General
VC Hosts Heads of Partner Organisations ahead of 6th Kampala Geopolitics
By Ritah Namisango
On Tuesday 2nd May 2023, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe hosted the Heads of Partner Organisations’ meeting to plan and formulate strategies for the upcoming 6th Edition of the Kampala Geopolitics Conference scheduled to take place mid-October 2023 at Makerere University.
The Heads of partner organisations’ meeting including the French Embassy in Uganda, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, UN Women, Makerere University and Alliance Française Kampala, aimed at fostering a high-level reflection on the conference, discussing strategic plans, commitments, high-quality debate and involvement of other regional and international partners. Another partner namely IRIS (Institut de Relations Internationales et Stratégiques) will join in due course.
The Kampala Geopolitics Conference is an annual academic, public event organised at Makerere University to discuss current geopolitical trends and hot topics. The conference started in 2018 and has become a regional flagship bearer for Geopolitical debates. It complements global conversations with regional and African perspectives, sets the course for a balanced discourse and places sustainable development, the new scramble for Africa, global peace and international cooperation in the limelight.
The 6th Edition of the Kampala Geopolitics Conference will bring on board researchers and academia at the national and international levels, professionals in different spheres of life, diplomatic missions, the government, private sector, civil organisations, the media, staff, alumni and students. During the meeting, the Head of Partner Organisations also resolved to focus on attracting panelists, speakers and participants beyond Uganda to include the East African region and countries in Europe.
The Vice Chancellor re-affirmed the commitment of Makerere University to host and participate in this discourse that presents an opportunity to researchers, scholars, staff and students to share ideas through intellectual debates.
Prof. Nawangwe stressed the need to mobilise, engage and involve students from Makerere University and other Universities to participate in the 6th Edition of the Kampala Geopolitics Conference. “The topical issues to be discussed will equip our students and youth who end up taking on various leadership positions in the country with knowledge and a balanced perception and appreciation of national and global affairs,” said Prof. Nawangwe.
As the 6th Edition of the Kampala Geopolitics Conference takes shape, the Heads of Partner Organisations highlighted some of the potential topics to be included in the conference programme. These include: The New Scramble for Africa – emerging geopolitics and international relations in Africa; Rapid population growth and implication for the growth and stability of Africa; Closing the Global Digital Divide: Advancing Digital Inclusion and Economic Opportunities for All; Gender and Climate Security: Implications for Women’s Rights and Security; Empowering Youth for Effective Leadership and Participation in African politics and development: Opportunities and Challenges; The refugee crisis in Africa; Water governance – the transboundary water peace and democracy; Cultural and creative industry as an influential tool for East African Countries; The African Union Mission in Somalia; The East Africa as part of the “Indo Pacific Theatre”; The effectiveness of the East African Community Regional force as security provider, the case of Congo.
The following personalities attended and participated in the high-level Heads of Partners meeting at Makerere University: Mr. Jean-François Hasperue – Embassy of France, Mr. Yves Mercier –Embassy of France; Gregory Meyer – Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Nils Wörmer – Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Paulina Chiwangu – UN Women, Lisa Dardis – UN Women, Valentine Corbel – Alliance Française Kampala, Mr. Victor Petit – Alliance Française Kampala, Awel Uwihanganye – Mak Advancement, Ritah Namisango – Mak Public Relations, and Ayub Kiranda – Representative of Mak on the Planning Committee.
Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. The tournament was held in three preliminary rounds, followed by semi-finals and a grand finale.
The first round covered democracy and youth participation in politics, while the second round covered inequality and wealth distribution, and the third, the ban on export of raw materials. The semi-final round debated apprenticeship for blue-collar jobs, while the grand finale debated national budget allocations for healthcare and education. In the spirit of inclusivity, all colleges, including the Jinja Campus participated in the tournament.
Commenting on the choice of topics, the organisers noted Makerere University as a bastion of academic excellence has a profound responsibility to cultivate the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of our nation. These leaders, they added, ought to be equipped with 21st century skills of self-expression, critical thinking, and problem-solving so as to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving world.
On the whole, Makerere Inter-college Debates were conceived as a strategic initiative to foster a culture of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and innovation. The Debating Union aims to empower the future leaders by providing a platform for students to engage in respectful discourse, articulate their thoughts, as well as develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Furthermore, the Debates serve as a platform for not only honing the intellectual prowess of students but also cultivating leadership skills, teamwork, and communication abilities that are essential for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. It is envisaged that this initiative will have a lasting impact on the lives of students, by exposing them to debates on topical issues that can shape the mindsets of transformative leaders our nation needs.
After a thrilling two days of debate, Daphine Kemigisha and Jibril Ssekandi from the School of Law (SoL) emerged as winners of the Makerere University Inter-college Debate Tournament 2025, while Olara Emmanuel George from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) was the Public Speech Champion, and Namujuzi Martha Mociita from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) was the Poetry Champion.
The 2025 Tournament was organized by Mayanja Owen and Nkalubo Oprah – 91st Guild Representative Councils (GRCs) of the Debate Union, Akatwijuka Arthur – Chairperson Debate Union, and Debate Union Representatives from colleges. The Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) partnered with the Debate Union to deliver the 2025 edition.
Addressing students at the award ceremony, UNNGOF’s Mr. Derrick Baluuku encouraged the youth to step out of their comfort zones and think of solutions to inspire change in their communities.
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