General
MakSPH Celebrates Professor Bazeyo at 28 years of service
After an illustrious 28-year career, Makerere University School of Public Health’s Former Dean Dr. William Bazeyo officially retired from university service.
Dr. Bazeyo, a Professor of Occupational Medicine walked onto Makerere University in August 1993 after being appointed as a Lecturer of Occupational Health at the School of Public Health.
At a Dinner organised by the Makerere University School of Public Health’s Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health held on Tuesday August 9 at Skyz Hotel, Kampala, Makerere University Vice Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe said Professor Bazeyo has selflessly served and made “incredible contributions” to the century old institution and the country.
“Professor Bazeyo is one of the very few Ugandans with whom I have had a lot of pleasure to work with. He is one of the very few people who genuinely loves their country. He is a true patriot. One of the things I found pleasure in working with Prof. Bazeyo is he is very open,” said Prof. Nawangwe.
He adds that Professor Bazeyo was a true asset attesting to his leadership abilities during the time he worked as Deputy Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration.
“In that very short time that we worked together, we gained so much as Makerere University. We did so many things that had failed Makerere University in over 30 years. One time he told me I never take a no for an answer. Every assignment he goes on, he comes with an answer,” Prof. Nawangwe.
Among some of the achievements credited to Professor Bazeyo according to the Vice Chancellor was his great negotiation skills with government and several stakeholders that saw reduction of a long-standing debt from Ugx120bn to now less than Ugx.10bn.
The vice chancellor also urged staff to emulate Professor Bazeyo by having a positive attitude.
“He [Prof. Bazeyo] has demonstrated how much he loved Makerere University. Even when he left, he still comes and offers guidance. Thank you very much for having that kind of heart. It is very important to have a positive attitude to serve humanity,” Prof. Nawangwe.
Mrs. Lorna Magara, the Makerere University Council Chairperson described Bazeyo as a “larger-than-life” figure with a kind and generous heart.
“On this day Professor Bazeyo we celebrate the man you are. We thank God for who He has made you to be. God packages us uniquely. Just hearing the impact, you have had on so many lives, we thank you!” Mrs. Lorna Magara said.
She further praised Prof. Bazeyo for being a down-to-earth person citing that that he easily identifies with ordinary people irrespective of his status in society.
“Professor dines with the rich and the top of the tops but he will know the name of the person who is at the door. He will know the lady in the kitchen. Thank you for a large heart and for knowing even those that are faceless,” says Mrs. Magara.
On her part, Dean, Prof. Wanyenze hailed Prof. Bazeyo for his significant contribution to Makerere University and particularly the School of Public Health.
“If you had not done your part, we couldn’t be where we are today. I picked on from you and everything you left I was able to move on with it because I was building on a strong foundation. I hope you will continue to support us,” said Prof. Wanyenze.
She emphasized that the School of Public Health has been privileged with successive strong and progressive leadership that has continued support the School even when they leave. She thanked the previous leadership of the School including Prof. David Serwadda, Prof. Fred Wabwire-Mangen, Prof. Kakitahi, Prof. Bukenya, Prof. Namboze, among others for their incredible leadership.
“People who have been part of MakSPH are always a part of us—please keep with us. We pray for excellent health for you and for a peaceful retirement.” Prof. Wanyenze said.
Representing the Principal, Professor Isaac Kajja, the Deputy Principal of the Makerere University College of Health Sciences urged the School of Public Health not to lose a person of Prof. Bazeyo’s stature.
Prof. Kajja praised Professor Bazeyo for his kindness and his passion for farming.
“I briefly interacted with Prof. Bazeyo as a Student in my 4th year medical school. But he left something to us. He was kind to us and I remembered how kind you are until I started working with you. Indeed, what these people from School of Public Health have said is right. He is a very kind gentleman. Sincerely that kindness, you will not go away. Even if you try to leave Makerere, with that kindness I know you will come back,” Prof. Kajja said.
