Computing & IS
Makerere Launches Scholarly Guide, Calls for Increased Research, Publication and Innovation in Africa
VC Emphasizes Research as Key to Africa’s Global Integration
Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, has urged universities across Africa to invest in research, publication, and innovation as a pathway to greater participation in the global knowledge economy.
Speaking at the launch of From Records to Publication: A Guide to Academic Authorship, edited by Prof. Elisam Magara of the East African School of Library and Information Sciences, Prof. Nawangwe highlighted Africa’s low contribution to global scholarship. “Although Africa accounts for 15 percent of the world’s population, it produces only 3 percent of global research publications,” he said.
“There are historical reasons for this,” the Vice Chancellor continued, referencing centuries of slavery and colonialism. “You cannot brush away 600 years of subjugation. And we Africans have not even written enough about that. If we want to move Africa back into the global community, we must invest in research, publication, and innovation.”
He cited China as an example, noting how the country’s investment in research and education has translated into economic and global influence. “When we say China is the factor of the world, it is not that people just wake up and begin making things. They invest in education, in publication, in research. If we want to transform Africa, we must do the same.”
Prof. Nawangwe highlighted Makerere’s progress, revealing that annual peer-reviewed publications have grown from about 500 a decade ago, to 700, and now exceed 2,000. He acknowledged that the university still trails South African institutions, partly because they operate numerous local journals that absorb significant volumes of research. “We are not fully utilising the brand of Makerere University Press,” he said, pledging support to strengthen the press and scale up journal production.
He also reaffirmed the university’s strategy to reduce excessive undergraduate enrolment and expand graduate training to boost research output. “Let us create time for professors to do research and supervise more graduate students,” he said.
Commending Professor Magara and his team for producing the authorship guide, Prof. Nawangwe described the book as an essential handbook for Master’s and PhD students, early-career researchers, and universities across the region striving to become research-led. “This is at the heart of the university. If we invest in research and publication, we secure our future,” he said.
Book Recommended as Mandatory Guide by College Principal
Makerere University’s Principal of the College of Computing and Information Sciences, Prof. Tonny Oyana, called for the newly launched volume to be adopted as a mandatory guide for graduate students and newly appointed lecturers. “This is not a bad book for our first-year PhD students to start with,” he said. “Even those who are hired as junior lecturers still need mentorship. If I were the Vice Chancellor, I would put this book as required reading for every new hire.”
Prof. Oyana reflected on his personal contribution to the book, revealing that administrative responsibilities nearly forced him to withdraw. “Because of the work that I do, I was about to give up,” he admitted. “But Professor Magara was persistent. He came back to me and gave me more time.”
He credited a PhD student, Caroline Ilako, for assisting with library research and literature reviews, saying, “She did a wonderful job. We went back and forth through revisions, but finally we produced the work.”
On the quality of the book, Prof. Oyana said, “When you pick up a book, look at how it is laid out. The quick judgment tells you about the quality. This is well put together. We are beginning to show quality comparable to Western presses.”
He also challenged traditional notions of “publish or perish,” noting, “As scholarship evolves, those who evaluate scholarship must also adjust. Impact, innovation, and tangible products are increasingly valued alongside journal articles.”
Editor Highlights Research-Based Approach
Prof. Elisam Magara, the book’s editor, explained that the guide is designed to support scholars from the moment they conceive a research idea to the point their work is published and read. “I looked at the books we were using and asked myself: which kind of book can truly guide students? We needed a clear guide from the time a scholar thinks of writing up to the time the book is read,” he said.
He detailed the rigorous editorial process that began in 2022, including international calls for contributions, peer review of abstracts, writeshops for feedback, and multiple rounds of chapter reviews. “Don’t write and keep,” he advised. “Your book must have impact. It must reach the public and be used.”
Prof. Magara also acknowledged the sabbatical granted by the Vice-Chancellor, which enabled him to balance teaching and editorial responsibilities. “This book is meant not just for Makerere but for scholars across the region and beyond,” he said.
Mak Press Outlines Rigorous Publishing Process
Dr. Isaac Tibasima, representing the Managing Director of Makerere University Press, explained the publication pathway. “Once you bring your manuscript to the press, we take it through evaluation, external peer review, revisions, copy-editing, typesetting, and pre-press review before printing,” he said.
He also highlighted the press’s efforts to strengthen college-based journals. “We will not run the journals, but they will be published under the imprint of Makerere University. If we produce consistent issues, we can then move toward global indexing,” Dr. Tibasima said.
All new journals and articles now carry Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) to enhance discoverability, while past publications are being retroactively assigned DOIs. “We are not there yet, but we are moving there, and we are intentional about getting there,” he added.
