The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and Members of Management pose for a group photo at the Makerere@100 Monument with Hon. Maurice Kibalya (Right) and the delegates at the end of the visit to Makerere University on 5th January 2024.
On Friday 5th January 2024, Makerere University was privileged to host delegates of the 27th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) hosted by the Parliament of Uganda from 3rd to 6th January 2024. A biannual event, the 28th Edition of CSPOC will be hosted by India in 2026. The delegation was led by the Member of Parliament for Bugabula South Hon. Maurice Kibalya, who also served as Makerere Guild President from 2005 to 2006.
The delegates were received at the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and Members of Management. Welcoming the visitors, the Vice Chancellor said that Makerere as the region’s premier Higher Education Institution recognizes the need to conduct research that addresses issues such as climate change, food security, emerging diseases, natural disasters, fast population growth and conflicts that affect the community, country and continent.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe addresses the 27th CSPOC Delegates in the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium.
“We do this mainly through 36 research centres. We also have centres of excellence such as the Africa Regional Centre of Excellence for Crop Improvement (MaRCCI) because food is going to be the most important thing to solve with the growing population. And we also have the Africa Centre of Excellence in Material Product Development and Nanotechnology (MAPRONANO), which is using the highest technology to come up with innovations in medicine and other engineering fields” remarked Prof. Nawangwe.
The Vice Chancellor informed delegates that Makerere, through dedicated funding for research and innovations from Government is modernizing her research infrastructure. “Our promise is that we are all set for the next century of service to humanity. I thank you for honouring us with your visit and I hope that you enjoy the rest of your stay in Uganda.”
The Head of Delegation and MP for Bugabula South, Hon. Maurice Kibalya.
In his remarks, the Head of Delegation thanked the University Leadership for preparing to host the delegation at short notice, and apologized on behalf of the Parliament of Uganda and the CSPOC Organising Committee for the absence of the Speakers and Presiding Officers who were visiting Quality Chemicals Limited the same day. He nevertheless informed the Leadership that the Parliament of Uganda is set to host the Pan-African Parliament in May 2024, and is scheduled to host the African Parliamentary Union in 2024, during which events visits to Makerere University will be arranged.
Dr. Nakibuule Rose from CoCIS (Right) talks to the delegates about the E-health system-Mobile data collector during their tour of Mak-RIF projects.
Commending the strides made by the University in research and innovations and acknowledging the need for more support to consolidate these efforts, Hon. Kibalya reassured, “We are proud of Makerere University… Vice Chancellor, you have the best will at the current Parliament.”
Delegates listen to an exhibitor from CoVAB talk about the Low-Cost (Bulamu) Medical Ventilator.
Please see the table below for the list of Mak-RIF projects exhibited.
No.
Project Title
College
PI’s Name
1
Development and promotion of solar powered energy-saving smart electric cook stoves to reduce the cooking carbon footprint in households, institutions and industries: (SE-Cookers)
CAES
Dr. Peter Tumutegyereize
2
Developing and Testing Digital Games for Teenage Reproductive and Mental Health Education
MUBS
Dr. Joseph Kizito Bada
3
Ajon (local brew in Eastern Uganda) Gold: Mechanizing processing and improving shelf life
MUBS
Dr. Bosco Amerit
4
Increasing Aquaculture production in Uganda through low-cost monitoring systems
MUBS
Dr. Charles Olupot
5
Developing a community-based model for integrating bioenergy and poultry production using rice agro-waste (Integrated bioenergy agriculture model)
CoVAB
Dr. Gabriel Tumwine
6
Risk assessment of heavy metals in vegetables consumed in Kampala Uganda
CoVAB
Dr. Tamale Andrew
7
Vitex Medical Tool: An Artificial Intelligence Hospital device that disinfects surfaces and supports Health care workers in Infection control
CoVAB
Dr. Edward Ssebuufu
8
Redvers e-mobility bike: An electric powered motorcycle
CEDAT
Dr. Hillary Kasedde
9
Nylon Based Litter Management Trap for Drainage Systems
CEDAT
Dr. Andrew Ayor
10
E-health system-Mobile data collector
CoCIS
Dr. Nakibuule Rose
11
Improving Livelihoods of Small-Scale Producers in Uganda through Digital Advisory Services
CoCIS
Dr. Richard Edema
12
An automated feedback module for smallholder farmers in crowdsourcing at scale for real-time crop health surveillance
CoCIS
Dr. Florence Nameere Kivunike
13
Crane Cloud: An open-source multi-cloud service layer for highly available cloud-based services in Africa
CoCIS
Dr. Bainomugisha Engineer
14
The Enhanced Product Development and Pilot Testing of a Smart Postpartum haemorrhage Volumetric Drape for Early detection of postpartum haemorrhage during child birth
CHS
Dr. Sam Ononge
15
A Whole University Approach: Kicking Sexual Harassment Out of Higher Education Institutions in Uganda (KISH)
Gender Mainstreaming
Prof. Grace Bantebya
16
Labour Externalization Pathways to The Gulf Cooperating Countries (GCCs) and Development Implications for Uganda
Gender Mainstreaming
Dr. Richard Asaba Bagonza
17
Practicals for the Home for the Rural Student
CoNAS
Dr. Taddeo Ssenyonga
18
Development of Value-added Phytogenic Feed Additives to Replace Conventional Antibiotics in Chicken Feeds
CoNAS
Dr. Alice Nabatanzi
19
Enhancing The Grain Amaranth Value Chain for Improved Nutrition, Livelihoods and Enterprises Development in Uganda
CAES
Dr. Dorothy Nakimbugwe
20
Manufacturing, Clinical Testing and Commercialization of a Rapid Diagnostic Test for COVID-19
CHS
Prof. Misaki Wayengera
21
Epi Tent
22
Development of Freza a nanotechnology-based preservation solution for shelf-life extension of fruits and vegetables for the local farmer, retailer and vendor in Uganda
MUBS
Dr. Mutumba Abbey
23
Enhancing Value Addition on Potato-Sorghum enterprises for Improved Livelihoods in Uganda (EVaPoSIL)
CAES
Prof. Johnny Mugisha
24
The Low-Cost (Bulamu) Medical Ventilator
CoVAB
Prof. Frank Mwine
25
Improving Point-of-Care Learning for Prostate and Breast Cancer using Machine Learning
CoCIS
Dr. Peter Nabende
Additional Projects Exhibited (Not funded by Mak-RIF)
26
Automating Mobile Microscopy: Diagnostics for Malaria
CoCIS
Dr. Rose Nakasi
Table of Projects showcased during the visit by delegates of the 27th CSPOC to Makerere University on 5th January 2024.
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.