The Vice Chancellor-Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (2nd R), Stanbic Bank CEO-Ms. Anne Juuko (R), Ag. DVCFA, Dr. Josephine Nabukenya (3rd R) and other members of Central Management listen to DVCAA-Dr. Umar Kakumba (4th L) during the meeting on 12th April 2021, CTF1, Makerere University.
As Makerere University gears up for celebrations to mark 100 years of existence in the second half of 2022, a team from Stanbic Bank Uganda (SBU) led by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ms. Anne Juuko on Monday 12th April, 2021 held discussions with a special session of Central Management on how to deepen collaboration. Chaired by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the session specifically provided a platform for Stanbic to showcase the non-banking services that Makerere can take advantage of in the quest to become a research-led university.
The special session was prompted by a prior engagements between the Acting (Ag.) Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration)-DVCFA, Dr. Josephine Nabukenya and Ms. Juuko, wherein the latter expressed SBU’s interest in partnering with Makerere to deliver her ten year strategic objectives. The Vision for the ten year (2020-2030) strategic plan is “a thought leader of knowledge generation for societal transformation and development”.
“Makerere University’s first strategic goal to translate into a research-led university requires a lot of thinking through on how the different services can be rehabilitated into frameworks that support our vision” remarked Dr. Nabukenya.
The Ag. DVCFA was speaking in reference to the research and innovations ecosystem that needs to be created to ensure that Makerere’s research will over the next 10 years have demonstrable economic, environmental, health and social impacts.
The Vice Chancellor thanked the Ag. DVCFA for initiating the discussions with SBU, noting that this was timely and would help take advantage of the huge potential that the University has to offer. “Thanks to funding from the Government of Uganda through the Makerere UniversityResearch and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) we now have hundreds of innovations produced by the various research teams.”
“Our biggest problem at present is the lack of funds to commercialise these innovations. Uganda has no venture capitalists but I believe that with the resources that you (SBU) have, we can work together to help support these innovators” remarked Prof. Nawangwe.
Prior to making her presentation the CEO thanked Makerere University for the supporting SBU’s business thus far, as well as the ensuring that the two partners enjoy a quality relationship with each successive Management team. “We take extra pride when it comes to working with Makerere University,” she added.
Ms. Juuko said the reorganisation of SBU in 2018 to include a holding company (Stanbic Holdings Uganda Limited-SHUL) had enabled the entity to enhance the value of products and services offered to its customers. In addition to SBU, other SHUL subsidiaries; Stanbic Properties Uganda Limited, Stanbic Business Incubator Limited, FlyHub and SBG Securities. These, she noted, enable Stanbic to offer a broader range of services to staff and students beyond banking.
Reflecting on the signing of the Final Investment Decision (FID) on 11th April 2021, the CEO shared that SBU in line with its support for responsible investment through assessing and managing environmental, social and governance risks would take keen interest in oil production. “One of the hottest topics is that oil mining is going to take place in one of the most ecologically sensitive zones. How can we partner with Makerere to ensure that this is conducted in a sustainable way?” she pondered.
The CEO also brought to the attention of Central Management that SBU had in 2020 partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to launch the Youth4Business Innovation and Entrepreneurial Facility as an answer to youth unemployment. As a way forward, she added that Makerere would be brought on board to form a three-way conversation on how best to achieve the facility’s objectives, especially following disruptions to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) operations caused by COVID-19.
Other topics covered by the SBU presentation included; supporting the Makerere University Staff SACCO to grow their funds, Financial Fitness sessions for staff on how best to invest and grow their earnings, and a laptop loan scheme for staff and students where payments can be made over a period of two to three years. Also shared was how SBU is using data to reduce loan approval for customers to 120seconds as well as introducing alternative systems for making payments and receiving collections such as point of sale devices and virtual wallets tagged to customer phone numbers.
In some of the reactions that followed, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs)-DVCAA Dr. Umar Kakumba thanked SBU for reaching out to Makerere and advocated for increased internship placements for students in the SHUL subsidiaries. He also called for collaboration at the training level.
“The staff at the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) have in the past conducted financial literacy training for various organisations and are ready to partner with Stanbic as they reach out to various communities in their educational programmes,” added Dr. Kakumba.
Delivering the concluding remarks, the Vice Chancellor thanked the Ag. DVCFA for initiating discussions with SBU as well as the CEO and her team for sparing time to meet with Central Management. “Together, Makerere as the premier and largest University and Stanbic as the largest bank operating in Uganda can do a lot to transform this country.”
The parties agreed to formalise the collaboration by signing Memorandum of Understanding at a later date.
The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released lists of Diploma holders admitted under the Government Sponsorship Scheme for the Academic Year 2025/2026.
Under the Diploma Holders Government Sponsorship Scheme admission does not exceed 5% of the intake capacity to the respective Degree Programme.
The list can be accessed by following the link below:
Are you a researcher or student working in protein-related research, structural biology, or bioinformatics?
The African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data Intensive Sciences (ACE) Uganda with support from Google DeepMind, invites researchers and students seeking to integrate AlphaFold into their work to apply for the AlphaFold Workshop to be held at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University-Kampala, Uganda from 16th to 20th June 2025.
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.
Emmanuel Akandwanaho, BSLE’22 Alumnus.
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.”