On 22^nd October 2024, Makerere University Innovation Pod, in partnership with Kiira Motors Corporation, and the United Nations Development Programme in Uganda, launched a skilling program designed to equip students with expertise in electric mobility and related technologies for industrial application.

The launch team consisted of the Executive Chairman of Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) Prof. Tickodri-Togboa, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative Ms. Nwanne Vwede-Obahor, and Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi (Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs) who represented the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga, Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the Makerere University Innovation Pod (Mak-UniPod) and Dr. Peter Turyakira, the Acting Manager of Makerere University Innovation Pod (Mak-UniPod).

This strategic direction of building the required pool of young people to drive Uganda’s electric mobility such as production of electric cars targets Makerere University students who are not only excelling in the academics, but also interested in innovation and development.

“When I heard about this project, I thought about this innovation. I realized it comes with so many opportunities starting from employing many people, but also helping in the world agenda in transiting to green energy. When the call was shared, I thought I could grab this opportunity and also contribute to the sector that is seemingly a virgin one,” remarked Twinomujuni Mutunji, a student selected from the Bachelor of Electrical Engineering program.

The first cohort consists of a total of 25 students selected from Electrical, Biomedical, Software, Mechanical, Computer Engineering, and Bachelor of Science in Physics courses. Of the selected students, 12 are female and 13 are male. They were selected in a competitive process where only those with grades in the first and second upper classes were subjected to interviews and the top 25 were subsequently enrolled.

The program’s main objectives include providing participants with foundational knowledge in electric vehicle technology, renewable energy systems, battery cell technology, smart grid systems, and electric vehicle powertrains. It also emphasizes the development of practical skills through hands-on training and project-based learning, enabling students to apply theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios.

Additional goals of the initiative include promoting innovation and problem-solving by encouraging participants to explore solutions to challenges in clean energy technologies. It also seeks to prepare students for careers in the electric vehicle industry and its related sectors.

During the launch, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi emphasized Makerere University’s pioneering role in innovation, stating that the electric mobility skilling programme represents a significant step in Uganda’s transition to green energy.

“As Makerere, we always pride ourselves on trailblazing. The electric vehicle journey and sector in this country started with the KiiraEv produced by staff and students from our College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology. The skills and knowledge led to the formation of the Kiira Motors Corporation. Through the launch of electric mobility skilling programme, Makerere University is committing itself to championing electric mobility and the green revolution,” said Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi.

Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi asserted that with this cohort taught and skilled in the field of electrical vehicles, they will be able to contribute to the transition from fossil fuel to green energy and also reduce pollution that is caused by traditional means of transport.

This country in terms of transport, we are very familiar with the two wheelers (a n influx of boda bodas) and these are the major polluters, how do we overcome this, it is the initiative that we are launching today. We really believe that through this mega start, by training experts in the field, we should able to transition to green energy and also reduce on our pollution rates,” Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi said.

Speaking on behalf of Mak-UniPod, Dr. Peter K. Turyakira said that the skilling program is timely because it comes at a time when the country is embracing the global shift toward electric mobility. “Uganda is embracing the global shift toward electric mobility. This program is intended to give young people the opportunity to develop skills, drive innovation in e-mobility, and influence the economic development of the country,” remarked Dr. Turyakira.

On her part, UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Nwanne Vwede-Obahor, hailed the program as a solution to youth unemployment and a creator of green jobs in Uganda.

“Through this skilling programme, Makerere University and Kiira Motors Corporation are going to find solutions to the youth unemployment question and create green jobs in Uganda.”

She urged the students in the first cohort to make the most of this opportunity to contribute to the global green energy agenda and to shape their own futures.

“To the E-Mobility Skilling Program students, this is a great opportunity for you. I hope you understand that you are creating for yourself an opportunity, not open to others. You are part of a nascent group. You are part of history. You are the first cohort. The opportunities are beyond Uganda and Africa. There are many opportunities in the world. I am very glad to see the number of young ladies who are part of this first cohort,” she said.