He also requested Prof. Bazeyo to continue working and support the School of Public Health and the entire College of Health Sciences.
Prof. Kajja equated the gesture of thanking its staff and those retiring to his former Mentor’s advice the late Church of Uganda Archbishop Dr. Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo who preached about thanking people always.
“It is extremely important to thank people in a timely manner. Immediately thank people when they are still available. That is what I learnt from Archbishop Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo. Why am I saying this? Professor Rhoda Wanyenze and your team, thank you for thanking Professor Bazeyo in a timely manner. When I also leave, the office of the Deputy Principal please thank me. Organize a thank you for me. Don’t wait to thank somebody when we are burying him. Let us develop a culture of thanking people when they are still alive,” Prof. Isaac Kajja appealed.
Professor Bazeyo has been instrumental in fundraising for the new building for MakSPH. Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze revealed at the function that she inherited approximately 1.9bn Uganda shillings from Prof. Bazeyo for construction of the MakSPH building at his handover. She says this money has now increased to more than 12 billion shillings, thanking Bazeyo and the former leadership for having the School at heart.
What staff say about Bazeyo
Prof. David Serwadda, a former Dean of MakSPH says the School has for long dreamed of having a spacious home. “Infrastructure was always on everybody’s mind right from Prof. Gilbert Bukenya’s time through to Prof. Wabwire’s time and to date. Dr. William was very proactive in building and going through various stages of designs and also fundraising for the School.”
Prof. Serwadda says Dr. William Bazeyo was his successor as the Head of Department of Disease Control, his Deputy Dean as well as Dean.
“The School of Public Health has been lucky. Every leader that has come on as far as I can remember builds on the previous leaders’ achievement and the School of Public Health is where it is now because of contribution from each of the previous leadership. Professor Bazeyo definitely did build on,” says Prof. Serwadda.
Associate Prof. John C. Ssempebwa, a former Head of Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health congratulated Professor Bazeyo on his retirement and cited that Department had benefited greatly from his contribution.
“It was an honor to work with a person who was committed to the success of their co-workers. I have learnt a lot from working with you over the years. I do remember when you used to come to our offices mainly in the mornings to check on us how we are doing socially but also professionally. We really loved that and it encouraged us,” Dr. Ssempebwa said.
Associate Prof. Esther Buregyeya, the Head of Disease Control and Environmental Health Department just like Professor David Guwatudde hailed Bazeyo for his great lobbying skills that have seen the Department, School and University benefit immensely from the networks.
“As you usually say, I negotiate till I get YES for an answer, indeed Professor Bazeyo that is what you are,” said Dr. Buregyeya.
According to Dr. Lynn Atuyambe, an Associate Professor in the Department of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Professor Bazeyo’s reign at MakSPH saw a log growth in the grant portfolio, academic growth and finance.
Mr. Amos Ashaba Dembe, the internal auditor at MakSPH hailed Prof. Bazeyo for his availability to offer quick solutions and being able to network the School in the entire Makerere and across the various government institutions.
“He would have right and valid contacts at any one time you approached him with a challenge. Sometimes when we are implementing the researches that we manage, you may get stuck either because of policy gaps but whenever you would call on Prof. Bazeyo, he would have the right contacts,” said Ashaba Dembe.
Dr. Fredrick Edward Makumbi, Associate Professor and former Deputy Dean thanked Bazeyo who through his ambitious targets nurtured and saw the establishment of the Staff SACCO which he said had benefited several staff.
In equal measure, Ms. Enid Kemari said; “I think this Sacco has not left us the same. Most staff who have joined this SACCO, their financial status has improved. We have been able to save, but also do some investments which I think is very good.”
Professor Christopher Garimoi Orach praised Prof. Bazeyo for being a result-oriented person; “Apart from fighting for what he believes in very firmly, William is a doer and focused on results. It is really very pleasant to work with him.”
Dr. Elizeus Rutebemberwa, Professor and Deputy Dean MakSPH says he learnt a lot during his time at the helm of the School as someone that wished to see everyone contribute.
