Browsing: @makerere university

Makerere University academics have launched an annual National Budget Breakfast Meeting, arguing that Uganda’s budget should be judged not only by how much money is allocated but by whether it improves people’s lives. The initiative seeks to revive the university’s role in shaping national policy through evidence-based public debate.

Africa’s research output remains strikingly low on the global stage. Makerere University says the problem is not talent — it’s access, mentorship, and publishing know-how. Its new handbook aims to arm a generation of scholars with the skills to navigate peer review, copyright, ethics, and co-authorship — and to finally amplify Africa’s voice.

Bank of Uganda Governor Dr Michael Atingi-Ego has paid an emotional but pointed tribute to the late Prof Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, calling him the architect of Uganda’s economic stability and a guiding force in moments of crisis. Speaking at the Tusiime Mutebile Annual Public Lecture at Makerere University, Atingi-Ego outlined how the central bank is now expanding Mutebile’s legacy through innovation—using digital tools, modern payment systems and fintech inclusion to strengthen Uganda’s economic resilience.

Makerere University has kicked off the 16 Days of Activism with one of its biggest mobilisations yet—a campus-wide walk against the rising wave of digital violence targeting women and girls. Students, diplomats, and UN officials joined forces under the theme “Stride for Change,” calling on young men to become allies in the fight against cyber harassment, online threats, and non-consensual image sharing.

At Makerere University’s 25th Media Convention, BBC’s Racheal Akidi delivered a stark warning: Uganda’s next election won’t just test democracy—it will test truth itself. As artificial intelligence blurs the line between fact and fabrication, Akidi urged journalists to act fast, build AI literacy, and restore public trust before deepfakes and disinformation shape the national narrative. “The challenge today,” she said, “is not access—it’s trust.”

Uganda exports billions in raw coffee, but most of the profits are roasted abroad. At Makerere, students are testing yoghurt, syrups & ready-to-drink brews—proof that value addition could change the game.

In the shadow of Uganda’s oldest university, Kikoni’s clogged drains and scattered litter had long been a daily frustration for students and residents alike. This weekend, Makerere students swapped pens for brooms, leading a clean-up that pulled hostel caretakers, shopkeepers, and neighbors into action. What began as a sanitation drive became something bigger—a rare moment of unity and a powerful reminder that change starts when people pick up the first broom.

KAMPALA — From school fires to fatal construction accidents, Uganda’s rising death toll at work has one common cause: a dangerous lack of education in occupational safety, health, and environment (OSHE). With 32.4% of Kampala construction workers injured on the job—and 70% of those on night shifts—experts warn that without integrating OSHE into the national curriculum, the country will continue to bury victims of preventable hazards.

In a small lab in Kampala, 11 Makerere University students are rewriting Africa’s scientific future. With a mission to combat hunger and climate change, they’ve engineered bacteria to produce vital nutrients and reduce carbon emissions—and they’re taking this breakthrough to the world stage in Paris. But their biggest hurdle now? Getting there.

KAMPALA — In an inspiring show of ingenuity and purpose, final-year students at Makerere University’s School of Engineering are crafting real-world solutions to Uganda’s toughest challenges. From solar-powered sprayers to oil-cleaning machines and smart cooking systems, these homegrown innovations are proving that Africa’s next big breakthroughs may not come from a boardroom—but from a university lab in Kampala.