The sixth (6^th) edition of the Kampala Geopolitics Conference got underway at 10:00 AM on Tuesday 17^th October 2023 in the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium with the partners expressing pride at being associated with Makerere and what the University represents. It was truly a day for the century-old institution to bask in the limelight as accolade after accolade poured in.

“We are here today together because Makerere University is actually a temple of knowledge, a temple of academic freedom, of research, of science and of humanity” remarked the Ambassador of France to Uganda, H.E. Xavier Sticker. “We are together in this temple because we are believers in Makerere University, we are partners today and beyond on a number of other activities, but we are also believers in what university represents… the words are so close between university and universality” added the Ambassador.

“We at Konrad-Adenauer Foundation are very pleased to once again co-host this prestigious conference alongside the French Embassy in Uganda, Makerere University, UN Women and the Alliance Française” continued Mr. Nils Wörmer, the Director of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung’s (KAS) Regional Programme Security Dialogue for East Africa.

“Every time I come to this great university I feel proud and privileged” exuded UN Women Country Representative, Dr. Paulina Chiwangu. “We have some of the great leaders from the region who went through this great university, the likes of William Mkapa, former President of Tanzania, the likes of Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the father of the Nation of Tanzania” she added.

Dr. Chiwangu further lauded the Kampala Geopolitics Conference as “a beacon of intellectual discourse” dedicated to achieving several vital objectives namely; creating a dynamic platform that bridges expertise between Europe and Africa, as well as fostering open conversations in a manner that is both creative and informative.

It was on this creative and informative note that the Director of Alliance Française Kampala, Mr. Eric Touzé shared that his organization in addition to teaching French promotes the local Ugandan cultures in their own languages. “Thus it is quite natural that as part of the Kampala Geopolitics 2023, the Alliance was tasked with developing a program of cultural and artistic events… the idea is to introduce as a counterpoint to scholarly discussions, moments of reflections, moments of relaxation and moments of beauty.”

Mr. Touzé then took time to introduce the artists; Charlene Komuntale and Mona Taha, whose art pieces hang from the auditorium walls. “The Ugandan, East African and African cultural and creative industries are key to the geopolitics of the region and the works presented here reflect this” he added, thereafter, introducing Destiny Gladys Chaiga a poet and spoken word artist. Destiny is a first cohort fellow at the Content Catalyst Program under the Media Challenge Initiative funded by the French Embassy in Uganda. On the occasion, she recited one of her pieces, “Voices of Africa’s Renaissance”.

In his welcome remarks, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Umar Kakumba shared that it was truly an honour and a privilege for Makerere University to annually provide a platform to debate current geopolitical trends in light of sustainable development, global peace and international cooperation. He noted that a lot has transpired on the global scene since Makerere University held the first Kampala Geopolitics Conference on 26^th and 27^th October 2018, most notably, the advent and rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as well as COVID-19 and its aftermath.

“One of the most important lessons that the pandemic taught us was the need to embrace blended teaching and learning, as an approach to ensure that we not only reconstruct our nations but also create more innovative ways of extending our services to our wider stakeholder communities” remarked Prof. Kakumba.

He was pleased to note that the 6^th Kampala Geopolitics Conference would be accessible to both physical and virtual audiences. In this regard, he thanked the French Embassy and partner institutions for their generous contributions that have made the Kampala Geopolitics Conference an annual highlight on the calendars of staff, students, alumni, stakeholders and experts from various fields.

The 6^th Kampala Geopolitics Conference was not only about applauding Makerere University as host but also deliberating on pertinent geopolitical issues by various thought leaders and experts. The topics covered by various panels included;