“He once narrated how he went to China and visited a factory. In the evening as workers were leaving, each would say, I have been a contribution. And to me, the take home message was every day, one comes to work, one should not just take tea and breathe air but be a contribution to solving challenges facing our country,” Prof. Rutebemberwa.
Professor Bazeyo speaks out
While delivering his remarks, Prof. William Bazeyo thanked Makerere University for the opportunity to serve the nation. He also urged all university staff to always leave a trail in all their work so that they are remembered for their good deeds.
“I want to thank God for this time. I listened to the memory lane and I have listened to what a lot of people have said and it brings me a lot of memories. I want to thank God again for our institution. That you come into an institution, it nurtures you. When the Vice Chancellor talks about these negotiations, meeting donors and so on. Not that you go and say I must! But you have that inside power that it is not yours,” Prof. Bazeyo highlighted.
“It is what you decide to be that you become. I want to thank the university management and council for approving the Master of Environmental and Occupational Health which I for long has been passionate about. If I was allowed, I would come and give some introductory lectures.
I want to thank the university for nurturing me and accepting me. I am not very simple. Some of you know. As they said I don’t take no as an answer and I don’t believe in failure. And I don’t believe that we can’t do a lot. I thank the University for having been patient with me, especially the Vice Chancellor for accepting me to be his Deputy,” Bazeyo says.
He thanked the School of Public Health, his mother Department for nurturing him and equally urged the staff to build networks.
“Professor Rhoda said money or resources do not make everything. Indeed, they don’t. Because all those things come from partnerships and friends. If you don’t have them, you have nothing. She has told us the partnerships that the School has, and that is why the School is ranked high. Let your address be that that means something to communities, humanity, to donors and to other institutions,” Prof. Bazeyo.
Professor Bazeyo apologized for errors and mistakes that he could have made while at Makerere University and asked for forgiveness from those that were hurt by his actions.
“I want to sincerely apologize if in the time I was at the School, I could have offended you either in writing, talking Forgive me those whom I hurt,” Bazeyo remorsefully said.
About Bazeyo
Born on June 22nd, 1957, Professor Bazeyo clocked mandatory retirement age of Makerere University on September 22nd 2017 having joined the University in 1993. He was offered a post retirement contract for four years as a Professor, in the Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health running from June 2017 to June 2021.
In March 1998, Prof. Bazeyo was promoted to rank of Senior Lecturer, Makerere University and subsequently secured a promotion to the rank Associate Professor in 2011 and later Professor in 2015.
In September 2009, Professor Bazeyo was named Dean, a position he held until September 2017 when he handed over to the current Dean, Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze upon completion of his term of office.
Professor Bazeyo later rose through the university leadership ranks to become Deputy Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration, Makerere University and later the Head, Grants Administration and Management Support Unit (GAMSU)
During his tenure in MakSPH, he served as the Head of Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health in 2003.
In a landmark event symbolizing Uganda’s stride towards sustainable transportation, Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero Masanza, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, commissioned the first Electric Fast-Charging Station at Makerere University on Friday 13th March 2026. The ceremony, held at the Senate Building Parking Lot, marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s e-mobility journey, blending academic innovation with industrial application and governmental support.
The station, a DC Fast Charger C6-180 installed in collaboration with Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC), is designed to power electric vehicles efficiently, supporting Uganda’s shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. This setup ensures high-power DC charging ideal for fleet operations.
Hon. Dr. Musenero, in her keynote remarks, highlighted the profound significance of the occasion, tracing its roots back to 2011 when Makerere unveiled the Kiira EV – Uganda’s first electric vehicle prototype. “This infrastructure is the physical manifestation of a journey that began on this very hill nearly two decades ago,” she stated, emphasizing how the university’s initial proof-of-concept challenged skepticism about Africa’s role in automotive technology.
