General
Hon. Dr. Musenero Launches NORHED Week, Calls for Industry-Impacting Research
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MoSTI), Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero on Monday 25th April, 2022 presided over the opening ceremony of the NORHED Week in Uganda and rallied researchers to ensure that their findings flow beyond academia into communities. She noted that the value chain approach adopted by the National Science, Technology and Innovation agenda necessitates that research produces industry-ready prototypes that feed into commercialisation and subsequently, the market. She prayed that this agenda would be at the back of researchers’ and funders’ minds as they embark on the next phase of projects.
Set to be held from 25th to 29th April 2022, the Week will create a platform for researchers who won grants under NORHED II to meet and share experiences as well as discuss possible links and synergies across projects. Furthermore, the Week will create a platform for researchers to discuss how NORHED can contribute to strengthening higher education and research in Uganda. NORHED is the Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development.
In his welcome remarks, the day’s Moderator, NORHED Coordinator and Director, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT), Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi noted that Makerere University is participating in 19 of Uganda’s 21 NORHED II projects, a proportion he described as the “lion’s share”. A total of 60 projects were awarded globally under NORHED II funding, set to run from 2021 to 2026.
“We have enjoyed a mutually beneficial cooperation and now have ample evidence that Norway invests in knowledge and competence building and prides itself in the knowledge society with ability to create and make practical use of the new scientific discoveries.
“This is a shared vision at Makerere and we are committed to continue playing this important role because we believe the knowledge economy is the way to go. It is heartwarming to see that Makerere is contributing enormously to the National Development Plan through research output, dissemination and outreach activities” remarked Prof. Buyinza.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe in his remarks shared that all 19 projects that Makerere is participating in are designed to address multidisciplinary themes, steered by the University Strategic Plan 2020-2030. “Indeed, strategic investment in research lays the foundation for development of any country’s intellectual strategies, competent workforce, progressive leaders, gender equality and human rights.”
Prof. Nawangwe added that NORAD; the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, and other development partners have played a fundamental role in augmenting Internally Generated Funds at Makerere University, which has helped to substantially tackle the shortage of funds for research and infrastructural development.
“Makerere now has one of the best research management infrastructures on the African continent largely due to the support of the Norwegian Government” he added.
The Vice Chancellor thanked the Norwegian Government for enhancing Makerere‘s capacity to train PhDs locally, which has drastically reduced the number of staff trained entirely in Norway or on sandwich programmes.
“Out of the 100 PhDs, 85 are locally trained and only 15 staff members will go on sandwich training, which would not have been possible 30 years ago. When we started, almost all the students had to go to Norway” added Prof. Nawangwe.
Addressing participants, the Head of Delegation, Ms. Solbjørg Sjøveian said that NORHED is not only about strengthening Universities but the long-term effects that this capacity building has on societies. She added that NORHED seeks to build equitable partnerships for mutual learning and knowledge sharing with a strong South-South component, that enables younger less-established universities to learn from their more-established peers.
“One example is Makerere University which has taken a regional role in contributing to strengthening other universities both in Uganda and neighbouring countries like South Sudan” said Ms. Sjøveian. “Makerere is an important partner for Norad. As an institution you have strong commitment and dedication by both individual researchers as well as at unit level” she added.
The Head of Delegation therefore paid tribute to this pivotal role played by Makerere University in the region, especially as the institution celebrates her centenary anniversary.
Echoing the Head of Delegation’s pivotal role remark, Arne Haug the Minister Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Uganda who represented the Ambassador H.E. Elin Østebø Johansen emphasised that it is important to strengthen the research capacity at Makerere University.
“Makerere is the leading institution in Uganda and therefore provides the largest number of human resources to other universities. Norway’s support has therefore not just focused on Makerere but it has evolved and responded to the ever changing needs in Higher Education in Uganda” remarked Mr. Haug.
He took note of the; School of Forestry, Environmental and Geographical Sciences, School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bio-Engineering, School of Women and Gender Studies, School of Computing and Informatics Technology buildings as well as furnishing of the Main Library Extension as some of the physical infrastructure that had been built with support from Norway on Makerere‘s “beautiful” Main Campus. The Vice Chancellor later brought to light that the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) Extension was the last and largest infrastructural undertaking by the Norwegian Government at the Main Campus.
