General
First Lady Hon. Janet Museveni Commends Two-Decade Swedish Support
The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, represented by the State Minister for Primary Education Hon. Dr. Joyce M. Kaducu, has this morning Monday 9th May, 2022 officially opened the International Conference commemorating over two decades of research cooperation between Uganda and Sweden.
Present at the opening ceremony were the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovations, Dr. Monica Musenero, the Head Development Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden in Uganda, Mr. Ola Hällgren, the Chairperson Makerere University Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara, the Vice Chancellor Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and the First Secretary Research Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden, Dr. Gity Behravan. The Session was moderated by the Director, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training and Overall Programme Coordinator for the Sida-Makerere University Cooperation, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi.
On behalf of the Government of Uganda, the Minister thanked the Royal Government of Sweden for the unconditional and generous support towards the advancement of research and innovations in Ugandan institutions of higher learning. To-date, there have been four consecutive research agreement periods with a total support of SEK 813M (USD 116M). Initially started with Makerere and a few Swedish Universities, the collaboration has grown over the years to include more than 17 Swedish Universities and four other Ugandan Public universities. These are Kyambogo University, Busitema University, Gulu University and Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
“Two decades of Swedish support have greatly improved our research culture and through the numerous research projects conducted, the Government of Uganda has been able to formulate well informed policies that will lead to sustainable development,” said Hon. Janet Museveni.
The Minister further reiterated government’s commitment to continue supporting initiatives aimed at promoting research and innovation development.
“Government has made significant impact through the Presidential Initiative on Science and Technology. The President committed UGX 25 billion to support research and innovations in science-based colleges at Makerere University,” she said, adding that this was supplemented in 2020 with the establishment of the research and innovations fund at Makerere University, with an annual budget support of UGX.30billion.
“The fund illustrates the increasing importance that the government of Uganda attaches to research and innovation as a driver for socio-economic transformation,” she added.
The First Lady noted that whereas this successful research partnership is scheduled to come to an end after 30th June 2022, Ugandan universities lost much of their research and academic calendar due to the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating a structured recovery plan.
“Our prayer is that this great partnership can be renewed for purposes of continuity and sustainability of our joint achievements. This renewal of our Research Cooperation Agreement for another five years would enable the Universities successfully recover from the adverse effects of the pandemic,” the Minister implored.
On behalf of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MoSTI), Hon. Dr. Musenero, pledged to ensure that the capacity built by the research collaboration between Swedish and Ugandan universities would be put to good use in line with national development priorities.
“Transformation of research into enterprise remains a core target of my Ministry, and in this regard the government has committed funds to enable researchers to continue doing research. Examples include the research and innovation fund at Makerere and the research and innovation fund at MoSTI.
“Embracing innovation is not only critical to the future of our economy but also key to improving the wellbeing of our society. We have the advantage of building on world leading research already carried out in our universities,” said Hon. Dr. Musenero.
She called upon Makerere and other public universities to review and integrate the innovation and cluster component into academic programmes and partner with business development and research institutions such as Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) to establish a local technology and resource centre. Such initiatives, she noted, would help universities to effectively incubate clusters, nurture product innovation, enhance product quality and stimulate enterprise growth.
On behalf of the Swedish Embassy, Mr. Ola Hällgren noted that in addition to the research and innovation outputs, solid relationships with the capacity to outlive the duration of the programme have been built between Swedish and Ugandan researchers and institutions. “The cooperation has indeed been successful in terms of developing capacity both at institutional and individual levels and has contributed to both university and national policies in different sectors.”
He highlighted some of the figures from the collaboration as; 263 Masters, over 400 PhDs and 85 Post-doctoral staff trained from the five public universities, in addition to 98 small research grants awarded. Furthermore, quality assurance policies and structures for research and graduate training have been established at all collaborating Ugandan universities. Additionally, thematic multidisciplinary networks have also been setup with the aim of attracting new collaborators with new funding.
The Chairperson Makerere University Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara, said the need for Makerere University to play a more deliberate and purposeful role in national development is more prominent than ever before, especially as the institution celebrates 100 years of existence with only 17 years left to the attainment of Vision 2040.
