General
Citation for Prof. Leif Abrahamsson’s Award of Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa of Makerere University
a) Highlights
- Prof. Leif Abrahamssonwas born on 26th May 1954 in Uppsala Sweden. He obtained a BSc in Mathematics in 1977 and a PhD in Mathematics in 1982, at Uppsala University-Sweden.
- At the time of his retirement in 2023, Prof. Leif was the Programme Director at International Science Programme (ISP), Uppsala-Sweden.
- Leif devoted most of his working life developing, supporting and promoting Mathematics in developing countries.
- Leif coordinated bilateral programme of Sida at Makerere University, and together with his EAUMP initiative, have fully supported the training of over 30 PhDs in mathematics in Uganda.
b) Contribution to development of Mathematics in Uganda, Eastern Africa and beyond
- It all started in 2001 when Leif convened a meeting of key African Mathematicians that included among others (Kuku-Nigeria, Luboobi-Uganda, Odiambo-Kenya, Masanja-Tanzania, Fanja-Madagascar, Allotey-Ghana, Ogana-Kenya) in Arusha-Tanzania to discuss the poor state of mathematics in the region then.
- Leif’s initiative under EAUMP later built a solid background for Sida support to Mathematics in the region, in total, this has seen training of over 30 PhD Students, over 20 Master Students and over 15 Post Docs in Mathematics and its Applications in Uganda since 2002. Over 100 publications in Mathematics at Makerere University are direct outcomes of Leif’s EAUMP and Sida initiatives.
- Leif has extended similar contributions to Mathematics in Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Mali, Senegal, Niger, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and some countries in South East Asia (i.e. Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar)
c) Conclusions
- Prof. Leif Abrahamsson has immensely contributed to the development of teaching mathematics, and research capacities in Ugandan universities and globally through quality and mass PhD training and postdocs and research publications;
- Prof. Leif Abrahamsson took the initiative to develop mathematics in the region, particularly in Uganda and Eastern Africa.
- Makerere University and Uganda as a whole is a big beneficiary of Prof. Leif’s work and his work rhymes with the country’s Development Plan of Developing Sciences;
For his professional achievements and significant contribution, Makerere University is proud and honored to confer upon Prof Leif Abrahamsson the Honorary Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa and all the rights, duties and privileges pertaining thereto.
Orator: Assoc. Prof. John Mango Magero, Department of Mathematics, College of Natural Sciences
Makerere University has received 700 digital tablets from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), aimed at enhancing statistical research, teaching, and data-driven decision-making across the institution.
The donation was made on June 30, 2025, as part of UBOS’ broader initiative to distribute a total of 3,025 tablets to ten government-funded institutions of higher learning. The handover ceremony was attended by Makerere’s Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi and Mr. Simon Kizito, the Deputy University Secretary among other Vice Chancellors and accounting officers.
Dr. Allen Kabagenyi, a UBOS Board Director, who coordinated the distribution of the tablets to the respective 10 Public universities, underscored the significance of inter-institutional collaboration in fostering a data-literate and innovative generation. “This initiative is a testament to the power of partnerships between public institutions. In a country like Uganda, with one of the youngest populations globally, equipping our future leaders with the right tools is critical to achieving both national and global development goals,” she remarked.
The tablets had initially been procured and deployed during the recently concluded National Population and Housing Census. UBOS Executive Director Dr. Chris Mukiza explained that their redistribution marks the beginning of the Bureau’s post-census utilization strategy.
“We acquired 120,000 tablets to conduct the census, and as we committed earlier, we are ensuring that these resources continue to serve the country even after the census,” said Dr. Mukiza. “Our expectation is that these tablets will strengthen data collection, teaching, and research in universities and higher institutions. We want to see a culture where statistics are not only produced but also actively used to influence development outcomes.”
Dr. Mukiza encouraged academic institutions to take full advantage of the extensive data available at UBOS, emphasizing that greater use of statistical resources will translate into more impactful research and policy interventions.
During the same event – cultural institutions also received tablets.
With this donation, Makerere University is well-positioned to further empower students and researchers in statistical analysis, evidence-based planning, and innovation-driven teaching.
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