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AAP Delegation meets Mak Management: Commits to strengthening partnerships and building strong research institutions in Africa

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On Tuesday 10th September 2024, a powerful delegation from the Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) held a strategic meeting with Makerere University Management aimed at strengthening partnerships and building a strong research network on the African continent.

Both parties underscored the need to tap into internationalization of higher education, building global students through co-teaching, digitization of education and learning different cultures, leveraging on existing competencies in member institutions to raise the research profile in Africa, as well as conducting trainings and mentorship programmes to empower researchers to acquire relevant and competitive skills and knowledge aligned to the demands of the research environment.

The call to action for AAP Consortium Members focuses on ensuring that the valuable research networks contribute to research impact, which entails research uptake so that research benefits communities in Africa.

About AAP and the Meeting

Founded by Michigan State University (MSU) in 2016 in collaboration with African colleagues, the Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) is a consortium of 10 leading African universities, a distinguished research network for African research institutes, and Michigan State University (MSU) that builds on MSU’s over 60-year history of collaborating with African institutions. Its goal is to co-create innovative solutions to global challenges with its members working collaboratively with other international partners to transform lives in Africa.

This year, Makerere University– a member of AAP hosted the AAP Consortium Meeting from 9th to 11th September 2024. As part of this agenda, a strategic meeting involving AAP Consortium participants and Makerere University Management was scheduled. The aim of the meeting was to have a focused and interactive discussion on deepening collaboration in areas of interest namely research, teaching and learning, research funding opportunities, winning and attracting research grants, and re-committing to the AAP Priority areas.

The AAP Priority Areas include: Education; Agri-food systems; Water, Energy and Environment; Youth Empowerment; Health and Nutrition; Science, Technology and Innovation; Gender and Inclusion; and Culture and Society.

The Mak-MSU Strategic Meeting

Highlighting that AAP, Michigan State University and Makerere University have been working together for long time, Dr. Amy Jamison, Co-Director, AAP said the strategic meeting presented an opportunity to anchor the spirit of partnership across the different colleges and disciplines.

Dr. Amy Jamison (Right) and Dr. Rose Jackson (2nd Right) with Members of the AAP team. Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) of Michigan State University (MSU) Annual Consortium Meeting. Hosted by Makerere University in the School of Public Health Conference Hall, Kampala Uganda, East Africa 9th-11th September 2024.
Dr. Amy Jamison (Right) and Dr. Rose Jackson (2nd Right) with Members of the AAP team.

“We are here at Makerere University to strengthen our partnership, re-commit to working together and to ensure that Makerere University leadership across the Colleges are aware of the AAP work.”

To supplement this submission, Dr. Jose Jackson another Co-Director emphasized that AAP facilitates research growth among consortium members, presents mentorship opportunities and has special programmes targeting early career researchers.

Prof. Titus Awokuse, Associate Dean for Research and Strategic Partnerships, International Studies and Programs, MSU stated that AAP provides a platform to develop research of faculty through provision of mentorship opportunities to early career faculty on how to publish their research in internationally recognized journals and how to apply for external grant funding. He further urged Makerere University to harness its leadership of the higher education sector to remain at the forefront of advocating for research.

Prof. Titus Awokuse (Left), Prof. Mwenda Ntarangwi (2nd Left) and other participants share a light moment. Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) of Michigan State University (MSU) Annual Consortium Meeting. Hosted by Makerere University in the School of Public Health Conference Hall, Kampala Uganda, East Africa 9th-11th September 2024.
Prof. Titus Awokuse (Left), Prof. Mwenda Ntarangwi (2nd Left) and other participants share a light moment.

The Vice Chancellor’s Remarks

The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe also Chair of the AAP Advisory Board welcomed the delegates to the special session with Management. He articulated that the work of AAP is aligned to the internationalization agenda of the University and its strategic direction of being a research-led institution.

Prof. Nawangwe asserted that through enhanced research collaboration, AAP and Makerere University will continue to provide evidence based solutions to the development challenges in Africa.

