General
Mak Explores Kyankwanzi land to take Innovations & Demonstrations to Communities
A team of university staff led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Finance and administration Prof. Henry Alinaitwe were in Kyankwanzi, Wednesday 8th February, 2023 where they held a meeting with the District Leadership on the subject of the 7 square miles of land on Ranch 16, that was allocated by H.E. The President of the Republic of Uganda to Makerere University in 1989. The land was for the establishment of demonstration and experimental modern facilities for Agricultural related training.
The meeting held at the Kyankwanzi District Headquarters was an initiative of the University and was moderated by the Ag. Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Mr. David Muhoozi. It was attended by some District officials and teams from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) led by the Principal Assoc. Prof. Goretie Nabanoga and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) led by the Principal Prof. Frank Nobert Mwiine.
Following the deliberations, a committee was instituted for follow up actions whose terms of reference included identifying the land and its boundaries, establishing the current land usage and to come up with a report that will guide the next course of action. Committee Members include Prof. Yazidhi Bamutaze from CAES, Ms. Catherine Awor, from Estates and Works Directorate and Mr. Hudson Musoke from the Legal Directorate.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration (DVCFA) Prof. Henry Alinaitwe informed the meeting that Ranch 16 has always been registered as a property of Makerere University and that the University earmarked it to further its objectives of reaching out to the communities.He said the mandate of the University was to teach and that the strategic reorganization of the institution was to take the University to the people he said, while explaining the intended usage of the said land by the University.
“Makerere University belongs to Government, so the compensation of the squatters on the said land would be a responsibility of the Government” he said while responding to the issue of squatters that were reported to be on the land. He said the university would make effort to approach Government to address the concern raised. Prof. Alinaitwe however noted that the said squatters were recent and that all along the said land was un occupied. He urged the parties to make on spot visits to the said land, establish the facts and come up with a report of the status quo in order to inform the next course of action.
Assoc. Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga, Principal CAES said Makerere University rebranded and hence the need to give back to the people. She said the delegation that was in Kyankwanzi comprised of Professors, Deans, Heads of Departments, and people with all sorts of specialties and expertise was testament of the urgent need of putting into effect the vision of the University.
While responding to the challenges of diseases and other problems faced by the people of Kyankwanzi, Assoc. Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga said the University was in place to support the core business of human life. ‘What we bring as a university is key. We are not coming to evict anybody but to partner’, she said, adding that Agriculture was one of the key drivers in the National Development Plan and that the University, through undertaking its mandate wanted to demonstrate how it can contribute to society once given the opportunity.She said this would be done through technology transfer and training students who would in turn support the realization of a decent generation in future.
Prof. Frank Nobert Mwiine, Principal CoVAB said the staff at the college had lined up a number of enterprises to be done on the said land in Kyankwanzi. He urged the Chief Administrative Officer and other District Officials to welcome the University into the District and to explain to the communities as to what the University was bringing to them.
He informed the meeting that he was part of a team that went to Kyankwanzi two years back on the same issue and was therefore confident that the land in question was available for the University.
While welcoming the Makerere University Delegation, Mr. David Muhoozi the CAO said Kyankwanzi was predominantly an agricultural based District with a number of enterprises in both crop and animal production. He said the District was faced with a number of agricultural related challenges like serious drought as well as tick borne and other diseases that needed urgent attention.
He said Makerere University was welcome to the District, one of the areas where a lot of activities were taking place and noted that the population was bound to benefit from the expertise from the respective Colleges. He said this would reverse the trend where the planning is done in Kampala without getting on the ground to ascertain the realities in order to come up with the best remedies to the issues at hand.
On the issue of the land allocated to the University, Mr. Muhoozi noted that the land was allocated to Makerere University in 1989 and regretted the fact that the University took so long to come on the ground to utilize it. He noted that although the said land in question on Ranch 16 was nor formerly allocated to any party legally and was still in the hands of Uganda Land Board, there were squatters settled on the land and these were identified as the biggest challenge the university was bound to face in the effort to make use of the said land.
The senior Lands Officer Kyankwanzi, Mr. John Matovu said it was the mandate of the District to move alongside the University. He said the land in question on Ranch 16 was not leased but was in the custody of Uganda Land Board. There was need therefore, to establish how the said squatters came onto the land, he noted.