School Leaders Celebrate Scholarship and Mentorship
In welcome remarks, Dr. Sarah Kaddu, Dean of the School, said, “This event is a celebration of scholarship, intellectual discipline, and the journey of knowledge creation. This book speaks directly to one of the most critical challenges facing scholars—transforming research records into publishable work.”
Dr. Sylvia Namujuzi, Head of the Department of Records and Archives Management, added, “This book is timely. It responds to real challenges faced by early-career researchers, postgraduate students, and even seasoned academics—questions of structure, authorship ethics, citation, collaboration, and navigating the publication ecosystem.”
She concluded: “Well-managed records are not endpoints; they are the beginning of inquiry, reflection, and publication. This guide demonstrates that pathway.”
Book Outline
- Introduction: Publication Journey. (Prof. Elisam Magara)
PART I: Foundations of Academic Authorship.
- Conceptual Foundations of Academic Authorship
Elisam Magara and Joseph Kiplangat.
- Archives as a Source of Information for Academic Writing
David Luyombya, Sylivia Namujuzi and Francis Ekwaro
- The place of Oral History in Contemporary Writing
Elisam Magara, James Nkanshah-Obrempong and Nthan Nzyoka Joshua
- Managing Ethical Dilemmas in Academic Writing
Maria Tsvere, Tsitsi Kanonge and Joselin Chigwada
- The Role of Copyright and Neighbouring Rights in Protecting Works of Authors and Publishers in Uganda
Ronald Kakungulu Mayambala
PART II: Managing the Publication Process
- A Manuscript: From Inception to Publication
Sarah Mirembe Kyankya
- Managing Co-Authorship in Academic Writing
Gankhanani Moffat Moyo
- Managing Illustrations and Visual Artworks in Academic Writing
Bob Magara Rutatugirwa
- Tapping into Open Access Platforms for Gainful Authorship
George Muganga
- Managing the Costs in Academic Authorship
Aloysius Rukundo
- The Important Translation in Publication
Monica Mweseli
- Citations and Referencing in Academic Writing
Clement Lutaaya Nabutto, Namujuzi Sylivia, and Daviv Luyombya, Makerere University
- Referencing Management Software In Academic Writing
Odeke Moses Osamai and Constant Okello-Obura
- Compliance with International Bibliographic Control Standards in Academic Authorship
Elisam Magara and Dniel Osinde
PART III: Secondary Services in Academic Writing
- Journal Impact Factor and its Role when Submitting a Publication Article
Tonny J. Oyana and Caroline Ilako
- Managing Mentorship Programmes for Scholarly Writing
Diyoshak Rhoda Danladi and Elisam Magara
Report by
Jane Anyango, Principal Communication Officer CoCIS
Ritah Atukwatse, Journalism and Communication Student (2nd Year)
Fred Kanwagi, Journalism and Communication Student (3rd Year)
Makerere University has called for increased investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and data science, warning that Africa risks being left behind in the rapidly evolving global digital economy if governments and the private sector fail to prioritize the emerging technologies.
The call was made by Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, while officially opening the 14th Data Science Africa (DSA) Summer School and Workshop at the university’s Main Hall on Thursday.
The week-long event, held from July 20–24 under the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), attracted students, researchers and professionals from across Africa and beyond. The gathering is being held under the theme, “Foundational and Practical Data Science in the Age of Generative AI.”
Prof. Nawangwe said although data has become one of the world’s most valuable resources, Africa has yet to fully appreciate its economic significance.
“I keep hearing that data is the next oil, but apparently it is already the current oil,” he said, adding that governments must be persuaded to invest more in data infrastructure, including modern data centres.
He noted that while global technology companies are investing hundreds of billions of dollars in AI, Africa remains a marginal player despite possessing the intellectual capacity to develop home-grown solutions.
Rather than attempting to compete directly with technology giants, Prof. Nawangwe urged African researchers to develop AI systems tailored to solving the continent’s unique challenges in healthcare, agriculture, education, climate resilience, governance and urban development.
“We need AI that understands Africa,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor commended Data Science Africa for nurturing a new generation of African data scientists through practical training, mentorship and collaborative research since its inception.
He also highlighted Makerere University’s investments in AI research through initiatives such as the Makerere AI Centre, AI Health Lab and other research collaborations, saying the university has continued to align its computer science programmes with emerging technologies since 2009.
Prof. Nawangwe, however, observed that Africa’s research capacity remains inadequate, stressing the need to significantly increase the number of PhD graduates to drive scientific innovation and economic transformation.
He praised CoCIS researchers, particularly Prof. Engineer Bainomugisha, for leading high-impact projects such as the AirQo initiative, which monitors air quality in more than 15 African countries.
