General
Director EfD Global Network Assoc. Prof. Gunnar Kohlin Visits Mak
A delegation of Swedish environmental economists on 22nd November 2021, visited Makerere University to discuss collaborative academic and research initiatives in environment and sustainable development.
The delegation was led by the Director EfD Global Network Assoc. Prof. Gunnar Kohlin from the University of Gothenburg.
The team paid a courtesy call on the office of the Director of Graduate Research and Training, the Office of the Vice Chancellor, Office of the Principal College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS). The team also held a meeting with EfD-Mak research fellows during which the Director, EfD-Mak Centre Prof. Edward Bbaale addressed the guests and participants virtually from Ghana.
The Swedish team was in Uganda to attend the three-day IGE cross-country National Policy Review and Training Workshop in Speke Resort Munyonyo Hotel, from November 23-25, 2021.
The function is being organized by the EfD-Mak Centre, Uganda in collaboration with University of Gothenburg, as part of the activities of the Inclusive Green Economy (IGE) capacity building programme for senior civil servants and policy makers sponsored by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
The purpose of the National Policy Review (NPR) training is to strengthen cross-country peer learning by conducting an analytical review of their neighboring country’s NPR, and strengthen networks on Inclusive Green Economy in the region.
The visit by the Swedish team was also in preparation for the EfD Global Annual conference to be hosted by EfD-Mak-Centre at Makerere University next year 2022.
Prof.Gunnar met with the university top officials including the Director Graduate Research and Training Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Principal College of Business and Managemnet Sciences Assoc. Professor Eria Hisali before meeting the EfD-Mak research fellows.
Prof. Gunnar Kohlin who was making his maiden visit to Uganda and Makerere University since the inception of the centre in 2019, commended the EfD-Mak Centre for being active and progressive in implementing the activities across the country including policy dialogues, training researchers and civil servants.
Prof. Gunnar appreciated the collaborative efforts between the School of Agricultural Sciences in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the School of Economics in the College of Business and Management Sciences for nurturing the EfD-Mak-Centre and implementing a number of activities.
In different meetings with university officials Prof. Gunnar discussed ideas of how to move the EfD research agenda forward.
“The clock is ticking and we have just started a decade to move the global Agenda 2030 and to deal with the implementation of the Paris Agreement to address many challenges such biodiversity loss, climate change, deforestation among others”
Prof. Gunnar emphasised the need for the academia to join the global efforts to implement the conventions and commitments. Academia in the past choose to stand aside and not actively join the policy discussions but now, given the urgency of the global challenges academia needs to be brought on board and commit to the implementation of national and international agreements.”
Prof. Gunnar said this can be done through intensification of research, building academic programs and forming multidisciplinary research teams to conduct joint research to effectively solve the problems.
Other strategies discussed include the development of short term and full-blown academic training programmes tailored to the country’s need, integrating short and long term training programs in the university curriculum, having new standalone programs and expanding the needs assessment on what capacities are needed to deliver.
Prof. Gunnar and the university officials agreed on the need to institutionalize the EfD-Mak Centre beyond just being a project, bringing on board more international funding
Part of the institutionalization and sustainability efforts discussed included the move to engage government to take over the EfD initiative and streamlining it in the budgeting process, integrating the center activities within the university curriculum and research.
The other idea is integrating the center activities in the college and unit levels for instance formulating policy labs, and developing a student internship model and to equip students to be able to them conduct outreach and advocacy activities on environment in communities.
It was also suggested that besides international funding, there is need for university commitment to create and integrate the EfD initiatives into the university financial system so that the center is part and parcel of the university.
Researchers were also called upon to leverage institutional support from EfD secretariat to bring in more international funding to the university. Key priority areas of focus in the Swedish collaboration with Uganda according to Prof. Gunnar are Human Rights, democracy and rule of law, gender equality, and environment. Climate change, inclusive economic development, quality health and reproductive rights.
Prof. Gunnar applauded Makerere University for ensuring interdisciplinary approach in implementing the activities of the center saying, this EfD is not a project to take away but to build institutions saying, the Global hub was focusing on building capacity and ready to support this.