Prior to declaring the NORHED Week open, Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero, a self-confessed student of Vision 2040 and its constituent National Development Plans (NDPs), thanked the Norwegian Government and other development partners for laying the foundation upon which Higher Education would contribute to the attainment of Uganda’s development objectives.
Hon. Dr. Musenero shared that whereas NDP I (2010/11-2014/15) had been aimed at “addressing the fundamentals”, NDP II (2015/16-2019/20) focused on “putting up basic infrastructures”. Turning to the current NDP III (2020/21-2024/24), she shared that a decision had been taken to introduce a new institutional framework with a shift from sector to programme implementation. This shift, it is envisaged will enable Uganda to put to use the baseline human resource that had been trained and infrastructure that has been put in place to take off on the industrialisation tangent.
“Over these past years and with the support of partners like Norway and many other agencies, we have worked on a number of things such as the development of human resource. I was one of the first people who were sent out on a programme from Makerere called Agricultural Research and Training Project (ARTP) in 1994.
“And we really appreciate the support of our partners. We started by taking people abroad because we didn’t have any capacity and then we moved to sandwich programmes and now as I have been informed, we are shifting to developing people on the ground” acknowledged the Honourable Minister.
Turning back to the current phase of development under NDP III, Hon. Dr. Musenero invited the delegation from NORHED and other partners to move in step with the National strategy that seeks to promote research that results into products. The shift to product-centric research, she noted, would inspire the growth of industries that would in turn create the jobs, and eventually the environment that sustains the welfare of the youth.
“Our focus in NDP III is to invite and request all the partners to see how we can now tackle the issue of employment, and science and technology has been given the pivotal role, because if we do not translate these computer laboratories and infrastructure into jobs, we shall still have the problem and cheat the leaders of the future” remarked Hon. Dr. Musenero.
The official opening was followed by a Keynote address on “Digitalization and gender inclusiveness in teaching, research and administration in Uganda-Post Covid-19 era” by Dr. Ruth Nsibirano, and discussion led by Dr. Dorothy Okello. This was followed by the second keynote address by Dr. Vincent Ssembatya on “PhD training as a pillar in Uganda’s Economic and Sustainable Development”, which was discussed by Prof. John David Kabasa.
The NORHED Week itinerary prepared by a team led by Assoc. Prof. John Mango, will feature presentations by projects categorised according to sessions on Education and Health (5 projects), Humanities and Social Sciences (6 projects) as well as Climate Change, Natural Resources and Energy (10 projects). On Wednesday 27th April, the Delegation will meet Members of Makerere University Management, visit selected NORHED-II project Research Labs/Research Sites and on Thursday 28th April, visit Makerere University Business School (MUBS). The delegation will crown the week by meeting the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology on Friday 29th April 2022.
Hon. Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, the newly appointed Chancellor of Makerere University, has laid out his vision for the institution during the 75th graduation ceremony.
Installed by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as the Chancellor of Makerere University on 2nd October 2024, the 75th occasion marks his maiden graduation ceremony as the titular head of this great institution.
A total of 13,658 graduands will receive degrees and diplomas during the 75th graduation ceremony (13th to 17th January 2025).
On the first day of the 75th Graduation ceremony, the following colleges presented students for conferment of degrees and award of diplomas: College of Education and External Studies, College of Computing and Information Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-security and the School of Law.
The Guest of Honour, Hon. Janet. K. Museveni, First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports represented by Hon. Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, Minister of State for Primary Education congratulated the congregation upon attaining this major milestone.
“On my own behalf and on behalf of the Ministry of Education and Sports, I am grateful to the University Council, Senate, Management and all staff for their unwavering commitment towards preparing our students who have duly completed the requirements leading to the award of the academic qualifications they are receiving today” she said.
The Minister equally congratulated the University Management for ensuring that transcripts for all students graduating are ready for collection from their respective colleges, and urged the graduands to embrace the spirit of hard work and the desire to make the world a better place.
