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RUFORUM Triennial Thought Pieces: ISSUE 04 – Prof. Kay Leresche

Published

4 years ago

February 25, 2022

Mark Wamai

RUFORUM Triennial Thought Pieces: ISSUE 04 by Prof. Kay Leresche, Chair of the RUFORUM Technical Committee.

Trends and Innovation Impacting Capacity to Deliver on the African Agenda 2063

Africa is a continent of great promise – with a combined GDP of around $3.5 trillion, the youngest and fastest-growing population in the world, and a diverse and extensive natural resource base. To realise this potential there needs to be significant investment in education, research and information sharing. Africa must be able to use new technology to create the knowledge, products and institutions to improve livelihoods. Although the technologies will allow Africa to leapfrog many old systems, they also require proactive and ongoing adaptation. Institutions and systems that cannot adapt will wither. The more structured for change the more likely it is that universities will be able to use the technological revolution to address the key drivers of change that impact progress.

Climate change with its increased droughts, floods and locust invasions, the Covid-19 pandemic, HIV, malaria and other devastating diseases, and the dislocation of poor governance and war, compound these challenges. But the natural exuberance of Africa and their determination to keep striving in the face of all obstacles will see them succeed. To do this they need the tools. Low levels of research and human resource capacity create a bottleneck to Africa reasserting its role in the global economy. Universities in Africa need to change rapidly. They need to recognise the new opportunities and prepare students that are innovative, ethical and adaptable to drive our colleges and schools, build businesses, create new knowledge and serve Africa. They house most of the highly qualified people in Africa and are often neutral spaces where transparent engagement is possible. Universities need to join with society (private sector, farmers, entrepreneurs, civil society and government agencies) to generate new, locally relevant, knowledge that is embedded in ways that facilitate rapid uptake. Universities need to take up their role as a fulcrum upon which Africa makes the rapid strides it needs to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and meet the aspirations of Agenda 2063.

While the impending change holds great promise, the patterns of consumption, production and employment created by it also pose major challenges requiring proactive adaptation by corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. Concurrent to the technological revolution are a set of broader socio-economic, geopolitical, demographic and environmental drivers of change, each interacting in multiple directions and intensifying one another (Brookings, 2020).

The Challenges for Africa

“Despite the continent’s promise obstacles to success linger as job creation still has not caught up with the growing youth labor force, gaps in good and inclusive governance remain, and climate change as well as state fragility, threaten to reverse the hard-fought-for gains of recent decades” Brahima S. Coulibaly (Brookings 2020). This was before the Covid pandemic which has since caused global devastation to lives, health and economies, especially in Africa. The disruptions continue to be felt with pressure on health facilities, loss of learning time and the economic stress of lockdowns with disrupted markets, international transport problems, decreased demand and the severe disruptions to tourism and remittances.

A challenge throughout Africa is the misalignment of job creation and demographic trends. Export-led manufacturing has not been a key feature of transformation in Africa’s economies and that which exists tends not to be labour intensive. The future is focused on services to absorb the youth and workers moving out of agriculture. This reflects the natural resources, history and geography of the continent and the global marketplace. Governments can play a major role in changing this misalignment; not necessarily directly, but by educating and training, improving the infrastructure, facilitating engagement and providing an enabling environment to enhance a strong knowledge economy. Technological progress is critical to providing mechanisms to improve productivity and livelihoods. Poor infrastructure both physical and digital is a significant constraint on development in Africa. It reduces the flow of information, people, services and goods. Improving information access facilitates improved production, allows for bulking and lower market transaction costs, and enables small farmers to generate economies of scale. New technology can help to overcome some of the aggregation challenges of the past. It can assist to overcome many of the barriers to entry and improve efficiency.

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RUFORUM Triennial Thought Pieces: ISSUE 05 – Dr. Egeru Anthony

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Training Opportunity: Capacity building for Research Administration

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Extension of Application Deadline for Diploma/Degree Holders 2026/2027

Published

12 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Mak Editor

A mid-morning shot of the Senate Building as seen from the Frank Kalimuzo Central Teaching Facility. Date taken: 18th May 2023. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The Academic Registrar, Makerere University informs all intending applicants for Private and Government Sponsorship for the 2026/2027 Academic Year that the deadline has been extended from 27^th February, 2026 to Friday 13^th March, 2026.

Applicants who have already applied need not apply.

For any additional information, refer to Announcements and requirements for Diploma/Degree holders Entry Scheme for Undergraduate programmes for 2026/2027 Academic Year, click the links below.

Privately Sponsored: https://news.mak.ac.ug/2026/03/advert-admissions-for-diploma-degree-holders-under-private-sponsorship-2026-27/

Government Sponsored: https://news.mak.ac.ug/2026/03/call-for-applications-diploma-holders-under-government-sponsorship-2026-2027/

Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi
ACADEMIC REGISTRAR

Makerere-AR-Extension_Diploma_Degree-Holder-Applications-2026-2027 Download

General

Advert: Admissions for Diploma/Degree Holders under Private Sponsorship 2026/27

Published

17 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Mak Editor

The Academic Registrar, Makerere University invites applications from Ugandan, East African and international applicants for the undergraduate programmes under the private sponsorship scheme for the 2026/2027 Academic Year.

