Connect with us

General

RUFORUM Newsletter: Celebrating Twenty Years of Educating Africa 2004-2024

Published

6 months ago

on

Cover page of the RUFORUM Newsletter Volume 06 Special Issue - Celebrating Twenty Years of Educating Africa 2004-2024. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Cover page of the RUFORUM Newsletter Volume 06 Special Issue - Celebrating Twenty Years of Educating Africa 2004-2024.

Dear esteemed reader,

I bring you warm greetings from the RUFORUM Secretariat, here in Kampala, Uganda. The year 2024 marked a milestone in RUFORUM’s journey of contributing towards enhancing our continent’s development leveraging on our natural strength of agriculture and allied sub-sectors of the economy. At 20 years of age, RUFORUM remains focused on its core mission of enabling Africa University effectively and efficiently generate relevant solutions to underpin the continent’s transformative development aspirations. In this issue, I am pleased to provide you with an overview of RUFORUM’s journey during the past two decades as we celebrate its 20th anniversary. While doing so, I found it crucial to look retrospectively from the perspectives of the FORUM on Agriculture Resource Husbandry (alias FORUM), RUFORUM’s predecessor; the past two decades of RUFORUM, and to look at the future of Africa’s Agricultural transformation, economic growth and higher agricultural education.

The Forum for Agricultural Resource Husbandry – FORUM

FORUM was a capacity development program established in 1992 by the Rockefeller Foundation that was implemented in five countries (Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda and Zimbabwe), Foundation’s focus countries’ at the time. The countries faced unique as well as shared challenges and opportunities at that time. Uganda and Mozambique had just emerged from conflict, whilst Kenya, was expanding its university education to meet the growing demand, while Zimbabwe was a young country post independence. All these countries had also been affected by the effects of macroeconomic structural adjustment programming that had limited funding for university education especially, post-graduate education. The FORUM initiative initially focused on crop sciences gradually expanding to other disciplines of agriculture. At inception FORUM’s programmes aimed “to build national and local capacity in crop management research with capability to develop alternative management-variety-resource combinations, soil fertility and biological practices, agroforestry technologies, pest management approaches and related crop management techniques; and evaluate the biological, economic and ecological effects”. FORUM was implemented through competitive grants to support student training at the master’s degree level. To deliver on its mission, FORUM utilized interdisciplinary, participatory and system-level approaches and worked with stakeholders beyond universities including agricultural research institutes, civil society, private sector and smallholder farmers. The FORUM Secretariat was initially headquartered in Lilongwe, Malawi and later relocated to Nairobi, Kenya.

Achievements of the FORUM that underpin RUFORUM

  1. Institutional strengthening
    • FORUM helped stabilize colleges, faculties and schools of agriculture in Kenya, Malawi,
      Mozambique, Uganda, and Zimbabwe by providing resources, mission and peer support, during and after the structural adjustment programmes. It also contributed to staff retention in the participating universities and built their capacity for research, student supervision, scholarly and policy works.
    • The program contributed to institutional development by creating high quality graduate training programmes whose research agenda directly addressed problems facing smallholder based agriculture.
  2. Enhancing networking and engagement with other ecosystem actors
    • FORUM actions catalyzed collaboration among universities and with other education and
      research for development actors including a broad range of farmers. This enhanced relevance and contribution of University led research and training to national development.
    • Over its life FORUM enabled the creation and nurture of an Africa Institution for the benefit of
      Africa. This resulted in building the capacity of institutions and individuals that have progressively contributed to the continent’s economic growth.
  3. Science solutions for development
    • FORUM strengthened the contribution of its members to knowledge generation, one hundred
      twenty three publications done in international and regional peer reviewed journals. The
      publications covered crop improvement, plant protection, soil sciences, economics and social
      sciences.
    • Scientists supported by the productivity enhancing technologies such as improved bean and
      soybean and cowpea varieties, a highly effective seed-dressing innovation for the control of bean fly, a soil fertility improvement technology called ‘Prep-Pac’ that combines a slow release rock phosphate, a nitrogen source (urea) and an inoculant.
  4. Training the next generation of scientists:
    • There was significant improvement in the completion rate of graduate level training reducing the completion time from 4-7 to 2 years as required in masters degrees by course work and research.
    • One hundred eighty eight (188) students were trained in east and southern Africa.
    • Twenty-three percent of the graduates enrolled in a PhD program while 54% were employed,
      presumably, often because of contacts/relationships they developed during their training.

