Prof. Juma Kasozi has formally handed over the office of Deputy Principal, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Makerere University, to Prof. Godwin Kakuba.

The handover ceremony, held on Friday, 11^th September 2026, followed the appointment of Prof. Kakuba as substantive Deputy Principal of CoNAS for a four-year term, effective September 2026. His appointment was approved at the 814^th meeting of the Makerere University Appointments Board held on 3^rd September 2026.

Prof. Kasozi, who served as Deputy Principal from 1^st April 2022, handed over the office after more than four years of service. Both Prof. Kasozi and Prof. Kakuba are members of staff in the Department of Mathematics, School of Physical Sciences, CoNAS, and have previously served as Heads of the Department.

Principal Commends Prof. Kasozi’s Service

In his remarks, the Principal of CoNAS, Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, commended Prof. Kasozi for his dedicated service and invaluable contribution to the advancement of academic affairs at the College.

He particularly recognized Prof. Kasozi’s role in strengthening academic processes and facilitating the effective coordination of teaching, learning and graduate education at CoNAS.

Prof. Ireeta also commended Prof. Kasozi for his humility, commitment and willingness to offer wise counsel, describing him as a dependable adviser whose contribution extended beyond the routine responsibilities of his office.

“Prof. Kasozi has been a humble, committed and invaluable adviser to the College. His contribution to the development and review of the CoNAS Strategic Plan, in particular, demonstrated his commitment to the long-term growth and transformation of the College,” Prof. Ireeta said.

In recognition of his service, the Principal presented Prof. Kasozi with a Distinguished Service Award,acknowledging his dedicated service and exemplary leadership as Deputy Principal of CoNAS.

Prof. Ireeta congratulated Prof. Kakuba upon his appointment and expressed confidence in his ability to build on the achievements of the College and contribute to its continued growth and transformation. He wished Prof. Kakuba a successful and impactful tenure, noting that his experience, expertise and commitment to academic excellence would be valuable in advancing the College’s mandate in teaching, learning, research and innovation.

Deans Applaud Prof. Kasozi’s Contribution

The ceremony was witnessed by the Dean, School of Biosciences, Prof. Arthur Tugume, and the Dean, School of Physical Sciences, Prof. David Ssevviiri, who equally commended Prof. Kasozi for his dedicated service and significant contribution to the College.

They particularly appreciated his efforts towards streamlining academic processes, including the timely appointment and payment of graduate supervisors, which contributed to strengthening graduate supervision.

Prof. Kasozi’s Contribution to Strengthening Academic Administration at CoNAS

The Office of the Deputy Principal plays a pivotal role in the academic administration of the College and in advancing the University’s core functions of teaching and learning, research and outreach.

During his tenure, Prof. Kasozi provided leadership across a wide range of academic responsibilities. These included chairing the College Academic Board, coordinating academic programmes, overseeing programme accreditation and review, managing examinations and results, and strengthening graduate education.

He also oversaw the appointment of supervisors and examiners for graduate students, coordinated field attachments and internships, administered supplementary examinations, promoted CoNAS academic programmes, and facilitated timely communication of key academic information to staff and students.

Prof. Kasozi further played a significant role in aligning CoNAS academic programmes with the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) framework, a major institutional transition aimed at enhancing the relevance, quality and responsiveness of university education.

Key achievements during his tenure included the accreditation of several undergraduate and graduate programmes by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE); strengthened student support systems; increased student enrolment and growing demand for postgraduate education; more efficient academic proposal and examination processes; and improved graduate student completion rates and examination outcomes.

Appreciation from Prof. Kasozi

In his handover message, Prof. Kasozi congratulated Prof. Kakuba upon his appointment and welcomed him to the office, expressing confidence that he would build on the work already undertaken.

He thanked the University Management, led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, for entrusting him with the opportunity to serve in the position. He also the appreciated the Principal, the Deans, Heads of Departments, administrators and the wider CoNAS community for their cooperation and support throughout his tenure.