“I have no doubt that you will face the future with courage, creativity and conviction. There are plenty of opportunities out there, take advantage of the many opportunities to create jobs,” encouraged the First Lady and Honourable Minister of Education and Sports.
Furthermore, she commended the Students Guild for cultivating a cordial working relationship with the University Management and ensuring that matters affecting to students welfare in the University are handled amicably.
In his address, Hon. Dr. Kiyonga outlined several key areas that he aims to focus on as he steers the university forward. A proud alumnus of Makerere, Dr. Kiyonga reflected on the transformative power of education, emphasizing that Makerere’s role in national progress must extend beyond teaching to include research, industry collaboration, and community engagement.
Dr. Kiyonga revealed that enhancing the university’s research capacity is one of his primary goals. He praised the government’s allocation of UGX 30 billion to the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF), recognizing the importance of research in driving Uganda’s socio-economic growth.
“Makerere University is the oldest university in the country. Over the years the institution has built a strong stock of high quality human resources. The University is doing significant amount of research,” he said.
He noted that there is need for further support, saying, “More work is required to mobilize for an increment of funds in order to further support research work.”
He also emphasized that Makerere should play a leading role in generating knowledge to address pressing national challenges. “Research plays a very vital role in the development of any community,” he said, underscoring the importance of transforming research into actionable solutions.
In addition to research, Dr. Kiyonga highlighted the need forMakerere University to build stronger connections with both national and international industries. “We are generating innovations that should eventually be taken to the commercialization level,” he remarked. He proposed the creation of agro-industrial parks on land allocated by President Museveni, which would provide both practical training for students and contribute to the nation’s food security and economic growth.
“At this stage, more resources and infrastructure are needed to support our innovations,” he added, calling for formal partnerships with the investment community to scale up these efforts.
Addressing the issue of unemployment, Dr. Kiyonga urged graduates to leverage their education to create opportunities for themselves and others. “What is critical is sustaining the thinking that you can indeed apply your knowledge to create work in areas with demand within the population,” he said.
He also encouraged graduates to work together to innovate and start businesses, stating, “Partner with some of your friends to form teams, come up with an idea, and you could turn that idea into an innovation, business enterprise or product.” He emphasized that graduates should not limit themselves to seeking employment, but should embrace entrepreneurship as a means of solving societal problems.
Dr. Kiyonga proposed expanding Makerere’s community outreach efforts, particularly in the agricultural sector. “I propose formalized relationships with some medium to large scale farmers across the country,” he said, suggesting that students in the agriculture department could benefit from hands-on internships with these farmers. In return, students would assist with extension services, boosting productivity in smaller farms and contributing to food security.
“There are also gaps in some of the training of Ugandans abroad,” Dr. Kiyonga added, noting that Makerere University could collaborate with foreign universities to provide practical training for Ugandan students, especially in fields such as human medicine.
In line with President Museveni’s directive, Dr. Kiyonga also highlighted the importance of incorporating political economy into all university courses. “It is critical that we deeply appreciate socio-economic forces that determine forward movement or lack of it,” he said, explaining that understanding these forces is essential for preparing graduates to lead effectively in a rapidly changing world.
Prof. Nawangwe Highlights Achievements and Growth
In his address, Vice Chancellor Prof. Nawangwe celebrated Makerere’s progress, particularly in its transformation into a research-led institution. He detailed various innovative projects across the university’s colleges, including the development of cutting-edge technologies, such as the AI Health Lab’s malaria diagnostic tools, and initiatives such as the Makerere University Innovation Pod (UniPod), which has incubated dozens of innovations.
“We are making steady progress on our strategic journey of a research-led university,” Prof. Nawangwe stated, revealing that Makerere has supported the commercialization of 15 projects, with a total of 157 projects now ready for integration into Uganda’s national economy.
Prof. Nawangwe also reflected on the institution’s ongoing infrastructure development, including the restoration of the iconic Main Administration Building and the opening of a new state-of-the-art Law School building. These developments, alongside initiatives such as the establishment of a Disability Support Centre, further underline Makerere’s commitment to improving both student and staff welfare.