“This fast approaching national milestone requires Makerere to constantly refine her strategies and outputs to meet both current and emerging demands in Education, Agriculture, Industry, Health, Law and Science, among other spheres. The Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated to us that Uganda has the potential to address a number of its domestic needs and lay strategies to meet the needs of its citizens in the future,” remarked Mrs. Magara.
On behalf of Makerere University, the Chairperson thanked His Excellency the President for his visionary leadership in endorsing the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF), which has augmented the capacity built over two decades by the Uganda-Sweden Research Cooperation.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe thanked the Royal Government of Sweden for the support that has led to tremendous achievements in capacity development and research outputs with great impact on Makerere University and other communities in Uganda.
“Swedish government support has included PhD training at Makerere and four other public universities, facilitation of supervisors to do research with their counterparts in Sweden, Faculty research funds and independent university-wide research,” he said.
Prof. Nawangwe shared that the funding has also supported the improvement of research laboratories in units such as the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology, the College of Health Sciences, and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio Security. Support was also extended to the Geographical Information Systems and Cross-cutting Biomedical Laboratory, ICT Infrastructure and Library Services, as well as administrative costs for the programme.
Reiterating the Minister’s request for an additional phase of collaboration, the Vice Chancellor said, “We all know that the support is supposed to be coming to its end but I will not tire to say, I think it is a bit too early and it does no harm to reconsider this decision”.
Speeches from the day
General
Minister Janet Museveni Lays Foundation Stone for School of Graduate Studies Building, Commissions the School of Law Building and the renovated Lumumba Hall
The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, has laid the foundation stone for Makerere University’s School of Graduate Studies building, whose construction is now underway.
The Minister laid the foundation stone for the USD8 million project during a brief function held on Wednesday 18th December 2024 at the site opposite Makerere University’s Lumumba Hall. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including the State Minister for Primary Education, Hon. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, University Council Chairperson Mrs. Lorna Magara, and Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe.
Others in attendance included Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration, Professor Henry Alinaitwe; Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Professor Buyinza Mukadasi; University Secretary Mr. Yusuf Kiranda; Dean of Students Winfred Kabumbuli; Guild President Vincent Lubega Nsamba; and the Vice Guild President, Joy Eve Serunjogi among others.
The building is a donation (in-kind) from the late Hasmukh Patel, an industrialist and former Chairman of Tororo Cement who passed away on August 29, 2024, after a short illness. The journey to this befitting donation to Makerere University started in December 2022, when Hasmukh Patel accompanied by some members of his family and friends visited the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe to declare his donation. From December 2022, a number of meetings were convened involving the Minister of Education and Sports, the University leadership, Mr. Hasmukh Patel, his family and Tororo Cement regarding this donation. Living true to his commitment during those meetings, his family and Tororo Cement are implementing his wishes to construct the building, which will house the School of Graduate Studies at Makerere University.
Before laying the foundation stone for the School of Graduate Studies building, Hon. Janet Museveni first unveiled a plaque to officially open the new building for the School of Law. She then headed to Lumumba Hall, where she unveiled another plaque marking the completion of its renovation.
The First Lady, who had initially laid the foundation stone for the School of Law building on May 17, 2022, returned to the main campus to officially open the completed structure. Funded by the Government of Uganda to the tune of UGX 7.3 billion, the new three-storeyed building features lecture rooms, tutorial and seminar rooms, a library, a moot court, offices, a cafeteria, a lactation room, and other teaching and learning facilities. Construction was undertaken by M/S CK Associates, with Symbion serving as a consultant.
The renovation works for Lumumba Hall commenced in June 2023, with the site handed over to the contractor, National Enterprise Corporation (NEC). Funded by the Government of Uganda to the tune of UGX 9 billion, the project involved extensive renovations to restore Lumumba Hall to its original splendor. Lumumba Hall now accommodates about 725 students.
