Makerere University Chancellor Dr. Crispus Kiyonga has today appointed Professor Sarah Evelyn Nabwire Ssali as the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, congratulated Prof. Ssali on the appointment, describing her as an outstanding scholar, administrator, and leader whose service will further strengthen the University’s academic excellence.

Prof. Ssali has had a distinguished career at Makerere University spanning over two decades. Until her appointment, she was the Acting Director of the Institute of Gender and Development Studies (IGDS), having previously served as Dean of the School of Women and Gender Studies (2017–2024). She is also the Director of the Centre of Excellence in African Identities under the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA).

An accomplished scholar, Prof. Ssali is a Professor of Gender and Development Studies and a prolific researcher with more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, several book chapters, and edited volumes to her name. Her research focuses on public policy, institutions, social transformation, gender, global health, health systems, and identity studies.

Beyond academia, she has contributed significantly to university governance, serving on Makerere University Council since 2010, the Appointments Board, and as Chair of several Council committees including Quality Assurance, Gender Mainstreaming and ICT. She has also played a leading role in curriculum reviews and policy reforms across the University.

Prof. Ssali holds a PhD in International Health Studies from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, a Master of Arts in Women and Gender Studies, and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences (Political Science and Public Administration) from Makerere University.

Makerere University warmly congratulates Prof. Sarah Ssali on her appointment and looks forward to her leadership in steering academic affairs to greater heights.

Entebbe, Uganda – September 19, 2025

More than 20 local government officials from Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Entebbe Municipality, and the districts of Wakiso, Mukono, and Mpigi have concluded a two-day intensive training on Environmental Valuation, Accounting, Evaluation, and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.

Held at Central Inn Hotel in Entebbe from September 18–19, the workshop was organized by the Environment for Development (EfD) Makerere University Centre and funded by the Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (Mak-RIF). The objective was to build local capacity in environmental governance and integrate natural capital and climate risks into local development planning.

The training was facilitated by Dr. Aisha Nanyiti, Dr. John Sseruyange, Dr. Peter Babyenda and Dr. Nick Kilimani- all from Makerere University.

Natural Resources Must Be Valued and Protected

Opening the workshop, Prof. Edward Bbaale, Director of the EfD-Mak Centre and Principal Investigator of the project, described the training as timely, given Uganda’s growing environmental and climate challenges.

“Uganda is already experiencing the adverse effects of climate variability—on agriculture, health, water resources, and the economy,” Prof. Bbaale noted. “This training empowers our environmental officers to use economic evidence to defend natural resources against competing land uses.”

He emphasized the need to monetize ecosystem services like wetlands, forests, and biodiversity to inform land-use decisions.

“A forest cleared for sugarcane may appear to create jobs, but when you account for its carbon sequestration, rainfall formation, and tourism potential, its long-term value far outweighs the short-term economic gains.”

Prof. Bbaale also urged that natural capital be included in Uganda’s national accounting systems to achieve sustainable and equitable development.

He thanked local government leadership for releasing their staff for the training and praised the collaboration between academia and government.

“You are not just trainees — you are future champions of environmental stewardship in your districts,” he told the participants.

Environmental Degradation Threatens Public Health

Representing the Chairperson of Mak-RIF, Dr. Sabrina Kitaka underscored the public health consequences of environmental degradation, linking it to disease outbreaks and natural disasters.

“We have just seen a 14-year-old girl in Lwengo contract Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever due to increased human-wildlife contact — a direct result of environmental encroachment,” Dr. Kitaka warned.

She connected rising flash floods, deforestation, and urban sprawl to poor environmental management and called for cross-sectoral awareness of environmental risks.

“This training is not just for environmentalists. Planners, economists, and health professionals must also be equipped with this knowledge,” she said.

Dr. Kitaka applauded the EfD-Mak team for using local experts, not foreign consultants, in delivering the training.

“We must train Ugandans to solve Uganda’s problems. That’s the spirit of Mak-RIF.”

She also revealed that the Government of Uganda has funded over 1,300 research projects through Mak-RIF over the last five years and called for continued investment in locally driven innovation.

“Like Oliver Twist, we ask for more. Science must be funded to help Ugandans solve Ugandan problems.”

Experts Present Practical Tools for Sustainable Planning

Localized Climate Action Is Urgent

Dr. Aisha Nanyiti urged participants to design district-specific climate policies, differentiating between mitigation (addressing the causes) and adaptation (responding to the impacts).

“Climate action begins at the local level. Districts must create context-appropriate bylaws and planning strategies to reduce vulnerability to floods, droughts, and other climate shocks.”

She emphasized that Uganda’s local governments are key to meeting national targets under NDP IV and Vision 2040, and that climate change must be addressed in all sectors — from health to urban planning.

Environmental Evaluation is a Safeguard

Dr. Sseruyange warned that development projects are at risk of failure if environmental assessments are not properly conducted.

“Roads, schools, and hospitals may be destroyed by floods or landslides if we ignore the environment. Planning must consider both the impact on nature and the reverse impact from degraded ecosystems.”

He called on local environmental officers to assert their roles in safeguarding both the environment and infrastructure investment.

“Neglecting environmental oversight may undo everything we build.”

What is Not Valued is Easily Destroyed

Dr. Peter Babyenda introduced participants to valuation tools like Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) and the Travel Cost Method, which help quantify the economic value of forests, wetlands, and biodiversity.

“These tools inform cost–benefit analysis, budgeting, and resource allocation. If we don’t value our natural assets, we risk losing them permanently.”

He stressed that environmental protection is not only an ecological issue, but also an economic, social, and political matter. He encouraged integration of valuation results into budgeting and planning under frameworks like the National Environment Act (2019).

Local Officials Call for Continued Engagement

Ibrahim Muwanguzi, Environmental Officer from Wakiso District, praised the training as a vital step toward mainstreaming environmental valuation into local and national development processes.

“Most government officials focus solely on economic returns, ignoring the critical but intangible value of natural resources,” he said.

He cited a recent case during Mpigi Expressway construction where a culturally significant tree sparked debate over its monetary value — from UGX 100,000 to UGX 100 million — due to lack of valuation standards.

“If services like flood control were quantified in shillings, it would help justify preservation of wetlands and forests,” he noted.

Muwanguzi also emphasized the need for environmental economists in government roles, urging stronger collaboration between academia and policy.

“We have graduates in natural resource economics. Let’s integrate them into our public service.”

Let This Not Be the Last

Tonny Mwidyeki, District Natural Resources Officer for Mpigi, delivered the vote of thanks on behalf of all trainees, emphasizing the long gap since the last such training.

“For many of us, it’s been years since we had a refresher like this. If we continue to have such sessions, we will serve our people and protect our environment better.”

He thanked the facilitators from Makerere University for the two-day sensitization and urged that such capacity-building workshops be held more regularly.

“From here, we go back not just informed, but ready to lead change.”

Time to Act is Now

Closing the training, Dr. Sseruyange, speaking on behalf of the EfD-Mak Director, reminded participants that environmental degradation has been decades in the making, and action must no longer be delayed.

“Development depends on the natural world. Let us act now — from our households to our districts — to reverse the damage and secure our future.”

He thanked the participants for their active engagement and promised continued collaboration between Makerere University, local governments, and national stakeholders to promote evidence-based environmental policy.

About EfD-Mak and Mak-RIF

The Environment for Development (EfD) Centre at Makerere University is part of a global network of research institutions focused on environmental economics, coordinated by the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
The Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (Mak-RIF) is a Government of Uganda-funded program supporting local research to address national development challenges. Since inception, Mak-RIF has supported over 1,300 research projects across disciplines.

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Uganda is organizing the 2025 K-POP Festival in Uganda. K-POP stands for Korean Popular Music and this festival will include a K-POP singing or dancing contest open to both individuals and groups. There will be online auditions and a grand festival open to the public.

1. Eligibility

• The contest is open to all Ugandans
• Participation is as an individual or in a group

2. How to apply

Record a video of yourself of about 3 minutes of dancing or singing to a K-POP song. Upload the video on your Social Media or YouTube with the hashtag #2025KPOPUG and copy and paste the link to the video in the application form at https://han.gl/kE1xN. The application deadline is 17^th October 2025.

The GRAND K-POP FESTIVAL will be held on 8^th November 2025 starting 1:00PM at the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium, Makerere University.

There will also be a K-POP Random Play Dance Event and everyone is invited to participate and watch.