“Through the AAP, we are convinced that we will be strong in building valuable research networks in Africa and be in position to respond to the World Bank recommendation of producing 100,000 PhDs in Africa in the near future,” said Prof. Nawangwe.

Sharing his lived experience with the AAP delegates, Prof. Nawangwe explained that the world expects research from universities to impact their day to day lives. He then revealed a question that he was asked during one of the engagements with the Government of Uganda. “If we have a number of people with PhDs, why are Ugandans still suffering from hunger?” Prof. Nawangwe who admitted that this question still challenges him to-date, underscored the need for PhDs that contribute to the transformation of the agricultural sector.  He added that research networks such as the RUFORUM and AAP are empowering researchers and faculty to respond to this question and solve the puzzle.

Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (Centre) with Right to Left: Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, Mr. Yusuf Kiranda and Prof. Steven Hanson during the interactions. Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) of Michigan State University (MSU) Annual Consortium Meeting. Hosted by Makerere University in the School of Public Health Conference Hall, Kampala Uganda, East Africa 9th-11th September 2024.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (Centre) with Right to Left: Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, Mr. Yusuf Kiranda and Prof. Steven Hanson during the interactions.

Responding to the discussion on research impact and the need for Makerere to be at the forefront of advocating for research, the Vice Chancellor informed the AAP delegates that the University is committed to leveraging the power of research to contribute to the transformation of lives on the African continent. “To realize this agenda, the University Strategic Plan provides a platform to transform into a research-led institution. Consequently, restructuring of university processes is being undertaken to feed into the research led agenda,” he stated.

On strengthening Makerere’s Research, Grant Writing and Publication Capacity, the Vice Chancellor explained that the University Writing Centre has been institutionalized to provide the required support. Makerere University is implementing this project in collaboration with Michigan State University’s Writing Centre and AAP.

With the AAP bringing on board 10 universities in Africa, the Vice Chancellor informed the delegates about the Makerere University Rotary Peace Centre. This first Rotary Peace Center on the African Continent offers Postgraduate Diploma in Peace-building, Conflict Transformation, and Development under the Peace and Conflict Studies (PCS) Program.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and Chair AAP Advisory Board (Left) chairs the meeting that followed the engagement with University Management. Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) of Michigan State University (MSU) Annual Consortium Meeting. Hosted by Makerere University in the School of Public Health Conference Hall, Kampala Uganda, East Africa 9th-11th September 2024.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and Chair AAP Advisory Board (Left) chairs the meeting that followed the engagement with University Management.

Championing Innovation through the Mak UniPod

In line with the AAP Youth Empowerment Priority area, the Vice Chancellor pointed out that the Makerere University Innovations Pod had been set up with support from UNDP. The Pod, he added, presents students and young people with an opportunity to think, innovate and incubate ideas into businesses and enterprises, thereby empowering them to become job creators, innovators and entrepreneurs.

The Chairperson of the Steering Committee of Mak Innovations Pod, Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga further explained that the Mak UniPod is a dynamic physical hub and cultural melting pot that fosters innovation among students, faculty, and external individuals, regardless of their academic backgrounds. She went on to add that it provides a supportive environment where participants can tap into their creative potential to develop solutions.

Prof. Nabanoga elaborated that whether through individual exploration or collaborative efforts across various academic disciplines, the Mak UniPod promotes effective ideation through programs that are designed to systematically encourage regular co-creation of innovative solutions to societal challenges. “The Mak UniPod cultivates a vibrant ecosystem of innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration within the university community and beyond” she summed up.

Members of Management have their say

The University Secretary, Mr. Yusuf Kiranda disclosed that through benchmarking AAP and its partners, Makerere University has operationalised its Grants Management Policy, and established the Grants Administration and Management Support Unit (GAMSU). The policy and structures, he noted have been central in providing a framework for attracting and winning research grants.

