General
First Lady visits Makerere, lays foundation stone for the Reconstruction of the Main Building
Uganda’s First Lady and Education Minister, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni has this afternoon visited Makerere University where she officially opened new central teaching facilities and laid two foundation stones for the reconstruction and restoration of the iconic Main Building and another, for the School of Law.
The opened Central Teaching Facilities 1 and 2 buildings are housing lecture rooms, administrative offices, boardrooms, a 1000 seater auditorium, study rooms among others. She also opened the Dental School and Hospital, which will further facilitate dental studies at the College of Health Sciences.
The First Lady also laid foundation stones for two ongoing construction projects. The new School of Law building and the reconstruction and restoration of the Main Administration building. She said that she was last at Makerere on the night when fire gutted the Makerere main administration building and was glad that she had returned to commission its reconstruction.
“I was last here on 20th September 2020, following the fateful night in which our main Administration Building was burnt. It was a sad day not just for Makerere but for our nation and the nations at large, because Makerere has educated many people from other nations.” she said, adding, “I am so glad that, today, I return not on a sad note, but on a victorious note, to lay a foundation stone not only for the reconstruction of the Main Administration building but also for the School of Law.”
The Chairperson of Makerere University Council Mrs. Lorna Magara thanked the First Lady for facilitating the university, strengthening its capacity to ably perform its duties.
“The University has enjoyed exceptional support from the Government in the form of staff salary enhancements, infrastructure development, as well as funding for research and innovations since 2016, when you took over the stewardship of the Education Ministry” Mrs. Magara said. “Thank you, Honourable Minister, for your tireless efforts in mobilising Government funding to the tune of UGX 21 Billion for this iconic landmark’s restoration.” she added.
Speaking at the function, the Vice-Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe thanked the First Lady and government for making these projects successful.
“Today you have laid foundation stones at the School of Law and at the Main Building reconstruction site, and also officially commissioned the new building for the School of Dentistry and the Central Teaching Facilities 1 and 2. You have had direct input in raising the resources for all these projects, costing more than UGX 60 billion and we thank you very much.” Prof. Nawangwe said.
The chairperson of the Makerere @100 organizing committee, Hon. Dan Kidega thanked the First Lady for extending the request for funding of the yearlong Makerere centenary celebrations which will climax with the final event on the 08th October, 2022, on the eve of the 60th independence day celebration.
“On behalf of the organizing committee which is tasked to coordinate all the activities associated with the centenary celebrations, I take the special pleasure to thank you for facilitating the request to His Excellency for funding for the activities.” Hon. Kidega said. “We extend our thanks to His Excellency the President for the offer to contribute 800 million shillings towards the budget activities for the Centenary celebrations.” he added.
Hon Kidega also lauded the First Lady for her stewardship in negotiating $300m for the construction of the university teaching hospital. The teaching hospital is part of the legacy projects earmarked as part of the activities to commemorate Makerere’s 100 years of existence.
The Minister of Education, Hon. Janet K. Museveni concluded by extending her appreciation to the Makerere Administration and University Council for the work welldone in ensuring the smooth running of the University projects.
“I applaud the Council, led by Mrs. Lorna Magara and the management team led by Prof. Nawangwe together with the entire team for the work you do. We have seen some of it this afternoon. Thank you for being good stewards of what has been entrusted to you. Thank you for providing leadership to this great institution.” She said.
Makerere University, through the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) and the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), has signed an open Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). This MoU is one of several initiatives aimed at strengthening the university’s global collaborations and research partnerships.
In his remarks, Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe highlighted Makerere’s recent centenary celebrations as a testament to its long and influential history in Africa. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to serious, research-driven collaboration, noting Makerere’s aspiration to become a leading student-centered research university that develops solutions to regional challenges.
Prof. Nawangwe emphasized that Makerere’s research addresses critical issues such as widespread poverty, high youth unemployment, the devastating effects of climate change on agriculture, rapid population growth, and political interference in production. These challenges, he explained, call for climate-resilient agriculture, stronger health systems to address emerging diseases, and more inclusive governance. He further observed that Africa’s ambitious goal of producing one million PhDs in the next decade remains constrained by inadequate supervision capacity across the continent, stressing that collaborations like this MoU are key to bridging that gap.
EPRC Executive Director, Dr. Sarah Sewanyana, described the signing as particularly significant for EPRC and its Board of Directors as they embark on a new five-year strategic plan (2025/26–2029/30). She explained that the plan strongly emphasizes strategic collaborations, with this partnership serving as a prime example of leveraging collective strengths to deepen impact. She underscored EPRC’s role in advancing evidence-based policymaking for national development, aligning with Uganda’s National Development Plan IV.
Prof. James Wokadala, Acting Principal of CoBAMS, emphasized that the collaboration seeks to preserve and expand vital human knowledge while strengthening partnerships between academic institutions and global research networks. He noted that these networks are instrumental in advising legal and policy professionals, as well as aligning research agendas with both national and corporate priorities. He expressed pride in the extensive efforts of the School of Economics that have expanded these activities in recent years. He pointed to significant accomplishments that have been achieved in collaboration with IGC, including hosting a 2025 high-level international conference on mobile money payment systems, which positioned Makerere University as a thought leader on critical African economic issues. He also celebrated the successful bid by the School of Economics to host the ‘Africa Meeting of the Econometric Society’ in 2027, further demonstrating its contribution to impactful scholarship and policy influence.