From FORUM to RUFORUM

After a decade of implementation (1992 – 2002), the Rockefeller Foundation supported the creation of an African led and owned organization that was called, “ The Regional Universities Forum For Capacity Building in Agriculture-(RUFORUM). RUFORUM thus naturally became the successor of The Foundation’s investments for building the Capacity of African Universities to effectively engage in growth of the continent’s Agriculture sector. It initially, focused on Eastern and Southern Africa as its zone of influence before growing to become a continent wide agency that it is today. The new RUFORUM Secretariat was established in Kampala, Uganda hosted by the Government via Makerere University, one of its founder members following a successful bidding by Uganda through Makerere University.

The RUFORUM’s first decade journey (2004 – 2014)

The first decade focused on consolidation of FORUM achievements and expansion both sub-regionally and continentally. The growth was guided by a new strategic plan underpinned by a new vision of “Vibrant agricultural innovation systems with fully integrated universities that play a leading role in nurturing the systems through high-performing agricultural science graduates who are innovative and responsive to changing demands”. The RUFORUM network grew to include 32 universities from its initial ten members in 2004 drawing membership from three regions of Africa (Eastern, Central and Southern Africa). It expanded the scope of operations, to include PhD training as well as institutional and leadership strengthening. RUFORUM maintained most of FORUM training, networking and scaling agenda involving principal investigators, students, academic leaders (Principals and Deans), as well as collaboration with non-university stakeholders. New governance organs were created to stabilize the organization and strategic partnership forged. Consequently by the end of the first decade, RUFORUM had emerged as a key continental agency in capacity building for agriculture and policy information that it still is today. The new regional PhD and master’s degree programmes that focused on emergent areas, catalyzed the resurgence of African University in development processes and practice.

RUFORUM’s second decade (2014 – 2024)

The second decade journey saw a steady growth in both scale and scope. The network’s operations expanded to cover all university training programmes, i.e. Bachelors, Masters and doctoral degree. To address the question of a rebalanced human resource pyramid, work transitions for fresh graduates and gender and diversity asymmetry, especially of underserved demographics, RUFORUM expanded its scope of actions to include Technical, Vocational, Education and Training (TVET), entrepreneurship, gender and inclusion, and future of work activities. Science was strengthened by the introduction of post-doctoral training. The new thrust required expansion of the stakeholder ecosystem to include farming communities, private sector and partners in the Global North and Global South. By December 2024, the network had 175 member universities in 40 of Africa’s 55 countries from all five geographic regions of Africa. To strengthen service delivery and relevance, RUFORUM board in 2021 created two regional hubs (for Western and Southern Africa), eastern Africa and other regions being served through the Secretariat.

At continental level, in 2014, RUFORUM signed a cooperation agreement with the African Union Commission (AUC) to support implementation of the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA, 2024). It also entered various memoranda with key continental agencies in the global north and south respectively, during the same period. In 2024, an MoU with the AUC’s Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) to support its agricultural growth and transformation flagship programs was signed.

During its second decade, RUFORUM implemented its first operational plan (2018 – 2022) that was aligned to regional policy development frameworks such as Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want of AUC, “The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), Malabo Declaration, the Continental Education Strategy (CESA), the Continental Strategy for Technical and Vocational Educational and Training (TVET), and the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa (S3A); among others. RUFORUM’s operations were framed by its continental strategy, Vision 2030 that leverages on the continent’s higher education and agriculture ecosystems to create and unlock opportunities for wealth and jobs especially for young people. During the same period, RUFORUM in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation launched the flagship program “Transforming African Agricultural Universities for Africa’s Growth and Development” (TAGDev Phase 1 (2016 – 2024) now in its second phase (2024 – 2034). TAGDEv aims to transform African agricultural universities and their graduates to better respond to developmental challenges through enhanced application of science, technology, business and innovation for rural agricultural transformation.

Distinguished reader, during the second decade RUFORUM intensified its partnerships with the European Union Universities and within the continent implementing academic mobility that enabled staff and student exchange including 67 academic staff across disciplines; implementing user centered initiatives for students and agriculture value chain actors such as Community Action Research projects (CARP), and CARP+ (involving TVET), and the RUFORUM entrepreneurship challenge program (RECAP) to scale out best practices. RECAPs were implemented at over 20 other universities within the network. Member university academic staff and students also benefited from RUFORUM’s skills enhancement in community engagement, online resource use, work preparedness, entrepreneurship, scientific writing, and data management.

