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Academicians and Policy Makers Skilled on Triple Dividends of Building Resilience

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A team from the World Resource Institute (WRI), University Network, SOASS University of London delivered a seminar on the Triple Dividend of Building Resilience as full benefits of Climate Change Adaptation.

Senior Fellow WRI Prof. Carter Brandon and the Deputy Director, Centre for Sustainable Finance SOAS University of London  Harald  Heubaum  were in Uganda on the invitation of the EfD Mak Centre Makerere University to  deliver on the topic,” The Triple Dividends of Resilience: Assessing the full benefits of Adaptation Investments”.

 Thirty (30) participants drawn from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (largely from the Newly established Climate Finance Unit), Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, the National Environment Management Authority, National Planning Authority, Academia, IGE fellows and post graduate students attended the workshop.

The workshop was officially, opened on 7th July 2023 by the Director EfD-Mak Centre who is also the team leader of the Resilience and Adaptation Mainstreaming Program (RAMP) at Makerere University represented by Peter Babyenda.

Mr. Babyenda is the IGE Policy Engagement Specialist at EfD-Mak Centre. He  emphasized the importance of building resilience especially in Uganda given that majority of the people depend on rain-fed agriculture and nature that is highly susceptible to climate change and its effects.

He welcomed the team to Makerere University expressing the center’s readiness to cooperate and train the public and private practitioners on issues of climate change adaptation, financing, modeling and risk management.

Participants were retooled on elements and importance of Climate Change adaptation; Costs and benefits of adaptation; Cost of benefit analysis of adaptation to climate change; the need for behavioral change and the risk of analysis and management. 

Mr. Peter Babyenda making the opening remarks

Prof. Carter Brandon explained that mitigation is concerned with applying measures to avoid the occurrence of climate change, while adaptation involves measures taken to cope up or minimize the effects of climate change.

He outlined the major elements of adaptation as, “Reduce and Prevent, Prepare, and Respond and finally, Restore and Recover.

The full advantage of adaptation according to Prof. Carter is   categorized as “the triple dividends of adaptation”.  The advantages include: avoided losses in form of saved lives, assets and crops; induced economic benefits in form of reduced flood risks, lower financial costs and increased crop yields.

Other advantages of adaptation he said, include social and environmental benefits in form of nature based flood protection, increased biodiversity protection, improved air and water quality, improved health and recreation, mangrove protection and improved fisheries and forestry.

Prof. Carter asked for support and the need to train the government and all stake holders involved in adaptation decision making in areas of finance, modelling, budgeting and risk management.

Prof. Carter Brandon presenting during the seminar

Harald Heubaum noted that   many countries do not consider full benefits of adaptation due to lack of expertise. This he said leads to under report the benefits associated with adaptation which also affects adaptation choices in those countries.

He said, the university network intends to partner with universities across the globe to train decision and policy makers on how to calculate adaptation benefits including modelling, financing and risk management.

A  call  Harald said will  soon be shared so that several local case studies are compiled to help in training. The training was welcomed by all participants on reason that it will improve adaptation ranking globally.

Harald Heubaum presenting during the workshop

Closing the workshop, the Ag. Coordinator of RAMP at Makerere University Dr. Nick Kilimani appreciated the participants for being active and the Ministry of Finance for taking lead on the issues of climate change adaptation financing.

The Assistant Commissioner, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Uganda Dr. Sam Mugume said, government has prioritized adaptation activities in the country.

He reported that in addition to setting up an independent Climate Finance Unit to handle adaptation and climate change related financing, government has put aside money for clean agricultural adaptation in form of buying solar powered irrigation pumps as a way of adaptation to the changing climate in the country among other measures.

Dr. Sam Mugume  (in white) speaking during the meeting.

  Closing the workshop, the Ag.  Coordinator of RAMP at Makerere University Dr. Nick Kilimani appreciated the participants for being active and the Ministry of Finance for taking lead on the issues of climate change adaptation financing

Dr. Nick Kilimani (2nd Right) closing the workshop

A full paper that was presented can be accessed via:

https://www.wri.org/research/triple-dividend-building-climate-resilience-taking-stock-moving-forward#:~:text=The%20triple%20dividend%20of%20resilience,third%20dividend)%20of%20adaptation%20actions.
Article Written by  Peter  Babyenda  and edited by Jane Anyango

Jane Anyango

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Mature Age Scheme Exam Results for 2025/2026

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The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released full results for the Mature Age Entry Scheme Examinations for the Academic Year 2025/2026 held on Saturday 14th December, 2024.