The event, she noted, completes a narrative full circle, with the birthplace of the Kiira EV now hosting the infrastructure to sustain a modern electric fleet. The commissioning aligns seamlessly with Uganda’s National E-Mobility Strategy, which aims to localize 65% of the e-mobility value chain by 2040 and create over 500,000 high-quality green jobs.
Hon. Dr. Musenero underscored the strategy’s focus on reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels while enhancing environmental well-being. “We are transforming Uganda into a net source of e-mobility solutions,” she declared, pointing to the potential for Ugandan intellect to produce vehicle parts and charging systems domestically.
In his remarks at the event, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe described the launch as a “multi-faceted achievement,” not only advancing the institution’s inclusive agenda but also setting an example for public institutions in adopting e-mobility. In so doing, Makerere University has positioned itself at the forefront of this transition.
On September 26, 2025, President Yoweri Museveni commissioned the Kiira Vehicle Plant in Jinja and handed over three Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) buses to Makerere University to enhance staff and student mobility. The fleet included two diesel-powered Kayoola Coaches and one electric Kayoola EVS 8.5m bus donated by KMC specifically to aid the movement of differently-abled staff and students. This move demonstrates academia’s capacity to integrate home-grown solutions into daily operations, impacting the economy through practical science.
The commissioning of the fast-charging station is rooted in a long history of collaboration. The Kiira Electric Vehicle Project, hatched in the former Faculty of Technology, has evolved into a national movement for automotive manufacturing. Hon. Dr. Musenero praised this progression: “We have moved beyond proving that an electric vehicle can be built in Uganda. We are now ensuring our electric vehicles are deployed across the continent, solving Africa’s mobility problems.”
Academia’s role remains central, as Hon. Dr. Musenero elaborated. While government provides policy frameworks and the private sector offers capital, universities supply the essential knowledge. The E-Mobility Skilling Programme at Makerere University‘s Innovation Pod (Mak-UniPod) is training the next generation of electric vehicle engineers, who are tackling “moonshot projects” to redefine urban transport. Research into optimizing local resources, such as Uganda’s lithium and cobalt deposits for battery production, is also underway.
A key environmental highlight of this development is Uganda’s renewable energy advantage. With over 95% of the national grid powered by hydroelectric dams, every charge at this station utilizes clean energy. “We are using our own water to power our own vehicles, keeping our wealth within our economy rather than exporting it to purchase foreign oil,” Hon. Dr. Musenero remarked, framing the launch as Uganda plugging into the global renewable shift. She pledged the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Secretariat’s continued collaboration with Makerere University, KMC, and partners to proliferate such stations across Kampala and beyond.
Addressing Makerere students, Hon. Dr. Musenero issued a challenge: “See this charging station as a symbol of your own potential. The engineers who built the first Kiira EV were once sitting exactly where you are. They did not wait for permission to be great.” She urged them to leverage available resources to innovate, building on a legacy that has shifted national conversations.
The event drew distinguished guests, including Members of Management, Eng. Paul Isaac Musasizi, KMC’s CEO and his management team, private sector partners, development agencies, and university faculty.
Looking ahead, this launch propels Uganda towards a “Qualitative Leap” in its economy, as Hon. Dr. Musenero described. By fostering innovation and investing in young minds, the nation aims to lead in technological advancement. The station not only powers vehicles but ignites progress, ensuring Uganda remains at the forefront of Africa’s e-mobility revolution.
As the ceremony which was intermittently “blessed” by drizzles drew to a close, the feeling of hope for a cleaner, self-reliant future – one charged by Ugandan ingenuity, was unmistakable.
General
Makerere University and International Partners Sign MoU for the 9th Kampala Geopolitics Conference
Makerere University, on 10th March, 2026, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Embassy of France in Uganda, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), and Alliance Française de Kampala to organize the 9th edition of the Kampala Geopolitics Conference (KGC), scheduled to take place on 15–16 April 2026 at Makerere University.
The signing formalizes the continued partnership that has established the Kampala Geopolitics Conference as one of the region’s leading platforms for dialogue on global affairs, bringing together scholars, policymakers, civil society leaders, and students to debate the major geopolitical and socio-economic transformations shaping the world.