The RUFORUM’s Third decade journey (2024 – 2034): Looking into the future

RUFORUM begins its third decade amidst a number of major continental and global underpinnings such as the Second Ten Year Implementation plan (STYIP) of the African Union Agenda 2063, The Kampala declaration for implementation of the Comprehensive Africa’s Agriculture Development Program; The Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa, The Continental Education Strategy for Africa and several refreshed national and continental development blueprints among others. These policy instruments all point to a shared vision of a continental set to reap from its young population and endowments for its development. Pivotal to achievement of these aspirations is the need for a strong human capital base. Indeed the STYIP has already set a plan of training 100,000 PhD level scientists over this decade many of whom must be within the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEMs). The network certainly has a crucial role to play in that regard and has aligned its operational plan to deliver on some of these policy instruments.

A common thread running through many of the national to regional and global policy instruments is the role of science and innovation in generating solutions. Accordingly, during its third decade, RUFORUM will leverage its vast network to engage education and agriculture ecosystems actors in science for development actions. Last mile science and technology delivery mechanisms will be strengthened at country (National FORUMs) to sub-regional levels (Regional hubs), existing partnerships strengthened while new partnerships forged to serve our network in mission delivery. We shall continue to implement our transformative education agenda, cognisant of fourth industrial revolution technologies and opportunities that integrate the digital, biological, and physical sectors of the economy. We will strive to close the gender and diversity gap in our operations and enhance future of work skills development. RUFORUM will remain resolute in its mission to supporting transitions to resilient economies.

In conclusion, as we navigate through the challenges of the third decade journey, I wish to reiterate our deepest acknowledgement to all our partners and governments who continue to walk this journey with us. To the Secretariat staff, our board members and members of all RUFORUM Governance Organs and all others who supported us through this 20 year long journey, I extend my deepest appreciations and wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year 2025.

Thank you.

Prof. Patrick Okori
Executive Secretary

View Newsletter on RUFORUM

RUFORUM-Newsletter-Volume-06-Special-Issue-2025Download

Mak Editor

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

General

Strengthening Partnerships for Transformative Education: Makerere University Hosts Delegation from University of Malmö

Published

2 days ago

on

October 28, 2025

By

Prof. Sarah Ssali, the DVC AA, at the Centre, having a photo moment with the delegation from the University of Malmo and some Makerere University Staff. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Sarah Ssali hosts delegation from the University of Malmö, Sweden, marking another milestone in the growing collaboration between the two institutions 28th October 2025, Main Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

By Caroline Kainomugisha

This morning, the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Sarah Ssali, hosted a delegation from the University of Malmö, Sweden, marking another milestone in the growing collaboration between the two institutions.

The delegation comprised Catrin Stensson, University Lecturer; Dr. Dorota Lembrér, Assistant Professor (Senior Lecturer) in Mathematics Education; Magdalena Sjoestrand Oehrfelt, Senior Lecturer; and Therese Lindgren, Senior Lecturer.

During the meeting, Prof. Mugaga Muwanga traced the genesis of the partnership, noting that it began when Mr. Peter Ssenkusu, a lecturer at Makerere University, participated in a mobility programme at Malmö University focused on competence-based learning. That initial engagement has since blossomed into a strong and fruitful collaboration, illustrating how individual academic initiatives can grow into institution-wide partnerships that drive innovation in higher education.

With over 60 years of experience as a leading teachers’ college in Sweden before attaining university status five years ago, the University of Malmö brings a wealth of expertise in teacher training and pedagogy. This positions it as a strategic partner for Makerere University’s College of Education and External Studies (CEES) in its mission to enhance the training of educators and strengthen Early Childhood Education in Uganda.

Through this partnership, Makerere University has launched two landmark programmes: the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and the Master of Early Childhood Development. The response to these programmes has been overwhelming, with over 500 and 1,000 applications received respectively. Due to resource constraints, 200 undergraduate and 10 postgraduate students were admitted in the inaugural intake.

Beyond these academic programmes, the partnership continues to create broader institutional benefits. CEES currently hosts 11 PhD candidates whose research focuses on Early Childhood Education a direct outcome of strengthened academic collaboration and knowledge exchange between Makerere and Malmö.

