First Lady Mrs. Museveni hails cooperation between Ugandan and Chinese Universities

KAMPALA - The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Janet Museveni, has welcomed efforts to enhance academic cooperation and promote knowledge exchange between Uganda and China, particularly in higher education and agricultural innovation.

On Monday, July 25th, Mrs. Museveni met with a high-level Chinese delegation, which included representatives from Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Green World International.

The visiting team comprised senior academic experts from the prestigious Chinese institutions known globally for excellence in agricultural sciences, engineering, and innovation.

They came to Uganda to explore partnerships with leading institutions like Makerere University, research organisations, and agri-business stakeholders.

Their focus includes joint research, technology and knowledge transfer, student and faculty exchange, and talent development.

During the meeting at State House, Entebbe Mrs. Museveni pledged government support for the partnership to the delegation.

She reflected on Uganda's past struggles and political turbulence that delayed the country's transformation, noting ongoing efforts to rebuild infrastructure and the education sector since 1986.

She highlighted the importance of such collaborations in strengthening Uganda's education sector and universities, emphasising the need to build lasting solutions.

"We need to all know that we have a duty to build a human family wherever we are strategically put. We believe in God and God strategically puts people in different places to do a job of serving humanity," Mrs. Museveni stressed, according to a release from her office.

She encouraged the Chinese delegation to consider Uganda their "second home." "We want you to make Uganda your second home. Let what we build together be permanent—so our children, and yours, can be proud of what we leave behind," she stated.

Minister of State for Higher Education, Dr. JC Muyingo, applauded the Chinese institutions and Green World International for their long-term commitment.

“What they have used to develop China—innovation, collaboration, and research—is exactly what Makerere is now embracing. We thank you for walking with us,” he said.

Vincent Ssempijja, a Senior Presidential Advisor who led the Chinese delegation to State House, described the visit as a deliberate and strategic move to deepen Uganda–China relations.

He described the Chinese delegation as partners sharing the vision of an industrially strong, innovative, and prosperous Uganda.

"Our delegation includes distinguished professors and investors who are in Uganda not just as observers, but as active partners seeking to build long-term institutional collaboration," he said.

Ssempijja explained that the partnership between Nanjing Agricultural University and Makerere University will directly support national priorities in agricultural modernisation, food security, and youth capacity building.

He also highlighted the formalised partnership between Uganda's National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) and the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences. 

The MoU establishes a foundation for joint research, technical training, and context-specific technology development to enhance Uganda's agricultural productivity.

Ssempijja reminded both Ugandan and Chinese stakeholders of the initiative's deeper significance: "This is about building—not just buildings, but bridges. Not just infrastructure, but trust. Not just commerce, but shared prosperity."

He recognised Dr. Li Deming, founder and President of Green World International, for her instrumental role in bringing Nanjing Agricultural University and Jiangsu University of Science and Technology to Uganda.

Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, also expressed gratitude for the collaboration, noting its timely nature for developing Uganda's agriculture.

He emphasised the importance of adding value to Uganda's agricultural products, especially coffee, and revealed plans to establish a research laboratory at Kabanyoro focusing on coffee—Uganda's biggest cash crop.

"We're exporting it raw and our farmers are missing out on real value," Prof. Nawangwe said. "This partnership can change that."

Professor Nawangwe expressed  Makerere's desire to learn from China's experience in connecting universities directly to communities, a strategy that helped lift 400 million people out of poverty in 30 years.

Professor Zhu Yan, Vice President of Nanjing Agricultural University, highlighted the university's 120-year history dating back to 1902.

She emphasised their strength in agriculture and life sciences, noting that 14 disciplines rank in the top 1% worldwide, with agricultural science and plant and animal science ranking in the top 0.01%.

Professor Yan also mentioned that Nanjing Agricultural University has collaborated with African institutions for over 30 years, including co-establishing the first agriculture-focused Confucius Institute with Kenya's Egerton University.

Dr. Deming Li emphasised the importance of promoting education and agriculture for economic transformation.

She reaffirmed Green World International's commitment to Uganda, where the company has operated for over 15 years and employs more than 6,000 Ugandans. 

She announced plans to relocate one of the company's manufacturing plants to Uganda, citing the country's abundance of high-quality raw materials.

"We want to settle here. Uganda's climate and people are perfect for our products. We want to combine research and manufacturing—to create not only health but also wealth," she stated.

The delegation also presented plans for a modern integrated industrial park in Lukaya–Kalungu, led by Green World International.

The industrial park will focus on agro-processing, organic fertiliser manufacturing, green technology, and logistics.

The meeting was also attended by senior technical officers from the Education Ministry led by Frances Atima, the Director of Directorate Education Standards, who represented the Permanent Secretary.