Makerere University continues to position itself as a hub for global academic exchange and strategic partnerships, as demonstrated by the successful hosting of the 2026 Professor William Senteza Kajubi Fulbright Memorial Lecture.

Now in its fourth edition since the revitalisation of the lecture series in 2022, the Kajubi Lecture has evolved beyond a commemorative academic event into a powerful platform for institutional collaboration, most notably between Makerere University and the United States Embassy in Uganda. This partnership, anchored in the shared legacy of Professor William Senteza Kajubi as the first African Fulbright Scholar, reflects a deeper commitment to knowledge exchange, diplomacy, and education reform.

The 2026 lecture, held on April 23 at the Makerere University Main Hall, convened a diverse audience of policymakers, scholars, Fulbright alumni, students, and development partners, underscoring the multi-stakeholder approach required to drive meaningful education reform.

At the heart of this collaboration is a shared belief in the transformative power of education and international exchange. In his remarks, the United States Ambassador to Uganda, William W. Popp, emphasised that the Fulbright Program represents more than academic mobility; it is a bridge between nations, fostering mutual understanding and long-term cooperation. He noted that such exchanges strengthen both countries by creating enduring networks of collaboration and shared knowledge.

This partnership is not incidental but rather intentional. Through the Advancement and International Office, Makerere University has strategically aligned the College of Education and External Studies (CEES) with the U.S. Embassy to ensure that the Kajubi Lecture serves as both an intellectual platform and a diplomatic touchpoint. The lecture reinforces ongoing cooperation while also expanding opportunities for academic exchange, research collaboration, and alumni engagement.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Mary Goretti Nakabugo, Executive Director of Uwezo Uganda, brought the discussion back to the core purpose of education policy: enabling student success. Her address traced the enduring influence of the Kajubi legacy on Uganda’s education system, highlighting both progress and persistent challenges in access, quality, and relevance.

At the heart of her message was a return to Kajubi’s foundational belief: that education is both a basic human right and a tool for shaping responsible citizens. Education, she emphasised, must go beyond the acquisition of certificates to cultivate values, critical thinking, and a sense of civic responsibility.

A central critique in the keynote was the increasing dominance of technocratic approaches to education policy. While economic growth and workforce readiness are important, Dr. Nakabugo cautioned against reducing education to a tool for productivity alone. In doing so, systems risk neglecting the broader purpose of education, to nurture well-rounded individuals capable of contributing meaningfully to society.

This calls for a redefinition of student success. Success, she argued, should not be measured solely by enrollment or completion rates, but by meaningful outcomes: literacy, competence, retention, and the ability to apply knowledge in real-world contexts. It is about preparing learners not just for jobs, but for life.

To achieve this, Dr. Nakabugo called for a renewed commitment to the Kajubi vision. This includes making education truly universal and equitable, investing in teachers and infrastructure, strengthening inclusive support systems, and reducing the financial burden on families. Equally important is the need to re-centre values such as critical thinking, citizenship, and accountability within the education system.

The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University further underscored this point, noting that education remains one of the most powerful instruments for building bridges between people and cultures. He expressed appreciation to the United States for its continued support, recognising the partnership as a critical contributor to Uganda’s development and to Makerere’s global outlook.

Before the Senteza Kajubi Memorial lecture, at a farewell cocktail session for H.E Ambassador. William Popp,  the Vice Chancellor, expressed sincere appreciation to H.E. Amb. William W. Popp for his distinguished service and steadfast support to Makerere University during his tenure. He noted that the United States has remained a key partner in advancing the University’s global engagement, with a significant number of Makerere’s academic and institutional partnerships anchored in collaborations with U.S. universities. The Vice Chancellor commended Ambassador Popp for strengthening these ties and for his commitment to fostering academic exchange, research collaboration, and mutual understanding between Uganda and the United States.

Importantly, the Kajubi Lecture continues to serve as a convening space for Fulbright alumni, policymakers, and scholars, reinforcing a growing network of individuals committed to shaping the future of education in Uganda and beyond. This aligns with the broader objective of the lecture to initiate and sustain conversations on education policy reform while strengthening institutional and international cooperation.

As Makerere University advances its strategic priorities in internationalisation and alumni engagement, the Kajubi Fulbright Memorial Lecture stands out as a model of how legacy, partnership, and purpose can converge to drive impact.

Kainomugisha Caroline is the Communications Officer, Advancement Office, Makerere University.

According to Nelson Mandela “Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world.” This powerful statement resonates with the strides being undertaken by the Government of Uganda to transform the education sector through the Competency-Based Education model.

According to the experts in the field, competency-based education is about the change of methodology from the teacher-centred to the learner-centred approach that positions the learner at the heart of the learning, teaching and innovative processes.