Left to Right; Mr. Peter Ssenkusu, Therese Lindgren, Catrin Stensson, Dr. Dorota Lembrér, Magdalena Sjoestrand Oehrfelt. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Sarah Ssali hosts delegation from the University of Malmö, Sweden, marking another milestone in the growing collaboration between the two institutions 28th October 2025, Main Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Left to Right; Mr. Peter Ssenkusu, Therese Lindgren, Catrin Stensson, Dr. Dorota Lembrér, Magdalena Sjoestrand Oehrfelt.

With the launch of these two programs, Makerere University reaffirms its position as Uganda’s and the region’s premier institution for shaping the future of Early Childhood Education. The partnership has not only fostered academic exchange and faculty mobility but has also contributed to shaping national policy in Early Childhood Development, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Sports and looking to the future, other institutions of higher learning.

Prof. Mugaga Muwanga, together with Mr. Peter Ssenkusu and Mr. David Kabugo, have been instrumental in steering this collaboration to success. Their leadership underscores the power of faculty-led partnerships in translating Memoranda of Understanding into tangible outcomes that transform teaching, learning, and research.

Speaking at the meeting, Prof. Sarah Ssali reaffirmed Makerere University’s commitment to expanding strategic partnerships that advance the University’s academic mission and global reach. “Partnerships such as this not only strengthen our teaching and research capacity but also inspire shared innovation and learning that shapes the education systems of the future for all involved,” she said.

A photo moment at the Makerere University Press. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Sarah Ssali hosts delegation from the University of Malmö, Sweden, marking another milestone in the growing collaboration between the two institutions 28th October 2025, Main Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
A photo moment at the Makerere University Press.

Looking ahead, the partnership will strategically focus on expanding student and faculty mobility, fostering joint research and publications, and introducing taught PhD programmes in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), complementing existing research-based options. Plans are also underway to establish an ECCE Resource Room and a fully-fledged Department of Early Childhood Care and Education at Makerere University, further strengthening the University’s capacity to lead in this critical field.

As Makerere University continues to position itself as a regional benchmark for Early Childhood Education, its partnership with the University of Malmö demonstrates the transformative potential of collaboration, bridging institutions, nations, and disciplines to nurture educators who will shape generations to come.

Caroline Kainomugisha is Communications Officer, Advancement Office, Makerere University.

Mak Editor

Continue Reading

General

Impact Stories: Meet Malvin Akwara, a Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program alumna, who is dedicated to promoting inclusive education

Published

4 days ago

on

October 25, 2025

By

Akwara Malvin on her graduation Day in January 2023. Impact Stories: Meet Malvin Akwara, a Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program alumnus, who is dedicated to promoting inclusive education, October 2025, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Malvin Akwara obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education, specialising in English Language and Literature, from Makerere University in 2023, with support from the Mastercard Foundation. Since graduating, she has developed a passion for helping young people with disabilities access education at both secondary and university levels.

Who is Malvin Akwara

Malvin was born on 22nd November 1998 in Tororo, Eastern Uganda, into a family of six children (three girls and three boys). Shortly afterwards, the family moved to Kampala, where her father worked as an accountant. In 2009, her father lost his job, marking the beginning of a difficult period for the entire family. When her father who was the only breadwinner lost his job, the family returned to Tororo because they could no longer afford the high cost of living in the city.

Early Education

At the age of three, Malvin began her early childhood education at Clever Junior School in Kitintale, a Kampala suburb, where she attended Nursery School through Primary Three. Here, life was quite good, and she enjoyed being dropped off and picked up by her father, as was typical of most Kampala middle-class families. Unfortunately, it was not long before life took a different twist when her father lost his job and the family moved back to Tororo. In Tororo, she joined Morukebu Primary School, where she sat for her Primary Seven Leaving Examinations. Unlike her experience of a reasonably good life at school in Kampala, she had to walk long distances to and from school (14 kilometres each way) with her siblings, because her father could no longer afford to take them. The family had taken to subsistence farming to earn a living. The family worked together on the farm to grow food for home consumption and to sell some to pay school fees.

