Makerere University has taken a significant step toward strengthening global research collaboration following a high-level meeting between Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and a delegation from Tsinghua University’s Hefei Institute for Public Safety Research, one of China’s leading centres of excellence in disaster prevention, public safety, and emergency management. The engagement marked a renewed commitment to advancing scientific cooperation between the two institutions, particularly in addressing complex environmental and public health challenges that continue to shape national and global development.

A Partnership Anchored in Shared Challenges and Global Priorities

In his remarks, Prof. Nawangwe emphasized that the concept of comprehensive public safety, spanning natural disasters, epidemics, infrastructure failures, and social risks, is increasingly relevant to all colleges and disciplines at Makerere. Uganda’s experience with epidemics such as Ebola, cholera, and COVID-19; frequent landslides in mountainous regions; flooding events; and rising traffic-related incidents place the University in a unique position to contribute applied research, community-based insights, and local knowledge to a global scientific dialogue.

He noted that the Tsinghua presentation revealed new areas of alignment, particularly in epidemic modelling, early-warning systems, and integrated emergency management, areas where Makerere’s public health scientists, medical researchers, and social scientists have extensive expertise.

“This collaboration offers meaningful opportunities for nearly every college at Makerere,” he noted. “Public safety touches the environment, public health, engineering, social sciences, ICT, humanities, and urban planning. The challenges we face as a country make this partnership both timely and essential.” Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe noted.

Tsinghua University: A Global Leader in Comprehensive Public Safety.

The delegation from Tsinghua University outlined China’s national investment in Public safety over the past two decades, an effort driven by the recognition that life and security are the foundation of sustainable development. Tsinghua’s Hefei Institute for Public Safety Research has developed nationally recognised research platforms and large-scale simulation facilities dedicated to Natural disaster modelling (earthquakes, landslides, floods, typhoons, Infrastructure and urban systems safety, Public health emergencies and epidemic preparedness, Early-warning, monitoring, and emergency communication, Traffic and transportation safety, Post-disaster reconstruction and resilience planning.

Their systems currently support over 100 provincial and municipal emergency management centres in China, underscoring their global leadership in practical, scalable solutions for disaster risk management. The delegation reaffirmed that Uganda’s lived experience with multiple hazards presents opportunities for meaningful knowledge exchange. They expressed particular interest in learning from Makerere’s work on epidemic response, community health systems, and the social dimensions of disaster management.

Emerging Areas of Partnership

The meeting identified several promising pathways for long-term collaboration:

1. Joint Research in Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate-Related Hazards

Both institutions expressed readiness to co-develop research projects on landslides, floods, urban resilience, and multi-hazard modelling, drawing on Tsinghua’s advanced simulation technologies and Makerere’s environmental expertise and geographic field realities.

2. Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Epidemic Response

Makerere’s renowned public health schools and research centres will collaborate with Tsinghua on epidemic prediction, early-warning systems, and integrated preparedness frameworks, leveraging Uganda’s decades of experience managing high-risk disease outbreaks.

3. Infrastructure and Urban Safety, Including Traffic Systems

With Uganda experiencing rapid urbanisation and high rates of motorcycle-related road incidents, Tsinghua shared insights from China’s own transformation, including infrastructure redesign, transport modelling, and public transit innovations. Collaborative work in this area would support city planning and road safety interventions in Kampala and other urban centres.

4. Academic Exchange and Capacity Building

Both sides expressed interest in student exchanges, staff mobility, co-supervision of postgraduate research, and specialised training programmes hosted at Tsinghua’s world-class safety research facilities.

5. Development of a Joint Public Safety Laboratory at Makerere

The institutions are exploring the establishment of a collaborative safety research platform in Uganda. This initiative could serve as a regional hub for innovation in emergency management, environmental safety, and technology-driven risk assessment.

Towards a Long-Term, Impactful Collaboration

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to develop a structured partnership framework in the coming months, supported by both universities and aligned with Uganda–China cooperation priorities. Both teams acknowledged that the partnership must yield tangible results that enhance community resilience, bolster national preparedness systems, and foster scientific capacity for future generations.

Prof. Nawangwe commended Tsinghua University for its willingness to co-invest in research and capacity building, noting that such collaborations position Makerere not only as a leading research institution in Africa but as an active contributor to global scientific progress.

“This partnership has the potential to transform our understanding of the science of public safety to deliver solutions that safeguard lives.” Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe noted.

“It aligns perfectly with Makerere’s mission to be a research-led, innovation-driven university responding to the world’s most urgent challenges.” He added.

As part of this strategic partnership engagement, Makerere University will, on Wednesday, 17^th December, co-host the Makerere University–Tsinghua University Symposium on Public Safety and Natural Disaster Management. The symposium will run from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the University Main Hall, Main Building.

This symposium represents a deepening of collaboration not only between Makerere University and Tsinghua University, but also a broader strategic partnership between Uganda and the People’s Republic of China.

During the event, H.E. Zhang Lizhong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Uganda, together with the State Minister for Higher Education, Government of Uganda, will officially launch the China–Uganda Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Natural Disaster Monitoring and Early Warning. The Laboratory will be hosted at Makerere University, positioning the University to play a central role in strengthening Uganda’s and the region’s capacity for natural disaster preparedness, public safety, and emergency management research.