The Vice Chancellor then invited Members of Makerere University Management to share some experiences and success stories aligned to the Mak-AAP-MSU partnership.

The Principal, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-security (CoVAB), Prof. Frank Mwiine urged the participants to tap into youth empowerment, which is one of the AAP priority areas. Prof. Mwiine advocated for student exchanges and mobility among AAP Member institutions so that students are exposed to different learning environments, technologies and cultures.

With regard to the Gender and Inclusion priority area, Ms Susan Mbabazi highlighted that the Directorate of Gender Mainstreaming continues to champion for gender equity, women empowerment and access to higher education. She also informed the meeting that the Directorate holds sensitization meetings and trainings for staff and students aimed at fighting against gender based violence.  She particularly pointed out zero tolerance to sexual harassment, and explained that the Directorate implements the Makerere University Policy and Regulations Against Sexual Harassment.  She expressed readiness of GMD to work with AAP to contribute to the Gender and Inclusion priority area.

In the area of human rights, the Deputy Principal at the School of Law Dr. Zahara Nampewo shared that the Human Rights and Peace Centre (HURIPEC), a semi-autonomous centre of the School of Law, created in 1993 conducts research and advocacy in the area of human rights. HURIPEC, she added, publishes a bi-annual journal, the East African Journal on Peace and Human Rights, and has led many rights and governance related projects over the years. A notable and on-going initiative is a project titled “Charcoal Conflict in Climate Change’s Decarbonisation Dilemmas: Knots of Livelihood, Nutrition, Communities, Gender, Migration and Energy in East Africa”, which is examining the social conflicts that top-down changes to the charcoal value chains in Uganda and Tanzania cause. The project will contribute to the discourse on local processes of transition and options to peaceful and equitable pathways to energy transitions. In her view, this was an area that the AAP could build on especially by widening the interdisciplinary perspectives to this critical issue.

The Vice Chancellor mentioned that the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) is one of the academic units at Makerere University that has significantly benefited from the partnership with MSU.

Some of the members of University Management that attended the meeting included Left to Right: Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga, Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, Prof. Frank Mwiine, Prof. Edward Bbaale and Prof. Ronald Kakungulu Mayambala. Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) of Michigan State University (MSU) Annual Consortium Meeting. Hosted by Makerere University in the School of Public Health Conference Hall, Kampala Uganda, East Africa 9th-11th September 2024.
Some of the members of University Management that attended the meeting included Left to Right: Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga, Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, Prof. Frank Mwiine, Prof. Edward Bbaale and Prof. Ronald Kakungulu Mayambala.

To elaborate this, the Principal of CAES, Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga shared some compelling success stories. She noted that CAES, in collaboration with MSU’s Borlaug Higher Education for Agriculture Research and Development (BHEARD) Program, and with support from MSU’s Global Center for Food Systems Innovation (GCFSI), implemented the CAES Innovation Scholars Program (CAES-ISP). This program provided an opportunity for CAES academic staff to work in interdisciplinary teams to address food system challenges relevant to Africa. Additionally, it supported the CAES leadership in fostering a stronger culture of innovation within the college. The program fostered human-centered design thinking among scholars and also supported scholars to spearhead the institutionalization of the innovation culture in CAES.  The Scholars’ program supported eight academic staff participating in a Faculty Track and four academic staff participating in a Top Management Track.

Dr. Julia Kigozi, one of the faculty track scholars, led a project focused on developing innovative technology for medium, small, and micro enterprises (MSMEs) in the food industry. The goal was to enhance Makerere University‘s capacity to support MSMEs by providing low-cost, accessible equipment and infrastructure, enabling them to compete in domestic, regional, and international markets. The project resulted in the design of a batch pasteurizer and pulper tailored to the diverse needs of agro-processors. These technologies offered affordable solutions optimized for individual processors, directly benefiting agro-processors by improving their access to suitable equipment.

