By Ritah Namisango and Monica Meeme

In June 2026, Makerere University and the University of Fukui in Japan, formalized their collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance education through collaborative research, knowledge exchange and professional development of teachers.

The MoU was signed by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe on behalf of Makerere University, and Dr. Yuu Kimura, the Dean, the United Graduate School of Professional Teachers on behalf of the University of Fukui.

The University of Fukui aims to promote world-class education and research in science and technology for people’s well-being, while providing advanced medical services to local residents. Makerere University is one of the oldest and leading institutions of higher learning in Africa. It is a renowned centre of academic excellence, research and innovations.

In the MoU, both universities commit to undertake academic and educational research, strengthen partnerships in education and ICT, promote joint international engagements, and enhance knowledge exchange and cooperation for mutual institutional development.

At Makerere University, the MoU signed by the Vice Chancellor on 12^th June 2026, will be implemented through the College of Education and External Studies, Department of Science, Technology and Vocational Education (DSTVE). The Programme Coordinators include: Dr. Reymick Oketch-Principal Investigator, and Associate Professor Josephine Esaete with the College Principal-Prof. Anthony M. Mugagga providing the oversight function.  At the University of Fukui, the Programme Coordinators include: Associate Professor Kosaka Masato and Associate Professor Takuya Numajiri.

Exchange of the MoU between Makerere University and the University of Fukui

On 19^th June 2026, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe presented the MoU to the University of Fukui, Japan represented by Associate Professor Takuya Numajiri and Associate Professor Masato Kosaka.

The signing parties explained that the MoU institutionalizes the collaboration between Makerere University, College of Education and External Studies, Department of Science, Technology and Vocational Education (DSTVE) and the University of Fukui, the United Graduate School of Professional Teachers, which began in 2024.

Through this collaboration, the parties have been implementing the Japanese Lesson Study approach, a model that promotes teamwork among teachers through joint lesson planning, classroom observation, co-teaching, and reflective learning. “The initiative is aimed at improving teaching practices and enhancing the implementation of competence-based and activity-based learning in schools.”

As part of the partnership, Dr. Oketch reported that Makerere University works closely with secondary schools, including King’s College Budo and Kalinabiri Secondary School, where lecturers and teachers collaborate to improve classroom instruction.

Dr. Oketch pointed out that the collaboration encourages teachers to work together, share experiences, observe one another’s lessons, and adopt active teaching methods that improve learning outcomes.

“The programme also supports joint research to assess the effectiveness of these interventions in improving teacher performance and student learning outcomes,” stated Dr. Oketch.

Vice Chancellor proposes setting up of the Centre for Teacher Professional Development

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nawangwe praised the growing collaboration between Makerere University and the University of Fukui of Japan, describing it as a valuable partnership for strengthening teacher professional development through engagement, mentorship, and innovative teaching practices.

Reflecting on his earlier visits to Japan, the Vice Chancellor noted that his connection with the country has left a lasting impression on him and demonstrated the kindness, trust, and hospitality of the Japanese people.

The Vice Chancellor called upon the University of Fukui to support the ongoing efforts aimed at establishing a Centre for Teacher Professional Development at Makerere University, which would provide a strong platform for expanding collaboration and enhancing professional learning among educators.

“The Centre for Teacher Professional Development in Science in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) at Makerere University, will benefit educators in Uganda and beyond,” said the Vice Chancellor.

Valuable opportunities for addressing educational challenges

In his address, Associate Professor Masato Kosaka from the University of Fukui commended Makerere University for the growing partnership, describing the collaboration as an important milestone in advancing educational research and professional development.

He noted that the collaboration has already yielded valuable opportunities for engagement, including visits to secondary schools and discussions on joint research initiatives aimed at addressing educational challenges. “The interactions with secondary schools in Uganda have strengthened the shared commitment of both universities to improving education through collaboration, innovation, and research,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the signed MoU will deepen collaborative research, promote academic exchange, and create meaningful opportunities for students, educators, and researchers from both institutions in the years ahead.