Lumumba Hall was the first hall of residence to undergo renovation, followed by Mary Stuart Hall, which has also been handed over to NEC for refurbishment. These renovations, which began last year, are a result of the Government of Uganda’s efforts to improve the nine (9) halls of residence at the main campus.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Janet Museveni thanked the University Council and management for their dedication to rebuilding the institution. She expressed confidence that the physical restoration efforts would also rebuild the character of young people.
“There is a restoration of dignity that comes to an institution or a community when we choose to rebuild and it is not only physical, there is a spiritual restoration that comes as well. For Nehemiah, it was not just the rebuilding of a physical wall it was the rebuilding of broken lives and a broken covenant. It was the rolling away of the reproach they had suffered as a nation,” she said.
Adding; “I therefore salute the Council and the management of Makerere for your dedication to the rebuilding of this University. I am confident that as you rebuild physically, you are rebuilding the character of our young people. My prayer is that the physical restoration is translating into the spiritual restoration of this great institution.”
The first lady, Hon. Janet Museveni recalled her earlier visit to Makerere University, where she observed the dilapidated state of the halls of residence, which prompted her to initiate the renovation works.
“I remember taking a tour of the halls of residence in this University and Kyambogo University in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic. My heart bled when I saw the state of the halls of residence. Like Nehemiah, I took my burden to the Lord and now see what the Lord has done! Commissioning of the refurbished Lumumba Hall today is a testament to the faithfulness of our God. It is even more gratifying to know that other projects are ongoing and these include: the renovation of Mary Stuart Hall, the construction of the Perimeter Wall, and improvements at the University Hospital, including setting up an operating theatre and ICU.” She said.
Hon. Janet Museveni also expressed gratitude to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, for his leadership, which facilitated the realization of the Tororo Cement project. “This Project would not have been possible without the guidance and leadership of the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Nawangwe, who drew my attention to this offer by Tororo Cement, and requested me to endorse this Project, which will be named after Mr. Hamukh Patel,” she said.
Adding: “I am informed that the construction of this building is estimated to cost 8 Million US dollars and will consist of: lecture and seminar rooms, smart classrooms, laboratories, an innovation space, a conference hall, offices and other facilities. We remain forever grateful for this donation, which will increase access and contribute to improving the quality of postgraduate education.”
Speaking at the event, Vice Chancellor Prof. Nawangwe commended Hon. Janet Museveni for prioritizing the development of Makerere University, which has seen remarkable progress under her leadership. “Hon. Minister, from the time you took over the Office of Minister of Education and Sports and the Higher Education Sector, Makerere University in particular has transformed tremendously. Most notable is the infrastructure revolution at Makerere. On several occasions, you have come to Makerere to lay the foundations for new buildings and to open completed buildings, including our iconic Main Administration Building,” he said.
“When you inspected the halls of residence in 2021, I could see the frustration in your eyes, looking at the dilapidated state the halls were in, especially Lumumba, part of which had been condemned for 2 years,” Prof. Nawangwe said.
“Hon. Minister, I am sure that today, after seeing the glamorous new building for the School of Law and the glittering renovated Lumumba Hall, you are in a completely different mood compared to that visit in 2021. We are as delighted as you must be and your efforts are the reason for our happiness today. Our law students and professors can now comfortably study, work and conduct research in the best building for any school of law that I have seen,” Prof Nawangwe added.
Reflecting on the Graduate School Building, Prof. Nawangwe recalled when he received a proposal from Mr. Hasmukh Patel in 2022 who had initially intended to donate the Main Administration Building, which had been destroyed by fire, but opted to donate School of Graduate Studies Building after finding that the main building reconstruction had already started.
“Hon. Minister, in the morning of 13th December 2022, a miracle happened in my office in the Frank Kalimuzo Building. General David Muhoozi and Major General Apollo Gowa walked into my office with the Late Hasmukh Patel. Gen. Muhoozi introduced Mr. Hasmukh Patel as the Chairman of Tororo Cement, who after learning about the destruction by a fire of our Main Administration Building, expressed the wish to reconstruct that iconic building. On reaching Makerere, Mr. Hasmukh Patel found a contractor already on site, and he told us, that he would all the same donate a building to Makerere University as a gift on our 100th anniversary,” Prof Nawangwe said.
