The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe has today September 8, 2021 hosted members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) on a fact finding mission about the two World Bank-funded African Centers of Excellence hosted by Makerere University. The EALA General Purpose Committee, led by Hon. Dennis Namara, was interested in understanding what the research centers do, their achievements thus far and the opportunities therein.

The legislators commended the two centres, Makerere University Regional Center for Crop Improvement (MaRCCI) and the African Centre of Excellence for Material Science and Nano Technology (MAPRONANO) for the enormous research, innovation and contribution to food production and development of the country.

The Vice Chancellor welcomed the delegation and shared with them a brief about Makerere University, the research undertaken, the facilities available such as the Main Library, Sports facilities, and the Research Facilities such as Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK), Buyana Stock Farm as well as the laboratories in the different colleges.

The center leaders Prof. John Baptist Kirabira (MAPRONANO) and Prof. Richard Edema (MaRCCI) also shared with the legislators what their respective centers do and the achievements over the last 4 years of the project. The delegates praised Makerere for the crop improvement saying that the improved seeds (cow peas and sorghum) need to be shared with the entire region so that all countries benefit.

They called for commercialization and patenting of products such as the diesel engine that was made by researchers under MAPRONANO in collaboration with KEVOTON Motions Engineering Limited. They also commended the research and innovations in the area of COVID-19 such as the antimicrobial mask, research in a COVID-19 vaccine, classical mechanics treatment for HIV, solar powered sanitization booths and making of batteries among others.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, appealed to the East African legislators to increase funding to graduate research in universities as a means of contributing to growth in human resource as well as innovations.

The legislators proposed harmonization of the higher education system to ease teaching and learning. It was pointed out that because of the lack of harmonization, students are unable to transfer credits from one university to another in case they have to move from one country to another.

The Members of Parliament were amazed by the amount of research undertaken at the two Centres of Excellence and proposed the creation of a platform that promotes sharing of knowledge by the different universities in the region. 

The legislators emphasized the need to skill the youth so that they create jobs after graduation. The Vice Chancellor in his response assured the Members of Parliament that Makerere had embraced skilling through incubation centres at different colleges and inclusion of sociology as a course unit with the aim of graduating students who are able to create jobs.

Hon. Sergon Jematia Flowrence from Kenya called on the Makerere University Regional Center for Crop Improvement (MaRCCI) to work with other crop science agencies and universities in the region to ensure the farming communities access these seeds. She called for creation of a seed bank in each of the East African countries to ensure preservation of the improved crops and eradication of hunger in the region.

Hon. Odongo George Stephen from Uganda called for a change in the mindset, saying we need collaborations rather than working in silos. “Instead of collaborating with one another, we are looking at hiding our innovations, which leaves us disadvantaged,” he said. 

On harmonization of tuition fees, Prof. Nawangwe informed the delegates that Makerere was the first university to harmonize fees and charge East African students the same as nationals.

Citing the example of the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF), the Vice Chancellor called on the legislators to encourage their respective governments to fund research. He thanked the Government of Uganda for its continued role in supporting research. He informed the delegation that the Government allocates Shs30 billion shillings to Mak-RIF annually, which has led to a significant increase in innovations.

Hon. Kim Gai Ruot Duop from South Sudan challenged the university to pay particular interest to matters relating to water resources in East Africa, saying this is a matter that may cause us problems if not well managed. The Vice Chancellor in response emphasized that water is a priority in the great lakes region and the university’s Centre for Climate Change Research and Innovations (MUCCRI) is engaged in research, training, informing policy and conducting outreach activities in line with climate change.

The EALA delegates were accompanied by the Executive Secretary of the Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA), Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbora, who said there is need for a policy to help break barriers in the accreditation of institutions of learning.

In his closing remarks, the head of delegation, Hon. Namara emphasized that the EALA would recommend the harmonization of the education system at institutions of higher learning to ease teaching and learning.

Following the engagement with the Vice Chancellor, the EALA Legislators visited the MAPRONANO facility at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) for a guided tour of the Materials Lab and CNC Lab. The Legislators also had an opportunity to see and ask questions about the state of the art Vapour Pressure (VP) Sigma 300 High resolution Scanning Electron Microscope for nanomaterial’s characterization, acquired by MAPRONANO with funding from the Government of Uganda in July 2021.

The EALA General Purposes Committee delegation comprised; Hon. Namara Dennis (Chairperson)–Uganda, Hon. Uwumukiza Francoise–Rwanda, Hon. Sergon Jematiah Flowrence–Kenya, Hon. Deng Nhial Gai–South Sudan, Hon. Ali Ibrahim Fatuma–Kenya, Hon. Rutazana Francine–Rwanda, Hon. Ahingejeje Alfred–Burundi, Hon. Dr. Abdullah Hasnuu Makame–Tanzania, Hon. Yahya Maryam Ussi–Tanzania, Hon. Odongo George Stephen–Uganda, Hon. Maasay Pamela Simon–Tanzania, Hon. Musamali Paul Mwasa–Uganda, Hon. Kim Gai Ruot Duop–South Sudan, Hon. Ayason Mukulia Kennedy–South Sudan, Hon. Muhirwa Jean-Marie–Burundi, Hon. Bahati Alex–Rwanda and Hon. Nsavyimana Sophie–Burundi.

Betty Kyakuwa is the Principal Communication Officer, College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT)