General
Makerere University, Psalms Food Industries Sign MoU to Advance Research, Innovation and Student Employability
On 21st July, 2026, Makerere University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Psalms Food Industries Ltd, marking the beginning of a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening collaboration between academia and industry through research, innovation, entrepreneurship and experiential learning.
The agreement, signed at the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom, brings together Makerere University‘s academic expertise and research capacity with the practical experience of one of Uganda’s growing food processing companies. The partnership is expected to create opportunities for collaborative research, student internships, industrial training, knowledge exchange and innovation, while contributing to national development.
Speaking at the ceremony, the First Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Sarah Evelyn Nabwire Ssali, described Makerere as a leading research-led institution that values partnerships as catalysts for societal transformation. She noted that the University has established over 1,000 Memoranda of Understanding with partners across different sectors, creating platforms for research, innovation and knowledge exchange globally.
Prof. Sarah Ssali emphasized that youth unemployment remains one of Uganda’s greatest challenges and called for universities to move beyond preparing graduates solely for salaried employment. Instead, she underscored the importance of nurturing entrepreneurs, innovators and problem-solvers capable of creating jobs and addressing society’s pressing challenges.
She welcomed the partnership with Psalms Food Industries as an opportunity to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry practice by providing students with internships, industrial training and practical work experience that complements their academic studies.
“I was impressed by the scale of Psalms Food Industries and the immense potential it presents to nurture our students beyond the classroom. This partnership opens pathways for practical learning, entrepreneurship and innovation across disciplines from food science and agriculture to environmental sciences and business, preparing graduates to create solutions that transform communities.” Prof. Sarah Ssali noted.
Reflecting on the broader significance of university-industry collaboration, Prof. Sarah Ssali observed that research partnerships should not merely produce academic outputs, but generate measurable impact. She challenged institutions to develop innovations informed by local realities while remaining globally competitive, noting that universities have a responsibility to serve their communities through knowledge that transforms lives.
Speaking on behalf of Psalms Food Industries, Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Dennis Ngabirano thanked Makerere University for its swift coordination in formalizing the partnership and expressed confidence that the collaboration would generate lasting value for both institutions. He acknowledged the University’s contribution to the company’s growth journey and reaffirmed Psalms Food Industries Ltd’s commitment to investing in young people’s potential.
Dr. Ngabirano noted that Psalms Food Industries has already been working with Makerere students through internship and practical training opportunities, demonstrating the value of exposing learners to real-world industry environments. He encouraged students to embrace entrepreneurship, innovation and research while at school, explaining that SUMZ itself is a product of a course work assignment while he was a University.
“Do not fear starting small,” he urged, emphasizing that today’s small enterprises have the potential to become tomorrow’s globally recognized companies that create employment and transform communities. He further observed that Makerere’s research capacity, infrastructure and expertise present immense opportunities for industry to develop innovative products, anticipate market trends and strengthen Uganda’s competitiveness.
During the discussions, the CEO, Psalms Food Industries Ltd also proposed becoming one of Makerere University‘s official industry partners in the food processing and snack manufacturing sector, further deepening collaboration between the two institutions.
The partnership was warmly welcomed by representatives from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), who expressed interest in collaborating with Psalms Food Industries in agricultural research, value addition, innovation and practical student training. Present at the meeting also, were representatives from the College of Business and Management (COBAMS), the Advancement Office and Makerere University Technology and Innovationds Centre (MUTIC).
While chairing the ceremony, Ms. Hawa Kajumba, the lead Partnerships, Advancement Office noted that At Makerere University, our strategic focus revolves heavily on breaking down the traditional silos between classroom theory and real-world industrial needs. Signing this MoU with Psalms Food Industries is a definitive step toward achieving that ecosystem.
“By aligning our research with a homegrown manufacturer, we are creating a powerful mutually beneficial model for local value addition while simultaneously opening impact pathways for our students.” Ms Hawa affirmed.
The MoU represents a shared commitment to strengthening the innovation ecosystem by connecting research with enterprise, equipping students with industry-relevant skills and fostering entrepreneurship that responds to Uganda’s development needs.
Through collaborative research, internships, mentorship, product development and commercialization, Makerere University and Psalms Food Industries Ltd aim to demonstrate how strong industry-academia partnerships can accelerate economic transformation while producing graduates equipped to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
Caroline Kainomugisha is the Communications Officer, Advancement Office.
General
Makerere University and Xiangtan University Advance Strategic Partnership in Chemical Engineering
Makerere University and Xiangtan University are set to update their close to 20-year academic partnership, with a new focus on launching a joint Master’s degree program in Chemical Engineering and expanding student and staff exchange initiatives.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a recent visit by a delegation from Xiangtan University to Makerere University headed by Professor Dingyu Ou, in the company of Mr. Tang Fei and Professor Gilbert Gumshabe, the Chinese and Ugandan Directors of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University respectively.
While addressing the delegation, Professor Nawangwe highlighted that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to diversify academic offerings and contribute to national development through training in Chemical Engineering. Through this new initiative, the University will better prepare graduates for the petrochemical industry and support the country’s industrial growth.
The Vice Chancellor appreciated that the proposed collaboration aims to address Uganda’s growing need for industrial expertise, particularly as the country develops its petroleum sector. The two universities here are working toward a 1+2 training model, which will enable Makerere students to gain practical experience and access advanced laboratory facilities at Xiangtan University.
Professor Nawangwe further reiterated that “our relationship with the people of China, not just for Makerere but also for a big part of Uganda, has been opened wider by the establishment of the Confucius Institute, considering that many other collaborations like one being discussed now have come through this collaboration.”
The head of the Xiangtan delegation, Professor Dingyu Ou, expressed appreciation for the meeting, and acknowledged the history between the institutions. “As mentioned, we have a very long relationship and a very stable friendship between our two universities.”
Professor Ou extended appreciation for the support provided to the Confucius Institute at Makerere, the care shown to his colleagues, and looked forward to the successful start of the Chemical Engineering collaboration.
Assuring the delegation of Makerere’s readiness for the collaboration, Ms. Hawa Ndagire Kajumba the Lead, Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement, Makerere University Advancement Office, aligned with the Vice Chancellor’s emphasis of University goal to have both theory and practice imparted to the students.
She said “the curriculum of the university and Uganda as a whole is moving towards competence-based education training to ensure students are equipped to demonstrate those skills in the actual field, particularly regarding petroleum exploration.”
Ms. Ndagire Kajumba also emphasised a shift in strategy for the partnership office, saying, “we are moving away from just signing MOUs that collect dust, and moving towards those that are more collaborative to benefit our faculty and students, just like this one.”
Professor Gilbert Kumushabe aligned his remarks with those of the Vice Chancellor and Ms. Ndagire Kajumba, and described the method used at Xiangtan University as “actually competence-based teaching.”
Based on his recent visit, Prof. Gumoshabe shared that students in China are divided into groups with dedicated teachers to perform practical, hands-on work beyond the theoretical lecturers. He expressed gladness that the same was being adopted for the Ugandan context.
Both institutions are now working to finalise the specific agreements for the joint degree and exchange programs. Beyond academic training, the collaboration will advance cultural and professional exchange.
Makerere University on October 8, 2026 commemorated Nkrumah Day with a Public Lecture at the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium. The Lecture gathered students, academics, historians and distinguished guests to discuss Kwame Nkrumah’s contribution and its relevance to Africa.
Organised by Nkrumah Hall under the theme “Leadership, Self-Reliance and Transformation: Reimagining Nkrumah’s Vision for the 21st Century African Youth,” the lecture explored how Nkrumah’s ideals of Pan-Africanism, self-reliance and African unity can guide the continent beyond political independence.
Endorsing Nkrumah’s Vision of Investing in Africa
The First Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of Makerere University, Rt. Hon. Dr. Crispus Walter Kiyonga, was the chief guest.
In remarks delivered on his behalf by Dr. Charles Kahigiriza, Dr. Kiyonga said the day was a moment to reflect on Nkrumah’s views on Pan-Africanism and the lessons on self-reliance still held for Africa today and emphasised the importance of keeping Africa’s young talent at home (in Africa).
He then discussed ways of encouraging young people to achieve Nkrumah’s vision, pointing out that Africa is losing skilled people to brain drain as many go abroad to work.
He encouraged young Africans to stay and contribute to the continent’s growth, describing Africa’s potential as a promising asset.
Transformation Requires Discipline
The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Gerald Karyeija, a political analyst and Head of Quality Assurance at the Uganda Management Institute (UMI).
He discussed Nkrumah’s role in championing Pan-Africanism and the formation of the African Union. He acknowledged that “his legacy was also very complex” due to a number of challenges.
Regarding leadership, the professor argued, “leadership does not begin with the title. It begins with responsibility,” adding that “leadership is not only about power, privilege, entitlement, or status. It’s about service. It’s about stewardship.”
He encouraged attendees to emulate Nkrumah by using their knowledge and power for good.
“Don’t get the intellectual power from Makerere to become evil,” he cautioned, stressing that transformation requires discipline.
Universities Turn Knowledge into Action
Associate Professor Gorettie Nabanoga, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, represented Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University.
She aligned herself with the previous speakers and urged participants to move beyond simply celebrating Kwame Nkrumah’s memory and begin implementing his vision.
She called for practical action, urging the mobilisation of Pan-Africanism beyond slogans. “Perhaps the Pan-Africanism of this generation must therefore move from solidarity to capacity, from rhetoric to institutions, from potential to production, and from aspirations to implementation,” she said.
On the role of universities, she reiterated that Makerere University is a hub for innovation rather than just a degree-granting institution.
“We are building for the future when we develop people who can think critically, when we generate knowledge, when we challenge perceived knowledge and wisdom, and when we innovate,” she said.
Addressing the students present, she said, “You are not simply the leaders of tomorrow; you are citizens of Africa today. The opportunity you enjoy at Makerere University comes with responsibility.”
Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli, the Dean of Students at Makerere University, set the tone at the 2026 Nkrumah Day Public Lecture.
She revealed that this lecture organised under Nkrumah Hall highlights its significance as a symbol of Makerere University‘s commitment to Pan-Africanism. “The name Nkrumah Hall has stood the test of time and sounds like a horn beautifully over the African continent and beyond,” she said.
She elaborated on the lecture’s theme of leadership, self-reliance and transformation, noting its alignment with the university’s mission to nurture future leaders.
Direction of Pan-Africanism
During a panel discussion, speakers questioned how far Africa has come. Associate Professor Zahara Napeewo, Deputy Dean of the School of Law at Makerere University, stated that the continent was still lagging behind the progress Nkrumah would have wanted.
She shared that while educational institutions provide knowledge, they must go further and encourage graduates to become problem-solvers who can create employment for themselves rather than wait to be employed.
Dr. Zaid Sekitto, a Lecturer in the Department of History, Archaeology and Heritage Studies at Makerere, added that the structures of colonialism that Nkrumah fought against were still in place. “They must be addressed”, he said, or Africa would remain trapped in colonialism and lose sight of Nkrumah’s vision.
The Youth and the Unfinished Struggle
The students also had an opportunity to share their perspectives on the unfinished struggle for Pan-Africanism.
Nkrumah Hall Chairperson Joseph Sekabira noted that the Africa Nkrumah fought for was not the Africa that exists today.
He urged young people to take up leadership now rather than wait until they were older.
Mark Kwikiriza, a final-year Bachelor of Arts in Music student and resident of Nkrumah Hall, said Nkrumah’s legacy remained relevant because the problems he faced in Ghana were similar to those society faces today.
He recommended that society could rejuvenate the spirit of “Osagyefo,” the title meaning “redeemer” by which Nkrumah was known.
Honouring 13 Years of Service
The event also recognised Mr. John Kamya for his 13 years of outstanding service as Warden of Nkrumah Hall, a position he held from 2007 to 2020.
He received an appreciation award presented by the Chief Guest’s representative in the presence of the Hall Chairperson and other dignitaries.
In his acceptance remarks, Mr. Kamya noted that the 2018 visit to the Hall by Kwame Nkrumah’s daughter, Ms. Samia Yaba Nkrumah, was one of the fondest memories of his time in office. He thanked Makerere for the opportunity to serve the University community and its stakeholders.
At the peak, the event concluded with tree planting and cake-cutting activity in front of Nkrumah Hall. The audience was left contemplating one message of Kwame Nkrumah’s vision of a united, self-reliant Africa, freed first in the mind, that remains unfinished and in the words of some speakers, has been handed to the current generation as a task to accomplish.
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