Caroline Kainomugisha is the Communications Officer, Advancement Office, Makerere University.

RMIT University Australia’s Centre for African Engagement (CAE) invites suitably qualified citizens of African Countries for the PhD Scholarships outlined below. Please click the respective links for detailed requirements.

Two STEM scholarship with a deadline of 14 December.

A spatial governance modelling framework for enhancing vulnerable road-user safety in Sub-Saharan Africa

Point-of-Care Bilimeter for Neonatal Jaundice Management in African Healthcare Settings

One Design and Social Context opportunity with a deadline of 30 November. 

Junior Black Rhinos: Building the impact evidence for supporting inclusive education

Mak-RIF funded research highlights disparities between science and arts teachers and their implications for Uganda’s education system.

A collaborative study by Makerere University and the Ministry of Public Service has shed new light on how salary enhancement affects the performance of secondary school teachers in Uganda. The study, titled “Impact of Salary Enhancement on the Performance of Secondary School Teachers in Uganda,” was funded by the Government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF).

The research was prompted by the Government’s 2018 pay policy that significantly increased salaries for science teachers, while arts teachers remained at a lower rate. By 2022, science teachers had achieved 77% of the approved pay target, while that of arts teachers remained at 12%.

Researchers, led by Makerere University’s Dr. Cyprian Misinde, have noted that these disparities have far-reaching implications on the quality of education, the National Development Plan (NDP III Goal 5: Human Capital Development), the emerging NDP IV framework, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Assessing the Effects of Pay Enhancement

The study set out to assess the impact of salary enhancement on teacher performance, focusing on motivation, retention, student outcomes, and perceptions of both science and arts teachers.

Using a mixed methods approach, researchers collected data from 1,352 secondary school teachers (617 science and 735 arts teachers) across 14 sub-regions. Additionally, 28 key informant interviews were conducted with head teachers, alongside 28 focus group discussions (FGDs) with students.

Key Findings: A Divided Teaching Workforce

The findings paint a stark contrast between science and arts teachers:

Science teachers reported high motivation (80.5%), strong perceived performance (76.5%), greater retention intent (39.1% planning to stay until retirement), improved student outcomes (64.5%), and enhanced morale (80.5%). Arts teachers, however, experienced lower motivation (25.5%), reduced performance (17.8%), lower retention (27.5%), weaker student outcomes (15.2%), and diminished morale (26.6%).

Across the board, 85.3% of all teachers agreed that higher salaries improve retention, reaffirming that pay remains a critical driver of teacher performance and commitment.

“While the pay policy has strengthened science education, it has unintentionally widened disparities that could undermine equity and holistic quality education in Uganda,” the report reads in part.

The study also found that salary enhancement alone was not accompanied by proportional investments in other key performance enablers such as school infrastructure, teaching materials, and instructional resources which are equally vital for improved educational outcomes.

Policy Implications and Recommendations

The report cautions that prolonged disparities could lead to growing division between science and arts teachers, teacher demotivation, workforce instability, and uneven student performance, potentially hindering NDP IV’s goal of sustainable human capital growth.

The researchers called for a review of the implementation modalities of the pay policy to minimize salary disparities between science and arts teachers, thereby promoting balance, morale, and fairness across disciplines.

While the emphasis on science aligns with NDP III’s focus on STEM and human capital development, neglecting the arts undermines the holistic learning. Researchers called for an urgent need for balanced reforms to align with NDP IV and SDGs 4&10. 

Leaders Weigh In

Speaking at the dissemination of the study, the Minister for Public Service, Hon. Wilson Muruli Mukasa, reaffirmed Government’s commitment to improving teachers’ welfare.

“The Government approved a public pay policy which includes progressive salary enhancement for secondary school teachers, particularly those teaching science subjects,” said Hon. Mukasa. “By FY2025/26, UGX 2.5 trillion has been committed to salary enhancements. However, even among teachers whose salaries were enhanced, some are applying for early retirement and their motivation to teach has declined. This study was hence commissioned to understand the immediate and future impact of this pay reform,” he added.

Hon. Mukasa further noted that the Ministry of Public Service sought technical support from a Mak-RIF–funded project to better appreciate the impact of salary enhancement and to guide future pay reforms.

The State Minister for Gender and Cultural Affairs, Hon. Peace Mutuuzo, echoed similar concerns, urging stakeholders to reflect on the challenges within the education sector and prioritize strategies that ensure equity and sustainability.

Strengthening Collaboration Between Makerere University and Government

The study is one of the first results of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in January 2024 between Makerere University and the Ministry of Public Service.

According to  Prof. Robert Wamala, a member of the Mak-RIF Grants Management Committee, the partnership is a strategy to strengthen evidence-based policy and governance.

“The MoU between Makerere University and the Ministry of Public Service is collaborative journey which forges a stronger bond between academia and Government for the greater good of society,” said Prof. Wamala.

Through the MoU, Makerere University and the Ministry of Public Service have committed to joint research projects, policy-oriented studies, data management and dissemination, capacity building, curriculum development, and monitoring and evaluation of collaborative initiatives.

Author: Winnie Kyamulabi is the Communications Officer, Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF)