Prof. Juma Kasozi has formally handed over the office of Deputy Principal, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Makerere University, to Prof. Godwin Kakuba.

The handover ceremony, held on Friday, 11^th September 2026, followed the appointment of Prof. Kakuba as substantive Deputy Principal of CoNAS for a four-year term, effective September 2026. His appointment was approved at the 814^th meeting of the Makerere University Appointments Board held on 3^rd September 2026.

Prof. Kasozi, who served as Deputy Principal from 1^st April 2022, handed over the office after more than four years of service. Both Prof. Kasozi and Prof. Kakuba are members of staff in the Department of Mathematics, School of Physical Sciences, CoNAS, and have previously served as Heads of the Department.

Principal Commends Prof. Kasozi’s Service

In his remarks, the Principal of CoNAS, Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, commended Prof. Kasozi for his dedicated service and invaluable contribution to the advancement of academic affairs at the College.

He particularly recognized Prof. Kasozi’s role in strengthening academic processes and facilitating the effective coordination of teaching, learning and graduate education at CoNAS.

Prof. Ireeta also commended Prof. Kasozi for his humility, commitment and willingness to offer wise counsel, describing him as a dependable adviser whose contribution extended beyond the routine responsibilities of his office.

“Prof. Kasozi has been a humble, committed and invaluable adviser to the College. His contribution to the development and review of the CoNAS Strategic Plan, in particular, demonstrated his commitment to the long-term growth and transformation of the College,” Prof. Ireeta said.

In recognition of his service, the Principal presented Prof. Kasozi with a Distinguished Service Award,acknowledging his dedicated service and exemplary leadership as Deputy Principal of CoNAS.

Prof. Ireeta congratulated Prof. Kakuba upon his appointment and expressed confidence in his ability to build on the achievements of the College and contribute to its continued growth and transformation. He wished Prof. Kakuba a successful and impactful tenure, noting that his experience, expertise and commitment to academic excellence would be valuable in advancing the College’s mandate in teaching, learning, research and innovation.

Deans Applaud Prof. Kasozi’s Contribution

The ceremony was witnessed by the Dean, School of Biosciences, Prof. Arthur Tugume, and the Dean, School of Physical Sciences, Prof. David Ssevviiri, who equally commended Prof. Kasozi for his dedicated service and significant contribution to the College.

They particularly appreciated his efforts towards streamlining academic processes, including the timely appointment and payment of graduate supervisors, which contributed to strengthening graduate supervision.

Prof. Kasozi’s Contribution to Strengthening Academic Administration at CoNAS

The Office of the Deputy Principal plays a pivotal role in the academic administration of the College and in advancing the University’s core functions of teaching and learning, research and outreach.

During his tenure, Prof. Kasozi provided leadership across a wide range of academic responsibilities. These included chairing the College Academic Board, coordinating academic programmes, overseeing programme accreditation and review, managing examinations and results, and strengthening graduate education.

He also oversaw the appointment of supervisors and examiners for graduate students, coordinated field attachments and internships, administered supplementary examinations, promoted CoNAS academic programmes, and facilitated timely communication of key academic information to staff and students.

Prof. Kasozi further played a significant role in aligning CoNAS academic programmes with the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) framework, a major institutional transition aimed at enhancing the relevance, quality and responsiveness of university education.

Key achievements during his tenure included the accreditation of several undergraduate and graduate programmes by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE); strengthened student support systems; increased student enrolment and growing demand for postgraduate education; more efficient academic proposal and examination processes; and improved graduate student completion rates and examination outcomes.

Appreciation from Prof. Kasozi

In his handover message, Prof. Kasozi congratulated Prof. Kakuba upon his appointment and welcomed him to the office, expressing confidence that he would build on the work already undertaken.

He thanked the University Management, led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, for entrusting him with the opportunity to serve in the position. He also the appreciated the Principal, the Deans, Heads of Departments, administrators and the wider CoNAS community for their cooperation and support throughout his tenure.

Reflecting on his time in office, Prof. Kasozi described his service as a privilege and honour, noting that the handover marked the conclusion of his tenure as Deputy Principal rather than his departure from Makerere University.

“I leave the door open for continued friendship and service,” Prof. Kasozi said, as he expressed his best wishes to Prof. Kakuba and prayed for the continued growth and success of the Deputy Principal’s office.

Following the handover, Prof. Kasozi is set to return to the Department of Mathematics, where he will continue teaching, research and outreach activities, with a particular focus on Insurance Mathematics and Financial Mathematics.

Remarks by Prof. Kakuba

For Prof. Kakuba, the transition brings a new responsibility within a College where he has already served in academic and administrative capacities. His experience in the Department of Mathematics and previous service as Head of Department provide a strong foundation as he takes on the leadership of the Deputy Principal’s office.

 In his remarks, Prof. Kakuba acknowledged and commended Prof. Kasozi for his dedicated service and the achievements registered during his tenure. He appreciated the University Management for entrusting him with the responsibility and pledged to build on the foundation laid by his predecessor.

Prof. Kakuba noted that he was taking over the office with confidence, having inherited a strong foundation established by Prof. Kasozi.  

Her expressed commitment to working collaboratively with the Principal, College leadership, staff and students to sustain the progress made.  

Pictorial of the ceremony: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XOZU67Rll-P_CaEzRScIVULIqvyBT34z?usp=sharing

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Students and researchers from Makerere University and other institutions pitched 12 innovations addressing challenges in healthcare, clean energy, agriculture, waste management and community resilience during the inaugural Falling Walls Lab Kampala, held at the School of Public Health Auditorium, Makerere University.

The competition brought together emerging innovators to present solutions to practical challenges through a three minute pitch, followed by questions from a panel of judges.

Modelled on the Falling Walls format that originated in Berlin, the event required each participant to identify a “wall” a problem or barrier, and demonstrate how their innovation seeks to break it down.

Mudhasi wins with newborn jaundice screening device

Andrew Mudhasi of Makerere University emerged as the overall winner with a score of 90 per cent for a low cost medical device designed to improve newborn jaundice screening across different skin tones.

Mudhasi explained that the device uses optical sensor technology and a skin tone targeting algorithm to provide a rapid reading, with the aim of helping nurses and clinicians identify jaundice more efficiently.

During questions from the jury, Mudhasi said the device had not yet been tested on actual babies but had undergone laboratory testing using simulated skin tones.

He reported an accuracy rate of 94 per cent when the device was compared with laboratory spectrophotometers.

The innovation is intended initially for use in clinics and hospitals, with Mudhasi saying the team is also considering a version that could eventually allow mothers to screen babies at home.

Mudhasi’s innovation has previously received recognition at the African Business Concept Challenge and the iF Design Student Award, according to his presentation.

Rhonda’s innovation tackles diaper waste

Rhoda John of the University of Nairobi emerged in second place with 89.6 per cent for an innovation addressing the problem of used diaper waste.

Under the theme “Breaking the wall of diaper waste and drug soils,” Rhonda explained that her team extracts sodium polyacrylate, the absorbent polymer found in diapers, and replaces the sodium with potassium.

The resulting potassium based superabsorbent material is designed to act as a “water battery” in soil by absorbing and retaining water for plants during dry periods.

John said testing showed a 99 per cent increase in germination and a 23 per cent increase in drought resistance.

The innovation also seeks to reduce the amount of used diapers ending up in landfills and the environmental effects associated with their decomposition.

During the question and answer session, John explained that her team was working with government environmental officials in Nairobi on a pilot collection system to address the challenge of gathering used diapers at scale.

Mahera takes third place with herbal peptic ulcer treatment

Stuart Mahera of Makerere University finished third with 86.2 per cent for a herbal formulation targeting peptic ulcers.

Presenting under the theme “Breaking the wall of Nature and Modern Medicine,” Mahera argued that conventional treatment for peptic ulcers can involve multiple medicines and may be associated with side effects and antimicrobial resistance.

His proposed formulation, MARAC capsules, is intended as a monotherapy, combining properties required for peptic-ulcer treatment in a single capsule.

Mahera said his team had carried out quality control work, including characterisation and dose quantification, and had conducted preclinical trials on laboratory mice.

He also told the jury that an application had been submitted to the National Drug Authority as the team awaits the next stage of the regulatory process.

According to Mahera, the proposed seven day treatment would cost about Shs21,000, compared with the existing 14 day treatment approach.

Innovators present solutions to practical challenges

The remaining presentations covered a wide range of challenges.

Esther Nakungu of Utamu University presented Agri-Track, a digital record keeping solution intended to improve visibility, accountability and management of farm operations and financial information.