Reflecting on his time in office, Prof. Kasozi described his service as a privilege and honour, noting that the handover marked the conclusion of his tenure as Deputy Principal rather than his departure from Makerere University.

“I leave the door open for continued friendship and service,” Prof. Kasozi said, as he expressed his best wishes to Prof. Kakuba and prayed for the continued growth and success of the Deputy Principal’s office.

Following the handover, Prof. Kasozi is set to return to the Department of Mathematics, where he will continue teaching, research and outreach activities, with a particular focus on Insurance Mathematics and Financial Mathematics.

Remarks by Prof. Kakuba

For Prof. Kakuba, the transition brings a new responsibility within a College where he has already served in academic and administrative capacities. His experience in the Department of Mathematics and previous service as Head of Department provide a strong foundation as he takes on the leadership of the Deputy Principal’s office.

 In his remarks, Prof. Kakuba acknowledged and commended Prof. Kasozi for his dedicated service and the achievements registered during his tenure. He appreciated the University Management for entrusting him with the responsibility and pledged to build on the foundation laid by his predecessor.

Prof. Kakuba noted that he was taking over the office with confidence, having inherited a strong foundation established by Prof. Kasozi.  

Her expressed commitment to working collaboratively with the Principal, College leadership, staff and students to sustain the progress made.  

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Pictorial of the ceremony: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XOZU67Rll-P_CaEzRScIVULIqvyBT34z?usp=sharing

View on CoNAS

Students and researchers from Makerere University and other institutions pitched 12 innovations addressing challenges in healthcare, clean energy, agriculture, waste management and community resilience during the inaugural Falling Walls Lab Kampala, held at the School of Public Health Auditorium, Makerere University.

The competition brought together emerging innovators to present solutions to practical challenges through a three minute pitch, followed by questions from a panel of judges.

Modelled on the Falling Walls format that originated in Berlin, the event required each participant to identify a “wall” a problem or barrier, and demonstrate how their innovation seeks to break it down.

Mudhasi wins with newborn jaundice screening device

Andrew Mudhasi of Makerere University emerged as the overall winner with a score of 90 per cent for a low cost medical device designed to improve newborn jaundice screening across different skin tones.

Mudhasi explained that the device uses optical sensor technology and a skin tone targeting algorithm to provide a rapid reading, with the aim of helping nurses and clinicians identify jaundice more efficiently.

During questions from the jury, Mudhasi said the device had not yet been tested on actual babies but had undergone laboratory testing using simulated skin tones.

He reported an accuracy rate of 94 per cent when the device was compared with laboratory spectrophotometers.

The innovation is intended initially for use in clinics and hospitals, with Mudhasi saying the team is also considering a version that could eventually allow mothers to screen babies at home.

Mudhasi’s innovation has previously received recognition at the African Business Concept Challenge and the iF Design Student Award, according to his presentation.

Rhonda’s innovation tackles diaper waste

Rhoda John of the University of Nairobi emerged in second place with 89.6 per cent for an innovation addressing the problem of used diaper waste.

Under the theme “Breaking the wall of diaper waste and drug soils,” Rhonda explained that her team extracts sodium polyacrylate, the absorbent polymer found in diapers, and replaces the sodium with potassium.

The resulting potassium based superabsorbent material is designed to act as a “water battery” in soil by absorbing and retaining water for plants during dry periods.

John said testing showed a 99 per cent increase in germination and a 23 per cent increase in drought resistance.

The innovation also seeks to reduce the amount of used diapers ending up in landfills and the environmental effects associated with their decomposition.

During the question and answer session, John explained that her team was working with government environmental officials in Nairobi on a pilot collection system to address the challenge of gathering used diapers at scale.

Mahera takes third place with herbal peptic ulcer treatment

Stuart Mahera of Makerere University finished third with 86.2 per cent for a herbal formulation targeting peptic ulcers.