Adding that; “I appeal to you today, take this opportunity and run with it, give it all you can. Immerse yourself into it and focus. I will create time to return, and have a special session with the ladies who are part of this cohort. I want to be sure that you have mentorship,” she stated.

Ms. Vwede-Obahor also explained that UNDP decided to fund the project as it aligns with Uganda’s development plans, especially its commitment to transitioning from fossil fuel-powered vehicles to electric ones.

“Why e-mobility? This is born out of the fact that we in the UN always support the national development aspirations of the countries where we serve,” she pointed out.

“In this regard, we noted that Uganda has recently taken initiatives to support the importation of electric vehicles into the country. We have taken note of the zero-emissions that Uganda wants to attain by 2063 which protect the environment,” she said.

The UNDP Resident Representative thanked Makerere University for the vision, and appealed to the private sector in Uganda to come to the Makerere University Innovation Pod (Mak-UniPod) to support the student innovators.

Recognizing Makerere University as the cradle of E-Mobility in Uganda, Prof. Tockodri-Togboa acknowledged the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe for being a very instrumental figure in this milestone and always providing guidance in this journey.

Prof. Tickodri-Togboa, the Chairman Board of Directors, Kiira Motors Corporation, said that he is grateful that this program has started and he believes, that it will significantly contribute to the transformation of the transport sector, address climate change concerns and save the environment from pollution.

“We are grateful for this opportunity to drive change. To the pioneering scholars on this program, today you have taken action and I believe the resulting progress will transform you and the lives of many as we build towards the future,” said Prof. Tickodri Togboa.

In the same spirit, he commended UNDP for supporting Makerere University innovators through the Makerere University Innovation Pod.

Engineer Fred Matovu of Kiira Motors Corporation outlined the program’s structure, detailing the seven modules that students will complete over the course of the year. These modules will range from introductory topics on electric vehicles to discussions of future trends in electric mobility.  Matovu explained that each module will be followed by assessments, and at the end of the program, every student will be required to complete a capstone project to showcase their knowledge and skills. The program will consist of both theoretical and practical sessions, starting with an introduction to the fundamentals of electric vehicles.

“As part of the program arrangement, we shall have theoretical classes where we shall give foundation knowledge and later we shall have practical sessions where the students shall be allowed to try what they have learned, so we shall take these students to spaces to get a hands-on experience on the usage of some of the technologies,” he said.

“The modules will start with an introduction to electrical vehicles, before going into the theoretical concepts, among others,” Matovu added.

Eng. Matovu explained that throughout the program, they will have sessions where they link students to mentors from their respective faculties in their primary programs at the University.

He further explained that they will do that in order to make sure that these students as they are getting electrical vehicle skills, they do not neglect their core academic programs. In this, they will also be having the mentors’ general report to confirm their performance in the respective academic programs at Makerere University.

Mr. Twinomujuni Mutunji, a student selected from the Bachelor of Electrical Engineering program, and who is part of the inaugural cohort of the E-Mobility Skilling Program, informed Mak Public Relations News team that he had always hoped to make an impact in the transition to green energy, which he views as a promising and untapped field.

Mr. Twinomujuni’s view fits in so well with the vast opportunities awaiting students who will remain focused and excel during this one-year E-Mobility skilling programme.

According to Engineer Fred Matovu, in addition to field tours, extensive capacity building, and a capstone project where each student will demonstrate what he or she has been doing, the successful students will feed into research and development, the E-Mobility industry, and the Kiira Motors Corporation Internship Programs.

Over 30 researchers and graduate students from Makerere University participated in a specialized training aimed at enhancing their skills in research co-creation, science communication, and policy engagement. The training, organized by the Environment for Development (EfD) Mak Centre, emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between academic research and policy impact, particularly in the fields of environmental economics and natural resources management.

Research Must Impact Communities

While opening the training on 15^th October 2024 at Makerere University, Prof. Edward Bbaale, Director of the EfD-Mak Centre, underscored Makerere University’s commitment to becoming a research-intensive institution. “Makerere University resolved to produce as much research output as possible,” he stated. Prof. Bbaale emphasized that the university’s strategy goes beyond just producing research but also ensuring that this research has real-world impact. “This research must not be done for its own sake or just for attaining degrees. It must impact communities,” he added.

