Makerere hosts AI for Africa’s transformation conference
According to the conference, the gathering will serve as a critical platform for stakeholders to collaborate with researchers in addressing pressing challenges through AI applications in research and innovation.
Makerere University Ivory Tower. (File)
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Makerere University has today, October 29, 2025, opened its doors to nearly 250 global experts for the Fifth African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Biennial International Conference.
Running till Friday, October 31, the three-day event, held in the Main Hall of the university’s Main Building, marks the first time Uganda’s flagship institution has hosted the ARUA biennial, following the 2023 edition at the University of Lagos, Nigeria.
Themed: Research, Innovation and Artificial Intelligence for Africa's Transformation, the conference brings together academics, policymakers, industry leaders, civil society and international organisations to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can accelerate sustainable development across the continent.
According to the conference, the gathering will serve as a critical platform for stakeholders to collaborate with researchers in addressing pressing challenges through AI applications in research and innovation.
The conference commenced at 8:30am with an opening ceremony presided over by university vice-chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.
Nawangwe celebrated the event’s alignment with ARUA’s 10th anniversary and Makerere’s pioneering role in the alliance.
Speaking in the hall that once hosted debates shaping Africa’s independence leaders, including Julius Nyerere, Milton Obote and Yoweri Museveni, he framed the gathering as a continuation of the continent’s emancipation struggle, now focused on economic and technological frontiers.
“Africa’s political emancipation has been achieved, but the fight for total freedom from marginalisation persists,” Nawangwe said.
He highlighted emerging crises, including feeding a booming population, ensuring health amid limited medicine production (Africa manufactures just 3% of global medicines despite 15% of the world’s population), creating jobs for a youthful demographic, resolving conflicts, and leveraging AI to eradicate poverty.
However, Nawangwe painted an optimistic tone, pointing to positive shifts. He said, “Africa’s renaissance is not on the horizon but right here with us.”
He cited Uganda’s Research and Innovation Fund, that is providing Makerere with an average of $8 million annually over the past four years, and the appointment of a dedicated science minister.
He urged sustained collaboration through ARUA to amplify innovations from students, faculty, and communities.
“With concerted efforts... we can and we will change around the story of Africa in a very short time,” he concluded, echoing Makerere’s motto: “We Build for the Future.”
Prof. John Owusu Gyapong, ARUA Secretary-General, delivered a sobering but forward-looking assessment in his remarks.
Acknowledging Africa’s endowments, he outlined persistent challenges like low Gross Domestic Product (GDP), escalating public debt, widespread poverty, acute food insecurity affecting 120 million people, unemployment, gender disparities, declining health budgets, rising non-communicable diseases, and political instability.
As the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deadline approaches, Gyapong noted that no country, except Norway and Australia, has fully met them, but Africa lags “way, way, way behind.”
He paralleled this with Agenda 2063, the African Union’s vision for prosperity, peace, and planetary sustainability.
“How do we change the narrative?” he asked, stressing measurement as key, and further noting that as an epidemiologist, he knows that if you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it.
Gyapong positioned AI as a transformative tool, citing the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) examples where it drives knowledge advancement, critical thinking, problem-solving, and solutions to economic and social issues.
“AI and automation can help us focus on bigger issues while leaving routine tasks to artificial intelligence,” he said, envisioning enhanced efficiency in tracking AU targets and addressing gaps in peace, security, and beyond.
The conference agenda features roundtable discussions, ten parallel sessions, side events, special sessions, and poster presentations.
The closing day, October 31, includes workshops for ARUA’s Centres of Excellence, emphasising practical AI implementation and capacity building.