General
Leadership must be anchored in integrity-Mrs Kagina
The former Executive Director of the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), Mrs Allen Kagina, has challenged leaders to exercise integrity not only in words but in action.
Mrs Kagina made the call on Friday 7th March during the 3rd Sarah Nyendwoha Ntiro annual public Lecture held at the School of Public Health Auditorium at Makerere University, where she delivered the keynote address.
The memorial lecture was held under the theme: “Pioneering change and transforming Institutions”
Sarah Ntiro was a trailblazer, a woman who defied societal norms and dedicated her life to advancing education and gender equality. Her story is not just one of personal triumph but a blueprint for how individuals can catalyze institutional and societal transformation.
Delivering her keynote speech, Mrs Kagina noted that when she took on the role of Executive Director at UNRA, she faced challenges because the institution was plagued by inefficiency, corruption and delayed projects, but with integrity and innovations, together with her team they rebuilt UNRA’s credibility.
“Leadership must be anchored in integrity because ethical leadership fosters a culture of accountability and transparency. As a leader, you must create an environment where people feel confident that decisions are made in the best interest of the institution and those it serves,” Mrs Kagina, said.
Mrs Kagina narrated that in order to rebuild UNRA’s credibility, she had to take difficult decisions by removing corrupt and underperforming staff and ensured that the institution was staffed by competent and ethical professionals.
According to Mrs Kagina, no leader can succeed alone. Institutional transformation depends on the collective efforts of individuals committed to the same purpose.
“Investing in people through training, mentorship and empowerment creates a culture of ownership and innovation. When employees are engaged and valued, they become champions of change rather than passive participants,” Mrs Kagina, noted.
Using her leadership journey at Uganda Revenue Authority, Mrs Kagina explained that she learnt that effective leadership is the cornerstone of institutional transformation.
She told the audience that when she joined URA, the institution was struggling with corruption, inefficiency and lack of public trust, together with a small team, they restructured the organization by removing corrupt elements and enforcing transparency at every level something that changed URA’s image.
“We introduced technology to reduce human interference in tax collection. We fostered a culture of accountability and cooperation. These reforms were challenging but they ultimately restored URA’s credibility and set a new standard for public institutions in Uganda,” She pointed out.
Drawing lessons from Ntiro’s life, Mrs Kagina, explained that although Ntiro’s journey was marked by numerous challenges, from systemic gender discrimination to societal resistance, she remained steadfast in her mission, demonstrating that resilience is essential for overcoming obstacles.
“Her ability to persevere, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable barriers, serves as a powerful reminder that change often requires enduring hardship with unwavering determination,” Mrs Kagina, said.
Mrs Kagina noted that one of Ntiro’s greatest legacies is the generation of women she inspired to pursue leadership roles. Noting that by empowering others to lead, Ntiro ensured that her work would continue long after her time.
“Ntiro’s ability to articulate a compelling vision for a more equitable society was central to her success. She inspired others to believe in the possibility of change and to work toward it with passion and commitment. Her leadership demonstrates that a clear, inspiring vision is essential for mobilizing people and driving institutional transformation,” Mrs Kagina, said.
In her closing remarks, Mrs Kagina called upon those in leadership positions to emulate people like Ntiro who demonstrated resilience, advocacy and strategic reforms to transform even the most rigid systems.
During the function, Mrs Lorna Magara, the Chairperson Makerere University Council, said that Ntiro’s story reminds people that true pioneers do not wait for change, they create it, look beyond existing limitations and imagine possibilities that others may not see.
“Mrs Kagina powerfully articulated that transformative leadership is not about being the first woman in the room, but ensuring you are not the last. When women lead with courage and vision, we do not just change organisations, we redefine the very essence of leadership,” Mrs Magara, said.
Mrs Magara, reminded students, researchers and leaders that every challenge they encounter should be treated as an opportunity to reimagine possibilities and shape the future.
Representing the Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs/Academic Registrar, Prof Mukadasi Buyinza, pointed out that Ntiro’s story teaches generations that transformative change is not about grand gestures but consistent and principled action.
“Her story reminds us that progress is a collective endeavor. It requires individuals willing to challenge systemic barriers, sacrifice personal comfort and create pathways for those who follow. As we honor Ntiro’s memory, we are called to continue her work to pioneer change, transform institutions and build a more equitable future for Uganda and the African continent,” Prof Buyinza, said.
Moderating the panel discussion, Prof. Sarah Ssali, the Dean, School of Women and Gender Studies Mrs. Allen Kagina her inspiring keynote speech. “Some of the points I kept hearing were reforms, integrity, teamwork, celebrating the pioneers on whose shoulders we stand and most interestingly, those who worked on the ecosystem to make it possible.”
She equally thanked the second panelist Mrs. Elizabeth Mushabe, a passionate gender equity and social justice advocate with over twenty years of experience in community systems strengthening, for richly contributing to the day’s discussion.