Prof. Bbaale also highlighted the critical role graduate students play in advancing Makerere‘s research mission. “The university is counting on you to produce high-quality research. You are researchers, and this type of training helps you transition from science to policy communication,” he said, encouraging participants to actively engage with policymakers to ensure that their research findings inform decision-making.

The training is part of the broader mission of the EfD initiative, which seeks to influence policy in the Global South through high-quality research. Prof. Bbaale reiterated the Centre’s focus on capacity building, particularly in the area of environmental economics. “We emphasize academic training, policy-relevant research, and engaging policymakers to create impact. Our goal is to build long-lasting relationships with policymakers, but that starts with rigorous research,” he noted.

Bridging the Writing Skills Gap

Dr. Peter Babyenda, Uganda’s Policy Engagement Specialist and lead trainer, identified a gap in writing skills among graduate students, which prompted the focus on co-creation, communication, and policy engagement. “We realized that students often struggle to develop strong research topics, which is why this training is important. Co-creation allows researchers to share ideas with peers and stakeholders to refine their research problems,” he explained.

Babyenda also stressed the importance of disseminating research findings. “Researchers should not keep their work to themselves. They must learn how to effectively communicate their findings through policy briefs, press releases, and social media,” he advised. He further encouraged the use of technology, including AI, to improve writing style and clarity.

Dr. Babyenda added that future training sessions would focus on methodologies and advanced research techniques. “We want to ensure that students and researchers are equipped with the latest methodologies in environmental economics to produce research that informs policy and drives actionable change,” he said.

Reflecting on the training, participants said, it was insightful and transformative.

John Robert Opus: A Shift to Purposeful Research

John Robert Opus, a graduate student at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences pursuing a Master of Agribusiness, expressed gratitude for the insights he gained during the training. “I’ve been doing a lot of research, but I’ve not been mindful of who my research is for. Today, I learned that as a researcher, you need to know who will use your results and what impact they will have,” he noted. Opus added that this training has transformed his approach to research, making him more focused on creating purposeful work that makes a tangible impact.

He also acknowledged the importance of communicating research findings, which many students often overlook. “We usually think research is just a requirement to complete our Masters, but today I learned that it helps in policy-making. Communicating the results—whether through social media or other platforms—is very important.”

Hilda Namuleme: Rethinking Research Communication

Hilda Namuleme, a researcher at the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), highlighted how the training changed her approach to writing and communicating research results. “Coming from a research background, my pyramid has always been to start with the background and build up to the results,” she said. “But in this training, I learned that I need to start with the results when writing for the media, like press releases or newspaper articles. It was very educational.”

Namuleme praised the structure of the training, calling it a valuable learning experience. “It was a good, educative session, and I thank EfD for organizing such great trainings. We look forward to more of these opportunities,” she concluded.

Taaka Proscovia Mugeni: A Focus on Feasible Research Topics

Taaka Proscovia Mugeni, a graduate student pursuing a Master of Arts in Economics at the School of Economics, expressed her gratitude for the insights gained from the training. “I’ve really learned a lot from today’s training,” Mugeni shared. “I’ve learned aspects of communication—how to communicate issues related to your research, and also insights on how to structure your research topics.”

Mugeni emphasized the importance of selecting feasible research topics and praised the workshop for addressing key challenges that students face. “It has been a very insightful training, and I would love to appreciate all the stakeholders who contributed to organizing it. We as students need more of this,” she noted.

