General
Mak Counselling & Guidance Centre, UVA Launch Book on Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Uganda
Higher Powers: Alcohol and After in Uganda’s capital city, a collaborative literary work on alcohol addiction and treatment giving the Ugandan context authored by Ugandan researchers Sarah Namirembe and George Mpanga, together with University of Virginia (UVA)’s Associate Professor China Scherz was officially launched on Friday 26th April 2024. The event was held in the Conference Hall of the School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering at Makerere University.
The convener, Henry Nsubuga, the Manager of the Counselling and Guidance Centre at Makerere University thanked the authors of the book for conducting research and bringing to the scholarly and practice world another perspective to treating those with alcohol use disorder (AUD).
The book, a result of over four years of dedicated research, discusses therapeutic pathways to alcohol addiction recovery in Uganda, detailing how some victims mainly in Kampala have used these methods to completely recover from the vice.
According to George Mpanga one of the authors, “most of the work took place in Uganda’s capital city Kampala; given the number and variety of options, including the country’s two major rehabilitation programmes. Kampala provided us with an excellent location for exploring a range of treatment modalities available in Uganda.”
Higher Powers mainly focuses on four recovery approaches: Biological, Social, Clinical, and religious approaches. Under the religious approach, the authors write that some addicts find healing in church while others in the traditional shrines or through herbal medicines.
Assoc. Prof. China Scherz says through collaboration, they are bringing insights from Uganda and other parts of Africa about the ethics of interdependence into a rapidly expanding conversation about the need for more collaborative forms and logical practice. She says collaborative writing has helped them come up with a book none would solely produce.
“We are bringing insights from Uganda and elsewhere in Africa, about the ethics of interdependence into a rapidly expanding conversation about the need for more collaborative forms and logical practice. And in the process, hoping to transform a long history of important but often invisible contributions made by assistants and translators, Pan Africanist anthropology, this process of writing together across a wide range of sites has ultimately transformed the project into something that none of us could have created independently of one another,” she said.
The book was launched by Dr. Hafsa Lukwata, the Assistant Commissioner for Health Mental Health and Center of Substance Abuse at the Ministry of Health, who the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine.
Dr. Lukwata thanked the authors of the book and all participants who accepted to be respondents during the research. She said the government of Uganda is tirelessly pushing for the alcohol control bill to mitigate alcohol misuse, and urged everyone to be part of the cause so that the bill is passed.
Prof. Nazarius Mbona Tumwesigye, from the School of Public Health, said the book is rich with many educating stories and urged everyone to grab a copy and make good use of it.
“This work is very good and it has so many enriching stories. There are many things you can learn from this book and I wish everyone reads it,” he said.
Dr. David Basangwa, former head at Butabika Hospital Alcohol and Drug Unit said the title of the book was well selected and it contains a lot of meaning, especially in dealing with various challenges in life.
“The title given to this book: Higher Powers, I find it very interesting and well selected with a lot of meaning, especially when it comes to dealing with various challenges in life,” he said.
Basangwa noted that there is a need to deal with stigmatisation among alcohol addicts, pointing out language euphemisms as one of the best approaches. He said alcohol addicts feel more comfortable being called patients with alcoholic use disorders, but not alcohol or drug addicts.
The book launch was attended by policy makers, treatment specialists, people who have recovered from alcohol use disorder, members of Makerere University academic staff, and students.
Through an access contract with the University of California, a PDF version of the book has been availed at no cost.
To obtain a complimentary PDF copy, please click on the link provided below.
Makerere University, through the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) and the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), has signed an open Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). This MoU is one of several initiatives aimed at strengthening the university’s global collaborations and research partnerships.
In his remarks, Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe highlighted Makerere’s recent centenary celebrations as a testament to its long and influential history in Africa. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to serious, research-driven collaboration, noting Makerere’s aspiration to become a leading student-centered research university that develops solutions to regional challenges.
Prof. Nawangwe emphasized that Makerere’s research addresses critical issues such as widespread poverty, high youth unemployment, the devastating effects of climate change on agriculture, rapid population growth, and political interference in production. These challenges, he explained, call for climate-resilient agriculture, stronger health systems to address emerging diseases, and more inclusive governance. He further observed that Africa’s ambitious goal of producing one million PhDs in the next decade remains constrained by inadequate supervision capacity across the continent, stressing that collaborations like this MoU are key to bridging that gap.
EPRC Executive Director, Dr. Sarah Sewanyana, described the signing as particularly significant for EPRC and its Board of Directors as they embark on a new five-year strategic plan (2025/26–2029/30). She explained that the plan strongly emphasizes strategic collaborations, with this partnership serving as a prime example of leveraging collective strengths to deepen impact. She underscored EPRC’s role in advancing evidence-based policymaking for national development, aligning with Uganda’s National Development Plan IV.