Describing Data Science Africa as a strategic partner, Prof. Nawangwe said the annual gathering strengthens continental collaboration, mentorship and research networks essential for Africa’s technological advancement.
“We have the intellectual capacity. What is lacking is the will to invest heavily in AI,” he said.
Principal Oyana Warns on AI Risks, Urges Africa to Invest in Technology
Earlier, the Principal of the College of Computing and Information Sciences, Prof. Tony Oyana, cautioned that while artificial intelligence presents enormous opportunities, it also poses significant risks if developed without adequate ethical safeguards.
Referring to recent reports about an advanced AI system reportedly operating beyond its intended controls during testing, Prof. Oyana said the incident underscored the importance of responsible AI development.
“The world is creating a monster, and we must be ethical about that monster because it may destroy our own existence,” he said.
Prof. Oyana also expressed concern over the widening technology investment gap between Africa and developed economies.
He cited reports indicating that major technology companies in the United States have committed approximately US$700 billion to technology investments, while Africa continues to invest largely in traditional sectors such as oil and gas.
He challenged African billionaires and governments to redirect more capital towards technology, innovation and data science.
“We want our wealthy investors to put their money into technology so that Africa can also participate in this digital economy,” he said.
DSA Board Chair Praises Makerere’s Leadership in AI Research
Data Science Africa Board Chair, Cira Maina, commended Makerere University for establishing itself as one of Africa’s leading centres for artificial intelligence research and innovation.
He said the university’s numerous AI laboratories and research projects have become a source of inspiration for institutions across the continent.
“Makerere is showing us how to do AI properly. The labs and projects here are inspiring institutions across Africa,” Maina said.
Maina noted that researchers, including those at her institution in Kenya, have drawn lessons from Makerere’s research ecosystem and expressed confidence that participants attending the summer school would return to their respective countries motivated to strengthen AI research and innovation.
Maina also applauded the organising committee, led by Prof. Engineer Bainomugisha, together with programme chairs, sponsors and the wider Data Science Africa community for successfully organising the continental event.
African Researchers Must Lead Development of AI for Local Languages, Says Sunbird AI Founder
The founder of Sunbird AI, Dr. John Quinn, has challenged African researchers to take the lead in developing artificial intelligence (AI) models for indigenous languages, arguing that global technology companies are unlikely to adequately address the continent’s linguistic diversity.
Delivering the keynote address, Quinn said Africa possesses both the expertise and opportunity to build world-class language models capable of serving local communities.
“The frontier of African language models is not in OpenAI or Anthropic. It’s here, among us,” Quinn told participants. “We can do it, and we have to do it because no one else is going to.”
Quinn said Africa’s more than 2,000 languages represent not only cultural heritage but also economic opportunities whose full potential remains untapped because of language barriers.
He noted that despite massive global investments in artificial intelligence, only a fraction targets African languages and local challenges.
“Everyone is talking about AI and large language models, but African languages receive only a very small slice of global investment,” he said.
According to Quinn, reducing language barriers through AI could improve access to government services, healthcare, education and cross-border business opportunities across the continent.
Sunbird AI Unveils New Multilingual Language Models
Quinn announced the release of a new generation of Sunbird AI’s “Sunflower” language models capable of understanding and generating text in 67 major African languages, including 31 Ugandan languages. The models, range from lightweight versions that can run on smartphones to larger versions designed for desktop computers.
He also revealed speech recognition models supporting 51 African languages, describing the development as a major step toward making AI accessible to communities that primarily communicate through speech rather than text.
Quinn said earlier versions of the models had already demonstrated superior performance over some leading global AI systems in several African language translation tasks.
Using Acholi as an example, he illustrated how locally developed AI models outperformed international systems when responding to practical questions and translating indigenous languages.
“Our objective is not simply to build translation tools, but language models that understand African languages well enough to answer questions, solve problems and support local innovation,” he said.
Researchers Urged to Build Local AI Solutions
Quinn encouraged African universities and researchers to contribute data, improve language resources and refine AI models rather than waiting for multinational technology firms to prioritise African languages.
He explained that successful language models depend largely on the availability of quality training data, including books, newspapers, dictionaries and other written materials in local languages.
“The amount of language data is the biggest determinant of how good these models become,” he said.
He outlined the three major stages involved in building advanced language models;- pre-training, supervised fine-tuning and reinforcement learning describing them as processes through which AI systems learn language patterns, follow instructions accurately and improve responses over time.
Quinn noted that local researchers are better positioned to understand linguistic nuances, cultural contexts and translation challenges than developers working outside the continent.