Jane Anyango is the Communication Officer EfD Uganda

*****Funded by DANIDA, Agroforestry for People, Ecosystems and Climate Change (AfPEC), a five-year project (March 2024-April 2029) focusing on Mt. Elgon Highlands in Eastern Uganda aims to foster to use agroforestry to prevent climate change and loss of biodiversity in the region. The project will focus on four districts namely: Mbale, Bududa, Bulambuli, and Kapchorwa. Project Partners: Makerere University, Aarhus University & University of Copenhagen (Denmark), Youth Leading Environmental Change (YLEC), Seniors without Borders, Forests of the World, Stjernekommunikation, and FrellsenKaffe. Through the project, coffee farmers in the region will be supported to export their coffee to Denmark. The project team held the inception meeting on 25^th-26^th September 2024 in Mbale City.

Overview

Climate change and biodiversity loss are emerging as two of the greatest environmental challenges facing humanity. In Uganda, natural ecosystems such as forests and wetlands contribute considerably to people’s livelihoods and the national economy. However, rapid population growth has led to the degradation of these ecosystems due to increased demand for firewood and the conversion of land for agricultural purposes. Furthermore, the effects of climate change, including variable rainfall patterns and higher temperatures, are leading to a rise in the frequency and intensity of floods, droughts, landslides, windstorms and hailstorms (UNEP- Ecosystem-Based Adaptation in Uganda). Failure to tackle the effects of climate change threatens the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with catastrophic consequences that will hit the poorest and most vulnerable communities first and hardest (UCL Global Governance Institute, 2021). The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030 is a rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems around the world, for the benefit of people and nature. It aims to halt the degradation of ecosystems, and restore them to achieve global goals. 

Agroforestry as a climate change adaptation strategy

Agroforestry, the purposeful integration of trees or shrubs with crops and/or livestock at the plot, farm, and/or landscape scale, is one potential climate change adaptation strategy to increase the resilience of farmers and agricultural systems against climate risk, providing a range of biophysical and socioeconomic benefits. As highlighted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports of 2022, agroforestry is a promising agro-ecological approach to climate change adaptation because of the multitude of co-benefits that many agroforestry systems provide including, enhanced food security and income opportunities, the provisioning of ecosystem services, and biodiversity conservation (Amy Quandt, et.al 2023). Agroforestry significantly impacts the environment in diverse ways that contribute to both global environmental goals and local sustainability. Despite of the benefits, promotion, implementation and sustainability of agroforestry practices is still not well addressed.

Purpose of the AfPEC project

Coffee farmers in the Mt. Elgon Region in Eastern Uganda have traditionally with success used agroforestry that protects important water catchments and biodiversity hotspots, but these areas now experience degrading soils caused by external factors such as forest loss, soil erosion and population growth. Changes in climate have also affected farming conditions favouring more drought-resistant crops and agroforestry systems with well-developed shade. Agroforestry for People, Ecosystems and Climate Change (AfPEC), a new project funded by DANIDA aims to understand the factors that motivate coffee farmers to engage in agroforestry, and to foster the use of agroforestry to minimize the effects climate change and loss of biodiversity in the region. Specifically, the project aims to document the effects of agroforestry in terms of ecosystem services and livelihood benefits, to understand motivating factors for long-term sustainable development, and to support science-based agroforestry in practice. The project will focus on four districts namely: Mbale, Bududa, Bulambuli and Kapchorwa.

Specific objectives

The project will be implemented though five work packages in line with the objectives below;

1.Quantifying the potential of agroforestry in terms of ecosystem services – Under this objective the focus is to assess the benefits of various agroforestry systems, including carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and other ecosystem services. This research will help stakeholders understand the potential and limitations of different agroforestry approaches and contribute to mitigating climate change and biodiversity loss. Additionally, the findings will be used to select suitable native tree species for planting in highland coffee agroforestry systems.

2.Identifying livelihood benefits from agroforestry and key factors for long-term sustainable development.

3.Channelling scientific knowledge on agroforestry into practice –Given the urgent threats posed by biodiversity loss and climate change in Africa, it is imperative to translate scientific research into practical solutions. In collaboration with NGOs and local farming communities, the project team will disseminate user-friendly information and ensure that research findings directly benefit livelihoods and ecosystems. The goal is to increase local income through sustainable coffee production, carbon credits, and potentially, emerging markets for ecosystem services.