Dr. Jimmy Chachiga, a Makerere University participant, presented a solar photovoltaic cooker with a heat storage system designed to provide a cleaner and more reliable cooking option during both sunny and non sunny periods.

His presentation focused on reducing dependence on biomass fuels and addressing the challenges associated with intermittent solar energy.

Abdul Noor Luttamaguzi, a PhD student and senior government fisheries officer, presented a mobile application aimed at helping fish farmers and extension officers report, track and manage disease outbreaks.

Henry Duke Tamale presented a herbal cream targeting antibiotic resistant biofilm infections associated with diabetic foot ulcers.

Marvin Seruwu proposed adapting existing near infrared brain monitoring technology to help detect extra-axial brain bleeds in health facilities where access to CT and MRI equipment is limited.

His proposal seeks to repurpose existing technology towards a diagnostic need that could be particularly important in settings where advanced imaging facilities are not readily available.

Kennedy Kisame presented a poultry alert and diagnosis system combining satellite weather information with computer vision disease detection. The proposed system could be accessed through a smartphone application, SMS or USSD, making it potentially usable by farmers with limited internet access.

Frank Atwiine proposed a solar powered mobile diagnostic van designed to bring ultrasound and other diagnostic services closer to rural communities.

Johnson Makmot, a software and blockchain developer, presented a platform that combines GPS tracking and blockchain-based tokens to incentivise and verify plastic-waste collection in Kampala.

Dr. Nelson Ndugu, from a partner university, presented an artificial intelligence tool designed to translate agricultural research publications into local Ugandan languages and generate voice notes for radio-based extension delivery.

The final presentation came from Dr. Juliet Akola, a Ugandan post doctoral researcher at Mangosuthu University of Technology in South Africa.

Akola presented a community digital resilience initiative focused on mapping risks in Kampala’s informal settlements, including flooding, fire, poor sanitation, waste management and inadequate infrastructure.

Her proposal seeks to combine local community knowledge with geographical information systems and link identified risks to action plans involving municipalities and other stakeholders.

Nawangwe calls for more investment in innovation

Closing the event, Prof. Nawangwe congratulated all the participants and described their presentations as an important beginning for Makerere University, Uganda and the wider region.

Drawing on his experience attending the Falling Walls conference in Berlin, the Vice Chancellor said initiatives of this nature are important because innovation will play a major role in determining the future of countries.

He encouraged participants to make their pitches more precise by clearly identifying the problem they are addressing, explaining their proposed solution and demonstrating what they have already achieved.

Prof. Nawangwe also welcomed the participation of innovators from other universities and countries, noting that the Kampala event had attracted participants beyond Makerere.

He thanked the Africa Office of the Falling Walls Foundation for its role in bringing the initiative to Makerere and encouraged continued support for innovation.

The Vice Chancellor further linked innovation to Uganda’s growing youth population and the need to develop home-grown solutions to address challenges such as youth unemployment.

The inaugural Falling Walls Lab Kampala ultimately provided a platform for innovators to move ideas beyond the classroom and laboratory and demonstrate how research, technology and creativity can be applied to challenges affecting communities.

Makerere University alumni are demonstrating how innovation, environmental conservation and entrepreneurship can transform plastic waste into valuable products while creating employment opportunities for communities.

Through WastePlus Ltd, a waste management and recycling enterprise founded by BSc Conservation Biology Makerere alumni from the Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, plastic waste collected from the environment and water bodies is being transformed into furniture and other useful products, providing a practical example of how the circular economy can turn an environmental challenge into an economic opportunity.

Speaking during a visit to Makerere University, Sinan Kitagenda, the CEO and Co-Founder, explained that the initiative was born from the founders’ experiences at the University, where they were involved in waste management before venturing into the private sector along with his Co-Founder, Daniel Kayemba.

“WastePlus Ltd came up between me and my colleagues, all alumni of Makerere, because of the work we were doing. At first, we were doing a lot of waste management at the University. Once we moved out, we ventured further into waste management, but we had to add a component of what we studied,” he said.

The initiative seeks to promote a closed-loop recycling system, in which plastic waste is collected, sorted, recycled and converted into new products rather than being discarded into the environment.

The founders noted that completely eliminating plastic from society may not be realistic, given its widespread use in everyday products such as clothing, shoes, toothbrushes and mattresses. Instead, they advocate for responsible management, recycling and reuse of plastic materials.

