ADOPTING MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACHES IN GENETIC IMPROVEMENTS, NUTRITIONAL ENHANCEMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION FOR IMPROVED PRODUCTION OF NILE TILAPIA IN UGANDA
BACKGROUND
The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), center for Aquaculture Research and Development, Kajjansi in collaboration with Makerere University, was awarded a contract under the European Union-funded project to conduct research on: “Adopting multidisciplinary approaches in genetic improvements, nutritional enhancement and climate change adaptation for improved production of Nile tilapia in Uganda (ARISE-PP).” The overall objective of the project is to breed Nile tilapia for fast growth and temperature resilience; and ultimately formulate commercially competitive and environmentally safe fish feeds for sustainable production of Nile tilapia in Uganda. To achieve this broad aim, the project will: i) Study the effects of elevated water temperature on the growth, survival and physiology of Nile tilapia strains from Ugandan lakes Victoria, Kyoga, Albert, and Edward; ii) Select and breed Nile tilapia strains from Ugandan lakes Victoria, Kyoga, Albert or Edward for both fast growth and tolerance to elevated temperature; iii) Develop cost effective and environmentally safe feeds for the fast growing temperature-resilient Nile tilapia strains; and iv) Popularize the fast growing Nile tilapia strain resilient to elevated water temperature and the allied feeding regime. The project aims at achieving: i) Fastgrowing and temperature-resistant Nile tilapia strain produced and popularized across Uganda’s agro-zones to aid aquaculture development; ii) Reduced cost of protein supplements to achieve regular production of quality fish feeds with high digestibility and low feed conversion ratio; iii) Reduced cost of fish feeds resulting from the use of low cost locally available/accessible protein supplements in feed formulation; hence, promoting fish farming in Uganda; iv) Increased availability of farmed fish at reduced retail prices by at least 20%, leading to more people consuming fish, thus, reducing malnutrition; and v) A network of aquaculture scientists built for long-term scientific research engagements towards transforming aquaculture in Uganda. The project will largely achieve her objective through activities executed to fulfill each objective, and preferably through six students (i.e., 02 PhDs and 04 MSc). Three students (i.e., 02 PhDs and 01 MSc) have already been recruited on the programme. The project is now sourcing for two more hardworking and self-motivated students who are already admitted to take on MSc degree in the field of fisheries and Aquaculture or related field.
RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS
Applications are invited for two (2) MSc students who will work on the different components of the project, aligned to the AU-EU priorities for research and innovation focusing on:
Green transition by ensuring food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture, climate change and sustainable energy
Innovation and technology
Building capacities for science
APPLICATION PROCESS
The application package should include:
One-page application letter
A motivation statement not exceeding 600 words
Curriculum vitae (maximum 3 pages) with at least two academic referees
A copy of the candidate`s national identity card
Copies of relevant academic documents (Photocopies), with certified copies of the BSc transcript and certificate by the academic registrar.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE Interested candidates should send in their applications (compiled in a single PDF file) to the Principal Investigator Dr. Margaret Aanyu (maggieaanyu@gmail.com), and with a copy to the project Graduate Coordinator Dr. Godfrey Kawooya Kubiriza (godfrey.kubirizag@mak.ac.ug or kubirizag@gmail.com), by the 15th September 2023.
72 undergraduate students of Makerere University have successfully been admitted to the Millennium Fellowship Class of 2026, an initiative of the Millennium Campus Network (MCN) and United Nations Academic Impact. Makerere’s Fellows were selected from a record-breaking 76,000 applicants from over 6,000 campuses across 174 countries to participate in the ambitious programme.
According to the Fellowship website, the programme aims to make the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and UN Academic Impact Principles a reality on campuses, in classrooms and throughout communities. Millennium Fellows are university undergraduates selected for their leadership on sustainable development projects in their communities. As Fellows, they complete a semester-long leadership development programme that strengthens their student organizing, partnership-building and community-impact skills.
In his congratulatory message to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Sam Vaghar the Executive Director, MCN shared that Over 330 campuses across 60 nations have been selected to host 2026 Millenium Fellows. “Congratulations to you and Makerere University for having a cohort of Millennium Fellows from your student body again this year!”
Below is a sample of the work of the Class of 2026.
At Harvard University, a UN Academic Impact member institution in the United States of America, Millennium Fellows are expanding OpenDoor, an AI-powered platform that helps people navigate retraining, job opportunities and pathways into high-demand careers. The project grew from their work with people experiencing homelessness and from seeing how difficult workforce programmes can be to navigate even when support exists. Advancing SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, it expects to reach about 7,500 people during the Fellowship.
At the University of Ilorin, a UN Academic Impact member institution in Nigeria, Millennium Fellows are building what they describe as Africa’s first green AI policy framework, helping policymakers and developers understand how artificial intelligence can advance while reducing energy use, pollution and material waste. Aligned with SDG 13: Climate Action, it expects to reach about 75 people during the Fellowship.
At BRAC University, a UN Academic Impact member institution in Bangladesh, a Millennium Fellow is advancing SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production through a start-up replacing single-use products with environmentally friendly alternatives. Its current focus is a paper pen that uses roughly 90 per cent less plastic than a conventional pen, with a seed built in so it can grow into a plant when properly disposed of. The project expects to reach about 450 people.
At Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, a UN Academic Impact member institution in Moldova, a Millennium Fellow is advancing SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being by studying how environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity may affect recovery after brain surgery. By bringing simple digital monitoring tools into postoperative care, the project aims to help doctors make timelier decisions.
We wish our Millennium Fellows an impactful fellowship.
The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released admission lists of candidates admitted under the Talented Sports Men & Women, Disability and District Quota Schemes with Government sponsorship 2026/27 Academic Year including appeals and remarked cases.
Other admission lists released include A-Level Applicants with Ugandan and those with Foreign Qualifications, Diploma in Performing Arts, Mature-Age Entry and Bachelor of Education (EXTERNAL Batch 2) for the Academic Year 2026/2027 under self sponsorship.
Makerere University‘s position in the July 2026 edition of the Webometrics Rankings has improved from 925th to 776th globally and from 13th to 11th on the Continent, compared to the January 2026 edition. Makerere remains the top-ranked University in Uganda and East Africa.
The new rankings are as a result of improved performance in the Impact Rank, which measures the number of external domains referring/linking to Makerere (from 1,593 to 1,185) and the Excellence Rank, which measures Research papers in the top 10% most cited between 2019 and 2023 (from 1,095 to 715).
Please see the attached screenshots for details or view Makerere‘s rankings online using the link below:
The Webometrics Ranking of World Universities aims to recognize and promote the digital transformation of higher education institutions by evaluating how effectively they reflect their academic, research, and societal contributions online.
We remain committed to ensuring that all our good work in teaching and learning, research, knowledge transfer, and partnerships continues to be reflected online through various journals and other platforms.
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