In Uganda, the Ministry of Education of Education and Sports, in partnership with regulators has rolled out a road-map for education institutions at the different levels namely pre-primary, primary, secondary, technical, and universities to transition to the competency-based education (CBE) model.

At the University level, the Ministry of Education and Sports in partnership with the respective Universities, the National Council for Higher Education in Uganda (NCHE), and the Uganda Vice Chancellor’s Forum (UVCF), have lined up several strategies aimed at aligning academic programmes, curricula, research and innovations with the competency-based education (CBE) model.

Ministry tasks Makerere University to provide leadership on CBE

Specific to universities, the directive from the Ministry of Education and Sports was amplified on Tuesday 25^th February 2026, during the 76^th Graduation Ceremony of Makerere University. 

“Earlier on, I directed that all institutions of higher learning prepare for full implementation of competency-based education and training by July 2027. This is a fundamental shift in how we prepare our graduates. We are moving towards a model that emphasizes practical skills, innovation, and problem-solving, directly aligned with the needs of industry and the economy,” stated Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni in a speech read by Hon. Joyce Moriku Kaducu.

“In this regard, I want to specifically and strongly encourage Makerere University, as our premier institution, of higher learning to champion this directive. I request the Vice Chancellor and your team to lead the way in developing curricula, training staff, and establishing the necessary infrastructure to make competency-based education a reality,” added the Minister.

TRUCE project aligns with Makerere’s Competency-based education agenda

The policy directive from the Ministry of Education and Sports, coincides with Makerere University’s partnership with nine (9) consortium partners to implement an Erasmus+ Capacity Building Higher Education project. Titled Transitioning Higher Education Regulators and Universities to Competency-Based Education in East and West Africa (TRUCE), the project seeks to strengthen the capacities of universities and higher education regulators in Uganda and Ghana to transition to Competency-Based Education (CBE).  

Funded by the European Union, the four year TRUCE project (December 2025 to 30^th December 2029) draws from African and European expertise in curriculum reform, assessment, quality assurance, digital pedagogy, and stakeholder engagements. TRUCE brings together Makerere University as the lead partner, working with, the Mountains of the Moon University, University of Ghana, Legon University of Education, Winneba, Universitat de Barcelona, Instituto Politecnico do Porto, the National Council for Higher Education of Uganda, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, and RUFORUM.

At Makerere University, the TRUCE Project is implemented through the College of Education and External Studies (CEES), with Associate Professor Josephine Esaete as the Principal Investigator, and Professor Anthony Muwagga Mugagga, the Principal of CEES providing oversight.  At the strategic level, the TRUCE Project brings onboard Vice Chancellors of the participating universities, Deputy Vice Chancellors, Academic Registrars, the Directors of Quality Assurance, and Chief Executive Officers.

TRUCE Objectives

The project pursues four (4) interlinked objectives:

• Retooling university faculty and higher education regulators in Uganda and Ghana on competence based education
• Developing guidelines for the design, implementation, and assessment of competence based education
• Strengthening collaboration between universities , and the assessment of competence based education
• Improving the capacity of regulatory bodies and higher education institutions to assure the quality of CBE programmes

TRUCE project holds Inception meeting

Bringing onboard over 30 participants, with a minimum of three (3) representatives from each of the nine (9) participating institutions, a TRUCE inception meeting was held on the  8^th and 9^th of April 2026. It featured remarks from selected partners and regulators, a session aimed at reaching a common understanding of the project scope and start-up priorities, alignment of partner expectations, presentations on financial management, quality assurance principles and indicators, discussion of the five (5) work packages, work plan and budget alignment per work package, consideration of the risk register, decision log, key dates for project activities and stakeholder engagements, as well as, adoption of meeting resolutions.

The work packages, which form the core of the TRUCE project are outlined below:

1. Project Management, Coordination and Oversight
2. Development and piloting of guidelines for CBE design, implementation, and assessment
3. Development of Collaborative Learning ecosystem for CBEs in Higher Education Institutions
4. Capacity building for regulators, faculty, managers in CBE design, implementation, and assessment
5. Dissemination, Communication and Impact

Purpose of the TRUCE Inception meeting

Dr. Josephine Esaete, an Associate Professor at Makerere University, and Principal Investigator of the project, welcomed the national and international participants to the TRUCE inception meeting.

“Your presence and participation, is testimony to your commitment to the TRUCE project focused on significantly contributing to the transformation of the education sector. TRUCE is grounded in learner-centered pedagogies, which position the learner as the key driver of his or her education or learning process,” said Associate Professor Josephine Esaete.

