General
RIF Holds Consultative Workshop to Inform Research Agenda
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.
“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.”
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.
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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Emmanuel Akandwanaho, a Bachelor of Science in Land Economics (BSLE) graduate from Makerere University’s Class of 2022, has been selected to join the Schwarzman Scholars Class of 2026. He will pursue a fully funded, one-year Master’s degree in Global Affairs at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University, in Beijing, China.
Emmanuel makes history as the first undergraduate alumnus from Makerere University and the second Ugandan to be awarded the Schwarzman Scholarship, one of the world’s most competitive and globally renowned graduate fellowships. The Schwarzman Scholars Program was founded in 2015 by Stephen A. Schwarzman, Co-founder and CEO of Blackstone, to equip the next generation of leaders with a deep understanding of China’s role in global trends. Each year, 150 exceptional young leaders from across the world are selected for their academic excellence, leadership potential, and commitment to building a better future.
About Emmanuel Akandwanaho
Emmanuel studied Land Economics from 2017 to 2022 and graduated with Second Class Upper Honours. Throughout his time at Makerere, he was deeply involved in student leadership and campus initiatives that shaped his personal and professional growth. He served as Class Representative for five consecutive years, Speaker of the Makerere Association of Surveying Students, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission at the College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology (CEDAT), and Student Representative on the 31st Governing Council of the Institution of Surveyors of Uganda.
Recognizing a gap in communication and personal development on campus, Emmanuel founded the Makerere Gavel Club in 2019, an affiliate of Toastmasters International to improve student’s public speaking skills. The club has since helped students build confidence, become effective communicators, and develop leadership skills. The club continues to thrive as a leading platform for personal and professional development, nurturing confident communicators and emerging leaders. Today, the club is one of the most active student-led platforms on campus, having trained over 200 students since its inception.
Outside leadership, Emmanuel’s curiosity led him into entrepreneurship. He co-founded a startup aimed at improving student access to accommodation by helping them search and book hostels online. The project won Best Student Project at the 2019 International Engineering Students’ Conference at the University of Nairobi, and later received regional recognition, winning Best East African PropTech Startup at the 2021 Africa PropTech Competition.
Reflecting on his journey, Emmanuel shares:
“I saw my time at Makerere as more than just academics—it was an opportunity to grow, lead, and solve real-world problems. From my first year, I threw myself into leadership roles that stretched me and helped me discover what I was capable of. These experiences laid the foundation for my Schwarzman Scholarship journey.”
After graduating, Emmanuel explored a range of professional interests. He worked with a microfinance institution, volunteered with the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction on land governance projects, and served as Partnerships and Community Lead at Hindsight Ventures, supporting African tech startups. He also authored a policy paper on the role of public venture funds in financing startups.
“I’ve never seen myself as just one thing. My education in Land Economics was foundational, but I’ve always asked myself: what problems do I want to solve? That question has guided me into new spaces—policy, entrepreneurship, technology—all connected by a deep desire to contribute meaningfully to Africa’s future.”
Now preparing for Schwarzman College, Emmanuel is eager to explore China-Africa policy relations, understand China’s urbanization and infrastructure development, and experience Mandarin language immersion and cultural exchange. He is especially interested in exploring how China has managed its rapid urbanization and lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty—areas that resonate with Uganda’s own developmental challenges.
“What excites me most about Schwarzman is its holistic approach. You don’t just study; you engage. You travel across China, study Mandarin, explore cities, and collaborate with some of the most brilliant minds from over 40 countries. It’s the perfect place for someone like me—curious, ambitious, and eager to make sense of the world.”
He also sees this experience as an opportunity to build a truly global network.
“You live and study with 149 other scholars; engineers, doctors, entrepreneurs, diplomats, all passionate about changing the world in different ways. These are the people I’ll learn from, collaborate with, and build lifelong friendships with. That, to me, is priceless.”
Emmanuel encourages other Makerere students to consider applying:
“If you’re a final-year student or recent graduate and you’re curious about the world, the Schwarzman Scholars program is worth exploring. My leadership experience at Makerere played a crucial role in my application. Applications for the next cohort are already open, and I would love to see more Ugandans and Makerereans apply. We need more African voices in global conversations.”
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