“Zero plastic may not be achievable, but step by step, through recycling, we can create closed-loop recycling systems by collecting plastic from the environment and from water bodies,” he explained.

Turning plastic into jobs and business opportunities

Beyond environmental conservation, the initiative is demonstrating the potential of recycling to create employment and stimulate local economies.

According to the founders, production of a single table can directly create employment for more than 35 people along the value chain, with the potential for many more indirect beneficiaries through their households and communities.

One of the tables produced from recycled plastic weighs approximately 160 kilograms, representing thousands of plastic bottles that have been diverted from the environment and given a new life.

The products also demonstrate that recycled materials can have significant commercial value. A table produced from recycled plastic can sell for about Shs900,000, while chairs can fetch approximately Shs350,000, illustrating the business potential embedded in what is often regarded as waste.

The founders encouraged young people to view waste management not simply as an environmental responsibility but as a viable business opportunity.

“What is your waste can be someone else’s raw material. What is someone else’s raw material can be another person’s product. That’s what we think about,” he said.

From plastic waste to innovative products

Dr. Samuel Ojelel, Patron Makerere University Conservation Biology Students Association (MUCOBA) commended WastePlus for exploring innovative ways of combining plastic waste with biomass to produce lumber materials.

The initiative is experimenting with the use of biomass, including materials from invasive plant species in national parks, combined with recycled plastic to manufacture lumber and other products.

A prototype has already been developed using a mixture of plastic and wood. The founders said further research and testing will be required before the product can be considered for industrial-scale production.

The approach could potentially contribute to addressing two environmental challenges simultaneously-plastic pollution and the accumulation of invasive biomass in protected areas.

Giving back to Makerere

The alumni said their engagement with Makerere is part of their commitment to giving back to the institution that nurtured their education, skills and entrepreneurial journey.

They also highlighted the role of former interns in the development of some of the technologies and designs used by WastePlus. Some of the turbines and other equipment were designed by former interns under the guidance of the company’s engineers.

The founders said supporting young people to acquire practical skills and encouraging them to transform ideas into solutions remains one of the initiative’s key objectives.

“We are building for the future, but also giving hope to young people out there that the solution you want to develop can start from where you are,” they said.

University-industry collaboration key to competency-based education

The engagement also underscored the importance of strengthening collaboration between universities and industry as Makerere advances its transition towards competency-based education.

Dr. Godfrey Kawooya Kubiriza, Head, Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences at Makerere University commended the WastePlus founders for taking the initiative to start their enterprise and urged them to share their experiences with students to inspire innovation and entrepreneurship.

He emphasized that industry possesses valuable practical knowledge and expertise that students need to encounter beyond classroom learning and internships.

“The industry has a lot of knowledge. It has the expertise. It has the real hands-on experience. Beyond the internship, these students need to be exposed to such things,” he said.

Dr Jamilu E. Ssenku encouraged the alumni to regularly return to the University to share their entrepreneurial journey, including how they started, the challenges they encountered and how the enterprise has grown.

He further urged the founders to document their journey at every stage, noting that their story could inspire future generations of students.

“Document your story. Document it at every stage when you improve and at every stage when you change things. Before you know it, you will need that story in the future because you can grow big-extremely big,” he said.

From a small beginning to regional ambitions

Dr Kubiriza also noted that WastePlus had already demonstrated its capacity to undertake major environmental projects, including the manufacture of fencing poles for a 116-kilometre project for Uganda Wildlife Authority and rehabilitation and stabilization work associated with problematic waste sites.

He challenged the founders not to limit their ambitions to Uganda but to position the company to address waste management challenges across East Africa and the wider African continent.

“Waste management is a challenge everywhere,” he noted, urging the entrepreneurs to think beyond the Ugandan market.

He also emphasized the importance of integrity, teamwork and perseverance in building sustainable African enterprises, cautioning the founders against allowing disagreements or short-term gains to undermine their long-term vision.

Building a circular economy

The WastePlus initiative reflects a growing recognition that environmental conservation and economic development can be pursued together. By collecting plastic waste, training communities in sorting and recycling, developing innovative products and creating markets for recycled materials, the initiative is demonstrating the practical value of the circular economy.

The founders called for a values-based approach to waste management, where communities are taught not only to stop littering but also to understand the economic and environmental value of materials that are often discarded.

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