Prof. Ssali highlighted two points for the audience to take keen note of in order to address social problems; one, the behavioural transformation that considers the empowerment we undergo as individuals and two, the structural transformation which addresses issues in the ecosystem.
“When you are talking about a girl being empowered to do very well, that is a behavioural approach, when you are talking about putting in place systems, and polices and laws that prevent teenage pregnancy and exploitation, you are talking about the structural thing. We need to operate in both ways and I hope that from the gallant ladies we have in this country, you have learnt how to address issues both behaviourally and structurally” Prof. Ssali counselled.
In her remarks, Dr Ruth Nsibirano, the head of the Gender Studies Department, urged Institutions to work towards inclusive and empowering education processes and practices.
“As the Department of Women and Gender Studies, we take pride in Ntiro’s legacy. We use this day as a platform to celebrate achievements the women of Uganda have made and to stand for the global sisterhood as we advance gender equality and social inclusion,” Dr Nsibirano, said.
Ntiro at glance
Born in 1926 in Bunyoro, Ntiro grew up in a society where opportunities for women were severely limited, but she excelled academically and became the first East African woman to graduate from the University of Oxford in 1951.
Ntiro returned to Uganda and began her career as a teacher. She faced systemic gender discrimination, including being paid less than her male counterparts. In protest, she worked without pay, something which sparked national debate about gender equality.
Her advocacy for girls’ education was rooted in the belief that educated women could drive societal transformation. Her impact extended far beyond her immediate community. Her work laid the Foundation for a more inclusive and equitable education system in Uganda and across East Africa. She inspired a generation of women to pursue leadership roles and challenged deeply ingrained gender norms.
By Moses Lutaaya
Kampala, September 4, 2026 — Makerere University and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have explored new opportunities for strengthening academic, research and innovation collaboration between Uganda, Japan and other African countries, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence (AI), aerospace engineering, materials and remote sensing, food value chains, energy, water and climate change.
The discussions took place on Friday, September 4, 2026, at the Makerere University Main Building in the Vice Chancellor’s Board Room, during a visit by a JICA delegation led by Dr. Okano Takasei, Senior Advisor, Human Development Department of JICA.
Makerere keen to deepen collaboration with JICA
Welcoming the delegation, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Sarah Ssali, highlighted Makerere University’s long-standing tradition of research, international collaboration and contribution to knowledge generation in Uganda and beyond.
Prof. Ssali noted that Makerere has built a strong global research footprint through partnerships with institutions around the world, observing that the University is well positioned to deepen international collaboration as emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, continue to transform research and higher education.
“Uganda has a very long history of doing research, and particularly it has informed research findings in the areas global health research,” Prof. Ssali said, pointing to Uganda’s historical contribution to global scientific knowledge.
She cited the country’s contribution to medical and biological research, including early research on sleeping sickness, noting that Uganda’s unique research environment continues to offer opportunities for scientific discovery.
Prof. Ssali said Makerere’s history of collaboration with Japan is particularly significant, noting that Japanese cooperation has contributed not only to academic and research activities but also to infrastructure development and other sectors in Uganda.
She cited the establishment of the JICA building at Makerere, describing it as one of the visible symbols of Japan’s long-standing partnership with Makerere University.
According to Prof. Ssali, the building, which houses College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) disciplines of geology, petroleum studies and administrative offices, was constructed during her undergraduate years and completed within a remarkably short period.
Prof. Ssali said the long-standing relationship between Uganda, Makerere University and Japan provides a strong foundation upon which new areas of collaboration can be built. She encouraged the visiting JICA delegation to explore the University and identify areas where existing partnerships could be strengthened or new areas of cooperation developed.
“Please take time and explore and see where either you already have a footprint, where you’ve ever had a footprint, or where you could explore new areas,” she said.
Prof. Ssali added that Makerere was privileged to host the JICA delegation and expressed optimism that the visit would lead to meaningful and sustainable partnerships.
Strengthening Joint Collaboration through AJ-ASPIRE
Dr. Okano, in his remarks as leader of the delegation said the visit formed part of a broader JICA initiative aimed at promoting academic and research collaboration between Japanese and African universities.
He explained that the initiative was launched on the occasion of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), held in Yokohama in September 2025, with the objective of strengthening academic and research partnerships between Japan and Africa.
According to Dr. Okano, the initiative is intended to benefit both African and Japanese universities by providing platforms for internationalisation, collaborative research and the exchange of knowledge, researchers and students. “We would like to play a role of facilitator between universities in Japan and Africa and Uganda as well,” he said.
He explained that JICA is currently promoting the initiative through three African hub universities where JICA already has ongoing projects and experts on the ground.
The three institutions are Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST) in Egypt, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in Kenya, and Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
Dr. Okano said the selection of the three institutions was informed by the presence of ongoing JICA-supported projects and experts who can facilitate collaboration between the hub universities and institutions across Africa and Japan.
The hub universities are currently coordinating research with Japanese universities in strategic areas, with E-JUST focusing on energy, JKUAT leading work on food value chains, and Stellenbosch University focusing on water and climate change.
