General
Presidents of Jigjiga & Samara Universities, Ethiopia Visit Mak, Discuss Collaboration on Dry Land Agriculture
By Gerald Ochwo
On Friday 31st May 2024, Presidents Dr. Beshir Abdullahi (PhD) and Dr. Muhammad Usman Darasa of Jigjiga University, Ethiopia and Samara University, Ethiopia respectively and the First Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) of Makerere University, Prof. Umar Kakumba discussed the possibilities of research collaboration, staff and student mobility and exchanges as well as internationalization of higher education.
The meeting that was attended by Makerere University officials from the Colleges of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Education and External Studies (CEES), and the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT) centred on research collaborations in dry land agriculture including, areas of Pastoral Education, Extension and Animal Science, Climate Change and Mitigation, Engineering and Technology, Education and Applied Teaching, as well as Energy Research and Urban Development.
Welcoming the two Presidents to Makerere, Prof. Umar Kakumba presented the historical journey that the University has undergone in its 102 years of existence. He emphasized the evolution of the University from the faculty-based system, to a collegiate institution in 2011, which now houses 10 Academic Colleges with over 500 academic programmes at Undergraduate and Post-graduate levels. He reiterated that Internationalization is one of the key core strategic agendas of the University, and currently, more than 1,000 international students are pursuing different studies at Makerere University including, students from Ethiopia.
“Makerere has historically remained the top University on the continent and because of this historical dominance the University has continued to attract students from the continent and beyond. For instance, we currently have about 5 PhD students from Ethiopia at our College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and we have over the years, continued to work with visiting professors from the University of Addis-Ababa, who have supported our Academic, processes either as external supervisors or visiting lectures and this is the case with a number of other Universities that we partner with on the continent,” said Prof. Umar Kakumba.
Prof. Robert Wamala, the Acting Director, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT) in his remarks reiterated that Makerere has a number of funded research partnerships all over the world, and the College of Health Sciences (CHS), currently tops the partnership ratings of the University. He further noted that, through the Government intervention, the University has established a research fund code-name, ‘MAK-RIF’, which receives an annual support of over US$ 8 Million from the Government of Uganda.
“We are grateful to the Government of Uganda for investing over US$ 8 Million, into the Makerere University research portfolio which currently is being housed at the MAK-RIF. This research fund attracts participation of researchers from the entire country and the research output and impact, is already commendable,” remarked Prof. Robert Wamala.
Dr. Beshir Abdullahi (PhD), President of the Jigjiga University in his remarks noted that his visit was aimed at understanding the different research and collaboration interests that Makerere University espouses and, to also see how these research areas can be synchronized with the Jigjiga University research agenda. Their agenda, he said, currently focuses on areas of dry land agriculture, animal feeding systems, irrigation technologies, agricultural extension programmes, and petroleum Engineering among others.
“I can say that we are happy to be here in Makerere University, Uganda, which we recognize as one of the best and oldest universities on the African continent. Ethiopia as a Country, experiences long spells of drought and this has over the years pushed us into adopting dry land farming approaches and technologies. This is slightly different with Uganda which is green and receives rain throughout the year. The situation in Ethiopia can only be equated to the Karamoja regions in Uganda” Dr. Beshir Abdullahi (PhD) remarked.
On the other hand, Dr. Muhammad Usman Darasa (PhD), the President of Samara University, noted that his institution currently has more than 103 Undergraduate programmes in the areas of Tourism, Health Sciences, dry land agriculture, livestock mobility, and veterinary systems and over 50 Masters programmes with the future prospects of starting PhD programmes. He then asked a question on how the two institutions (Makerere University and the University of Samara), can partner to solve the problems that affect the common people in the respective countries. Some of the challenges that he highlighted include: climate change, peace and security.
In attendance, were Prof. Anthony Muwagga Muggaga, Principal, College of Education and External Studies (CEES), Prof. Robert Wamala, Ag. Director Research and Graduate Training (DRGT), Dr. John Baptist Tumuhairwe, Dean, School of Agricultural Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), who also represented the Principal of CAES, Assoc. Prof. Kizito Maria Kasule, Deputy Principal, College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Ms. Ritah Namisango, Principal Public Relations Officer, and Mr. Gearld Ochwo, Manager International Relations Office/Senior Assistant Registrar in charge of Communications and Liaison in the Department of the Academic Registrar.
The visit was concluded with a guided tour of the University and specifically to CAES, where Dr. John Baptist Tumuhairwe took the visitors around the College and showcased a number of initiatives including the Soybean project. The Presidents also visited the UNDP-Makerere University Innovation Pod, where Dr. Cathy Mbidde, the Director, Makerere University Innovations Hub, highlighted the various student innovation accomplishments and shared the future prospects of the Pod.
By Moses Lutaaya
Makerere University has challenged newly admitted postgraduate diploma and master’s students to take ownership of their academic journey, produce knowledge that addresses Africa’s challenges and use their training to create opportunities for society.
The call was made on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, during the orientation of postgraduate diploma and master’s students held at the Main Hall, Main Building, Makerere University. The orientation was conducted under the theme “Harnessing the Power of Graduate Training to Transform Africa’s Research Trajectory.”
Addressing the students, Prof. Sarah Ssali, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, said admission to postgraduate education marked an important transition from undergraduate study and should come with greater independence, critical thinking and responsibility.
“Postgraduate study is not just the accumulation of knowledge. You are now active researchers, critical thinkers and creators of your own knowledge,” Prof. Ssali said.
She said postgraduate training should enable students to deepen their expertise, strengthen their analytical abilities and develop solutions to real-world problems.
