General
Ending GBV: Let Mak be the Example that Uganda Looks Up To
Makerere in partnership with national and global stakeholders hosted a Stocktaking Dialogue on Sexual Harassment and Response at the University on Friday 10th December, 2021. The event marked the last of 16 days of activism against Gender-based Violence held from 25th November to 10th December 2021.
The dialogue, which coincided with International Human Rights Day served as an opportunity to call upon all actors to uphold the rights of all, especially by protecting the rights of women and girls. As such, the event was held under the global theme set by the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE campaign: “Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!”
True to day’s theme participants, majority of who were students, painted the Food Science and Technology Conference Hall orange. Addressing the congregation, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe kicked off his remarks by stating, “It is up to us to take the lead and stamp Gender-based Violence especially sexual harassment out of Makerere for good.”
Prof. Nawangwe in a special way thanked UN Women for the support rendered to the University in the struggle to end sexual harassment. He applauded this support as strategic, noting that Makerere’s diverse composition makes it a good launch pad to reach the rest of the country.
“Makerere is a small Uganda in one place; these students come from every village in Uganda. Therefore, if they go back transformed, they can change the situation in our country. So it is very important that we work with our students to actually transform these practices in the country” explained the Vice Chancellor.
He thanked the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate (GMD) led by Dr. Euzobia Baine Mugisha for proactively reaching out to staff and students, noting that the campaigns ought to continue until the vice is completely stamped out of Makerere.
Turning to the Student Leadership, the Vice Chancellor noted that Management had worked with previous Guild Cabinets to place posters on all notice boards of the University with the stern warning ‘Sexual harassment is not tolerated’. “I want to urge the Students’ Guild, let us do that programme again. Makerere is Zero-tolerant to Sexual Harassment.”
The Vice Chancellor thanked the Champions against sexual harassment, the majority being male, for taking a stand against the vice. This male-majority, he opined, is an indicator that the institution is on the right course.
“Let Makerere be that example that the whole country looks up to. When we started this campaign, people were saying you are going to make the public think all is not well at Makerere but I am happy we were vindicated when Parliament said, ‘Let everybody emulate Makerere’” added Prof. Nawangwe.
He expressed happiness that the Director GMD, Dr. Baine Mugisha and her team were now taking the campaign against sexual harassment to other institutions such as Gulu University. He therefore vowed to help rally fellow Vice Chancellors to join in stamping out the vice.
Prof. Nawangwe concluded by challenging fellow men in the physical and virtual audience to take the stand against the vice. “Are you going to stand up and make sure that together we stamp out sexual harassment and any other form of gender based violence out of Makerere?”
Prior to delivering her remarks, the Acting Country Representative, UN Women Uganda Ms. Adekemi Ndieli picked up the challenge from where Prof. Nawangwe had left off, asking everyone in the room to rise up and solemnly vow to uphold the Makerere University Policy and Regulations Against Sexual Harassment 2018 by repeating after her;
“I …. commit and reaffirm my zero-tolerance to sexual harassment, and I commit to create an environment that respects and protects the rights of all members of the University Community so help me God.”
The gesture, she said, was a way of guaranteeing that whoever took part in the dialogue would leave the room energized and committed to ensuring that they would not be perpetrators of sexual harassment but would instead attack any form of it they witness.
Ms. Ndieli took note of the progress made by Makerere University in establishing and implementing the sexual harassment policy, saying the move would protect against potential abusers of power and conflict of interest.
“We also applaud the increased support and training of students, and strengthening mechanisms of investigation which provide for students and staff to anonymously report sexual misconduct” she complimented.
Turning to men and boys in the room, Ms. Ndieli said, “We want you to be a champion against sexual harassment and abuse. We want you to champion equal rights of women and girls on this campus. We want you to challenge gender stereotypes on this campus.”
She concluded by recommending the following as ways of changing the unacceptable behaviour that exists within our learning, working and living environment.
- Recognize that there is no silver bullet to preventing sexual violence and misconduct. We must examine the iniquities that are drivers of the unacceptable behaviour and challenge and dismantle sexisms.
- Make it clear that preventing sexual misconduct and harassment is not an option. We must all work together to stamp out the vice by ensuring safety, wellbeing and equity for our staff and students.
- Provide timely, compassionate and confidential response services to survivors including witnesses. Provision of mental health support and psychosocial support is equally important.
“I am really happy that the Vice Chancellor is here today, we respect you, we applaud you for leading this process and we know that it is going to work effectively” concluded Ms. Ndieli.
