The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, has asked the government to engage students and lecturers in research to produce evidence for policies on energy, the economy, and the environment.

Nawangwe has expressed his vision to move Makerere University out of the ‘ivory tower’ and take it to the practical field, undertake collaborations for development and engage communities to offer solutions to problems.

Nawangwe said this during a half-day Inclusive Green Economy (IGE) forum on promoting adoption of clean cooking in rural Uganda and 3rd IGE graduation ceremony.

The function took place at the Sheraton Hotel, Kampala on Wednesday, August 07, 2024.

Hakansson (Center), Bbaale (Left) and Dr Peter Babyenda coordinator Environment for Development Makerere Centre (EfD-Mak Center (Right) during the Inclusive Green Economy (IGE) forum at the Sheraton Hotel, Kampala.

Nawangwe said that Makerere University has big potential of researchers that government can tap into.

“Government is spending money on foreign consultants on things that can be done by lecturers and students. The people of Uganda have invested heavily in Makerere.  The university can research and give policy guidelines,” he added.

“We can test minerals, we do not need to send samples out of Uganda for testing, we can buy equipment and test them in Uganda,” he added.

“We encourage departments of MUK to partner with departments of government and collaborate,” he said.

During the event, 25 participants received certificates for completing a one-year training at the Environment for Development Makerere Centre (EfD-Mak Center) on to integrate environment policies, and green growth strategies in government programs.

Prof. Edward Bbaale, the principal of the College of Business and Management Studies, Makerere University and director of EfD-Mak Center said that the Inclusive Green Economy (IGE) capacity building program is for senior civil servants.

It is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) through the EfD global hub at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

He said the program bridges research, academia and policymakers to strengthen evidence-based policymaking.

Sidronius Okasaai Opolot, the state minister for energy and mineral development said that developing relevant human resources can enable Uganda to meet its energy needs such as the nuclear energy production in Uganda.

Okasaai asked Makerere to help the government design interventions that can create a great impact.

He said there is a need for advice on what energy sources to use given the large energy mix.

He noted that the demand for power in Uganda is low.

“The 600mw Karuma plant is dispensing only 50mw. We need laboratories, studies that can transform the country. We do research for other countries to develop,” Okasaai said.

He urged civil servants to engage in tree planting.

Maria Hakansson, the Ambassador of Sweden to Uganda said that access to affordable, modern and reliable energy is one of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Hakansson said that energy is key in development processes.

“The use of effective and clean cooking solutions has clear positive impacts on the daily lives of women and children by reducing indoor air pollution, easing the workload of collecting firewood, reducing deforestation and soil degradation,” Hakansson said.