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Dr. Alice Nabatanzi Wins Prestigious US$ 50,000 OWSD Award

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Dr. Alice Nabatanzi a Lecturer in the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) has won the prestigious Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) award worth US$ 50,000.  This prestigious award is purposed to support Dr. Nabatanzi to establish an environment at Makerere University where she can maintain an international standard of scientific research and attract scholars from all over the world to collaborate.

OWSD is an international organization founded in 1987 and based at the offices of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), in Trieste, Italy. OWSD is the first international forum to unite eminent women scientists from the developing and developed worlds with the objective of strengthening their role in the development process and promoting their representation in scientific and technological leadership. OWSD is creating a network of outstanding women scientists who can provide mentorship and be role models for the next generation of women leaders in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).

Seated L-R: Fmr. Chancellor-Prof. Mondo Kagonyera, Director DRGT-Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, Convener-Dr Alice Nabatanzi and Representative of the DVCAA-Prof. Christopher Mbazira with Dep. Principal CoNAS-Prof. Fredrick Muyodi (Standing R) and representatives from partner institutions at the 1st NAPIANA Symposium on 17th January 2022, Makerere University.
Seated L-R: Fmr. Chancellor-Prof. Mondo Kagonyera, Director DRGT-Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, Convener-Dr Alice Nabatanzi and Representative of the DVCAA-Prof. Christopher Mbazira with Dep. Principal CoNAS-Prof. Fredrick Muyodi (Standing R) and representatives from partner institutions at the 1st NAPIANA Symposium on 17th January 2022,Makerere University.

Dr. Nabatanzi will for the next three years build on her leadership and management skills, and develop connections with public and private sector partners to convert her scientific research findings into marketable and patentable products. She believes unexploited biomolecules are the answer to the cure for new disease pathogens and health conditions affecting the majority of Ugandans and the world at large. Africa is a hub of biomolecules, majority of which have not yet been exploited. For her OWSD AWARD, Dr. Nabatanzi’s major research focus will be the burden of postpartum hemorrhage in Uganda.

Additionally, she is enthusiastic about undertaking society-changing research, especially in line with easing the burden of non-communicable diseases in African societies. Dr. Nabatanzi is keen on addressing nutritional deficiencies among the vulnerable marginalized groups, particularly pregnant women, school-going children, people living with HIV/AIDS, and the elderly.

Dr. Alice Nabatanzi speaks during the establishment of the NAPIANA NETWORK which will act a platform to connect with the local communities, private sector, Government agencies and the international community.
Dr. Alice Nabatanzi speaks during the establishment of the NAPIANA NETWORK which will act a platform to connect with the local communities, private sector, Government agencies and the international community.

Through her already established NAPIANA (Natural Products Industry Advancement Network Africa) network, (see related story: https://cns.mak.ac.ug/blog/makerere-hosts-1st-napiana-symposium) Dr. Nabatanzi will strengthen linkages with the local communities, private sector, Government agencies and international community in a bid to promote her research and standardized natural products thereby bridging the gaps in the natural products value chain.

Natural Sciences

Mak Paves Path to Biodiversity Leadership: Inaugural ABS Project Workshop Strengthening Uganda’s Nagoya Protocol Capacity

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The Principal CoNAS-Prof. Tumps Ireeta (7th L), Director, Quality Assurance Directorate (QAD)-Dr. Cyprian Misinde (6th L), Dean, School of Biosciences-Prof. Arthur Kajungu Tugume (6th R), Project PI at Makerere University-Dr. Katuura Esther (4th R) and other officials at the Inception Workshop for the ABS Project on 7th November 2023 in the Telepresence Centre. Senate Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

By Laban Lwasa

In a groundbreaking event that unfolded at Makerere University‘s Telepresence Center on November 7, 2023, the Inception Workshop for the ABS Project took center stage, hosted by the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology, and Biotechnology. Prof. Tumps Ireeta, Principal of CoNAS, set the tone with a warm welcome, highlighting Uganda’s rich biodiversity and the pivotal role of the Nagoya Protocol in ensuring the legal utilization of genetic resources. The collaboration between NEMA and Makerere University, supported by the GEF, aims to equip professionals with ABS knowledge and position Makerere at the forefront of Nagoya Protocol compliance.

Prof. Arthur Kajungu Tugume, Dean of the School of Biosciences, CoNAS. ABS Project Inception Workshop, Telepresence Centre, Senate Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Arthur Kajungu Tugume, Dean of the School of Biosciences, CoNAS.

Prof. Arthur Kajungu Tugume, Dean of the School of Biosciences, emphasized the project’s significance in institutional capacity strengthening for the Nagoya Protocol’s implementation in Uganda, showcasing the School of Biosciences as a hub for genetic resource research and training. The pilot project, in collaboration with NEMA, GEF, and UNEP, aims to expand countrywide and potentially across the African continent. It seeks to empower a skilled workforce informed on ABS issues, contributing to economic development and poverty eradication as aligned with SDG 1.

Mr. Achuu Peter, Project Manager from NEMA. ABS Project Inception Workshop, Telepresence Centre, Senate Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Mr. Achuu Peter, Project Manager from NEMA.

Mr. Achuu Peter, Project Manager from NEMA, highlighted Uganda’s extraordinary biodiversity and the need to explore the benefits of genetic resources for medicines, food, and more. He emphasized the importance of the Nagoya Protocol in mitigating biodiversity loss and highlighted challenges faced by Uganda in terms of weak institutional capacity, inadequate policies, and lack of coordination for ABS. The project focuses on strengthening ABS frameworks, capacity building, community-level management, and raising awareness to ensure equitable benefits from genetic resource utilization.