A brief about the activities that led to the Signing of the MoU

In an interview with the CEES Communication Office, Dr. Reymick Oketch, the Principal Investigator and a Biology Teacher Educator, explained that the MoU was signed during the two-week visit by delegates from the University of Fukui, Associate Professor Takuya Numajiri and Associate Professor Masato Kosaka, to Makerere University, College of Education and External Studies, Department of Science, Technology and Vocational Education.

He highlighted the growing impact of the collaboration in strengthening teacher education and STEM learning. He emphasized the importance of teacher capacity development that promotes teamwork, peer support, and reflective learning.

Dr. Oketch disclosed that the partnership extends beyond research and classroom practice to include staff and teacher exchange programmes between Uganda and Japan. “Educators from both countries have been presented with opportunities to observe teaching methods, share experiences, and learn from one another,” he said.

The collaboration has opened pathways for further education, with selected teachers receiving opportunities to pursue advanced studies in Japan. He encouraged educators and student teachers to embrace collaborative teaching, reflective practice, and learner-centered approaches that place students at the heart of the learning process.

The Academic Registrar Makerere University invites applications for the Special University Entry Examinations for admission to the Diploma in Performing Arts.

The examination will take place on Saturday 16^th May, 2026.

Application process is online for those intending to sit the examination. Kindly note that there is payment of a non-refundable application fee of Shs. 110,000/- excluding bank charges in any (Stanbic Bank, Dfcu Post Bank, UBA and Centenary Bank). After filling the online application, you will be provided with 2 Past Papers.

To be eligible to sit the examinations, the candidate must possess an O’ Level Certificate (UCE) with at least 5 Passes.

The deadline for receiving the online applications is Tuesday 12^th May 2026.

How to Apply

• Application is online for ALL applicants.
• Other relevant information can be obtained from Undergraduate Mature Age Office, Level 5, Room 505, Senate Building, Makerere University or can be accessed from https://see.mak.ac.ug
• A non refundable application fee of Shs. 110,000= for Ugandans, East Africans Applicants (Including S. Sudan & DRC) OR US $ 75 or equivalent for international applicants plus bank charges should be paid in any of the banks used by Uganda Revenue Authority.
• Apply through the application portal https://see.mak.ac.ug

Please see download below for the application portal user guide.

Further inquiries may be sent to email: see@mak.ac.ug

Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza
ACADEMIC REGISTRAR

On Thursday 23^rd April 2026, people from different spheres of life, filled the Makerere University Main Hall to the brim, while other friends, partners and admirers, followed the proceedings virtually in a display of love and continuity, in honour of the legacy of Professor George William Senteza Kajubi, a distinguished scholar and educationist.

Prof. George William Senteza Kajubi, respected for being the first African Fulbright Scholar, served as a Vice Chancellor at Makerere University from 1977 to 1979, and 1990 to 1993.

He passed away on 1^st May 2012, but his good works, knowledge, vocation, continue to inspire countless individuals across the globe.

Education Policy Reform as an Enabler of Student Success: The Kajubi Legacy

The 6^th Annual Professor Senteza Kajubi Fulbright Memorial Lecture brought onboard the family of the late, the US Ambassador to Uganda, senior government officials, the Vice Chancellor and members of the University Management, the Uganda Vice Chancellors’ Forum, academics, staff, alumni, university and secondary school students, and international partners. All gathered for a detailed reflection on Uganda’s education system under the theme “Education Policy Reform as an Enabler of Student Success: The Kajubi Legacy.”

The lecture, organised by the College of Education and External Studies (CEES) at Makerere University in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Uganda and the Fulbright Program, evolved into a wide-ranging policy dialogue on curriculum reform, student learning outcomes, teacher training, digital transformation, and the legacy of Prof. William Senteza Kajubi.

Speakers repeatedly cited Kajubi’s 1989 Education Policy Review Commission Report, which many described as the foundation of modern Uganda’s education architecture, including the 1992 Government White Paper on Education for National Development.

Senteza Kajubi was a pioneering intellectual and reformer

The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe re-affirmed Senteza Kajubi’s intellectual depth and policy influence and shared personal reflections on his legacy.

“Prof. Senteza Kajubi was an exceptional intellectual. I had the opportunity to travel with him for two weeks—witnessing his depth of intelligence, clarity of thought, and remarkable generosity in sharing knowledge.”

Prof. Nawangwe emphasized Senteza Kajubi’s contribution to Uganda’s education policy framework. “Prof. Senteza Kajubi authored the 1989 Education Policy Review Commission Report—still one of the most comprehensive analyses of Uganda’s education system. Many reforms today echo his forward-looking recommendations.”

Prof. Nawangwe highlighted Senteza Kajubi’s leadership at Makerere, where he served as Vice Chancellor of Makerere University at critical moments, shaping the institution into what it is today.

On international cooperation, Prof. Nawangwe stated that the United States remains central to Uganda’s development. The Vice Chancellor, acknowledged the U.S for being a strong supporter of education and research at Makerere University. He then welcomed the U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, H.E William Popp, to address the congregation, at Makerere University Main Hall.

Education is a bridge between nations

The U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. William Popp, framed the lecture within the broader philosophy of international education exchange. “Education is one of the most powerful instruments for promoting relations between people and building bridges across cultures,” he said.

The Ambassador highlighted  Senteza Kajubi’s historic role in the Fulbright Program: “Professor Senteza Kajubi was the first Fulbright scholar from Africa. He bridged two worlds and returned not only with knowledge, but with a vision for what Ugandan education could become.”

He emphasized education as a tool for transformation: “Education policy must serve students—the young people whose families and nations depend on them.”

He argued that education systems must prepare learners for an uncertain future: “Students must be prepared not only for today’s jobs, but for careers that do not yet exist.”

H.E. Popp stressed the dual nature of education: “The best education provides technical skills for employment and develops creativity, independent thinking, and problem-solving abilities” he said, adding “Let us honour the legacies of Senator Fulbright and Professor Kajubi not only in words, but in action.”

Senteza Kajubi remains the foundation of Uganda’s education reforms

Prof. Anthony M. Mugagga, Principal of CEES, described Prof. William Senteza Kajubi as central to Uganda’s education system design and reform trajectory.

“It is very hard to talk about education reforms in Uganda without mentioning the name William Senteza Kajubi,” Prof. Mugagga said. “For over thirty years, Uganda’s education system has had as its fulcrum the Kajubi Report (1989) and the resultant Uganda Government White Paper on Education for National Development (1992).”

He emphasized that Senteza Kajubi’s influence extended beyond policy documents into the broader transformation of Ugandan society. “His vision and dedication to education have had a lasting impact on Uganda, not only as an education system, but also on the entire Ugandan polity served by this system.”

Prof. Mugagga described Senteza Kajubi as a “beacon of academic excellence” and highlighted his leadership roles at Makerere University during periods of institutional and national crisis.

“His leadership, particularly during challenging times, serves as a testament to his unwavering commitment to fostering a higher education system that is not only academically rigorous but also deeply rooted in responsibility, ethics, and civic engagement.”

He connected Senteza Kajubi’s philosophy to the current reforms in the education sector, which provide a transition to the competence-based curriculum.

Reflecting on Senteza Kajubi’s legacy, Prof. Mugagga stressed that universities must remain relevant by engaging in continuous policy dialogue. “The only way the College of Education and External Studies can justify its existence is by engaging in meaningful dialogue about education policy reforms from pre-primary to university level.”

 “Implementation defines policy success”

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Mary Goretti Nakabugo, Executive Director of Uwezo Uganda, described Kajubi’s policy legacy as the backbone of Uganda’s education system. “A policy is as good as its implementation,” she stated.

She outlined the foundational principles of the 1989 Commission: “Education is for everyone, and education should produce responsible citizens.”

She explained that Senteza Kajubi’s reforms prioritized inclusion and equity: “The commission emphasized universal access, teacher training, foundational learning, and inclusion of marginalized groups.”

She warned that Uganda faces persistent learning gaps: “Even at Primary Seven, some learners cannot read basic texts.”

She criticized the overemphasis on enrolment over learning outcomes: “For too long, the focus has been on access rather than whether children are actually learning.”

Dr. Nakabugo called for systemic reforms: “We must strengthen school management, expand pre-primary education, and invest in inclusive learning systems.” She stressed: “If we are to honour Professor Senteza Kajubi’s legacy, we must ensure that every child not only enters school, but succeeds in it.”

Senteza Kajubi’s vision was holistic education for life

Prof. Eriabu Lugujjo, Executive Director of the Uganda Vice Chancellors’ Forum (UVCF), offered a deeply reflective account of Senteza Kajubi’s philosophy of education, grounded in five core pillars.

He recalled first meeting Senteza Kajubi in 1960: “I first met Professor Senteza Kajubi when I was in Senior One at Makerere College School. He was among the top student teachers at the time.”

Prof. Lugujjo explained Senteza Kajubi’s core educational philosophy: “He emphasized that learning should involve and engage the learners. Students must be confident, know what they want, and express themselves clearly.”

To drive home the point, Prof. Lugujjo informed the audience in the Main Hall and those following the lecture virtually, that Prof. Senteza Kajubi always emphasized the need for student confidence: “He told us to look people in the eye when speaking. That built confidence in us.”

He outlined the five pillars of Kajubi’s education philosophy: “Learning to be, learning to know, learning to do, learning to learn, and learning to live together.”

He emphasized lifelong learning: “Learning should never stop, especially in developing countries where skills must continuously evolve”, and concluded by reiterating “Education should produce confident, skilled, adaptable, and socially responsible individuals.”

Technology must remain human-centred.

Dr. Richard Scott Nokes, a Full Professor of English at Troy University and currently a Fulbright Scholar in Uganda, situated education within historical technological transformations. “Technology must serve the human. The human must never serve the technology.”

He examined the evolution of education through three major shifts: the printing press, global mobility through Fulbright exchanges, and digital technologies.

On online learning: “Students can now learn across continents without travelling, but the classroom community has weakened.”

On artificial intelligence, he emphasized the need for balance:“We need AI that knows Uganda and the world—not one or the other,” he pointed out. “None of these technologies teach by themselves. They are tools we use to teach one another” he added.

Senteza Kajubi as a man of culture, humility, and access

Representing the family, Beverley Nambozo, Prof. Senteza Kajubi’s eldest granddaughter and founder of the Babishai Niwe (BN) Poetry, delivered a personal tribute.

“Professor Senteza Kajubi was a gentleman who carried much of the legacy of Africa’s Fulbright experience on his shoulders in the 1950s.”

She recounted his experience studying in the United States: “He spoke about long bus rides across Chicago and the challenges he faced as a young man abroad.”

She highlighted his support for education and literature: “Every time I published a book, he would buy at least five copies.”

She emphasised his inclusive philosophy: “He spoke to gardeners and household workers about their views on education” and concluded with a quote “Time stays and we go, but time cannot erase the legacy we create.”

During a panel discussion, moderator Dr. Leah Namatome-Sikoyo, a member of faculty at CEES, emphasized collective responsibility in education reform. “To realise transformative education, everyone has a role to play—government, policymakers, teachers, learners, parents, and citizens.”

The 2026 Senteza Kajubi Fulbright Memorial Lecture reaffirmed Kajubi’s central role in shaping Uganda’s education system and highlighted urgent challenges in implementation, learning quality, inclusivity, and digital transformation.

The family of the late Prof. Senteza Kajubi and the Principal of the College of Education and External Studies, commended the Organizing Committee chaired by the Deputy Principal, Prof. Ronald Bisaso for the excellent planning, coordination and execution.

Event Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCS7up