The remarks by the Vice Chancellor and UN Women Country Representative were preceded by a keynote address by the Principal, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), Prof. Josephine Ahikire and a presentation by the Director GMD.
While Prof. Ahikire emphasized the need to understand and address the underlying drivers of Gender-based Violence, Dr. Baine Mugisha shared the steps taken by Makerere University to address sexual harassment. Steps included the formulation of the Vice Chancellor’s Roster of 100, which investigates reports of sexual harassment and the Two4One campaign, which taps into students’ talents as an agency for addressing the challenge of sexual harassment among others.
As a demonstration of this agency, Happy Sami, a finalist from the 2020 Two4One Concert to End Sexual Harassment put up a musical performance dubbed “No More Sexual Harassment”.
General
Mak and University of the West of England Sign MoU to Advance Research, Innovation and Skills Development
Makerere University and the University of the West of England (UWE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening collaboration in research, innovation, and enterprise development. The signing ceremony took place on Friday, 17th October 2025, in the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom, Main Administration Building, Makerere University.
The partnership will focus on joint research initiatives in climate science, early childhood development and elderly care, wildlife ecology and conservation management, technology, and sustainable agriculture.
The Uganda High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, H.E. Nimisha Madhvani, who witnessed the signing, congratulated both institutions and reaffirmed the Government of Uganda’s commitment to strengthening international collaborations that enhance education, innovation, and investment.
“We are not only promoting education, but also tourism, business, and investment. This partnership is a great bridge between Uganda and the United Kingdom,” said H.E. Madhvani. “With the full support of His Excellency the President and the First Lady, we look forward to building on this momentum to establish impactful initiatives, including a proposed teaching hospital.”
Speaking during the event, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, reaffirmed the University’s commitment to producing graduates who are not only employable but also capable of creating jobs and transforming their communities.
“Our goal is to train students who go out to create their own jobs and employ others who have not had the opportunity to attend university,” said Prof. Nawangwe. “We are working seriously on issues of food security, health, and conflict management — particularly in the Great Lakes region, which has one of the highest numbers of conflicts per capita. Through research and collaboration, we aim to address these challenges while ensuring Africa is not left behind in the digital economy.”
Prof. Nawangwe also highlighted Makerere’s initiatives in the digital and peace sectors, including the work of the Rotary Peace Center, which plays a vital role in promoting peace across the world by equipping fellows with academic training, practice, and global networking opportunities through a year-long, blended-learning professional certificate program.
Representing the University of the West of England, the Vice Chancellor Ms. Jo Midgley commended Makerere University for its strong research focus and expressed enthusiasm for the partnership.
“Like Makerere, we are a comprehensive university. We want this partnership to go beyond conversations and translate into action,” she said. “Our areas of strength include sustainability, climate change, future technology, health, and community placemaking. We believe this collaboration offers a unique opportunity to co-create programmes that prepare students for the evolving global workforce.”
She further emphasized the need for universities to work closely with industry partners to co-design programs that meet current skill demands while promoting innovation and enterprise among students.
The Deputy High Commissioner, Ambassador Miriam Otengo, commended Makerere for its leadership in higher education and shared ongoing efforts to mobilize the Makerere alumni in the United Kingdom. She also revealed plans to host a Makerere Alumni Symposium in London, aimed at showcasing the University’s excellence and strengthening ties with its diaspora community.
Also in attendance was Mr. Hefin Rees KC, Chairman of Spotlight on Africa, a UK-based charitable organization, who expressed interest in partnering with Makerere University to establish a teaching hospital in Mbale focused on women and children’s health. He praised Makerere for producing world-class professionals and reaffirmed his organization’s commitment to supporting health-related initiatives.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Nawangwe thanked the High Commission for facilitating the partnership and welcomed the opportunity to discuss the proposed teaching hospital, describing it as “a timely and vital project for Uganda’s health sector.”
“This collaboration represents a new chapter for Makerere University and the University of the West of England. Together, we will advance research, promote innovation, and equip our students to respond to global challenges,” he said. The ceremony concluded with the formal signing of the MoU, marking the beginning of a long-term partnership built on shared values of excellence, innovation, and community impact.
The Acting (Ag.) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sarah Ssali on Thursday 16th October, 2025 held a press conference to update members of the Media on the 2026 World University Rankings by Times Higher Education (THE).