Emphasizing the importance of the two-day engagement, Associate Professor Esaete said: “This kick-off meeting is aimed at aligning all partners on the project logic, working methods, responsibilities, and implementation expectations for TRUCE.”  She articulated that the meeting would provide a formal platform for adopting the consortium’s start-up decisions so that the project moves from inception into coordinated implementation.

“To ensure implementable decisions, the inception meeting programme, combines short plenary inputs, structured technical sessions, regulator-university dialogue, work package planning sessions, and a final decision session,” she explained.

Role of the Colleges or Schools of Education in CBE implementation

Responding to key issues from a brief, but interactive plenary session, Associate Professor Josephine Esaete flanked by Dr. Alfred Buluma, Dr. Michael Walimbwa, Dr. Julius Shopi Mbulankende, from the College of Education and External Studies, at Makerere University, highlighted that the ultimate goal of the TRUCE project envisions impacting the entire university, as well as, the education system in general.

In pursuit of this goal, the team explained that in addition to the Project Management Team (PMT), at the strategic level, TRUCE is structured with a Project Advisory Board (PAB), which consists of Vice Chancellors, Principals, or Chief Executive Officers of the participating consortium partners.

At the implementation level, the Colleges or Schools of Education, play a fundamental role in determining the formulation of teaching, learning and digital pedagogies, curriculum development, and early childhood education.

“The starting point in changing education in a given country should be the teacher. We are intentional on rolling out programmes to strengthen the capacities and competences within the Schools of Education in Universities because those Units have the mandate to influence the entire education system,” explained Dr. Alfred Buluma, Co-Principal Investigator, TRUCE project.

TRUCE positions Makerere for more collaboration opportunities

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe represented by Professor Anthony Muwagga Mugagga congratulated the TRUCE universities and partners for winning the research grant, which seeks to re-model the education system, transform Africa and the world at large.

 The Vice Chancellor observed that competence based education provides the best approach of producing critical thinkers and innovative learners with problem solving abilities.

Building on the spin offs of the TRUCE project including the number of participating universities and reputable partners, the Vice Chancellor extended an olive branch for more collaborations. “Makerere University welcomes collaborations through the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in areas of mutual interest, joint research and publications, student and staff exchanges, visiting professors, and external examinations,” he said. 

Emphasizing transparency and accountability for funds, the Vice Chancellor appealed to the participating institutions and partners to strictly adhere to the guidelines and templates provided by the funding partner-the European Union.

TRUCE enhances CEES’ competency-based education profile

The Principal of the College of Education and External Studies, Prof. Mugagga stated that the TRUCE project was a timely intervention. “In Uganda, the shift to competency-based education is challenging. Makerere University and the College of Education and External Studies are implementing several strategies including re-tooling teachers to adapt to CBE. Therefore, the TRUCE project with its objectives, is a welcome intervention, as we advance to CBE,” he stated.

In the same vein, Professor Mugagga commended the TRUCE project for bringing onboard the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), a reputable partner with expertise in managing international projects.

RUFORUM commits to aligning programmes with Competency-based education

Building on related initiatives such as AgriCBE, the TRUCE project aims to contribute to more relevant, market-responsive graduates and stronger university-regulator-industry linkages. Prof. Anthony Egeru, Programme Manager, Training and Community Development at the RUFORUM Secretariat, informed the participants that the TRUCE project commences on a solid foundation.

 “RUFORUM has been actively involved in initiatives at the national and international levels of aligning agriculture programmes to competency-based education. RUFORUM has implemented several research and international projects in partnership with Makerere University, which provides a firm ground for the successful execution of the TRUCE project. RUFORUM works closely with the different colleges at Makerere University to execute research, innovations and community development programmes,” said Professor Egeru.

With respect to aligning academic programmes with the competency-based education model, Professor Egeru mentioned that over the years, RUFORUM has implemented several research and project activities with the Makerere University College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES).

Professor Egeru said the TRUCE project presents yet another opportunity to RUFORUM and Makerere University through the College of Education and External Studies (CEES) to enhance the quality of education through building a critical mass of teachers, trainer of trainers, learners and experts in competency-based education.

On the issue of successful coordination and execution of the project activities, the RUFORUM Secretariat called upon the participating institutions and each member involved in the project, to read and understand the agreements, proposal, guidelines, travel arrangements, and to initiative procurement early so that the activities are implemented within the stipulated timelines.

TRUCE supporting other universities

During the inception meeting, participants and stakeholders appreciated the approach consisting of  training and capacity building programmes lined up to create a pool of competency-based education (CBE) facilitators. “The TRUCE project will support other universities in the region by creating a critical mass of experts who understand competency-based education,” said Dr. Michael Walimbwa, a member of the TRUCE implementation team.