Pursuing Secondary Education

With her hard-earned 15 points from the Primary Leaving Examinations, Malvin embarked on her journey towards secondary education. She attended St. John’s Wakitaka in Jinja for her O-level from 2013 to 2016. However, in 2015, just before sitting her Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations, her father passed away due to peptic ulcers. His death devastated the already struggling family, and life became even harder. Left in the care of her single mother, with no steady source of income, Malvin and her siblings’ prospects looked bleak. Her father’s passing significantly affected her final results; she scored 39 points, which was poor compared to her earlier performance. With support from her paternal uncle, she later joined Budini Boarding Secondary School in Kaliro district, where she scored 14 points in History, Economics, Literature, and Divinity in 2018. By then, her other siblings had dropped out of school due to lack of fees, as their mother could not afford to keep them in school. To make matters worse, family disputes arose when her father’s relatives evicted her mother from the family land, leaving them homeless and with only enough land to grow food for their own consumption.

Pursuing University Education

With 14 points in her 2018 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) examinations, Malvin was hopeful about pursuing her university education with the support of her paternal uncle, who had helped her through A-level. Unfortunately, that hope was short-lived when her uncle shared the difficult news that he could not afford to send her to university because he needed to support his own children financially. The news was a significant setback to her dreams of being the first girl in her family to attend university. Unable to join a university at that time, Malvin embarked on a journey to find small jobs to support her mother and help the family.

It was during her job search that she came to Kampala to work for a family as a house help, mainly caring for her boss’ mother, who was in her sickbed at Kiruddu Hospital. During the three months she spent in the hospital as a caretaker, she learnt about the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University through one of the family’s children, who was studying there.

Joining the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University

Armed with the necessary information about the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, Malvin applied in 2019 and was delighted to be selected. Soon after, she was given the opportunity to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Education, specialising in English Language and Literature. While at university, Malvin did not forget her family back home in Tororo. She allocated part of her stipend to support her mother and to ensure her siblings returned to school. During her second year at university in 2020, the global COVID-19 pandemic struck the world, bringing everything to a halt, including education at the university.

Malvin and her colleagues during her time at the Scholars Program. Impact Stories: Meet Malvin Akwara, a Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program alumnus, who is dedicated to promoting inclusive education, October 2025, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Malvin and her colleagues during her time at the Scholars Program.

When Malvin was grounded at home, just as all her colleagues were, she didn’t let the misery that came with COVID-19 break her down; instead, she used it as an opportunity to support people in her community who were facing social and economic barriers to opportunities. Using her little savings, she started a piggery project to help single mothers in her community by giving them piglets to rear, multiply, and distribute to others experiencing similar challenges.

The piggery project helped several single mothers send their children to school. It is through this piggery project that Malvin came across Omukaga Samuel, a young person living with a disability who had been out of school because his parents could not afford to pay his school fees. With support from the piggery project, Malvin worked together with Samuel’s parents to help their son return to school. This experience with Omukaga Samuel ignited Malvin’s passion for supporting learners living with disabilities to access education.

Malvin with Omukaga Samuel, one of the young person's with disabilities she supported to get back into school. Impact Stories: Meet Malvin Akwara, a Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program alumnus, who is dedicated to promoting inclusive education, October 2025, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Malvin with Omukaga Samuel, one of the young person’s with disabilities she supported to get back into school.

Life After Makerere University

Upon graduating in 2023, Malvin immediately found a position teaching English Language and Literature at Elite High School, one of Kampala’s top secondary schools.  At this school, Malvin has grown into a professional teacher, career advisor, and mentor to many young people both within and outside the school.

Through mentorship, she has focused on supporting young people living with disabilities to return to school by helping them secure bursaries for secondary education and apply for scholarships to access university. For example, she assisted Omukaga Samuel in applying for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, where he is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Adult and Community Education, as well as Patricia Namiwanda, who is presently studying for a Master’s degree in Human Rights at Makerere University, all thanks to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

Samuel Omukaga, a Makerere University student and a Scholar of Mastercard Foundation. Impact Stories: Meet Malvin Akwara, a Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program alumnus, who is dedicated to promoting inclusive education, October 2025, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Samuel Omukaga, a Makerere University student and a Scholar of Mastercard Foundation.

Malvin has also used her resources to build a decent house for her mother, where she now lives with her siblings in Manafwa District, Eastern Uganda, restoring hope after the family lost their home due to land disputes.

Malvin with her mother. In the background is the decent home she constructed for her. Impact Stories: Meet Malvin Akwara, a Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program alumnus, who is dedicated to promoting inclusive education, October 2025, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Malvin with her mother. In the background is the decent home she constructed for her.

Impact on the Community

As the first-generation girl to achieve a university education, Malvin has inspired many young girls in her home district of Tororo to pursue further studies and has continued to support them through peer mentorship. Although she works and resides in Kampala, she travels home every Friday to meet and mentor young girls in secondary schools, encouraging them to stay in school and avoid early marriage, which remains a significant challenge for many young girls in Tororo and across Eastern Uganda.

Malvin with some of the young people she mentors at schools in Tororo. Impact Stories: Meet Malvin Akwara, a Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program alumnus, who is dedicated to promoting inclusive education, October 2025, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Malvin with some of the young people she mentors at schools in Tororo.

In addition, her piggery project has expanded across the entire district, improving the economic well-being of many participants in her community.

Looking into the Future

Malvin is optimistic about a bright future ahead, judging by the progress she has made in her life. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Education with a specialization in Languages at Makerere University. She aspires to specialise in curriculum development and work with the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) to design an inclusive curriculum that will help young people living with disabilities access meaningful education in Uganda. She also envisions building a school in her community that will specifically support young people living with disabilities to attain inclusive, quality education.

Malvin having an interview with Mr. Buteera recently at Makerere University where she is pursuing her Masters degree. Impact Stories: Meet Malvin Akwara, a Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program alumnus, who is dedicated to promoting inclusive education, October 2025, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Malvin having an interview with Mr. Buteera recently at Makerere University where she is pursuing her Masters degree.

Message to Fellow Young Women

Malvin urges young women not to despair or give up in the face of difficult situations.

“I urge my fellow young women not to give up or despair when faced with difficult situations. They should always challenge themselves to emerge stronger from such circumstances.” Malvin shares.

Words of Gratitude 

Malvin expressed gratitude to the Mastercard Foundation for the support that enabled her to attain a quality university education at Makerere University.

“If it were not for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, I wouldn’t have attained a university education. I am therefore grateful and humbled for the opportunity extended to me and other Mastercard Foundation Scholars through this life-changing program.” Malvin remarked.

Malvin further urged the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program team at Makerere University and other Mastercard Foundation partners to reach out to distant areas so that more young people facing social and economic barriers can also access university education.

Bernard Buteera is the Principal Communications Officer for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University.

View on Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

Bernard Butare

Continue Reading

General

Mak Endowment Fund 3rd Board of Trustees Inaugurated

Published

6 days ago

on

October 23, 2025

By

Seated: Mrs. Lorna Magara (Centre) with Prof. Sarah Ssali (Left) and Dr. Margaret J. Kigozi (Right) with other officials (Standing) after inauguration of the 3rd MakEF Board on 23rd October 2025. The 3rd Board of Trustees of the Makerere University Endowment Fund (MakEF) officially inaugurated by Mrs. Lorna Magara, Chairperson of the University Council, 23rd October 2025, Council Room, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The 3rd Board of Trustees of the Makerere University Endowment Fund (MakEF) has been officially inaugurated in a ceremony presided over by Mrs. Lorna Magara, Chairperson of the University Council on 23rd October 2025, and moderated by the Secretary to the Board, Mr. Emmanuel Kitamirike

In her address, Mrs. Magara commended the outgoing board, led by Dr. Margaret J. Kigozi, for their remarkable stewardship that saw the Fund grow from UGX 8.66 billion in 2021 to UGX 14.54 billion in 2025. She underscored the Endowment Fund’s vital role in ensuring the University’s financial sustainability amidst fluctuating public funding, reaffirming the Council’s commitment to providing policy and institutional support. Mrs. Magara further urged the incoming Board to uphold transparency, strengthen alumni engagement, and pursue innovative investment strategies to expand the Fund’s impact as Makerere continues to build for the future.

Mrs. Lorna Magara addresses the meeting. The 3rd Board of Trustees of the Makerere University Endowment Fund (MakEF) officially inaugurated by Mrs. Lorna Magara, Chairperson of the University Council, 23rd October 2025, Council Room, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Mrs. Lorna Magara addresses the meeting.

Board composition

The newly inaugurated 3rd Board of Trustees (2025–2029) brings together a team of distinguished professionals whose expertise spans business, academia, finance, governance, and social advocacy. Notably, some members have been reappointed in recognition of their exceptional service and contribution to the Fund’s growth during the previous term. The Board is chaired by Dr. Margaret J. Kigozi, a seasoned business leader and former Executive Director of the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA). She is joined by accomplished members including Ms. Jennifer Mwijukye, CEO and founder of Unifreight Cargo Handling Limited; Mr. Ninsiima John Chris, Director of Programmes at NUDIPU and member of the Makerere University Council; Mr. Kenneth Mugambe, former Director of Budget at the Ministry of Finance; Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, Makerere University’s Academic Registrar and Professor of Forestry Resource Economics; and Mr. Sam Ayesiga, a governance and investment expert with vast experience across Africa. Their diverse backgrounds and renewed commitment are expected to steer the Fund toward even greater stability, innovation, and impact in the years ahead.

Representing the Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Sarah Ssali, commended the outgoing Board of Trustees of the Makerere University Endowment Fund for their exceptional service marked by growth, innovation, and accountability. She noted that the growth of the fund to UGX 14 billion is a clear testament to strategic vision, prudent management, and confidence in Makerere University’s long-term sustainability. Prof. Ssali praised the Board for initiatives that have united thousands of alumni, staff, and partners, notably through the Makerere Run, which has supported disability inclusion and empowerment.

The Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Sarah Ssali. The 3rd Board of Trustees of the Makerere University Endowment Fund (MakEF) officially inaugurated by Mrs. Lorna Magara, Chairperson of the University Council, 23rd October 2025, Council Room, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
The Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Sarah Ssali.

She also recognized the introduction of the MakAdvance digital platform as a milestone in promoting efficiency and transparency. She welcomed the incoming Board, and challenged the new team to grow the Fund beyond UGX 25 billion through deeper engagement, innovative fundraising, and stronger partnerships. She reaffirmed Management’s commitment to supporting the Fund within robust governance frameworks that inspire stakeholder confidence, emphasizing the shared vision of building a financially resilient Makerere University.

During the handover ceremony, Dr. Margaret J. Kigozi, the Chairperson, reflected on the remarkable progress achieved under the 2021–2025 term, noting the Fund’s growth from UGX 8.66 billion to UGX 14.54 billion — a 68% increase despite global economic challenges. She highlighted key milestones including the institutionalization of the Makerere Run, establishment of the Makerere Gift and Souvenir Shop, launch of The Legacy e-newsletter, and the creation of the Jawaher Fund for the Advancement of Women’s Education, supported by NAMA Establishment in the UAE. Dr. Kigozi expressed gratitude to the outgoing Trustees and reaffirmed her commitment, alongside the new Board, to advance transformative projects such as the construction of the Makerere University Students’ Centre and development of the Makindye land. She emphasized that the Fund’s goal remains to build a financially sustainable Makerere University capable of supporting innovation, research, and academic excellence for generations to come.

Mrs. Lorna Magara (Right) with Dr. Margaret J. Kigozi and her award for her previous tenure as Chairperson. The 3rd Board of Trustees of the Makerere University Endowment Fund (MakEF) officially inaugurated by Mrs. Lorna Magara, Chairperson of the University Council, 23rd October 2025, Council Room, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Mrs. Lorna Magara (Right) with Dr. Margaret J. Kigozi and her award for her previous tenure as Chairperson.

At the inauguration, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration, Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta underscored the Fund’s central role in ensuring Makerere’s financial sustainability and institutional legacy. He described the Endowment Fund as a cornerstone of the University’s vision—an instrument through which Makerere secures its future, strengthens its independence, and sustains strategic investments in teaching, research, and innovation. He extended heartfelt appreciation to the outgoing Board, chaired by Dr. Margaret J. Kigozi, for their dedicated service and strong leadership that fortified the Fund’s governance, fundraising, and asset management.

Welcoming the new Board, he congratulated the members on their appointment and urged them to continue expanding and mobilizing resources with integrity and innovation. He reaffirmed his office’s commitment to providing administrative and financial support to ensure that the Fund thrives beyond annual budgetary constraints, contributing meaningfully to Makerere’s vision of becoming a research-led, financially resilient, and globally respected institution.

The Makerere University Endowment Fund (MakEF) was established to secure the University’s financial sustainability by mobilizing, investing, and managing resources to support its core functions of teaching, research, and innovation. Originating from donations made as early as the 1930s, the Fund has evolved into a strategic vehicle that aims to reduce dependence on public funding. It is governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the University Council, responsible for overseeing investments and resource mobilization. Through initiatives like alumni engagement, digital giving, and events such as the Makerere Run, the Fund continues to grow and strengthen Makerere’s vision of being a research-led and financially resilient institution.

Eve Nakyanzi

Continue Reading

Trending