Prof. Nabanoga disclosed that the Human-Centered Design thinking introduced by CAES-ISP led to a shift in the training and course delivery approaches at the College from instructor-centered learning to learner-centered, work-integrated training. This approach emphasizes ‘learning through problem-solving,’ ‘curiosity-driven inquiry,’ experiential learning, and ‘theory improvement inquiry,’ with academic staff and industry practitioners serving as facilitators.

Prof. Nabanoga equally shared that CAES is leveraging the Mak UniPod to foster interdisciplinary collaborations between agricultural scientists, environmental experts, and innovators from other fields to develop cutting-edge solutions for food security, climate change, and sustainability challenges. She highlighted that faculty and students are utilizing the Mak UniPod’s design thinking framework to approach complex agricultural problems from a human-centered perspective, integrating technology and local knowledge.

The Mak UniPod serves as a platform for prototyping and testing eco-friendly agricultural practices and products, encouraging hands-on experimentation. By hosting workshops and hackathons focused on agricultural innovation, it engages the CAES community in active problem-solving. Additionally, CAES is using the Mak UniPod to forge partnerships with entrepreneurs and industry professionals, bridging academic research with real-world applications. Further, the Mak UniPod’s collaborative environment promotes the exchange of ideas, enhancing CAES’s role in addressing societal challenges through innovation.

The Principal, College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) and former Director of Research and Graduate Training, Prof. Edward Bbaale underscored that since the university is prioritizing the setting up of research centres at the different colleges, the Makerere University Writing Centre will play a pivotal role in strengthening the research capacities and competences of researchers and faculty.

The meeting ended on a high note with participants reflecting on the need to undertake deliberate capacity building programmes targeting units that support research centres/institutes within universities so that they are empowered to deliver as per the expectations.

Discussions conclude on a high

Wrapping up the interactive session, MSI’s Dr. Amy Jamison commended the University Management for the fruitful deliberations and extended an invitation to the University Management members to join the AAP Public Dialogue that was scheduled to begin at 2:00pm that same day at the School of Public Health Auditorium.

Ritah Namisango
Ritah Namisango

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Makerere Hosts EU Uganda Research and Study Fair

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Today 8th October 2026, Makerere University has hosted the EU Uganda Research and Study Fair 2026, bringing together government officials, European Union representatives, researchers, academics, students, and young professionals to explore opportunities in education, research, innovation, and international collaboration.

The fair also marked 50 years of partnership between Uganda and the European Union, providing a platform for participants to learn about scholarships, research funding, exchange programmes, fellowships and opportunities for collaboration with European institutions.

Officially opening the fair, Acting Minister of Education and Sports Hon. Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo commended the European Union, its member states, Makerere University and other partners for organising the event, describing international cooperation as important to Uganda’s education and research agenda.

Dr John Chrysostom Muyingo speaks at the Uganda EU Research and Study Fair at Makerere University.

The Minister said Uganda’s young population presents a significant opportunity for national development if supported with the right investments in education, skills, creativity, research, innovation and entrepreneurship.

He encouraged universities and research institutions to strengthen links between education, research, innovation and the world of work, noting that research should not only generate academic knowledge but also contribute to policies, technologies and practical solutions to national challenges.

Dr. Muyingo also encouraged students and young professionals to engage with the European Union, its member states and alumni to understand the opportunities available and prepare themselves for future applications.

Makerere highlights value of partnership

Prof. Sarah Ssali, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Makerere University, who represented the University at the event, said the fair provided an important platform for bringing education, research, innovation and international cooperation together.

She noted that the event was particularly significant as Uganda and the European Union celebrate five decades of partnership, with Makerere’s relationships with some European institutions extending even beyond 50 years.

Prof. Ssali said the partnerships have supported education, research, skills development, innovation, institutional strengthening and human capital development, creating opportunities for Ugandans to acquire knowledge and skills, conduct research and establish international networks.

She called for the next chapter of the partnership to place knowledge, research, innovation, technology and young people at the centre.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs Academic Prof. Sarah Ssali

“Research needs to move beyond publication of research, to influence policy, improve practice, create products and services, strengthen communities and contribute to the economic development of our country,” she said.