1. Scenarios for Somalia and the Region after ATMIS moderated by Dr. Susanne Conrad (Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Headquarters, Germany) with panelists;
   • Lt. Gen. Osman Noor Soubagle – Djibouti Armed Forces, former Commander of AMISOM,
   • Ms. Samira Gaid – Regional Analyst, Horn of Africa, and
   • Ms. Selam Tadesse Demissie – Research Officer, Horn of Africa Security Analysis – Institute for Security Studies (ISS).
2. The Role of Cultural and Creative Industries for the African Soft Power moderated by Mr. Fredrick Nsibambi – The Cross Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU), with panelists;
   • Ms. Barbra Atusasiire – Director, TASSLES Films,
   • Mr. Philip Luswata – Lecturer, Makerere University, and
   • Ms. Phina Mugerwa (aka Masanyalaze) – Artist, Musician, General Secretary for the Uganda Musicians Association.
3. The New Scramble for Africa – Emerging Geopolitics and International Relations in Africa moderated by Mr. Charles Mwanguhya Mpagi – Journalist, NBS, with panelists;
   • Prof. Kasaija Phillip Apuuli – Department of Political Science, Makerere University,
   • Dr. Nansozi K. Muwanga – Executive Director, Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC),
   • Mr. Ahmed Hadji – Senior Fellow, Africa Institute for Strategy and Policy, and
   • Mr. Louis Namwanja Kizito – Partner at Pentagon Advocates.
4. Closing the Global Digital Divide – Advancing Digital Inclusion and Economic Opportunities for All moderated by Mr. Richard Ndahiro – Technical Advisor, Inclusive Finance & Fintech (UNCDF), with panelists;
   • Ms. Diana Akullu Wanyama – Intervention Manager for Market Infrastructure at the Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Uganda, and
   • Ms. Renita Nabisubi – Lead Digital Economy, Mastercard Foundation (virtual attendance).
5. East Africa as Part of the “Indo Pacific Theatre” moderated by Mr. Konstantin Krome – Policy Advisor German Armed Forces and Civil Affairs, Konrad Adenauer Foundation Headquarter, Germany, with panelists;
   • Mr. Ahmed Hadji – Senior Fellow, Africa Institute for Strategy and Policy,
   • Mr. Mohamed Abdilahi Duale – Director General, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Somaliland,
   • Mr. Abdullahi Hamud Mohamed – Executive Director, Management Institute for National Development (MIND) Somalia, and
   • Mr. Mohamed Abdoulkader Moussa – Director, Institute of Diplomatic Studies of Djibouti.
6. The Rapidly Growing African Population – Is the Continent Set for a Demographic Dividend? moderated by Dr. Allen Kabagenyi – Senior Lecturer, Department of Population Studies, Makerere University with panelists;
   • Assoc. Prof. Sarah Ssali – Dean of the School of Women and Gender Studies, Makerere University,
   • Dr. Peter Kisakye – Lecturer at the Department of Population Studies, Makerere University,
   • Mr. Samuel S. Omwa – Ag. Director General of the National Population Council, Uganda, and
   • Dr. Fred K. Muhumuza – Director of the MUBS Economics Forum.
7. Water Governance, Transboundary Water, Peace and Democracy moderated by Mr. Andrew Aijuka – Environment Multimedia Journalist, InfoNile with panelists;
   • Mr. Bosco Asiimwe – Director, Democratic Governance & Strategic Studies, The Center for Multilateral Affairs,
   • Dr. Callist Tindimugaya – Commissioner for Water Resources Planning and Regulation in the Ministry of Water and Environment,
   • Mr. Lucas Cornet – Consultant, Water & Sanitation, The World Bank, DR Congo, and
   • Mr. Marc Trouyet – Country Director of the French Development Agency (AFD) in Uganda.
8. Empowering the Youth of Effective Leadership and Participation – Opportunities and Challenges moderated by Mr. Emolot Allan David – Chairperson of the Independent Continental Youth Advisory Council for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with panelists;
   • Ms. Thembela Misibi – Vice Chairperson of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Youth Advisory Council (virtual attendance),
   • Ms. Esther Pomwene – Professional Assistant to the Presidential Advisor on Economics and Green Hydrogen Commissioner in Namibia (virtual attendance), and
   • Ms. Maleehah Khandwalla – Project and Programme Coordinator at the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Youth Advisory Council (virtual attendance).

Beyond the panel sessions were a workshop on Fact Checking and Artificial Intelligence (AI) delivered by Mr. Edgar Mathew Karuhanga, a Fact Checker with the Debunk Media Initiative. The initiative is in a process of building an AI platform to detect and alert the public on disinformation, misinformation and malinformation.

The 6^th Kampala Geopolitics Conference was moderated by Mr. Patrick Kamara, a senior reporter and talk-show host at NTV Uganda.

Please click the embedded videos below to view event proceedings.