Dr. Okano said JICA was particularly pleased to explore collaboration with Makerere University under the African-Japan Initiative for Research and Education Partnerships, known as AJ-ASPIRE.
He outlined three major avenues through which Makerere could participate in the initiative.
The first is participation in existing research programmes hosted by the three hub universities. He added that Makerere researchers could join ongoing research on energy, food value chains, water and climate change, thereby creating opportunities to work with Japanese and other African researchers.
“We would like to explore opportunity for researchers from Makerere University to participate in these ongoing research activities and expand collaboration with Japanese and African partner institutions,” Dr. Okano said.
The second area is the development of new research networks in artificial intelligence and aerospace engineering. Dr. Okano said JICA was planning to establish new research groups focusing on the two areas and would be interested in having Makerere researchers participate in the emerging networks. “We would like to also invite researchers from Makerere University to join these networks and implementation of future collaboration in these two research topics, aerospace engineering and AI,” he said.
The third proposed avenue is increased collaboration between Makerere University and E-JUST, which Dr. Okano said offers fully funded scholarship opportunities for African students through a programme jointly supported by the governments of Egypt and Japan.
He noted that a number of Makerere graduates have already benefited from the programme, including researchers who have pursued doctoral studies and research opportunities in Egypt and Japan.
Dr. Okano cited the example of Mr. Abdonoor Kalibala, a Makerere alumnus whom he recently met in Hiroshima, Japan, following completion of PhD in Mechatronics and Robotics engineering at E-JUST. Mr. Kalibala conducted research in Japan for up to six months under the supervision of a Japanese professor as part of his doctoral programme.
Dr. Okano said such programmes could help strengthen the movement of researchers between Uganda, Egypt and Japan and create lasting institutional partnerships.
He added that JICA is also providing small research grants to alumni of the programmes to help them maintain and expand research collaboration involving Japan, E-JUST and African institutions.
He said Makerere could leverage such opportunities to increase the participation of its students and researchers in international research networks.
AI, Materials and Remote Sensing and International Relations Set the Pace
Prof. Robert Wamala, Director of Research, Innovations and Partnerships at Makerere University, said the visit followed an online engagement held a few weeks earlier between Makerere University and JICA, during which several areas and units within the University were identified as potential points of collaboration.
Prof. Wamala said these included the Makerere University AI Lab, the University’s International Office and researchers working in space engineering, particularly in materials and remote sensing.
He welcomed the transition from online discussions to physical engagement, saying the visit would allow JICA representatives to interact directly with researchers, academic units and University authorities. “This interest is being followed up through an in-person visit, which provides us an opportunity for JICA to engage directly with the relevant units and researchers at Makerere University,” Prof. Wamala said.
For Makerere, he added, the initiative provides an opportunity to connect the University’s research strengths with Japanese universities, research institutions and development partners to address shared development challenges.
Prof. Wamala said the University was particularly interested in identifying practical areas of collaboration that could move beyond general discussions to concrete research partnerships, joint projects and opportunities for students and researchers.
He noted that the JICA delegation’s on-campus interactions scheduled to take place throughout the day would enable the two sides to identify specific areas of mutual interest. “We hope these engagements will help us identify specific areas of future interest and provide a basis for developing concrete areas of collaboration under the AJ-ASPIRE,” Prof. Wamala said.
He reiterated Makerere’s commitment to strengthening international research partnerships and thanked JICA for its continued interest in the University.
Dr. Okano, was accompanied by Mr. Ito Idomu, Research and Advisor at the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Osaki Mistuhiro from JICA headquarters, Ms. Eric Maeda from JICA Headquarters, and Ms. Ruth Mbabazi from JICA Uganda.
JICA follow-up meetings with Makerere research units
Following the high-level meeting in the Vice Chancellor’s Board Room, the JICA team, together with the Directorate of Research, Innovations and Partnerships, proceeded to engage with key research and administrative units at Makerere University identified as strategic to the proposed areas of collaboration.
The delegation held meetings with the Makerere University AI Lab, led by Dr. Joyce Nabende of the College of Computing and Information Sciences (COCIS), to explore opportunities for cooperation in artificial intelligence and related emerging technologies.
The team also met officials from the Makerere University International Office, led by Mr. Mathias Ssemanda, where discussions focused on opportunities for strengthening international academic linkages, mobility and institutional partnerships.
A further engagement was held with the Department of Geomatics and Land Management, focusing on materials and remote sensing, led by Prof. Lydia Kayondo from the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT).
The engagements provided an opportunity for the JICA team and Makerere researchers to move from broad discussions on collaboration to more specific conversations around research interests, expertise, existing projects and potential areas for joint work.
The visit marks an important step towards strengthening Makerere University’s engagement with Japanese and African research institutions under AJ-ASPIRE, while opening opportunities for researchers and students to participate in emerging international networks in artificial intelligence, aerospace engineering, remote sensing and other strategic areas of science, technology and innovation.
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