“There is a reason these models get things wrong when they are developed thousands of miles away. The people in this room understand these languages and their cultural context better than anyone else,” he said.
Speech Technology Identified as Next Frontier
Quinn said speech technology represents the next major frontier for artificial intelligence in Africa because many indigenous languages are predominantly spoken rather than written.
He urged researchers attending the workshop to experiment with the newly released models, provide feedback and collaborate in expanding AI capabilities across more African languages.
“The opportunity is much closer than many people think,” Quinn said. “Reaching the frontier of AI for African languages is achievable if we work together.”
Data Science Africa 2026 Equips Researchers to Build AI Solutions for Africa
The Organising Chair of the 14th Data Science Africa (DSA) Summer School and Workshop, Prof. Engineer Bainomugisha, said this year’s programme was designed to equip students, researchers and professionals with the knowledge and practical skills needed to develop data science and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for Africa’s pressing challenges.
Bainomugisha said the week-long programme combines intensive training with research exchange under the theme, “Foundational and Practical Data Science in the Age of Generative AI.”
According to Bainomugisha, the event was divided into two segments;-a three-day Summer School held from July 20 to 22 and a two-day Workshop running from July 23 to 24.
Summer School Focuses on Practical AI Skills
Bainomugisha said the Summer School was designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers and professionals working with large-scale or specialised datasets, particularly those with backgrounds in mathematics, statistics, computer science, engineering and related disciplines.
He explained that the training introduced participants to both foundational and advanced data science concepts through lectures and practical sessions.
“The Summer School equips participants with practical and theoretical foundations in modern data science, ranging from Python basics to advanced Generative AI,” Bainomugisha said.
He said the curriculum covered Python for data science, data storytelling and visualisation, machine learning fundamentals, ethics and responsible AI, hands-on projects using real-world datasets, agentic AI and multi-agent systems, multimodal AI and large language models, AI for resource-constrained environments, natural language processing and African language models, as well as explainable AI and model interpretability.
Workshop Highlights African AI Research
Bainomugisha said the Workshop was intended to explore how foundational data science, machine learning and generative AI techniques can be combined to develop scalable solutions for challenges facing the African continent.
He noted that researchers presented work focusing on applications of AI and data science in healthcare, agriculture, climate resilience, education, environmental management and finance.
According to Bainomugisha, discussions also addressed ethical AI, cybersecurity and data governance to ensure emerging technologies are developed and deployed responsibly.
“The workshop provides a platform for researchers and practitioners to share innovations that respond to African priorities while strengthening collaboration across the continent,” he said.
Bainomugisha said the conference received submissions in the form of research papers, industry experience papers and work-in-progress presentations.
He added that although the programme was organised around six thematic areas namely foundational data science and machine learning, generative AI and African language models, AI applications, AI in education and finance, ethical AI and cybersecurity, and data governance, the organisers also encouraged high-quality submissions addressing other issues aligned with the conference theme.
He said bringing together researchers, students, innovators and industry practitioners creates opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing that will contribute to advancing Africa’s AI and data science ecosystem.
The Data Science Africa Summer School and Workshop is one of Africa’s leading annual platforms for capacity building, research dissemination and collaboration in artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science.
Jane Anyango is the Principal Communication Officer CoCIS
Photo credits: Peninah Nalubega – 4th year Journalism and Communication student.
Makerere University College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS) is the main ICT Training, Research and Consultancy Centre in Makerere University. The College has six Academic departments comprising of the Department of Computer Science, Department of Networks, Department of Information Technology, Department of Information Systems, Department of Library and Information Sciences, and the Department of Records and Archives management.
In addition to the mainstream degree programmes, CoCIS has a specialized Center for Innovations and Professional Skills Development (CIPSD) which delivers state-of-art training in ICT e.g. the Cisco Networking Academy for Cisco related courses, the Microsoft IT Academy Program for Microsoft related courses, International Computer Driving License course, Oracle Certified Training center for Oracle, Linux and Unix Training center. CIPSD also offers Machine Learning, Big Data Analytics, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Ethical Hacking as online courses. The College is an authorized Testing center, operating under PearsonVUE and Kryterion. Listed in the table (see downloads below) are the courses currently offered at the Center with their next start dates, duration, and cost.
- All courses are at affordable fees catering for Students, Vacists, Professionals and
- Anyone who wants to start a career in ICT or polish his/her ICT skills.
Register here: https://forms.gle/eTVwcAfBGXaVLL9b7
Contact Information
E-mail: psd.cis@mak.ac.ug
Tel: +256 752 779964 | +256 701 806656 | +256 752 373023
URL: https://cocis.mak.ac.ug/cipsd/
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