Presenting under the theme “Breaking the wall of Nature and Modern Medicine,” Mahera argued that conventional treatment for peptic ulcers can involve multiple medicines and may be associated with side effects and antimicrobial resistance.

His proposed formulation, MARAC capsules, is intended as a monotherapy, combining properties required for peptic-ulcer treatment in a single capsule.

Mahera said his team had carried out quality control work, including characterisation and dose quantification, and had conducted preclinical trials on laboratory mice.

He also told the jury that an application had been submitted to the National Drug Authority as the team awaits the next stage of the regulatory process.

According to Mahera, the proposed seven day treatment would cost about Shs21,000, compared with the existing 14 day treatment approach.

Innovators present solutions to practical challenges

The remaining presentations covered a wide range of challenges.

Esther Nakungu of Utamu University presented Agri-Track, a digital record keeping solution intended to improve visibility, accountability and management of farm operations and financial information.

Dr. Jimmy Chachiga, a Makerere University participant, presented a solar photovoltaic cooker with a heat storage system designed to provide a cleaner and more reliable cooking option during both sunny and non sunny periods.

His presentation focused on reducing dependence on biomass fuels and addressing the challenges associated with intermittent solar energy.

Abdul Noor Luttamaguzi, a PhD student and senior government fisheries officer, presented a mobile application aimed at helping fish farmers and extension officers report, track and manage disease outbreaks.

Henry Duke Tamale presented a herbal cream targeting antibiotic resistant biofilm infections associated with diabetic foot ulcers.

Marvin Seruwu proposed adapting existing near infrared brain monitoring technology to help detect extra-axial brain bleeds in health facilities where access to CT and MRI equipment is limited.

His proposal seeks to repurpose existing technology towards a diagnostic need that could be particularly important in settings where advanced imaging facilities are not readily available.

Kennedy Kisame presented a poultry alert and diagnosis system combining satellite weather information with computer vision disease detection. The proposed system could be accessed through a smartphone application, SMS or USSD, making it potentially usable by farmers with limited internet access.

Frank Atwiine proposed a solar powered mobile diagnostic van designed to bring ultrasound and other diagnostic services closer to rural communities.

Johnson Makmot, a software and blockchain developer, presented a platform that combines GPS tracking and blockchain-based tokens to incentivise and verify plastic-waste collection in Kampala.

Dr. Nelson Ndugu, from a partner university, presented an artificial intelligence tool designed to translate agricultural research publications into local Ugandan languages and generate voice notes for radio-based extension delivery.

The final presentation came from Dr. Juliet Akola, a Ugandan post doctoral researcher at Mangosuthu University of Technology in South Africa.

Akola presented a community digital resilience initiative focused on mapping risks in Kampala’s informal settlements, including flooding, fire, poor sanitation, waste management and inadequate infrastructure.

Her proposal seeks to combine local community knowledge with geographical information systems and link identified risks to action plans involving municipalities and other stakeholders.

Nawangwe calls for more investment in innovation

Closing the event, Prof. Nawangwe congratulated all the participants and described their presentations as an important beginning for Makerere University, Uganda and the wider region.

Drawing on his experience attending the Falling Walls conference in Berlin, the Vice Chancellor said initiatives of this nature are important because innovation will play a major role in determining the future of countries.

He encouraged participants to make their pitches more precise by clearly identifying the problem they are addressing, explaining their proposed solution and demonstrating what they have already achieved.

Prof. Nawangwe also welcomed the participation of innovators from other universities and countries, noting that the Kampala event had attracted participants beyond Makerere.

He thanked the Africa Office of the Falling Walls Foundation for its role in bringing the initiative to Makerere and encouraged continued support for innovation.

The Vice Chancellor further linked innovation to Uganda’s growing youth population and the need to develop home-grown solutions to address challenges such as youth unemployment.

