position of Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Department of Veterinary Pharmacy, Clinical and Comparative Medicine, CoVAB, a position he occupied until his death.

Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (Centre) Members of MUASA led by Chairperson-Dr. Deus Kamunyu Muhwezi (Right) and fellow Vets wheel Prof. Johnson Acon's remains into St. Luke Church Ntinda for the Funeral Service on 20th January 2020.

Makerere University commended the late Prof. Acon for his selfless service and positive impact on the current and next generation of practitioners of Veterinary Medicine. He was also praised for his humility, love for the University and Nation and association with people from all walks of life regardless of academic standing.

Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University described Prof. Acon as a well-cultured Professor who exemplified quality, ethics, standards and professionalism in all manner and form.

The Vice Chancellor-Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (Right) and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs)-Dr. Umar Kakumba (Left) lay a wreath on Prof. Johnson Acon's casket during the Funeral Service

“Prof. Acon observed traits suitable of a great academician. In his time of service with the University, he mentored many veterinary professionals and was very instrumental in disseminating knowledge to students and staff.  He will be greatly missed by the University and the country at large. He leaves a permanent mark at Makerere University,” said Prof. Nawangwe.

The Principal CoVAB, Prof. John David Kabasa acknowledged Prof. Acon’s sacrifices towards the development of CoVAB and pledged to emulate him when he said “He nurtured us and in memory of what he taught us, we shall deliver our best for the betterment of the College and Makerere University.”

R-L: The Principal CoVAB-Prof. John David Kabasa, Dr. James Okwee-Acai, Dr. Robert Tweyongyere and Dr. Norbert Mwiine lay a wreath on the departed Senior colleague's casket.

He commended the late Prof. Acon for his distinguished and dedicated service towards Makerere University which led to his appointment as Senior Veterinary Surgeon at the Department of Veterinary Pharmacy, Clinical and Comparative Medicine.  

In his speech, the former Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Mondo Kagonyera praised Prof. Acon for being a God-fearing man and thanked the Church for molding his character. He appealed to parents to raise God-fearing and intelligent children.

Members of the Uganda Veterinary Association (UVA) led by their President Dr. Sylvia Angubua Baluka (with microphone) pay respects to their fallen colleague and mentor Prof. Johnson Opio Acon on 20th January 2020.

Eng. Dr. Charles Wana-Etyem, the former Chairperson Makerere University Council said that Prof. Acon will always be remembered for his honesty, humor, integrity and kindness. He extended his heartfelt condolences to family, friends and relatives of Prof. Acon and called upon God to strengthen them during the trying moment.

Speaking on behalf of the family, the late Prof. Acon’s children, Mr. Andy Acon, Ms. Anita Acon and Ms. Alma Acon referred to their father as a friendly, caring and loving man who always encouraged them to believe that they can achieve their dreams.

Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and Prof. J.D. Kabasa (Right) comfort Mrs. Sophie Acon (3rd Left) and her daughters Anita and Alma after Prof. Johnson Acon’s Funeral Service on 20th January 2020, St. Luke Church Ntinda, Kampala Uganda.

“Our father was a provider who worked hard to meet our needs. He believed in integrity and impacted his personality traits on us. It is well with his soul,” they said.

Ms. Alma Acon applauded their mother Mrs. Sophie Acon for loving and caring for their father and thanked mourners for the support and comfort rendered to them during their time of loss.

Prof. Johnson Opio Acon passed away on 15th January 2020 at Kampala Independent Hospital. He will be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Ogengo, Aloi, Alebtong District on 22nd January 2020.

Article by: Esther Joy Nakibombo Volunteer Mak Public Relations Office

 

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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