Prof. Ssali also encouraged participants to explore opportunities for scholarships, research, exchange programmes, doctoral studies, joint research and fellowships available through European partnerships.

She said the ultimate value of international education and research partnerships lies in how knowledge, skills, networks and technologies acquired through such opportunities contribute to Uganda’s development.

Human Response programme strengthens partnerships

The fair also showcased Makerere’s partnerships through programmes such as the Human Response, Health and Displacement Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Programme.

Dr. Justus Twesigye, Dean of Students, School of Social Sciences, Makerere University and Co Principal of the Human Response Programme, explained that the programme has created partnerships between Makerere and universities in Europe and Africa.

Dr. Justus Twesigye

These include the University Institute of Lisbon in Portugal, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, University of Athens in Greece, University of Cape Verde and University of Rovuma in Mozambique, alongside associate partners including the Uganda Red Cross Society, Allied Uganda, Refugee Led Organisation Network and the Ministry of Water and Environment.

Twesigye said the partnerships have introduced new approaches to teaching and learning by involving practitioners directly in training and giving students opportunities for concurrent field practice.

He noted that organisations such as the Uganda Red Cross Society have participated in delivering classes, while students also gain practical experience in the field before returning to class for reflective learning.

Part of the congregation at the Uganda-EU Research and Study Fair at Freedom Square, Makerere University

The programme is also promoting joint research between academics and practitioners, moving away from approaches where researchers and practitioners work separately.

CEES project supports competence based education

The College of Education and External Studies (CEES) also presented an EU supported project aimed at helping higher education institutions and regulators transition to competence based education.

Prof. William Tayebwa briefs Acting Minister of Education and Sports Dr John Chrysostom Muyingo as EU Ambassador to Uganda Jan Sadek and Prof. Robert Wamala look on during a tour of exhibition stands.

Assoc. Prof. Josephine Esaete, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Science, Technology and Vocational Education, said the project brings together nine partners from Uganda, West Africa and Europe.

She explained that the project seeks to strengthen the capacity of universities and higher education regulators in designing competence based curricula, teaching, assessment, monitoring and evaluation.

Makerere University is coordinating the four year project, with Mountains of the Moon University among the Ugandan partners.

Assoc. Prof. Esaete said the project is timely as universities work towards transitioning their programmes and curricula to competence-based education.

The project also seeks to strengthen collaboration between higher education institutions and industry so that students can acquire skills relevant to the world of work.

Fair creates opportunities for students and researchers

The exhibition brought together different EU supported research projects, academic programmes and institutional partnerships, allowing students, researchers and other participants to interact directly with project teams and representatives of European institutions.

The fair also provided opportunities for participants to learn from Makerere alumni who have benefited from international study and research opportunities.

Stella Kakeeto interacts with students during the EU Uganda Research and Study Fair

Prof. Ssali urged participants to use the opportunity to “engage, explore, connect, and discover” new possibilities while encouraging young people to dream boldly, seek knowledge, build networks and use what they learn to contribute to Uganda’s transformation.

The fair reaffirmed Makerere University’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships that support research, innovation, human capital development and national transformation.

Allan Ainematsiko

Bachelors of Journalism and Communication

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Timothy Khabusi: From Barefoot Walks to shaping Uganda’s Eye health Future

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Mr. Buteera and Khabusi during the interview recently. Impact Stories: Timothy Khabusi, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program alumnus, optometrist, researcher, programmer, and eye health entrepreneur, on an ambitious mission to improve eye health in Uganda, October 2026, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Before becoming an optometrist, researcher, programmer, and eye health entrepreneur, Timothy Khabusi walked barefoot to school along rough roads in Manafwa District, Eastern Uganda. For most of his primary school years, Timothy walked more than nine kilometres each day from his home to Bubulo Mixed Primary School in Manafwa District.

