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Call For Proposals: RUFORUM Global Research Alliance Graduate Research Grants

Published

5 years ago

May 15, 2020

Mark Wamai

The RUFORUM Secretariat, Plot 151, Garden Hill, Makerere University Main Campus, Kampala Uganda.

The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM; www.ruforum.org) and the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA; https://globalresearchalliance.org/) invite applications from RUFORUM Member Universities for the first Global Research Alliance Graduate Research Grants (GRA-GRG) call. The Global Research Alliance Graduate Research Grants (GRA-GRG) are aimed at building the capability of graduate and post-graduate level students in Africa to conduct applied research on agricultural greenhouse gases.

The GRA-GRG will be offered in line with the RUFORUM Competitive Grants System, with the common goal of supporting the development of capability in RUFORUM member universities to support Africa to respond to the goals established by the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as national and regional priorities of African States. The first round of the GRA-GRG will support participatory action research and training on topics related to the measurement and management of greenhouse gas emissions and removals in pastoral and agro-pastoral ruminant livestock farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This specific Call seeks to extend university activities to work more closely with rural communities through multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional partnerships involving key stakeholders such as research, extension and development agencies, policy-makers and the private sector.This call will support proposals focusing on any of the following areas:

i) Animal-scale observations to better characterise feeding systems and practices, to assess animal behaviour and responses to feed variation in terms of quantity and quality.
ii) Spatio-temporal modelling and mapping of livestock herds’ distribution and mobility in relation to inter-annual climatic variability to improve livestock population and distribution data throughout the year.
iii) Improving national estimates of available fodder, integrating all feed resources available for livestock, including crop residues (e.g. straw and leaves) and agro-food industry by-products (bran, oil cake, molasses, etc.), their spatio-temporal variability, protein and energy requirements of livestock, taking mobility into account.
iv) Assessing the distributions and temporal dynamics of different types of vegetation communities (e.g. scattered woody perennials and herbaceous annuals) to improve estimates of the carbon balance in different ecosystems.
v) Monitoring vegetation to assess the impacts of management practices (e.g. avoiding, annually or seasonally, mows, monitoring pastures, over-seeding and organic fertilisation) on production, carbon sequestration, and woody regeneration. Testing management strategies for crop residues and livestock effluents (e.g. harvesting and storage, sale, common pasture, composting, manure conservation, etc.) in order to assess the potential impacts on production and animal feeding, as well as the impact on greenhouse gas emissions and removals.
vi) Direct measurement of greenhouse gas emissions from soils (CO2, CH4and N2O) and ponds to improve understanding of spatial and temporal (intra-and inter-annual) variability of emissions, taking into account spatial heterogeneity by distinguishing the zones of high concentration of faeces on the ground (rest areas, enclosures, parking area, campsite, water points) and the grazing areas (pathways, plots, fields, plantations).
vii) Soil organic carbon stock measurements to determine soil organic carbon stocks and their spatial variability, under and outside tree canopy, as well as in areas with high concentration of faeces on the ground and in different grazing areas.

Eight GRA-GRG projects will be funded under this call, each with a maximum budget of US$70,000 for a period of two years.

Potential applicants are invited to review the detailed guidelines, Application template, CV template and Budget template for the Call.

For more information please email Runyararo Jolyn Rukarwa at r.rukarwa[at]ruforum.org

General

NTU Global Summer School – A Unique UK Experience for Students

Published

2 days ago

May 9, 2025

Mak Editor

The Nottingham Trent University (NTU) Global Summer School will run from 7 July – 1 August 2025 in the heart of England.

Why join this summer?

A diverse range of credit-bearing courses
The Global Summer School offers a variety of exciting courses, from cybersecurity to creative industries, and space science to entrepreneurship – truly something for everyone! With two distinct blocks of courses, students can either dive deeper into their passions or broaden their horizons by exploring new subjects.

Explore Courses

A truly international experience
Students will join peers from many countries across the world, creating a vibrant and multicultural learning environment that enhances the global student experience.

An exciting cultural and social programme
Beyond the classroom NTU offers a full schedule of activities, including visits to iconic UK cities, sports and evening events ensuring that students make the most of their time in the UK.