NCHE urges universities to train staff in Competency-based education

The National Council for Higher Education in Uganda (NCHE) is a key partner in the TRUCE project. The Executive Director of NCHE, Professor Mary J. N.  Okwakol represented by Mr. David Musiimaani, Head of Standards, Recognition and Equating of Qualifications, congratulated the participating institutions on the TRUCE project and its intended objectives.

At the TRUCE inception meeting, Mr. Musiimaani highlighted that NCHE has taken the necessary steps to ensure that the alignment with CBE is done. He reported that NCHE had developed the minimum standard guidelines of competence based education. He implored the University Management in the respective institutions to train staff in order to execute the Competence Based Education (CBE) model.

GTEC-Ghana commends the TRUCE project

Sharing his experience, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, the Director-General, Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), said: “In Ghana, we are working towards technical education, but it is difficult.”

Drawing from his experience and lessons learned, Professor Jinapor Abdulai, informed participants that Competency-based education (CBE) requires commitment in terms of strategy, time, and investment in staff.

The Director General welcomed the TRUCE project as a timely intervention, which seeks to empower universities and regulators with Competency-based education (CBE) knowledge through re-tooling of staff, and on-boarding of partners through consultations, involvement and capacity building.

Consensus

The inception meeting concluded on a high note, with participants, regulators and stakeholders re-affirming their commitment to adapt to the competency-based education model through innovative teaching and learning pedagogies, undertaking research projects, participating in community development, training and re-tooling, bench-marking best practices, as well as, scaling up partnerships at the national and international levels.

Makerere University Truce Project Implementation Team

At the end of the inception meeting, the following participants were introduced as members of the TRUCE Implementation team at Makerere University: Associate Professor Josephine Esaete, Dr. Alfred Buluma, Dr. Michael Walimbwa, Dr. Julius Shopi Mbulankende. Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga and Ms. Teddie Nassali (Project Management and Oversight) as well as Ms. Ritah Namisango (on the Communication, Dissemination and Impact Work Package).

Students and Staff from the Department of Adult and Community Education under the College of Education and External Studies at Makerere University, on 15^th April 2026, participated in the Second Professor Peter Jarvis Memorial Lecture, held at Gulu University in a hybrid format, bringing together scholars, practitioners, and students from across the region.

Held under the theme “The Individual, The Collective and The Learning Society,” the lecture created a dynamic platform for reflecting on Prof. Jarvis’s enduring contribution to adult and lifelong learning, particularly within the African context.

A highlight of the event was the powerful tribute by Makerere University students, who presented selected quotations from Prof. Jarvis’s work, demonstrating both intellectual depth and practical understanding of adult learning principles. Among the reflections shared was Jarvis’s assertion that:

“Education is a social provision of learning opportunities, not just the idealistic kind but one driven by the desire to make the world better.”

Democracy, lifelong learning and learning society: “I remain convinced that learning is intrinsic to human living and that we will never completely understand the process until we understand life itself, our approach to learning has, therefore, to be inclusive”

Towards a comprehensive theory of human learning: “Society needs free people if it is to change or develop in any manner—people who will keep on learning and acting independently but doing so for the good of the whole group.”

Students also engaged the audience with his insight that:

“All learning begins with experience, but not all experience results in learning,”
emphasizing the importance of critical reflection in transforming experience into meaningful learning.

The Department was actively represented in the academic programme through scholarly contributions. Dr. Dianah Nampijja, Graduate Coordinator, facilitated a dialogical session on:
“Continuous Professional Development, Community Learning and Lifelong Learning in Practice: The Individual and Development Partners.”

In another session, Dr. Hannington Bananuka Twine (Emeritus, Department of Adult and Community Education) contributed to a dialogical engagement on:

“African Socialism and Adult Education as Transformation in Tanzania: Navigating Neoliberalism and Sustaining Communal Ownership,” in collaboration with Ms. Leonia Kassamia from the Institute of Adult Education, Tanzania.

These sessions enriched the discourse by linking Jarvis’s theoretical contributions to contemporary issues in adult education, including community development, professional learning, and the sustainability of collective approaches in changing socio-economic contexts.

The Acting Head of Department, Dr. Joseph Watuleke, provided overall leadership to the Makerere delegation physically present at Gulu University, coordinating participation and engagement throughout the event.

The Memorial Lecture, organized under the PAR & Lifelong Learning Series, seeks to stimulate intellectual activism by exploring Jarvis’s concepts of agency and the learning market within the context of Eastern Africa’s adult education and policy environment.

Participation in this lecture underscores Makerere University’s continued commitment to advancing adult and lifelong learning, while nurturing students and staff as reflective practitioners and contributors to knowledge and practice in the field.