He would leave home at about 6:00 a.m., walk to the highway, and join other children on their way to school. On the murram road, sharp stones pressed into his feet. When the rains came, he sometimes arrived at school completely drenched. Occasionally, a truck carrying market vendors would stop and offer them a lift. “Those were few lucky days,” Timothy recalls.

At the time, however, Timothy did not see his life as unusual. It was simply how life was for many children in his village. What he did not yet know was that those long walks were helping shape a determination that would eventually take him from rural Manafwa to Makerere University and, later, the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

Timothy Khabusi is the sixth of eight children (5 boys and 3 girls). His father, 68, a retired primary school teacher, and his mother, 60, a small retail shop owner, had limited resources but were determined to give their eight children opportunities they had not enjoyed themselves.

The family tried several ways to make ends meet. His mother ran a small local brew joint, selling malwa, a traditional fermented cereal drink. When Timothy was about ten, the family closed the malwa joint and moved on, first trying farming and later, in 2009, opening a small retail kiosk with money earned from selling a small coffee harvest.

The family kiosk changed things. Timothy started taking snacks to school and also began developing an interest in business. He sold sugarcane and later teamed up with his younger brother, Mark, to make mandazi, a popular delicacy among schoolchildren.

Behind these modest ventures were sacrifices his parents made for their children’s education and health. His father took loans to support the family through school, while both parents repeatedly emphasised the importance of education.

Timothy’s own academic journey was far from perfect.

At rural Bubulo Primary School, Timothy performed very well and earned a place at one of the best secondary schools in Eastern Uganda, Mbale Senior Secondary School, in Mbale city.

At Mbale Secondary School, he became a strong academic performer and earned a renewable merit-based bursary that covered most of his school fees. Mr Mabaku, his Mathematics teacher, taught him to connect classroom concepts to real-life problems—a way of thinking that would later shape his interest in technology and programming.

Then came a setback.

Timothy’s A-level results (15 points in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics) were far lower than he had expected. For someone who had always seen himself as a top student, the outcome was deeply disappointing, and he missed out on the much-coveted government scholarship. He even wondered whether university was still possible. He considered repeating his A-levels but instead applied to Makerere University on private sponsorship. He was admitted to study Optometry, although he had initially wanted to pursue Medicine and Surgery.

Khabusi Timothy, during his time at the Scholars Program. Impact Stories: Timothy Khabusi, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program alumnus, optometrist, researcher, programmer, and eye health entrepreneur, on an ambitious mission to improve eye health in Uganda, October 2026, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Khabusi Timothy, during his time at the Scholars Program.

Then came the opportunity that changed everything.

In 2017, Timothy became a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at Makerere University, receiving support that enabled him to continue his university education. The financial uncertainty that had threatened his university education was resolved. What initially felt like failure became an opportunity that redirected him towards a field he had not planned to enter. Through optometry, he discovered a profession that linked clinical care with science, technology, research and public health.

His career journey after graduation.

After graduating from Makerere University in January 2022, Timothy set out to fulfil his ambitious mission to improve eye health in Uganda. His career began far from his village home in Manafwa: he started at a private clinic in Arua town, West Nile, hundreds of kilometres from Manafwa in Eastern Uganda. Asked why he didn’t find a job in Kampala, as most of his peers did, Timothy quickly explained that his mission is to provide the best eye health care to communities with limited access to these services.

After working for one year in Arua, he returned to Kampala. He first worked at Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital from 2023 to 2025, then moved to Med-Optics, another popular eye clinic in Kampala. In February 2026, he opened his own eye clinic, Khabusi Vision Care Centre, a modern optometry centre dedicated to providing eye care services at subsidised rates to individuals and families who may face financial barriers to accessing these services.

Khabusi Timothy on his graduation day in 2022. Impact Stories: Timothy Khabusi, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program alumnus, optometrist, researcher, programmer, and eye health entrepreneur, on an ambitious mission to improve eye health in Uganda, October 2026, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Khabusi Timothy on his graduation day in 2022.