The inaugural Falling Walls Lab Kampala ultimately provided a platform for innovators to move ideas beyond the classroom and laboratory and demonstrate how research, technology and creativity can be applied to challenges affecting communities.

Position	Winner	Institution	Score
1st	Andrew Mudhasi	Makerere University	90%
2nd	Rhoda John	University of Nairobi	89.6%
3rd	Stuart Mahera	Makerere University	86.2%

Uganda’s mineral sector holds significant potential to drive economic transformation through increased mineral exploration, responsible extraction, value addition and investment. Realizing this potential, however, requires a highly skilled geoscience workforce equipped with the technical knowledge, practical competencies and professional skills needed to meet the evolving demands of the mineral industry.

Recognizing the critical role of skilled human resources in the sustainable development of the mineral sector, Makerere University is undertaking a comprehensive review of its geology programmes under the project titled “Strengthening Uganda’s Mineral Sector through Labour-Market Aligned Curricula Reforms: A Comprehensive Review of BSc/MSc/PhD Geology Curricula and Development of Industry-Aligned Short Courses at Makerere University (Mak-SDMU).”

The review seeks to ensure that Makerere University’s geology programmes remain responsive to the evolving needs of Uganda’s mineral sector while keeping pace with emerging trends and developments in the global geoscience profession. The exercise is being undertaken under the Sustainable Development of the Mineral Sector in Uganda (SDMU) programme, funded by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the European Union through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), in partnership with Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD).

Benchmarking for Industry-Responsive Geoscience Education

As part of the curriculum review process, staff from Makerere University’s Department of Geology and Petroleum Studies, together with a representative from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD), undertook a benchmarking exercise at leading geoscience and mining education institutions in the region. The team visited Copperbelt University (CBU) in Kitwe, Zambia, and the Zimbabwe School of Mines (ZSM) in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, to gain insights into approaches that could strengthen the relevance and quality of Makerere University’s geology programmes.

Makerere University was represented by Dr. Arthur Batte, Dr. Denis Mutebi, Principal Investigator of the Mak-SDMU project, and Dr. Joan Nakajjigo, while Mr. Kevin Byamugisha represented MEMD. Mr Byamugisha’s participation provided an opportunity to explore the role of government in strengthening geoscience and mining education through policy support, industry engagement, strategic partnerships and resource mobilisation.

The benchmarking exercise provided an opportunity for the team to examine best practices in curriculum design and delivery, competency-based and practical training, industry engagement, infrastructure development, technology integration and professional skills development. The team also explored the role of professional short courses and institutional partnerships in supporting high-quality geoscience and mining education.

At Copperbelt University, the team toured microscopy, metallurgy, analytical and environmental laboratories, as well as the mineral processing laboratory. The team also interacted with Dr. Gabriel Ziwa, Head of the Department of Geology and representative of the Dean of the School of Mines and Mineral Sciences, to gain insights into the university’s approach to geoscience and mining training.

At the Zimbabwe School of Mines, the team visited mineral processing, metallurgy, gemology and analytical laboratories. They also observed practical training in gemstone cutting and polishing and examined rock pulverisation facilities. These engagements provided valuable insights into how practical training, mineral value addition and industry-oriented skills can be integrated into geoscience education.

The lessons and best practices drawn from the benchmarking exercise are expected to inform the ongoing review of the geology programmes, helping to strengthen their quality, relevance and competitiveness. The exercise will also contribute to ensuring that graduates acquire the technical, practical and professional competencies required to respond effectively to the evolving needs of Uganda’s mineral sector and the wider geoscience profession.

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Lessons to Inform Makerere University’s Curriculum Review

The benchmarking exercise provided several lessons with direct relevance to the ongoing review of the geology programmes.