The Candidates who scored a final mark of 50% and above passed the examination and have been recommended by the Pre-Entry & Mature Age Committee to the University’s Admissions Board for Consideration.

The Aptitude Exam  Results for 2025/2026 Academic Year released in February 2025 can be found here.

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Directorate of Graduate Training Completes Training of First Cohort Training of Supervisors

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By Moses Lutaaya

The Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) has in collaboration with Centre for Teaching and Learning completed the training of the first cohort of Graduate Supervisors.

Participants were academic staff from two colleges namely, College of Engineering, Art and Design (CEDAT) and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES).

The three-day training that took place at the Telepresence Centre, Senate Building ended on Friday 20thJune 2025.

In his closing remarks to the participants, the Director of Graduate Training Prof. Julius Kikooma said, “This is the first cohort we are working together with the Center for Teaching and Learning to put together continuous professional development Program so that we are able to enforce the new teaching and learning policy.”

He said that before lecturers are allocated students for supervision, they must first go through this form of formal teaching and learning training to equip them thoroughly with certification required of supervision of graduate students.

“We are coming up with process to ensure that the certificates earned by participants allow you to supervise graduate students. This is the direction of the university and we must ensure that such trainings are concluded and completed successfully by all participants”, Prof. Kikooma.

Prof. Julius Kikooma – Director of Graduate Training

“We can only have you certified upon completing all the exercises in the training process. This is when you will be eligible to receive the work load for supervision”, He added.

“This training of Supervisors is going to be continuous so that all academic staff in colleges and schools are equipped. This first cohort is going to be our building block to the future trainings in the colleges.”

With such capacity building trainings, Prof. Kikooma said that the university is on the right path to achieving its targets in the new strategic plan of increasing the number of graduate students while progressively reducing the under graduate students.

He further hinted that, “We are in the process of writing a curriculum on this, which will be presented for approval before it is rolled out.”

He echoed all participants to share the knowledge they have acquired adding, “Share all you have learnt, do not keep it. Be open minded, have proper communication channels and the sky will be the limit for you.” 

Dr. Robinah N. Kulabako, The Head of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at CEDAT welcomed the training adding, “This training is very pertinent. I have had the opportunity to supervise Masters and PhD students for over 15 years and I must say that the need to be subjected to this training cannot be over emphasized because there is need to learn, unlearn and relearn many aspects involved in the supervision process.”

She added, “We are moving towards knowledge-based supervision rather than experience-based supervision. This means we must be informed and equipped to be able to advise, guide and mentor to be able to lead a successful supervision journey for both supervisor and supervisee.”

Dr. Andrew Gilbert Were – a lecturer at CEDAT and a participant said, “It is important that all supervisors of graduate students receive this certification from Makerere University through a systematic training process that enables them to attain diverse skills to facilitate learning of graduate students from diverse cultures and with unique set of circumstances.”

“This training is long overdue. In fact, it was an oversight that we could be allowed to supervise students without undergoing supervisors’ training.”

Dr. Dorothy Ssebowa, The Director Centre for Teaching and Learning support- CEES said, “The training this time round has had a mix of early career professionals including Lecturers, Supervisors and Professors share experiences. We have learnt a lot more from experienced supervisors who have shared practices on how they have done supervision over the years.”

“The knowledge and experience-based approaches have made this collaboration very active, interactive and learner centered which has resulted into a collaborative learning from the interdisciplinarity of staff from CEDAT and CAES. The issue now is to continue with professional development across all levels.” She added.

The Makerere University Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) in collaboration with the Centre for Teaching and Learning completed the training of the first cohort of Graduate Supervisors. This activity was supported by the iCARTA – Institutionalization of Advanced Research Training in Africa, a NORHED II Project at Makerere University.

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CEDAT’s Department of Architecture to Undergo Major Studio Refurbishment with Industry Support

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R-L: Arch. Kenneth Ssemwogerere (Head of Department, Architecture), Dr. Kizito Maria Kasule (Deputy Principal, CEDAT), and Mr. Kayongo Daniel (Plascon Uganda National Sales Manager) during the official handover of a donation at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Makerere University, on Tuesday, 25th June 2025.

The Department of Architecture at Makerere University’s College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology (CEDAT) is set to begin a significant refurbishment of its design studios starting 1st July 2025. This initiative marks a pivotal step in enhancing the learning environment for architecture students and fostering innovation in design education.

The refurbishment project has received a significant boost from Kansai Placon Uganda Limited, which donated UGX 15 million worth of paint to support the transformation. This contribution highlights the growing partnership between academia and industry in shaping the future of architectural education in Uganda.

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Alex Isemaghendera

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