[L-R] Mr. Yves Mercier, Head of Cooperation at the French embassy in Uganda, Mr. Olivier Chiche-Portiche, Director in charge of Geographical Coordination at Campus France and Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.
By Ritah Namisango On Wednesday 15th March 2023, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe received a delegation from Campus France and the French Embassy in Uganda to discuss matters of common interest including strengthening partnerships between Makerere University and Universities in France, research, study opportunities as well as staff and student mobility.
The visiting team consisted of Mr. Olivier Chiche-Portiche, Director in charge of Geographical Coordination at Campus France and the Head of the Delegation, Ms. Oumou Diakite- Assistant Head of Africa Department at Campus France, in charge of sub-saharan Africa, Mr. Yves Mercier- Head of Cooperation at the French embassy in Uganda, Ms Léa Tracol – Education Attaché at the French Embassy in Uganda and Ms. Mercy Twinomujuni-Head of Campus France Uganda.
The delegation is holding a five-day visit (15th to 19th March 2023) to explore more collaboration opportunities in Uganda. The Campus France delegation, accompanied by members of the French Embassy has scheduled meetings with several senior Ugandan ministerial and academic officials, CEOs of foreign companies, diplomatic missions and agencies, and alumni.
Campus France, an operator of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, is the French agency in charge of promoting higher education and hosting and managing the international mobility of students, researchers, experts and guests. Campus France is present in 124 countries (including Uganda) around the world, relying on a network of over 250 Campus France Spaces and Antennas.
Mr. Chiche-Portiche who handles international promotions and foreign funded scholarships informed the Vice Chancellor, Central Management and College Principals that Campus France is interested in ensuring that Makerere University students and staff access study opportunities in France. He stated that the tuition fees in universities in France were affordable and greatly subsidized throughout the Universities in France compared to other Universities in the USA and United Kingdom. On the issue of accommodation, Mr. Chiche-Portiche notified the University Management that the hostel fees are affordable and international students are accorded the equal treatment as the nationals (French students).
Ms Oumou Diakite, Deputy Director of the Africa Department said that increased collaborations and partnerships between Makerere University and Campus France would facilitate the process of ensuring that Ugandans access affordable education services in France.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe commended the good working relationship between Makerere University and the French Embassy in Uganda. He noted that the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (School of Languages, Literature and Communication) was working closely with the Embassy to promote the teaching of the French language. The Vice Chancellor also pointed out the existing working relationship between Campus France and Makerere University International Office.
Some of the members of University Management who attended the meeting
Prof. Nawangwe mentioned that such partnerships are anchored in the internationalization agenda of the University as well as internationalization of higher education in general. The Vice Chancellor welcomed the idea of strengthening the existing collaborations and partnerships and strategies aimed at widening the collaboration scope to the wider university community. He expressed his commitment to supporting avenues and programmes aimed at enhancing staf and student mobility.
He however, noted the need to address the issue of language if Makerere University is to attract students and staff to access opportunities in France. “Most of us in Uganda speak English. That means that we need to put up mechanisms for students and staff to learn French. Professors and researchers at Makerere University need to learn some basics in the French language to undertake joint research with counterparts in Universities in France,” said Prof. Nawangwe.
During the interaction, the audience was informed that the College of Business and Management through its capacity building programme had finalized an agreement with Alliance Francaise, Kampala to train staff in the French language.
Inspired by the ongoing efforts, the Vice Chancellor commended the Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences, Dr. Eria Hisali and his team, for the initiative aimed at ensuring that staff in that College study and learn the French Language. Prof. Nawangwe reiterated that learning the French language would facilitate access to research opportunities.
Noting that the visiting delegation had highlighted the School of Law-Public Interest Law Clinic as an area of interest, the Vice Chancellor requested Dr. Ronald Naluwairo, the Acting Principal, School of Law to pursue this matter for the mutual benefit of students and staff. To facilitate the flow of information between Makerere University and Campus France, the Academic Registrar, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi emphasized the need for Campus France to establish information spaces/centres in Uganda.
The Office of the Academic Registrar,Makerere University has released lists for the recommended for change of course/ programme for Degree/Diploma Scheme and Direct entry for Private/Government sponsored students for the Academic Year 2025/2026.
The lists released can be accessed by following the respective links below:
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. Barnabas Nawangwe makes his remarks ahead of the MoU signing.
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.
The partners show off the signed MoU.
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.
Prof. Nawangwe presents a souvenir Mak Necktie to Dr. Jonathan Leape.
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 meeting of Members of Management and the visiting delegation in session in the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom.
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.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and Prof. Mieke Van Herreweghe pose for a group photo with members of their respective teams at the Main Building entrance.
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).