In a vibrant celebration of youth leadership and African unity, Makerere University hosted the Second Annual Guild Leaders’ Summit, an event that brought together high-profile dignitaries, student leaders, and international partners for a powerful dialogue on the future of the continent. The summit, organized by the Guild Presidents Leadership Academy, served as a rallying point for East Africa’s young leaders to confront Africa’s most urgent challenges—on their own terms and with their own solutions.
A Warm Welcome and Reflections on Makerere’s Legacy
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, welcomed the distinguished guests, who included Former President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo, former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, Justice Simon Byabakama, Hon. Mathew Rukikaire, and European Union Deputy Ambassador Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, among others.
In his address, Prof. Nawangwe reflected on Makerere’s deep historical ties to East Africa’s liberation and development movements. He reminded the audience that Makerere University has been a crucible for the continent’s leadership, stating:
“Jomo Kenyatta was the first person to receive a degree from Makerere when, in 1963, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by then Chancellor Julius Nyerere. All freedom fighters in East Africa studied at Makerere.”
Building on this rich history, Prof. Nawangwe affirmed the university’s current mission to tackle pressing continental issues. “Today,” he said, “Makerere is committed to addressing Africa’s challenges—climate change, disease, poverty, food security, conflict resolution, and economic development. But we cannot do this alone.”
He echoed sentiments later shared by the keynote speaker, stressing that Africa must no longer depend on external interventions:
“Foreign agencies will not solve all Africa’s problems. It is our young people who must step forward and lead the change.”
Uhuru Kenyatta: “You Are the Last Line of Defence”
In a keynote address that resonated deeply with the students and delegates in attendance, Former President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a bold and urgent call to action for Africa’s youth.
“No one is coming to save us,” Kenyatta declared. “You are the last line of defence in the battle to rescue the heart and soul of Africa.”
Positioning today’s youth as the heirs of the continent’s freedom fighters, Kenyatta described the current moment as a new “independence era”—not of political liberation, but of economic and intellectual sovereignty. He urged students to think critically about intra-African trade, which currently accounts for less than 2.5% of global commerce, and to advocate for the removal of internal barriers to trade, innovation, and mobility.
“You are the freedom fighters of this generation,” he said. “Universities must be incubators of change, and students must be the trustees of tomorrow’s Africa.”
Pan-Africanism, Leadership, and Action
Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo encouraged students to take up the mantle of Pan-Africanism with unwavering commitment. She acknowledged that while the rhetoric of African unity is inspiring, real progress demands more than words:
“You must embrace the spirit of Pan-Africanism. But it is easy to say these words—the challenge lies in collective implementation.”
She emphasized the importance of action-oriented leadership and urged the youth to harness their creativity, energy, and education for the benefit of the continent.
European Union’s Message: Leadership with Integrity
Representing Team Europe, the EU Deputy Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, gave a passionate speech on the values of authentic leadership, integrity, and inclusive development. He praised Makerere University as a space where “intellectual ambition meets civic responsibility” and emphasized that leadership is not about prestige, but purpose:
“Be a leader because of what you want to be—not because of what you want to have,” he said.
Citing former Makerere alumni such as Julius Nyerere and Wangari Maathai, Chartrain called on students to model courage, resilience, and humility:
“True leadership emerges in moments of loss—when resilience, not triumph, becomes the measure of one’s character.”
The EU, he said, remains committed to supporting youth through programs like Erasmus+, the EU Youth Sounding Board, and partnerships with organizations like Faraja Africa Foundation and Restless Development. These initiatives empower youth not as symbols, but as active participants in shaping policy and governance.
The Legacy Continues
Throughout the summit, speakers highlighted the importance of legacy and long-term impact. They challenged young leaders to think not just about the present, but about the systems and institutions they will leave behind. In the words of Former President Kenyatta:
“Leadership is not about the next election. It’s about the next generation.”
The summit ended on a high note, with students invigorated and inspired to lead with purpose. As global support grows less predictable and Africa stands at a crossroads, the message from Makerere was clear: the future of the continent is in the hands of its youth. And as the Guild Leaders’ Summit demonstrated, they are ready.
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