Makerere University on 1st August 2025, the eve of the first year students’ arrival on Campus, held the 2nd Prayer Breakfast aimed at reiterating that staff service at the institution is a calling to pursue excellence and purpose under God.. Hosted in the St. Francis Chapel gardens, the meeting was presided over by Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta who represented both the Chairperson of Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara and the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe. The day’s message “Integrating Faith, Learning and Service” was delivered by Rev. Canon Dr. John Senyonyi, former Vice Chancellor of Uganda Christian University who also served as Makerere staff member between 1978 and 1987.
“This is a very good initiative” remarked Prof. Ireeta as he began his remarks, noting that the University’s enjoyment of a strike-free academic year 2024/2025 could perhaps be attributed to having commenced it with prayer. He expressed the Chairperson of Council’s and Vice Chancellor’s apologies, whom he noted would have loved to attend the 2nd Prayer Breakfast as they did the 1st but were unfortunately caught up in other meetings and official travel respectively.
“As we gather today, let us reflect on our shared purpose and values in this University and may this time of prayer and fellowship inspire us to make a positive impact in our work and community” Prof. Ireeta urged, noting that it was important to exercise compassion, wisdom and kindness as staff worked with the youth who are constantly bombarded with information from social media and other sources.
Prof. Ireeta therefore urged staff to always listen to diverse perspectives and work together to achieve the institution’s goals. He reiterated the University Management’s support to the Dean of Students, Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli and the Chaplains who report to her, “We shall continue supporting you in all you do”.
“We are weak but God is strong” remarked the Chaplain St. Francis, Rev. Dr. Lydia Nsaale Kitayimbwa as a rejoinder to Prof. Ireeta’s remarks. “This is a demonstration that truly we need the strength of God – we cannot start this academic year without the divine hand of God.”
She went on to say that when we do not pray, we boldly declare that we do not need God’s divine guidance, “but in coming here today, we are boldly proclaiming that we need divine guidance, so thank you all for coming.”
Introducing the day’s speaker, Rev. Canon Dr. Senyonyi, the Chaplain admitted that she did not know any speaker who was better placed to address the topic, given his vast experience as an academician, theologian and university administrator. She added that the speaker in his exemplary style had come along with his wife, Canon Dr. Ruth Senyonyi, a lay Canon of the Diocese of Kampala, under whose jurisdiction St. Francis Chapel falls.
Commencing his address, Rev. Canon Dr. Senyonyi shared that he had an issue with the framing of the day’s topic, particularly the word “integrating” for it made it seem as if God, the author of faith and creator of heaven and earth was separate from the quest to “learn” about the very things he created and “service”, the act of people providing stewardship over the God-given talents, abilities and His creation. Referring to the theme scripture, Ephesians 4:10-12, he singled out three important conclusions to dwell on.
“And those are simply; 1) the sovereignty of the ascended Jesus Christ, 2) Jesus is the giver of every ability, talent, skill, gift, whatever you may call it, even your education, and 3) Jesus equips whosoever He calls for service to others” he remarked.
Rev. Canon. Dr. Senyonyi further broke the conclusions down by noting that 1) Jesus is placed above all things and as such is sovereign over everything as further illustrated by scriptures; Mathew 28:18 – all authority in heaven and on earth (including academia) has been given to Him, John 1:1-5 – all things were made through Him and without Him was not anything made that was made, and Colossians 1:15-19 – by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth and for Him (including education and work). “If Jesus is sovereign, then our work in the universe, our education enterprise is a mission and that mission must be submissive to the mission of our sovereign.”
Proceeding to no 2) Jesus is the giver of every ability, and citing his personal experience, Rev. Canon Dr. Senyonyi said, “I left the teaching with this University because God was calling me to be an evangelist but I cannot say God gave me the gift of evangelism, that’s a mistake; that’s not how the scripture reads.” He added that the problem facing most people today is the tendency to think that everything is about them, and not recognizing that Jesus is the giver of the very things they call their own.