Mr. Daniel Abowe, UNCST ABS Project Officer. ABS Project Inception Workshop, Telepresence Centre, Senate Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Mr. Daniel Abowe, UNCST ABS Project Officer.

Mr. Daniel Abowe, UNCST ABS Project Officer, shed light on the complex landscape of national ABS laws in Uganda, resulting in legal complexity and high transaction costs for users. He also detailed the Uganda research approval process, emphasizing UNCST’s role in ABS implementation, which includes issuing access permits and ensuring benefit-sharing agreements. The multifaceted project aims to align Uganda with the Nagoya Protocol’s goals and foster collaboration between higher institutions and local communities for the management of genetic resources.

Dr. Katuura Esther, the Project Principal Investigator at Makerere University. ABS Project Inception Workshop, Telepresence Centre, Senate Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Dr. Katuura Esther, the Project Principal Investigator at Makerere University.

Dr. Katuura Esther, the Project Principal Investigator at Makerere University, highlighted the institution’s pivotal role in training and research. Makerere University aspires to be a thought leader, committed to providing transformative teaching, learning, research, and services that cater to dynamic national and global needs. The institution’s strategic goals encompass leadership in high-quality programs, knowledge dissemination, research, scholarship promotion, and corporate social responsibility. Dr. Esther also addressed the challenges and opportunities in preserving indigenous knowledge, emphasizing the role of digital technologies and collaboration between research institutions and local communities.

The programs designated for updating at Makerere University are a comprehensive effort to align with the Nagoya Protocol. Notable among these programs are BSc Applied and Economic Botany, BSc in Conservation Biology, Bachelor of Biotechnology, Masters in Botany, Masters in Genetics, Masters in Plant Pathology and Crop Science, and Masters in Economic Botany. This holistic approach aims to contribute to the conservation and equitable utilization of genetic resources.

Dr. Cyprian Misinde, the Director of Quality Assurance at Makerere University. ABS Project Inception Workshop, Telepresence Centre, Senate Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Dr. Cyprian Misinde, the Director of Quality Assurance at Makerere University.

Dr. Cyprian Misinde, the Director of Quality Assurance at Makerere University, emphasized the importance of incorporating international and global standards into the academic curriculum. He underscored the crucial role of projects like ABS in enhancing the capacity of professionals and equipping them to become part of a globally competitive workforce. This workshop marked a significant stride in Uganda’s journey towards sustainable biodiversity management and conservation, creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond its borders, leaving a lasting impact on the world stage.

Laban Lwasa is the Senior Administrative Assistant, Makerere University, Grants Administration and Management Support Unit (GAMSU)

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Natural Sciences

Ugandan student Dorothy Akoth wins 2023 GBIF Graduate Researchers Award

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Dorothy Akoth, Master's student at Makarere University and 2023 GBIF Graduate Researchers Award winner. Photo by Christine Elong / National Fisheries Resources Research Institute.

Ms. Dorothy Akoth, a Master’s student at the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Makerere University has been named one of two winners of the 2023 GBIF Graduate Researchers Award. An expert jury selected Akoth, who was nominated by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology together with National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI), for the instrumental role of her research in improving the knowledge of the distribution and imperilment status of 110 native fish species outside the iconic Haplochromine tribe of East African cichlids. The student was supervised by Prof. Fredrick Muyodi and Dr. Jackson Efitre
from the Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences at CoNAS, Makerere University, and Dr Vanny Natugonza of Busitema University.

Since its inception in 2010, the annual GBIF Graduate Researchers Award (previously the Young Researchers Award) has sought to promote and encourage innovation in biodiversity-related research using data shared through the GBIF network.

Details at:
https://www.gbif.org/news/6qTuv5Xf1qa05arROvx7Y1/ugandan-student-dorothy-akoth-wins-2023-gbif-graduate-researchers-award

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Natural Sciences

CARTA Fellow Anywar Selected as Fellow of ASLP

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Dr. Godwin Anywar, Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Makerere University. Photo: CARTA. Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Godwin Anywar (cohort 6 graduate, Makerere University) was selected as a fellow of the Africa Science Leadership Programme (ASLP) based at the Future Africa Campus at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, on September 8, 2023. 

Within the month, he:

  • Will be participating in the Uganda-Swiss Museum Cooperation Workshop from September 24 – October 4, 2023, in Kampala, Uganda, and will present on ‘Traditional Medicine in Transition.’
  • Presented a keynote paper on ‘Mental Health and Wellbeing during the PhD Journey’ at the Makerere University Business School (MUBS) 27th Annual International Management Conference (AIMC) under the theme “Leveraging Governance, Human Capital and Technology for Sustainability in Kampala – Uganda on September 25 – 27, 2023.
  • Presented a paper on ‘The Cannabis/Marijuana (Cannabis sativa L.) Landscape in Africa: An Overview of its Cultivation and Legal Aspects’ at the 20th International Napreca Conference on Natural Network for East and Central Africa (NAPRECA) in Harare, Zimbabwe on September 20, 2023.
  • Attended the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Science Forum at the University of Nairobi on September 20, 2023, to celebrate 50 years of DAAD in East Africa.

Source: CARTA Newsletter Issue 69

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