The event held in the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom, Main Building, was attended by the Director Graduate Training-Prof. Julius Kikooma, Director Quality Assurance-Dr. Cyprian Misinde, Dean of Students-Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli, Director Research, Innovations, and Partnerships-Prof. Robert Wamala, Deputy Chief – Public Relations-Ms. Eunice Rukundo, Ag. Manager International Relations-Mr. Matthias Ssemanda, and staff from the Offices of the Vice and Deputy Vice Chancellors.
The proceedings of the Press Conference follow below;
Vice Chancellor’s Press Statement
UNIVERSITY RANKINGS: MAKERERE STILL NUMBER ONE IN THE REGION
It gives me great pleasure to share with our stakeholders and the general public that Makerere University has been ranked Number 1. in the East African region, in the Times Higher Education rankings released this month of October 2025.
In its 2026 World University Rankings, Times Higher Education (THE) places Makerere University in top position in East Africa, and in the 801-1000 band globally. The ranking considers five performance indicators, namely: Teaching; Research environment; Research quality; International Outlook; and Industry. Makerere’s overall score was 37.2, significantly outperforming peer institutions in the Region that average scores of 18.8.
In particular, Makerere University continues to thrive in Research Quality where we scored 54.2% but even better in International Outlook where we scored highest with 69.7%. See Table 1 for details. On the continent, Makerere University ranked 8th in the 2024 Sub-Saharan African University Rankings.
We would like to reassure all stakeholders and well-wishers that Makerere University continues to hold steadfast as the regional leader in higher education. Our commitment to deliver excellence in our teaching, research, and socioeconomic impact has not wavered.
WE BUILD FOR THE FUTURE.
Thank you.
Fact Sheet
UNIVERSITY RANKINGS
Table 1: East African Universities – 2025 Ranking Comparison
| Rank | Name | Overall | Teaching | Research Env. | Research Quality | Industry | Int. Outlook |
| 801–1000 | Makerere University | 35.5–38.9 | 21.5 | 26.6 | 54.2 | 32.8 | 69.7 |
| 1501+ | Kenyatta University | 10.3–27.2 | 14.3 | 9.1 | 34.2 | 17.4 | 54.6 |
| 1501+ | Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences | 10.3–27.2 | 21.6 | 14.9 | 30.3 | 27.5 | 54.6 |
| 1501+ | University of Dar es Salaam | 10.3–27.2 | 14.5 | 11.1 | 26.5 | 21.9 | 47.2 |
| 1501+ | University of Nairobi | 10.3–27.2 | 15.9 | 16.1 | 39.7 | 22.5 | 49.4 |
| 1501+ | University of Rwanda | 10.3–27.2 | 14.1 | 14.9 | 25.6 | 21.1 | 57.5 |
End
The Board of the Zambia Research and Education Network (ZAMREN) led by the Chairperson, Prof. Mundia Muya on 14th October 2025 paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor, Makerere University. The Board which is on a two-day exposure visit to the Research and Education Network of Uganda (RENU) was received by the Acting (Ag.) Vice Chancellor and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Sarah Ssali in the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom.
The Chairperson was accompanied by Mr. Ronald Hatoongo and Mr. Stein Mkandawire, the Board Secretary and CEO of ZAMREN respectively, as well as RENU’s CEO-Mr. Nicholas Mbonimpa and RENUMESH Technologies CEO-Mr. Brian Masiga. In attendance were Mr. Samuel Mugabi-Director DICTS, Prof. Robert Wamala-Director Research, Innovations and Partnerships (DRIP), and Prof. Tonny Oyana-Principal College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS).
Also present were; Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda-Director Institute of Open, Distance and eLearning (IODeL), Dr. Godfrey Mayende-Deputy Director IODeL, Dr. Michael Walimbwa- College of Education and External Studies (CEES), Dr. Cathy Mbidde- Ag. Manager. Makerere University Innovation Pod, Ms. Eunice Rukundo-Deputy Chief-Public Relations and staff from the Office of the Vice Chancellor.
In her welcome remarks, Prof. Ssali thanked the ZAMREN Board for including the courtesy call on their Kampala itinerary and extended warm greetings from the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe. She noted that Makerere as a founding member of RENU has enjoyed a mutually beneficial collaboration, that has benefited both staff and students in the form of supporting growing connectivity needs, as well as training, mentorship, and development of technical skills for both continuing students and graduates.
Turning to the gist of the courtesy call, the Acting Vice Chancellor noted that the Makerere University through the Centre for Artificial Intelligence (MAK-AI) seeks to harness the transformative power of AI to address society’s most pressing challenges. “Projects undertaken by our Centre tackle real-world challenges in health, agriculture, languages, and beyond.”