Turning to scriptures, Exodus 36:1 and Exodus 28:3 he explained that the craftsmen that Moses relied on to build the tabernacle and furnishings for His Temple were only able to excel because they were equipped by God. “In other words, what they had was a talent that God Himself gave… when we focus elsewhere, we forget what God has given us to… and your training is intended to be a gift to others.”
Rev. Canon Dr. Senyonyi then concluded with no 3) Jesus equips whosoever He calls for service to others, emphasizing the latter bit, the need to use all we are and have for the benefit of others. “If students are reporting tomorrow what are we going to do?” he challenged. “Are we going to facilitate soft landing or are we going to facilitate anger in their hearts?” he further pondered.
“If all of us are giving, if all of us are taking our faith where it should be, if all of us are showing the way, if all of us are ambassadors of Christ where we are, then everybody receives” the day’s speaker encouraged. “So your work is to equip the students until they graduate” he summed up, adding that one of the greatest joys is encountering former students whose faces light up with excitement when they see you.
The 2nd Prayer Breakfast would have been incomplete without prayer sessions, some of which were led by the Heads of the Joint Staff Fellowship Dr. Eve Nabulya and Mr. Moses Oluka. The final blessing was delivered by the day’s speaker Rev. Canon Dr. John Senyonyi.
The Chairperson and Members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Board of the Higher Education Council on Tuesday 29th July 2025 paid a courtesy visit to Makerere University following the 5th Meeting of the IGAD Universities Forum held in Kampala from 28th to 29th July. The delegation was received by the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Edward Bbaale in the presence of Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu Musoke, Makerere University’s representative to IGAD.
In his welcome remarks, Prof. Bbaale on behalf of the Vice Chancellor and the University Management thanked the delegation for including a visit to Makerere on their Kampala itinerary, “It is an honour and privilege to host you here today,” he remarked. He equally thanked Dr. Kiggundu Musoke for representing the University on IGAD and facilitating the visit.
Prof. Bbaale acknowledged that IGAD continues to play a critical role in fostering regional cooperation, peacebuilding, and sustainable development in the Greater Horn of Africa. “The inclusion of higher education in IGAD’s strategic priorities speaks volumes about the importance you attach to knowledge, skills, and research as tools for transforming societies,” he supplemented.
The Acting DVCAA reiterated that Makerere University takes great pride in her IGAD membership, as well as the collaborative research partnerships, capacity-building initiatives, and policy dialogues that seek to harmonise and strengthen higher education in the region undertaken therein. He equally lauded the participation of regional Vice Chancellors and Senior Academic Leaders in IGAD’s activities, “Your presence affirms our collective resolve to build stronger institutions and knowledge systems that respond to the developmental needs of our communities.”
He noted that Makerere in pursuit of her strategic research-led agenda takes cognizance of the importance of partnerships at regional and international levels and urged the leaders present to nurture them. “We need to build a strong academic and research network so that we have seamless flow staff and students on the African continent,” adding that “We hope this visit will further deepen the bonds between our institutions and inspire new opportunities for collaboration in teaching, research, innovation, and regional integration.”
Dr. Kebede Kassa Tsegaye, the IGAD Senior Coordinator of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Program expressed delight at visiting Makerere, noting that the University and Republic of Uganda are strategic and extremely valuable partners of the regional body.
In her remarks, Dr. Victoria Anib Majur the Head, IGAD Health and Social Development Division thanked Makerere and other regional universities for promoting mobility among learners by endorsing the implementation of the IGAD Regional Qualifications Framework (IGADQF). “It is our pleasure that your institution and all other partner institutions in the region are joining IGAD in fulfilling the mission of regional integration through skills development and through qualifications.”
She reiterated IGAD’s commitment to push for; excellence in education, inclusivity of gender and persons with disabilities, and promotion of skills that will prepare learners, especially refugees, returnees, and those from host communities in the IGAD region for the marketplace. The IGAD Secretariat is hosted by the Republic of Djibouti and region covers the host country-Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.
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