1. Strengthening Government-Industry-University Partnerships

The benchmarking exercise highlighted the importance of strong collaboration among universities, government and industry in developing relevant geoscience and mining programmes. Such partnerships support curriculum development, research, industrial training, equipment acquisition, scholarships, guest lectures and graduate employability. Continuous engagement with industry also enables universities to respond to changing labour-market and sector needs.

2. Aligning Training with the Mineral Value Chain

The visits demonstrated the need for geoscience training to extend beyond theoretical knowledge to cover the entire mineral value chain, including exploration, extraction, processing, value addition and environmental management. Areas such as gemstone identification, lapidary and mineral processing can equip graduates with practical skills relevant to both employment and entrepreneurship.

3. Emphasizing Competency-Based and Practical Training

The benchmarked institutions place strong emphasis on practical learning, fieldwork and laboratory-based training. Practical activities are linked to clearly defined learning outcomes and competencies, enabling students to graduate with demonstrable technical skills alongside theoretical knowledge. This provides an important lesson for strengthening practical and competency-based approaches within Makerere’s revised curricula.

4. Strengthening Industrial Training and Workplace Exposure

Structured and extended industrial exposure was identified as an important component of geoscience and mining education. Industrial training enables students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world operations, develop professional competencies, strengthen research skills and gain a better understanding of workplace expectations. These practices provide useful insights for enhancing Makerere’s existing industrial attachment programmes.

5. Investing in Modern Training Infrastructure

The benchmarking visits demonstrated the importance of well-equipped laboratories, field equipment and specialized analytical facilities in delivering effective geoscience and mining education. The facilities visited at CBU and ZSM provide useful benchmarks for assessing Makerere’s infrastructure requirements and identifying opportunities for industry partnerships in equipment acquisition, maintenance and shared utilization.

6. Integrating Digital Technologies and Industry-Standard Software

The exercise highlighted the growing role of digital technologies in contemporary geoscience and mining practice. Technologies such as Laboratory Information Management Systems, 3D geological modelling, mine-planning software and drone-based surveying and mapping can strengthen students’ preparedness for the modern workplace. Their progressive integration into the curriculum will therefore be important in enhancing graduates’ digital and technical competencies.

7. Expanding Professional Short Courses and Micro-Credentials

The institutions visited demonstrated how professional short courses can respond quickly to emerging skills gaps within the mining and mineral sector. Makerere could leverage this approach to develop flexible, demand-driven training for mining companies, artisanal and small-scale miners, professionals and other stakeholders. Such programmes could also strengthen industry engagement, support continuing professional development and create additional revenue opportunities for the University.

8. Strengthening Staff Capacity and Specialization

Effective implementation of a modern geology curriculum requires adequate academic expertise across key areas of geoscience and mining. The benchmarking findings therefore underscore the need for strategic staff development, recruitment and specialization. An assessment of existing staff competencies against the proposed curriculum will help identify expertise gaps and inform targeted capacity-building initiatives.

9. Aligning Academic Training with Professional Competencies

The benchmarking exercise emphasized the importance of ensuring that university training reflects the competencies expected by employers and professional bodies. The curriculum review should therefore take into account professional standards, industry requirements and pathways towards professional recognition to improve graduates’ preparedness for employment and professional practice.

10. Promoting Interdisciplinary Geoscience and Mining Education

The integration of related disciplines within closely connected academic structures creates opportunities for interdisciplinary teaching, research and innovation. Strengthening linkages among geology, mining engineering, metallurgy, environmental sciences, geomatics and mineral processing could promote the shared use of specialised facilities, foster multidisciplinary research and support the development of joint professional training programmes at Makerere University. This integrated approach would enhance collaboration across disciplines and contribute to more holistic and industry-responsive geoscience and mining education.

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More about the curriculum review exercise: https://news.mak.ac.ug/2026/06/makerere-university-to-revamp-geology-curricula-to-bridge-critical-skills-gap-in-ugandas-mineral-sector/

Report shared by Dr Denis Mutebi, Principal Investigator of the Mak-SDMU project

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