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RIF Holds Consultative Workshop to Inform Research Agenda

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On Friday 10th January 2020, the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (RIF) held a consultative workshop for representatives from Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) aimed at understanding priority research and innovation needs in the different sectors so as to develop a robust research agenda. The resulting agenda will help researchers to include new perspectives in research, restructure their processes and produce research that resolves community challenges.

Addressing the consultative workshop, the Chairperson RIF Grants Management Committee (GMC), Prof. William Bazeyo said that the priority areas identified by participants would form the basis for the next RIF Grant Call for Applications due mid-January 2020.

The DVCFA & Chairperson GMC-Prof. WIlliam Bazeyo (Right) addresses participants that took part in the RIF Stakeholders Consultative Workshop on 10th January 2020.

“Our objective as RIF is to support research and innovation initiatives that contribute to better delivery of National Development initiatives, guided by the key national and sector-specific development plans and global priorities. We therefore thank you all for coming today and we look forward to receiving your input so as to enhance the delivery of our goal” remarked Prof. Bazeyo.

The Chairperson GMC who is the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance & Administration) thanked the Government for utilizing the extensive skills and experience amassed by Makerere University’s academia over the decades to find solutions to national development challenges. “Through RIF, we shall increase the local generation of translatable research and scalable innovations that address key gaps required to drive Uganda’s development agenda.”

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe in his remarks thanked the Government of Uganda for committing to support research and innovations at Makerere University. “RIF demonstrates the increasing importance that the Government attaches to our research and innovations as a catalyst to Uganda’s transformation into middle-income status.”

A cross-section of participants from Makerere University and Government MDAs that took part in the RIF Stakeholders Consultative Workshop on 10th January 2020.

He added that whereas there was no shortage of research and innovations from staff, commercialisation and patenting of the products remained an unfunded priority. “We are therefore recommending that the next release of funding for RIF should allocate money for commerialisation and patenting of already existing products such as our solar irrigation pump and others.”

Prof. Nawangwe shared that whereas the first stakeholders consultative meeting had targeted Government MDAs, the subsequent one would target the private sector and civil society organisations.

“Our past experience with the Innovation Systems and Clusters Programme-Uganda (ISCP-U) shows that a triple helix approach that brings on board the Government, Academia and Private Sector is an effective way of transforming our Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). For example, the Katwe Metal Fabricators cluster was able to work with our Professors and improve their production to the extent that they now export inverters and generators to South Sudan and Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo” explained the Vice Chancellor.

R-L: The Vice Chancellor-Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Executive Director UBOS-Dr. Chris Ndatira Mukiza, DVCFA & Chairperson GMC-Prof. WIlliam Bazeyo and Deputy Director for Innovations DRGT-Dr. Robert Wamala share a light moment during the RIF Stakeholders Consultative Workshop, 10th January 2020, CTF 1, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

Contributing to the day’s discussion, the Executive Director, Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), Dr. Chris Ndatira Mukiza shared that his institution has a lot data that researchers can come together and mine. “We are open to collaborations with universities so as to turn this data into useful information that can move our country forward.”

The Stakeholders workshop was also attended by staff from the; College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), College of Education and External Studies (CEES), College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB).

Article by Public Relations Office

 

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Call For Abstracts: National Symposium on Climate Migration among Youths in Uganda

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Call For Abstracts: National Symposium on Climate Migration among Youths in Uganda. Submission Deadline: 9th June 2026

Makerere University, in collaboration with the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Tufts University, and Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), invites researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and community actors to submit abstracts for the National Symposium on:

Climate Migration among Youths in Uganda: Local Voices for Policy Impact

Date: Wednesday, 12th August 2026
Venue: Makerere University Main Hall

The symposium will examine the drivers, patterns, and impacts of climate-induced youth migration in Uganda, while advancing evidence-based and community-informed policy responses.

Theme: Climate-Induced Youth Migration and Urban Futures in Uganda: Evidence, Voices, and Pathways for Action

Submission Deadline: 9th June 2026

Submit Abstracts To: citiesofyouth@musph.ac.ug

Researchers and practitioners are encouraged to contribute research findings, case studies, policy analyses, and practice-based experiences. Abstracts will be considered for oral and poster presentations.

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Call for Research Support Applications from Master’s Students who have Completed their First Year of Taught Classes at Makerere University

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Call for Research Support Applications from Master’s Students who have Completed their First Year of Taught Classes at Makerere University. Photo: Nano Banan 2

Makerere University, in partnership with Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Independent University of Bangladesh, Eduardo Mondlane University, and Pokhara University, with funding from Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED), is implementing a project: ‘Co-creating Knowledge for Local Adaptation to Climate Change in LDCs (COLOCAL).

The expected outputs of the project include strengthened educational and research capacity, improved knowledge on inclusive Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) and Community Based Adaptation (CBA) including delivering skilled knowledge co-creators, and partnerships to support needs-driven, locally-based and contextually sensitive adaptation. The outputs are anticipated to influence policy, planning and practice around LLA and CBA through collaborative learning and knowledge translation.

In line with targets and activities for 2026/2027, COLOCAL project is offering research support for three (3) Master’s students who have completed their first academic year of taught classes at Makerere University and are interested in undertaking research under one of the following thematic areas. The students MUST have undertaken the course offered under the auspices of the project on Disability, Social Justice and Climate Resilient Development.

Requirements:

  • A first degree from a reputable university in a field related to the focus of the project
  • Ugandan citizen below 35 years
  • Good command of English (spoken and written)
  • Demonstrated interest in inclusive and climate resilient development
  • Evidence of practical experience in conducting relevant research during and after undergraduate level
  • Evidence of full payment of all university fees for the first academic year
  • The Masters programme being undertaken MUST have explicit content on climate change mitigation and adaptation
  • Special consideration will be given to students with disabilities, financial challenges, students from ethnic minority groups, internally displaced students, among others

Scholarship and study/research conditions

Availability to complete all research activities in a maximum of 10 months.

Scope of the scholarship

The project will specifically cover stipends and support for field activities only. Support with tuition fees, for the research year, will be provided for students who will complete and submit the research thesis for examination within 10 months from the date of receiving the scholarship offer letter.

How to apply

Interested and eligible candidates should submit the following documents: Application letter, research concept note of not more than 2 pages, academic transcripts/certificates, an updated CV (including contacts of at least two referees) and two recommendation letters.

Send applications via email to: colocal.caes@mak.ac.ug, not later than 20th May, 2026. This contact can as well be used for inquiries, where necessary.

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Request For Consultancy Services: Training & Digital Solutions Expert

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Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) Request For Consultancy Services: Training & Digital Solutions Expert. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa

The Makerere University Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) Limited implemented a Gates Foundation training program dubbed “Principle of Management Excellence for Research training” PRIMER in francophone countries, namely, Mali, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This training was delivered by content experts and experienced practitioners, not professionally trained experts. As such, limiting the quality of slide decks, which were largely fragmented with text rather than graphical and infographic elements that suit a mature audience. To effectively deliver a research training program, advanced, engaging, and efficient tools are critical for fostering audience engagement and participation, and for learning and assessment in research management excellence. To achieve this, IDI seeks to hire an expert to:

  1. design and deliver a set of integrated advanced slide decks combining text, visual learning materials (graphical and infographics) and case scenarios
  2. develop a virtual bilingual community learning platform (VBCLP), i.e. with in-built French and English to engage alumni,
  3. develop and automate a pre-course assessment system that potential trainees fill out, and it automates results that are presented in statistical form for easy interpretation and decision making.

Details: https://shorturl.at/Rzn8d

Apply to: EAkankwasa@idi.co.ug

Deadline: 5 June 2026, 5 PM EAT

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