Prof. James Wokadala, Acting Principal of CoBAMS, emphasized that the collaboration seeks to preserve and expand vital human knowledge while strengthening partnerships between academic institutions and global research networks. He noted that these networks are instrumental in advising legal and policy professionals, as well as aligning research agendas with both national and corporate priorities. He expressed pride in the extensive efforts of the School of Economics that have expanded these activities in recent years. He pointed to significant accomplishments that have been achieved in collaboration with IGC, including hosting a 2025 high-level international conference on mobile money payment systems, which positioned Makerere University as a thought leader on critical African economic issues. He also celebrated the successful bid by the School of Economics to host the ‘Africa Meeting of the Econometric Society’ in 2027, further demonstrating its contribution to impactful scholarship and policy influence.
The Acting Principal further emphasized that the new partnership with LSE will build on these achievements, offering immense benefits such as expanding capacity-building opportunities for faculty and students, especially in research and Public Infrastructure Management (PIM). The collaboration will also provide platforms for knowledge dissemination and policy dialogue, while addressing pressing socio-economic and health challenges. Ultimately, he said, formalisation of the partnership amplifies CoBAMS’ commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and innovation.
Speaking on behalf of LSE’s International Growth Centre (IGC), Executive Director Dr. Jonathan Leape expressed delight at formalizing the long-standing collaboration with Makerere and EPRC. He highlighted current joint projects, including research on the impact of the 2020 gender-based vaccine program on women’s skills and learning, studies on reforms in STEM education, and investigations into barriers limiting business growth for entrepreneurs. He stressed that the core mission is to bring researchers and policymakers together to address pressing policy challenges with robust, reliable evidence and innovative solutions.
The event, held on 27th August 2025, was attended by several dignitaries including Dr. Richard Newfarmer, Country Director for Uganda and Rwanda (IGC); Dr. Nhial Kuch, Senior Country Economist (IGC); and Mary Teddy Nakyejwe, IGC Programme Officer. Also present were the Director of Research, Dr. Ibrahim Kasirye and other members of EPRC leadership.
Makerere University has hosted a delegation from the Ghent University Association, led by Prof. Mieke Van Herreweghe, Vice Rector of Ghent University. The delegation included representatives from Howest University and Hogent University of Applied Sciences.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe welcomed the team and highlighted Makerere University’s commitment to addressing the pressing challenges in the region. These include climate change, which continues to hinder investment, and Uganda’s rapidly growing population that has surged from 5 million in the late 1940s to nearly 50 million currently, creating socio-economic challenges such as high youth unemployment.
He emphasized that Makerere’s research agenda focuses on understanding the fast-growing population, tackling health challenges, advancing governance and human rights, and fostering peace through initiatives such as the Rotary Peace Center—the only one of its kind on the African continent. Research at Makerere also seeks to provide solutions to youth unemployment in one of the world’s youngest nations.
The Vice Chancellor further noted that Makerere University teaches and conducts research across a wide spectrum of disciplines, organized into colleges including Agriculture, Business and Management, Computing, Education and External Studies, Engineering and Technology, Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine. The university also hosts over 60 specialized research centers, among them Centers of Excellence such as the Regional Centre for Crop Improvement, which works to enhance food security, manage pests and diseases, and improve agricultural productivity. Another key institution is the Infectious Diseases Institute, which leads research on HIV/AIDS. With these initiatives, he added, Makerere continues to expand its research footprint while strengthening global partnerships.
Prof. Van Herreweghe provided an overview of Ghent University, founded in 1817 and ranked among the top 100 universities globally for decades. With its motto “Dare to think,” Ghent University has built a strong international reputation. It also holds the distinction of being the only Belgian, and currently the only European, university with a campus in South Korea. Established in 2014, the campus offers bachelor’s programs in applied biotechnology.
She highlighted Ghent’s joint PhD programs, which are structured as sandwich programs to support African universities. Under this arrangement, PhD candidates spend two years funded at Ghent University and another two years at their home university (such as Makerere), with joint supervision from both institutions. These programs, she noted, are a strategic way of fostering international collaboration.
During the visit, Ghent University signed a Student Exchange Agreement with Makerere University to complement the existing Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement will pave the way for more joint initiatives and strengthen collaboration in the years ahead.
The delegation also included Mr. Lieven Theys, International Coordinator for Business Management at Howest University, who explained that Howest clusters its programs into three key domains: Design and Technology, Human Well-being and Health, and Business and Organization. Dr. Robin Stevens represented Hogent University of Applied Sciences, which runs programs across nine schools including Business and Management, Computer Sciences, Biosciences, Industrial Technology, Teacher Training, and Healthcare.
The visit, held on 27th August 2025, was attended by Makerere University officials and members of various colleges, among them Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) and Principal of the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Prof. Tonny Oyana-Principal College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Prof. Moses Musinguzi-Principal College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Prof. Julius Kikooma-Director Graduate Training, Assoc. Prof. Yazidhi Bamutaze-Deputy Principal College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Assoc. Prof. James Wokadala-Deputy Principal College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Assoc. Prof. Richard Idro-Deputy Principal College of Health Sciences, and Dr. Cathy Mbidde, Manager of the Makerere University Innovation Pod (Mak UniPod).
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