The conference, inspired by the Nantes Geopolitics Conference in France, was first launched in Kampala in 2018 and has since grown into a unique intellectual space for cross-continental exchange between Africa and Europe.
A Platform for Ideas, Dialogue, and Youth Engagement
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, emphasized the importance of the Kampala Geopolitics Conference as a platform that connects academic discourse with global policy conversations while empowering students to engage with the complex challenges shaping the international system.
The Vice Chancellor noted that hosting the conference reflects Makerere University’s long-standing commitment to fostering intellectual exchange and positioning the institution as a hub for regional and global dialogue.
“Makerere University is proud to host the Kampala Geopolitics Conference because it creates an important platform for debate and exchange on the global issues shaping our world, while giving our students the opportunity to engage directly with leading thinkers and policymakers,” said Prof. Nawangwe.
Prof. Nawangwe further commended the Embassy of France in Uganda, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and Alliance Française de Kampala for their continued collaboration with Makerere University in organizing the conference over the years. He expressed confidence that the 2026 edition will once again provide a dynamic platform for dialogue, bringing together scholars, policymakers, and students to examine the geopolitical trends shaping Africa and the wider world.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, H.E. Virginie Leroy, Ambassador of France to Uganda, highlighted the significance of the conference as a platform that encourages dialogue on global issues while empowering young people to participate in shaping the future.
Since its inception, the Kampala Geopolitics Conference has created opportunities for students, researchers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to engage with some of the most pressing global debates. The Ambassador noted that the curiosity and engagement of Ugandan students have become one of the defining features of the conference.
“This conference has become a unique space where students, researchers, policymakers and civil society exchange ideas on the major transformations shaping our world,” Ambassador Leroy said, adding that the event demonstrates the intellectual vitality of Uganda’s youth and the strength of the partnerships that sustain it.
Strengthening Partnerships for Global Dialogue
The Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a long-standing partner in the initiative, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting platforms that foster meaningful discussions on international affairs and regional dynamics.
Speaking during the ceremony, Anna Reismann, Director of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Uganda, emphasized the importance of the conference in connecting local perspectives with global debates.
She noted that Africa has increasingly become a focal point in global geopolitics, attracting engagement from a wide range of international actors through investments, trade, security cooperation, and diplomatic partnerships. While these engagements create new opportunities for economic growth and technological advancement, they also raise important questions about sustainability, governance, and the terms of international cooperation.
According to Reismann, the conference provides an important forum to examine these issues and to encourage dialogue that bridges academic perspectives with practical policy considerations.
The 2026 edition of the Kampala Geopolitics Conference will focus on key global and regional issues shaping international relations and development.
Among the themes to be explored are the future of development cooperation, particularly as global aid dynamics evolve and countries explore more sustainable and balanced partnerships. Another panel will examine youth and public policy in Africa, recognizing the critical role that young people play in shaping governance, innovation, and development across the continent.
With Africa home to the youngest population in the world, discussions will highlight the importance of ensuring that young people are not only beneficiaries of public policies but also active contributors to their design and implementation.
Makerere University at the Centre of Global Conversations
Hosting the conference reflects Makerere University’s continued commitment to fostering intellectual exchange and positioning the institution as a hub for regional and international dialogue.
Through its partnerships with global institutions such as the Embassy of France, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and Alliance Française de Kampala, Makerere continues to create platforms that connect academic knowledge with policy discussions and real-world challenges.
The Kampala Geopolitics Conference is expected to once again bring together leading experts, scholars, and practitioners from across Africa and Europe, while providing students with a rare opportunity to engage directly with global debates.
As preparations for the 2026 edition gather momentum, the partners expressed confidence that the conference will continue to inspire critical thinking, encourage dialogue across disciplines and generations, and strengthen cooperation between Africa and its international partners.
Caroline Kainomugisha is the Communications Officer, Advancement Office, Makerere University.
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