A safe and welcoming destination
Nottingham is a city renowned for its safety, having earned the prestigious Purple Flag award for its excellent night-time safety and vibrant atmosphere, ensuring your students feel at home both on and off campus.

Application Deadline: 1 June 2025

Apply Today!

Limited places available – apply soon!

Don’t miss out! This is the perfect chance for students to develop new skills, make new friends and experience the best of British culture. NTU looks forward to welcoming students this summer!

Have questions? Contact NTU here!

General

End of Semester Memo for Academic Year 2024/2025

Published

2 days ago

May 8, 2025

Mark Wamai

Africa, one of three On-Campus Halls of Residence for ladies, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

All Resident Students

1. Congratulatory Message

On behalf of Makerere University Management, I congratulate and thank you for the successful completion of Semester Two: 2024/2025.

2.End of the Second Semester

The second Semester holiday break will begin on 17^th May, 2025 up to Saturday 9^th August, 2025.

3. Resident Students

All resident students are expected to vacate the Halls of Residence by mid-day on Saturday, 17^th May, 2025.

4. University Property

Please hand over all University property in your possession (such as: room keys, Sports & Games equipment, College property etc) before you leave the Hall of Residence.

5. Security of personal property

Please make sure that you carry with you all your property.

Dean of Students
Makerere University

Makerere-Dean-of-Students-End-of-Academic-Year-2024-2025-MEMO Download

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Inter-college Debate 2025 Seeks to Nurture Confident, Articulate, and Visionary Leaders

Published

4 days ago

May 6, 2025

Mak Editor

Winners of the Inter-college debates Daphine Kemigisha and Jibiril Ssekandi (School of Law) pose for a photo with debaters and the GRCs of the Debate Union. Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11^th and 12^th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. The tournament was held in three preliminary rounds, followed by semi-finals and a grand finale.

The first round covered democracy and youth participation in politics, while the second round covered inequality and wealth distribution, and the third, the ban on export of raw materials. The semi-final round debated apprenticeship for blue-collar jobs, while the grand finale debated national budget allocations for healthcare and education. In the spirit of inclusivity, all colleges, including the Jinja Campus participated in the tournament.

One of the preliminary rounds in session at Lumumba Hall. Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa. — ***One of the preliminary rounds in session at Lumumba Hall.***

Commenting on the choice of topics, the organisers noted Makerere University as a bastion of academic excellence has a profound responsibility to cultivate the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of our nation. These leaders, they added, ought to be equipped with 21^st century skills of self-expression, critical thinking, and problem-solving so as to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving world.

On the whole, Makerere Inter-college Debates were conceived as a strategic initiative to foster a culture of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and innovation. The Debating Union aims to empower the future leaders by providing a platform for students to engage in respectful discourse, articulate their thoughts, as well as develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Daphine Kemigisha submitting at the debate grand finale. Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa. — ***Daphine Kemigisha submitting at the debate grand finale.***

Furthermore, the Debates serve as a platform for not only honing the intellectual prowess of students but also cultivating leadership skills, teamwork, and communication abilities that are essential for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. It is envisaged that this initiative will have a lasting impact on the lives of students, by exposing them to debates on topical issues that can shape the mindsets of transformative leaders our nation needs.

After a thrilling two days of debate, Daphine Kemigisha and Jibril Ssekandi from the School of Law (SoL) emerged as winners of the Makerere University Inter-college Debate Tournament 2025, while Olara Emmanuel George from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) was the Public Speech Champion, and Namujuzi Martha Mociita from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) was the Poetry Champion.

Debate Winners; Daphine Kemigisha (Right) and Jibril Sekandi (Left) from the School of Law (SoL). Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa. — ***Debate Winners; Daphine Kemigisha (Right) and Jibril Sekandi (Left) from the School of Law (SoL).***

The 2025 Tournament was organized by Mayanja Owen and Nkalubo Oprah – 91^st Guild Representative Councils (GRCs) of the Debate Union, Akatwijuka Arthur – Chairperson Debate Union, and Debate Union Representatives from colleges. The Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) partnered with the Debate Union to deliver the 2025 edition.

Addressing students at the award ceremony, UNNGOF’s Mr. Derrick Baluuku encouraged the youth to step out of their comfort zones and think of solutions to inspire change in their communities.