His leadership journey

For Timothy, leadership is not about collecting titles. At Mbale Senior Secondary School, he led the Science Club, organising seminars and holiday revision programmes. At Makerere, he served as a minister at the College of Health Sciences and as a leader in the Optometry Students’ Association. Those experiences shaped a simple philosophy: leadership means seeing what needs improvement, taking responsibility, and bringing others along.

That philosophy now drives his ambitions for Khabusi Vision Care. In the coming years, he aims to strengthen the organisation’s clinical, public health, digital and research work. His longer-term vision is to build a major Ugandan eye health organisation with branches across the country, comprehensive services, research programmes and locally developed diagnostic and ophthalmic technologies.

Impact in the community

Asked about his impact in the community, Timothy quickly pointed to the number of patients whose sight he has helped restore at a modest cost they otherwise couldn’t have afforded.

“I am proud to have treated more than 10,000 patients and enabled them to see better since I began my optometry practice in 2022. Among the patients, I vividly remember a police woman who was on the verge of going completely blind due to a misdiagnosis she had received at different facilities she had visited in Kampala, until she came to Khabusi Vision Care Centre in Kyanja, where I was able to help correct the optical issue she was grappling with.” Timothy proudly states.

Khabusi Timothy examining one his patients at his eye clinic. Impact Stories: Timothy Khabusi, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program alumnus, optometrist, researcher, programmer, and eye health entrepreneur, on an ambitious mission to improve eye health in Uganda, October 2026, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Khabusi Timothy examining one his patients at his eye clinic.

Timothy further enumerates the number of young people he has mentored and continues to mentor in optometry. He also offers graduate internships at his clinic and employs five young people as permanent staff. He also conducts regular community outreach activities, offering free eye check-ups in the community and subsidised treatment for those who need it.

A word to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Community

Timothy expressed his gratitude to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and Makerere University for giving him the opportunity to pursue a quality university education at a time when he had lost hope of attending university after failing to secure a government scholarship.

“I am forever grateful to Mastercard Foundation and Makerere University for giving me a scholarship that changed my whole life; without the scholarship, I would not have been able to afford the university fees; therefore, I wouldn’t have become what I am today,” Timothy points out.

Asked what advice he would give to current Mastercard Foundation Scholars, Timothy urges them to take advantage of the additional skilling and development programmes the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program offers.

“I urge my young brothers and sisters on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program currently to take the capacity-building training the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program offers; it is what will give you an advantage over others in the job market,” Timothy advises.  

Looking ahead

Beyond healthcare, Timothy is a writer, programmer, and researcher. He has published “From the Slopes of Mount Elgon”, a novel about a young girl who confronts poverty and betrayal while pursuing education and dignity. Timothy’s story is not a straightforward journey from challenge to success. It is about unexpected turns: the barefoot walks, the disappointing A-level results, the unexpected scholarship, and the career he never originally intended to pursue. His advice to young people comes from that experience: one disappointing result or difficult season need not decide the rest of your life. Sometimes, you have to keep walking.

“Keep learning, keep improving, and when opportunity comes, use it—not only to change your own life, but to create opportunities for others,” Timothy advises.

Timothy is now pursuing a Master’s degree in Patient Safety and Clinical Human Factors at the University of Edinburgh. The programme has reshaped his approach to healthcare. Rather than focusing solely on individual mistakes, he examines the systems that allow failures to occur and how to redesign them to improve patient safety.

Bernard Buteera

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Makerere University Hosts Deputy IGG Ahead of Ombuds Day 2026

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Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (4th R) and Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe (3rd R) with the delegation during the visit on 5th October 2026. Makerere University welcomed Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, the Deputy Inspector General of Government (DIGG) and her delegation for a courtesy visit ahead of the International Ombuds Day 2026 commemoration under the theme “Ombuds: Office of Options”, 5th October 2026, Main Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

On October 5, 2026, Makerere University welcomed Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, the Deputy Inspector General of Government (DIGG) and her delegation for a courtesy visit ahead of the International Ombuds Day 2026 commemoration under the theme “Ombuds: Office of Options”.