Prof. Ssali nevertheless underscored the importance of upholding ethics in all AI undertakings “Mindful of global trends elsewhere, the work of the Makerere AI Centre is guided by the principles of Responsible AI, ensuring that systems are transparent, accountable, fair, and designed to benefit society.”
She therefore called upon the delegation to thoughtfully engage with the ideas presented during their visit with the aim of collectively exploring both institution can better equip staff and students to meaningfully make the most of this fast-evolving trend.
On behalf of the Board, Prof. Muya who is substantively the Vice Chancellor of the University of Zambia thanked Prof. Ssali and Members of Management present for according his delegation a warm reception to Makerere University, “one of Africa’s most distinguished centres of higher learning.
“Makerere University is not only a symbol of academic excellence but also a beacon of leadership in higher education on the African continent”, remarked Prof. Muya.
The Chairperson equally expressed the delegation’s keenness to understand how AI is being adopted, and how the academia is embracing the technology as an enabler of teaching and research. “At ZAMREN, we view digital transformation and AI integration as critical enablers of academic excellence, efficiency, and competitiveness across higher education institutions,” he remarked, adding that “We therefore look to Makerere University’s experience to draw practical lessons that can inform and inspire our efforts back home.”
Turning to the lessons from Makerere in line with digital transformation and ICT, the Director DICTS shared that owing to the partnership with RENU, internet bandwidth, a vital enabler of AI transformation currently stands at 5 Gbps of monthly consumption, with plans to scale-up to 8 Gbps. He added that RENU has also facilitated Makerere’s access to Open Libraries, and Eduroam – a secure, encrypted Wi-Fi network across to staff and students freely access the internet across partner institutions in Uganda using their University emails.
Furthermore on the enablers of AI integration, Mr. Mugabi noted that in line with digitalization of institutional business process, the University Council took a bold step to develop all information systems in-house, a move that has reduced costs spent on offshore solutions, and hemorrhage of skills. He pointed to the introduction of open source solutions, and AI policy and global collaborations with corporations such as Google as additional enablers.
Addressing AI readiness, Prof. Tonny Oyana pointed out the need for the University of Zambia to start early, citing Makerere efforts which began as far back as 2007, when Dr. John Quinn joined the institution after his PhD. He added that Dr. Quinn together with other former staff from Makerere formed Sunbird AI, a thriving initiative creating practical systems for the benefit of community.
Prof. Oyana also pointed to AI initiatives that have attracted up to USD 5million from Google Awards, staff with specialized skills in the creation and development of sensor technologies, top notch students that win continental and global awards from companies such as Huawei, and active engagements with partners to produce solutions to enhance diagnosis of malaria, tuberculosis and cancer as some of areas that demonstrate Makerere’s AI readiness.
Addressing academic and research innovation, Prof. Robert Wamala pointed out that Makerere, in recognition that the institution cannot achieve its vision alone is intentional about seeking and nurturing mutually beneficial partnerships. Furthermore, he shared that Vice Chancellor’s Annual Research Excellence Awards reward and recognize the efforts of staff who have excelled in publication, teaching and winning grants.
The Director DRIP equally underscored the need for dissemination of research produced by staff and students, pointing out the annual research and innovation week as a flagship event for not only showcasing research but also forging meaningful partnerships with stakeholders. In line with technology transfer, Prof. Wamala said that the University through the Intellectual Property Management Office ensures that innovations developed by staff and students packaged for adoption by other individuals or organisations.
Addressing the use of technologies in academic work, Prof. Birevu noted that IODeL conducts capacity building in instructional design, online facilitation, use of AI in teaching and digital assessments. “We have also advised the University on ODeL and Distance Education strategies, for instance, we have developed a ten-year masterplan for distance education with support from the Korean Government to outline how Makerere University is going to integrate distance education within its offering” he added.
At the close of the deliberations the ZAMREN expressed sincere appreciation to the Ag. Vice Chancellor and Members of Management for the free sharing that pointed out a number of priorities.
-
General7 days agoCall for Applications: Government Sponsorship 2026/27
-
General4 days agoMakerere is No.1 in the Region – THE University Rankings
-
General2 weeks agoVice Chancellor Updates Media on DVC AA Appointment, Acquisitions, Research & Various Issues
-
General2 weeks agoStrengthening Collaboration between Makerere University and the University of Groningen
-
General2 weeks agoMakerere and Nelson Mandela University Move to Actualize Existing MoU