The Acting Principal further emphasized that the new partnership with LSE will build on these achievements, offering immense benefits such as expanding capacity-building opportunities for faculty and students, especially in research and Public Infrastructure Management (PIM). The collaboration will also provide platforms for knowledge dissemination and policy dialogue, while addressing pressing socio-economic and health challenges. Ultimately, he said, formalisation of the partnership amplifies CoBAMS’ commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and innovation.
Speaking on behalf of LSE’s International Growth Centre (IGC), Executive Director Dr. Jonathan Leape expressed delight at formalizing the long-standing collaboration with Makerere and EPRC. He highlighted current joint projects, including research on the impact of the 2020 gender-based vaccine program on women’s skills and learning, studies on reforms in STEM education, and investigations into barriers limiting business growth for entrepreneurs. He stressed that the core mission is to bring researchers and policymakers together to address pressing policy challenges with robust, reliable evidence and innovative solutions.
The event, held on 27th August 2025, was attended by several dignitaries including Dr. Richard Newfarmer, Country Director for Uganda and Rwanda (IGC); Dr. Nhial Kuch, Senior Country Economist (IGC); and Mary Teddy Nakyejwe, IGC Programme Officer. Also present were the Director of Research, Dr. Ibrahim Kasirye and other members of EPRC leadership.
Makerere University has hosted a delegation from the Ghent University Association, led by Prof. Mieke Van Herreweghe, Vice Rector of Ghent University. The delegation included representatives from Howest University and Hogent University of Applied Sciences.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe welcomed the team and highlighted Makerere University’s commitment to addressing the pressing challenges in the region. These include climate change, which continues to hinder investment, and Uganda’s rapidly growing population that has surged from 5 million in the late 1940s to nearly 50 million currently, creating socio-economic challenges such as high youth unemployment.
He emphasized that Makerere’s research agenda focuses on understanding the fast-growing population, tackling health challenges, advancing governance and human rights, and fostering peace through initiatives such as the Rotary Peace Center—the only one of its kind on the African continent. Research at Makerere also seeks to provide solutions to youth unemployment in one of the world’s youngest nations.
The Vice Chancellor further noted that Makerere University teaches and conducts research across a wide spectrum of disciplines, organized into colleges including Agriculture, Business and Management, Computing, Education and External Studies, Engineering and Technology, Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine. The university also hosts over 60 specialized research centers, among them Centers of Excellence such as the Regional Centre for Crop Improvement, which works to enhance food security, manage pests and diseases, and improve agricultural productivity. Another key institution is the Infectious Diseases Institute, which leads research on HIV/AIDS. With these initiatives, he added, Makerere continues to expand its research footprint while strengthening global partnerships.
Prof. Van Herreweghe provided an overview of Ghent University, founded in 1817 and ranked among the top 100 universities globally for decades. With its motto “Dare to think,” Ghent University has built a strong international reputation. It also holds the distinction of being the only Belgian, and currently the only European, university with a campus in South Korea. Established in 2014, the campus offers bachelor’s programs in applied biotechnology.
She highlighted Ghent’s joint PhD programs, which are structured as sandwich programs to support African universities. Under this arrangement, PhD candidates spend two years funded at Ghent University and another two years at their home university (such as Makerere), with joint supervision from both institutions. These programs, she noted, are a strategic way of fostering international collaboration.
During the visit, Ghent University signed a Student Exchange Agreement with Makerere University to complement the existing Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement will pave the way for more joint initiatives and strengthen collaboration in the years ahead.
The delegation also included Mr. Lieven Theys, International Coordinator for Business Management at Howest University, who explained that Howest clusters its programs into three key domains: Design and Technology, Human Well-being and Health, and Business and Organization. Dr. Robin Stevens represented Hogent University of Applied Sciences, which runs programs across nine schools including Business and Management, Computer Sciences, Biosciences, Industrial Technology, Teacher Training, and Healthcare.
The visit, held on 27th August 2025, was attended by Makerere University officials and members of various colleges, among them Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) and Principal of the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Prof. Tonny Oyana-Principal College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Prof. Moses Musinguzi-Principal College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Prof. Julius Kikooma-Director Graduate Training, Assoc. Prof. Yazidhi Bamutaze-Deputy Principal College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Assoc. Prof. James Wokadala-Deputy Principal College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Assoc. Prof. Richard Idro-Deputy Principal College of Health Sciences, and Dr. Cathy Mbidde, Manager of the Makerere University Innovation Pod (Mak UniPod).
-
General2 weeks agoMary Stuart Hall Reborn: Makerere Celebrates Reopening of Historic Female Residence
-
Computing & IS1 week agoCoCIS CIPSD Physical & Online Short Courses Aug-Oct 2025 Intakes
-
General1 week agoE-Mobility Skilling Programme: Cohort 2 Applications Now Open!
-
Research2 weeks agoMakerere Scientists Document Climate-Smart Innovation in Sentema, Applaud Farmer’s Odor-Control Breakthrough
-
General2 weeks agoBid Notice: Refugee Law Project Mid-Term Review