The delegation was received by Professor Barnabas Nawangwe the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University in his office where they discussed the Ombuds Day theme, the university’s successful reconciliation-based conflict resolution, ongoing infrastructure projects, and a renewed commitment to institutional partnership.

Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, Makerere University welcomed Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, the Deputy Inspector General of Government (DIGG) and her delegation for a courtesy visit ahead of the International Ombuds Day 2026 commemoration under the theme “Ombuds: Office of Options”, 5th October 2026, Main Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe,

Mrs. Twinomugisha Muhairwe, who also spoke as the President of the African Ombudsman and Mediators Association (AOMA), emphasised that her office aims to be a partner in building and strengthening public institutions rather than merely a critic. Therefore, this visit marked a big step in the evolving relationship between public institutions and the Office of the Ombudsman at the Inspectorate of Government, where it is headed by Director Kakooza Savio Ntensibe, who was also part of the delegation.

The DIGG shared that the office provides essential options for resolving grievances such as administrative injustice, where people feel victimised, and unheard.

Prof. Nawangwe (C) presents the Makerere@100 Coffee Table Book to Mrs. Twinomugisha Muhairwe (R) as Mr. Kakooza Savio Ntensibe (L) witnesses. Makerere University welcomed Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, the Deputy Inspector General of Government (DIGG) and her delegation for a courtesy visit ahead of the International Ombuds Day 2026 commemoration under the theme “Ombuds: Office of Options”, 5th October 2026, Main Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Nawangwe (C) presents the Makerere@100 Coffee Table Book to Mrs. Twinomugisha Muhairwe (R) as Mr. Kakooza Savio Ntensibe (L) witnesses.

Reconciliation Underscored

While addressing the delegation, Professor Nawangwe, framed the visit as a turning point in the institution’s relationship with oversight bodies. He welcomed the DIGG, an alumna of Makerere, and commended the Ombuds methodology that prioritizes reconciliation as initiated by neutral persons or bodies to resolve disputes.

“The style of reconciliation has worked very well for us as well, ever since we started talking to the students, it has kept peace in the university,” the Vice Chancellor remarked.

Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe addresses the delegation. Makerere University welcomed Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, the Deputy Inspector General of Government (DIGG) and her delegation for a courtesy visit ahead of the International Ombuds Day 2026 commemoration under the theme “Ombuds: Office of Options”, 5th October 2026, Main Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe addresses the delegation.

“We started talking to the students and… eventually, they started to understand. Today, if you come and begin talking of strike, fellow students will tell you, ‘We came here to study’”, added the Vice Chancellor.

The engagement also discussed the practical realities of student welfare. Mrs. Twinomugisha Muhairwe, with specific interest, probed the Vice Chancellor on the status of hall renovations. In response, the Vice Chancellor explained the phased approach to renovations, noting that the university is systematically upgrading facilities to improve the living conditions.

The Vice Chancellor thereafter invited Mrs. Twinomugisha Muhairwe and her team to visit the university museum, as a gesture to underscore the spirit of the day where the Ombudsman and the university stand together.

Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe shows Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe around the Makerere Museum. Makerere University welcomed Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, the Deputy Inspector General of Government (DIGG) and her delegation for a courtesy visit ahead of the International Ombuds Day 2026 commemoration under the theme “Ombuds: Office of Options”, 5th October 2026, Main Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe shows Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe around the Makerere Museum.

About Ombuds Day

Ombuds Day is an international observance held annually on the second Thursday of October to raise public awareness of the ombuds profession.

According to the International Ombuds Association, an ombuds is an independent, neutral, and confidential professional who helps resolve disputes, investigate complaints, and address systemic issues within an organization, government agency, or institution.

Elvis Lubanga, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Elvis Lubanga

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