Among the key statistics of the graduation ceremony, Prof. Nawangwe highlighted that 53% of the 13,658 graduands were female, and 491 graduated with first-class honors. He also spotlighted the achievements of specific colleges, including the College of Education’s initiatives to tackle youth unemployment through entrepreneurial training and the College of Veterinary Medicine’s efforts to develop vaccines and diagnostics for key diseases.
Further illustrating the university’s global reach, Prof. Nawangwe noted Makerere‘s collaboration with international partners such as Google and the European Commission, which has provided substantial funding for health and climate change-related projects. “The Government of Uganda provides Makerere University with a Research and Innovation Fund to support cutting-edge solutions,” he added.
In a powerful and inspiring commencement address, Professor LenkaBula Puleng, the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Africa (UNISA), urged the graduates—especially women—to tap into their resilience, embrace their generational mission, and redefine their worth in shaping Africa’s future.
Reflecting on Makerere’s distinguished legacy, Professor LenkaBula praised the university as a beacon of academic excellence, whose contributions have been instrumental in Africa’s intellectual and social development. She highlighted its pivotal role as a cornerstone for both anti-colonial and post-colonial scholarship, underscoring the profound impact it has had on shaping the continent’s intellectual landscape.
“Makerere University, along with its sister institution-the University of South Africa, has been pivotal in the African struggle for freedom and unity,” said Professor LenkaBula. “It stands as a symbol of Africa’s intellectual resilience, a place where the seeds of transformation were planted during the colonial era and continue to grow today.”
Addressing the congregation gathered at Makerere’s historic Freedom Square, the Vice-Chancellor recognized the remarkable scholars who have shaped the African academic landscape through their work at Makerere, referencing figures such as Professor Dani Wadida Nabudere, Issa Shivji, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Mahmood Mamdani, and many others. These scholars, she said, were instrumental in cultivating a new generation of thought leaders who continue to challenge the status quo and lead Africa toward progress.
Highlighting the role of African women in these transformative processes, Professor LenkaBula reminded graduates of resilient women who have played key roles in Africa’s history, such as Queen Amina of Nigeria, Yaa Asantewaa of Ghana, and Wangari Maathai of Kenya. These women, she noted, not only fought against colonial forces, but have continued to shape the post-colonial era through their activism, leadership, and vision.
Professor LenkaBula’s address focused on the significance of women in reclaiming their generational mission. She emphasized the importance of education as a tool for empowerment and transformation, especially for young women.
“Education is not an elite indulgence; it is a public good,” she said, citing the words of feminist scholar Amina Mama. She urged the graduates, particularly the women, to remember their history and their mission in the ongoing struggle for equality, justice, and peace.
Her call to action was clear: graduates must not be prisoners of the past, but leaders who redefine the future. She challenged the new generation to take their place in fields such as medicine, agriculture, science, and technology, which are essential to Africa’s development. She encouraged them to forge a future of peace, sustainability, and inclusivity, underscoring the importance of creating a world that reflects their values and dreams.
Professor LenkaBula spoke to the youth about their responsibility to overcome the legacies of patriarchy and oppression, both within African societies and globally. She acknowledged that women, despite their significant contributions, continue to face disproportionate challenges, but she expressed confidence that this new generation of graduates—especially women—has the strength and determination to break these barriers.
“As graduates, you carry the mettle and the light to create more opportunities—for yourselves and others—to reclaim your mission and redefine your worth,” she said. “Africa is waiting for you, and you must rise to the occasion with the strength, courage, and vision to lead us into the future.”
In conclusion, Professor LenkaBula reminded the graduates that they are part of a legacy of change-makers and intellectual trailblazers, encouraging them to embrace their roles as the next generation of leaders who will drive the African Renaissance. She left them with an empowering message: “Reclaim your Generational Mission and Redefine your Worth as the new generation that Africa is waiting for!”
The 75th Graduation Ceremony at Makerere University marked not only the academic achievements of the graduates, but also a celebration of the university’s long-standing contribution to the African intellectual tradition and its continued role in shaping a better future for the continent. As the graduates left the Freedom Square, the call to action was clear: the future of Africa rests in their hands.
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