Each applicant should:

EITHER

Hold at least a Second Class/Credit (or equivalent classification) Diploma or otherwise as specified in the Diploma Holders’ requirements from a recognised chartered institution, relevant to the programme applied for. Certified copies of academic transcripts and certificates (not photocopies of certified copies) from the awarding institutions and one passport size photograph must be submitted to Office 315 level three (3) Senate Building after applying online.

Be a Graduate from a RECOGNISED CHARTERED UNIVERSITY. Certified copies of academic transcripts and certificates (not photocopies of certified copies) from the awarding Institutions and one Passport size photography MUST be submitted to Office 315, Level three (3) Senate Building after applying online.

N.B. Applicants will be responsible for verification of their academic documents from the awarding Institutions after admission.

Other relevant information can be obtained from UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS OFFICE, LEVEL 3, SENATE BUILDING OR CAN BE found on the University Website.

Diploma Holder applicants who hold class three (3) diploma certificates or Pass Diplomas are not eligible for admission and therefore should not apply, except where stated in the Diploma Holders requirements.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications shall be submitted online using the ACMIS system for all applicants. Diploma/degree holders and internationals will have to submit certified copies of their transcripts and certificates and a passport size photograph to Office 315, Level 3, Senate Building after submitting the application online and payment of application fees.

Details of the Diplomas required for each programme are in the document attached below, the same list can be found here: https://mak.ac.ug/how-apply/diploma-holders-application-guide

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED FROM UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS OFFICE, LEVEL 3, SENATE BUILDING, MAKERERE UNIVERSITY WITH EFFECT FROM 5th JANUARY, 2026.

A NON-REFUNDABLE APPLICATION FEE OF SHS.55,000/= FOR UGANDAN AND EAST AFRICAN APPLICANTS OR $76.5 OR EQUIVALENT FOR INTERNATIONALS, (UGX.286,250=) PLUS BANK CHARGEs SHOULD BE PAID IN ANY OF THE BANKS USED BY UGANDA REVENUE AUTHORITY (URA)

CANDIDATES WHO HOLD GRADES X, Y, Z, 7 AND 9 OF ‘O’LEVEL RESULTS SHOULD NOT APPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ADMISSION.

Advert-DIPLOMA-DEGREE-HOLDERS-Private-Sponsorship-2026-2027 Download

ONLINE APPLICATION PORTAL USER GUIDE

Applicants should access the Institution’s Admissions URL https://apply.mak.ac.ug

Signup using full name, e-mail and Mobile Number. Please note that your name must be similar to the one on your supporting academic documents for your application to be considered valid. If you changed your names please go to Senate Building Office 611 with a deed poll and gazette supporting the name change.
A password will be sent to both your e-mail and mobile number.
The system will prompt you to change the password to the one you can easily remember.
To fill a form (all form sections must be filled)the applicant clicks on the APPLY NOW button displayed on the running scheme.
Obtain a pay reference nunber(PRN) after submitting the application.
Make a payment at any of the banks used by Uganda Revenue Authority.

MOBILE MONEY PAYMENT STEPS:

1. Dial *272*6# on MTN or Airtel

2. Select option 3-Admission

3. Select option 3 Pay Fees

4. Enter reference number obtained from Application portal

5. Details of Application form will be confirmed

6. Enter PIN to confirm payment

The closing date for receiving applications was extended to Friday 13^th March, 2026.

General

Call for Applications: Diploma Holders under Government Sponsorship 2026/2027

Published

18 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Mak Editor

The Academic Registrar, Makerere University invites applications from Diploma Holders only for admission under the Government Sponsorship Scheme (not exceeding 5% of the intake capacity) to the University Degree Programmes for the 2026/2027 Academic year listed in the document attached below.

Each applicant should possess at least a Credit or Second Class or equivalent Diploma in a relevant field from a recognised Institution plus a Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) with at least 5 Passes (or its equivalent) and a Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) with at least One Principal Pass and Two Subsidiary Passes obtained at the same sitting (or its equivalent).
A non refundable application fee of Shs.55,000/ = (Fifty five thousand shillings only) excluding bank charges using an ACMIS Pay Reference Number should be paid to any bank used by URA before submitting a system generated application form to the Admissions Office, Room 315 Level 3, in the Senate Building, Makerere University.
Certified copies of Diploma Transcripts (not photocopies of certified copies) from the awarding Institutions must be attached to the application forms. Incomplete application forms shall not be processed.
Details of the Diplomas required for each programme are in the document attached below, the same list can be found here: https://mak.ac.ug/how-apply/diploma-holders-application-guide
N.B. Applicants will be responsible for verification of their academic documents from the awarding Institutions.
Each applicant should also attach a copy of the Birth Certificate to the application form.

Advert-DIPLOMA-HOLDERS-Govt-Sponsorship-2026-2027 Download

The closing date for returning the system generated application forms and certified copies of the academic documents to the University was extended to Friday 13^th March, 2026.