“Through your projects, dissertations, innovations and professional practice, you have the opportunity to contribute knowledge that can influence policies, improve services and transform lives. Your research matters, and your contribution matters,” she said.
Prof. Ssali urged students to see their studies beyond the pursuit of a degree, encouraging them to ask themselves why they had chosen postgraduate education and what contribution they intended to make to their communities and professions.
“See your coursework as an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills that will help you propose new solutions to real-world challenges,” she said.
She also encouraged students to embrace collaboration with communities and non-academic partners, saying many of them were already coming to the University with professional and community experiences that could enrich their research.
“Don’t think that your scholarship is only for those who look academic. Embrace community, embrace networks,” she said.
Prof. Ssali further cautioned the students against wasting time, noting that many postgraduate students have employment, family and other responsibilities alongside their studies.
“Make the most of your time and don’t waste it,” she said, urging students to use available study time productively even when there are changes in their lecture schedules.
She also emphasised the need for students to take responsibility for their progress instead of waiting for lecturers or supervisors to push them.
“Postgraduate education requires independence, independent inquiry, independent research, independent interrogation and also active participation,” Prof. Ssali said.
Prof. Julius Kikooma, Director of Graduate Training, told the students that their admission was a significant achievement given the large number of applicants seeking postgraduate opportunities at Makerere.
“We received over 12,000 applications to our postgraduate programmes, but we are only able to take just a small percentage of that. That means you are just the few people who are able to do this,” Prof. Kikooma said.
He urged the new students to appreciate the opportunity and understand that graduate education carries responsibilities beyond attending lectures and completing examinations.
According to Prof. Kikooma, Uganda and Africa require highly trained human capital capable of driving national and continental development priorities.
“The country needs more highly trained people if it is going to achieve its aspirations and priorities for national development,” he said.
He challenged the students to consider what Uganda and Africa would look like in the coming decades and to question whether the continent would continue relying on ideas, innovations and creations generated elsewhere.
“Will it still be a country that always depends on ideas, innovations and creations that come from outside?” he asked, before urging the students to become part of the generation that develops home-grown solutions.
Prof. Kikooma said much of what Uganda would need in the future would depend on what the country invests in today, particularly in human capital and research.
He also explained that the Directorate of Graduate Training works with colleges, schools, departments and central University units to strengthen the quality of graduate education.
“We want to make sure that what you are taking away from here is of a certain quality,” he said, adding that the University has established policies, standards and systems intended to create an environment in which postgraduate students can succeed.
However, Prof. Kikooma stressed that the University cannot take responsibility for the entire academic journey on behalf of students.
“We will not replace your programme. We will not replace your lecturers. We will not replace your supervisors. Each of those has a different role to play along your journey,” he said.
He encouraged students to be proactive by understanding their programmes, colleges and the various support services available to them.
“Successful graduates tend to be proactive rather than reactive. So don’t wait until you have a problem, then you start running from it,” Prof. Kikooma said.
He further urged the students to work within the stipulated programme period, noting that most master’s programmes take about two years while postgraduate diploma programmes generally take one year.
Prof. Robert Wamala, Director of Research, Innovations and Partnerships, urged the newly admitted students to use their graduate training to produce knowledge capable of addressing challenges facing their communities, Uganda and Africa.
He challenged them to move beyond consuming knowledge generated elsewhere and instead become producers of knowledge and solutions.
Prof. Wamala emphasised the importance of connecting research to society, innovation and professional practice, encouraging students to identify problems within their workplaces and communities that could become areas for meaningful research.
He said Africa needed researchers capable of generating evidence, innovations and practical solutions to support development rather than simply importing solutions from other parts of the world.
The Director encouraged the students to build collaborative networks during their studies and to regard the University as an ecosystem in which researchers, professionals, communities and other partners can work together.
Dr. Kizito Ongaya, Deputy University Librarian, introduced the students to Makerere’s extensive library and information resources, urging them to make the library a central part of their postgraduate studies.
He said the University Library operates a hybrid system combining physical collections with electronic resources.
“We have over 200,000 types of books in our library, with 45 e-journal databases,” Dr. Ongaya said.
He encouraged students to make use of the University’s electronic databases, noting that substantial resources are invested in providing access to scholarly journals.
“If you don’t use e-journals, you are unacceptable,” he told the students, emphasising that postgraduate research requires extensive engagement with scholarly literature.
Dr. Ongaya also highlighted the University’s archival collections, specialised libraries and information centres located across its colleges.
He said students would be guided on how to access both physical and electronic resources and encouraged them to explore specialised collections that could support their individual research areas.
Dr. Mike Barongo, Team Leader ICT, Department of the Academic Registrar, told the new students that Makerere had increasingly digitised its academic and administrative processes and urged them to complete their online registration as an immediate priority.
He said students could access their provisional admission letters through the online application system and use the student number provided to activate their student portals.
“The student portal is very, very critical,” Dr. Barongo said.
He explained that students must enrol and register in order to access key University services, including institutional email and Wi-Fi.
“Once you enroll, you create an institutional email address. That institutional email address is the gateway for you to access so many things, like Wi-Fi,” he said.
Dr. Barongo also informed students that ICT support centres were available to assist those experiencing challenges with enrolment, registration or access to digital services.
He urged students to ensure they enrol and register every semester so that the University systems can accurately capture their academic and financial information.
Others senior members in attendance include the Deputy University Bursar Mr. George Mugabi Turyamureeba and Mr. Henry Nsubuga, the Manager Makerere University Counselling and Guidance Centre.
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