4. Building multidisciplinary capacity at university level –The project will train four PhD students from Uganda, and at least 12 master students from Denmark.

5. Promoting optimized agroforestry systems widely.

Partner Institutions

AfPEC is composed of seven partners: three university partners with multidisciplinary backgrounds, three Danish and Ugandan NGOs and a private communication company. All partners work in close collaboration with four coffee farmer communities. These include; Makerere University, Aarhus University (Department of Ecoscience), University of Copenhagen, Youth Leading Environmental Change (YLEC), Seniors without Borders, Forests of the World, Stjernekommunikation, and FrellsenKaffe.

Project team

The overall PI is Dr Anne Mette Lykke from Aarhus University. At Makerere, the project is coordinated by Prof. John Tabuti from the Department of Environmental Management and Prof. Frank Mugagga from the Department of Geography, Geo-Informatics and Climatic Sciences. Other participants: Aarhus University, Department of Ecoscience (Jørgen Axelsen), Makerere University (Dr Josephine Esaete and Dr Kellen Aganyira), University of Copenhagen (Ida Theilade, Nerea Turreira Garcia, Stine Kroijer), Seniors without Borders (Poul Kroijer, Lone Jacobsen, Kjeld Lanng, Frans Theilby, Lars Brodersen, Jan Thorn Clausen, Hazra Okem, Ann Grace Apiita, Emmanuel Alituha, Christopher Ejiku), Youth Leading Environmental Change (Daniel Esayu, Annet Nakkazi, Richard Tusabe),  Forests of the World (Jens Holm Kanstrup, Kristian Lybæk, Abiyu Lencho), and Stjernekommunikation (Jan Stjerne).

AfPEC Inception meeting in Mbale City

On 25^th-26^th September 2024, the project team held an inception meeting in Mbale City to get stakeholder buy-in and concretize roles of team members. The meeting was attended by 52 participants including the project team, farmers from participating districts, RDCs from participating districts, representatives from the participating NGOs – Seniors without Borders, Youth Environmentalists leading Environmental Change (YLEC) and Forests of the World, and Graduate students attached to the project.

Presentations/remarks by the project team

In his welcome address, Prof. Frank Mugagga, one of the project coordinators at Makerere University appreciated participants for honouring and turning up for the workshop, noting that it was important for the team to establish a working relationship for smooth implementation of the project. Outlining the importance of research and partnerships towards the vision and mission of Makerere University, he expressed gratitude to the funders, and the Project PI, Dr Anne Mette Lykke for her unwavering efforts towards securing the grant.

Presenting an overview of the project, the lead Coordinator in Uganda, Prof. John Tabuti explained that although agroforestry systems have been around for long, their contribution has not been well understood and adopted. Discussing the different work packages, Prof. Tabuti said the project would document both negative and positive impacts of highland agro-ecosystems to improve their contribution to ecosystems and livelihoods.

At the meeting, the Project PI, Dr Anne Mette Lykke briefed participants on ethics and the rules governing the DANIDA AfPEC Grant. She presented the partnership grant agreement, highlighting the research ethics considerations, rules on publications, communication and dissemination requirements, and data sharing and management as guided by DFC. She urged the project team to familiarise themselves with the regulations to ensure timely delivery of the intended outputs.

 In his remarks, the representative of farmer groups in Mbale District, also Chairperson of Bufumbo Agroforestry Group, Mr. Hussein Mafabi appreciated the project team and funders, noting that the initiative would greatly improve their skills in agroforestry. Highlighting the factors fuelling environmental degradation in the region, Mr. Mafabi decried the lack of a clear policy on plastic waste management, calling for support to avert the crisis. He emphasized the need to translate the project results into actual policy changes to further collaboration beyond AfPEC. “AfPEC has the support of local communities who are eager and willing to participate in the project activities,” he noted.