“He said it in such a simple way, that I thought I was dreaming. That evening, at the invitation of Mr. Patel, I visited the building that Mr. Patel had built for a school at Bukoto and I told him that a similar building for Makerere would be just what we needed for our School of Graduate Studies and Research that we needed. The University Council unanimously voted to thank Mr. Patel for his magnanimous offer and, you, Maama Janet graciously endorsed the project. I later visited Mr. Patel in Mombasa and was amazed at the humanitarian work he was doing among the communities. He was such a rare human being,” Professor revealed.
“Today we are here to witness the laying of the foundation stone for this, the largest academic building at Makerere University, and the first such donation I know by an African philanthropist to a university in Africa. The building will have lecture and seminar rooms, a conference hall, innovation spaces, PhD student rooms, computer and other laboratories, a restaurant, staff offices and other facilities. I thank Tororo Cement and the family of the Late Hasmukh Patel for honoring his wish and I wish to assure Mr. Patel, who must be in heaven smiling at us, that we will honor his legacy in this building and that we will put the building to its best use in the service of humanity, which is what Mr. Patel lived for,” Prof Nawangwe added.
On her part, the state Minister for Primary Education, Honorable Joyce Moriku Kaducu acknowledged Hon. Janet Museveni for prioritizing the Education sector in her leadership, which has led to the tremendously development of the sector.
“On behalf of the education sector, we want to thank you as the mother of the nation, indeed you are a big gift and a blessing to the nation and education at large, all this achievement would not have been possible if it was not under your visionary leadership and the guidance you have offered,” Minister Kaducu said.
Hon. Kaducu also hailed Makerere University for playing a very critical role in sensitizing, disseminating knowledge, and raising awareness to the public on the message of the Parish Development Model, which is intended to create wealth among citizens.
“As President Museveni is preaching the message of wealth creation, I want in a special way to thank Makerere University for playing a very critical role in sensitizing, disseminating knowledge, and raising awareness to the public on the message of the Parish Development Model (PDM), and they have a committee that monitors and informs government. They are indeed part of the team promoting wealth creation in this country,” she said.
Mrs. Lorna Magara, the Chairperson of the Makerere University Council said that the construction of the Graduate studies building speaks to the University’s mission of being a research-led institution because it comes as a dedicated building to house the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, which marks the resolution of a critical gap in our institutional framework
“At the heart of Makerere University’s current strategy is the promotion of a research-led institution, with a strong focus on graduate training. The establishment of a dedicated facility for the School of Graduate Studies, which also houses the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, marks the resolution of a critical gap in our institutional framework. The late Patel’s timely and generous contribution will undoubtedly advance graduate training and research for generations to come. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your exceptional support,” she said.
Mr. Manish Varsani who represented the Patel family took the first lady through how Mr. Hasmukh Patel started the idea of donating the building to Makerere. He explained that, Mr. Patel intended to present a gift that was coming from the bottom of his heart, and he teamed up with General Muhoozi who led him to Prof. Nawangwe’s office.
He also recalled when Mr. Patel met H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Museveni in Bukoto where he (Patel) had donated a building to a school and told the President that he would want to donate the same building to Makerere University as a gift to the First Lady Janet Museveni because he loved her so much, and in response, the President said he would take the message back to the First Lady.
The Guild President Lubega Vincent Nsamba asked the First Lady to consider constructing another hall of residence for the female students to solve what he described as an accommodation imbalance.
“Maama Janet Museveni, allow me to report to you that we still have only three halls of residence gazetted for female students against the six halls of residence gazetted for male students. These halls of residences were built back in colonial and independent times when the female students were fewer compared to their male counterparts, and to me Maama, this accommodation imbalance is something that should be addressed,” he stated.
“To me Maama, this speaks to the sense of how there is a dire need to invest in another additional hall of residence for the girl child here at Makerere University, and Maama, without any fear of contradiction, we humbly request that you consider building an additional hall of residence named after you in recognition of the contribution and honor of the service you have made for this country as a mother and as an educator,” he said.
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