During the workshop, representatives from the partnering NGOs including Seniors without Borders, Forests of the World, and YLEC shared their experiences working in the region, outlining success stories in coffee agroforestry that the AfPEC project can leverage to achieve its targets. Prof. Jørgen Axelsen briefed participants on the biological pest control processes, whereas Dr James Johns from Forests of the World delivered a presentation on biomass and carbon sequestration in Uganda’s smallholder agroforestry systems. Speaking to participants, Dr Poul Kroijer (Seniors without Borders) noted that through the AfPEC project, farmers in the region will be able to export their coffee to Denmark. The team expressed willingness to support the project activities.

Presentations by MSc and PhD students supported by the Project

AfPEC project will train four PhD students from Uganda, and at least 12 master students from Denmark.

During the workshop, three Masters Students from Aarhus University, Denmark and four PhD students from Makerere University who will be conducting research on different aspects of agroforestry in the Mt. Elgon Region, Eastern Uganda presented their research ideas to participants who provided enriching feedback.   These are; Smilie Nielsen (MSc Human Security) who will be examining the factors that motivate young coffee farmers in Mt. Elgon Region to engage in agroforestry, Ms. Josephine Fogt Anderson (MSc Human Security) who will be studying women-nature relations in agroforestry and planting initiatives (How gender equality can be addressed in tree planting and agroforestry projects), and Ms. Matilda Willemoes who will be exploring the potential for carbon sequestration and storage in coffee Forestry systems.

The PhD students include Mr. Patrick Kayima who will study value chain and livelihood benefits of coffee agroforestry, and Ms. Patricia Adoch who will evaluate the influence of different management practices of coffee agroforestry systems on pollinators and pests in the Mt. Elgon Region. Ms. Joyce Lunyolo will conduct research on incentives for stewardship efforts in coffee agroforestry among farmers in the region, whereas Mr. Derick Kisegu will study and document the contribution of Arabica coffee agroforestry systems in mitigation and adaptation to climate change in fragile highland ecosystems of Uganda.  

The students will be supervised by academics from the partner institutions namely: Prof Anne Mette Lykke, Prof. John Tabuti, Prof. Frank Mugagga, Dr. Josephine Esaete, Prof. Ida Theilade, Dr. Kellen Aganyira, Prof. Stine Kroijer, and Prof. Katrine GroFriborg.

Remarks by the Chief Guest

Addressing participants, the Deputy RDC Kapchorwa District, Mr. Martin Sakajja, on behalf of the Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) in the project area, expressed gratitude for the initiative noting that it holds immense significance for the country and world at large. “Agroforestry represents the fusion of agricultural productivity with ecological conservation—a synergy that is critical for sustainable development in our times. For generations, rural populations have depended on agriculture as their primary source of livelihood. Yet, we know the challenges farmers face: declining soil fertility, erratic rainfall, and dwindling forest resources. Agroforestry addresses these issues by promoting sustainable agricultural practices that not only enhance food security but also generate additional sources of income from forest products such as fruits, timber, and medicinal plants. Through this project, we envision empowering farmers to increase their yields while preserving the natural resources they rely on. By embracing agroforestry, we are not only reducing our vulnerability to climate change but also contributing to global climate goals. I commend Makerere University and all the partners involved in this project for their vision and dedication,” he noted.

Remarks by the representative of Makerere University

On behalf of Makerere University, Dr Henry Ssemakula appreciated the project team for the initiative noting that it aligns with the sustainable development goals (SDGs), the National Development Plan, and the Parish Development Model. “The project is also in tandem with our strategy of transforming Makerere into a research-led University responding to national, regional, and global development challenges, and contributing to global knowledge generation. Its commitment to capacity building through Masters and PhD trainings, community engagement, and internationalization is equally commendable.” He appreciated the funders for supporting AfPEC and several other projects in Uganda.

The workshop was moderated by Dr Josephine Esaete, Dr Vincent Muwanika, and Dr Kellen Aganyira from Makerere University.

On the final day of the workshop, the project team conducted a reconnaissance tour of three research sites namely; Bufumbo in Mbale, Buginyanya in Bulambuli District, and Sipi in Kapchorwa District. 

More photos from the workshop

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