Uganda’s Premier Asks MUK Professors to Hasten Oil Research for Value Addition
The Rt.Hon.Prime minister of Uganda Robinah Nabbanja has opened the 1st Makerere Alumni CEO’s and Investor’s Roundtable Summit as Chief Guest. She commended the visionary leadership of Makerere Convocation Association for coming up with such a bright idea.
In her speech read by Hon. Rukia Isanga Nakadama,the 3rd Deputy Prime minister,Nabbanja said “we have greater hopes in the Convocation Association and the whole Makerere Alumni since many of them are renowned CEO’s here and in the diaspora.”
“Since it’s inception,Makerere has tens of thousands of well-to do alumni,if all are contacted on a fundraising Agenda like this, Billions of money will be collected,” she said.
Nabbanja added that,”Government is well aware that Professors in this Ivory Tower are time and again carrying out research in different fields and putting out research products whose commercialisation only remains demanding.
If adequate Finance is injected in the production of such products of research, Uganda will, with no doubt earn a lot from them.”
The Prime minister singled-out Makerere Kiira-eve Automobile research product which attracted government attention and investment,that’s now employing many youths who could be unemployed.
The Prime minister asked all Makerere alumni CEO’s never to forget the life skills and blessings that they got from this mighty institution.
She also encouraged them to always come loaded whenever called to help Makerere realize her dreams.
To the Professors and other Makerere University researchers,Nabbanja urged them to hasten the ongoing research targeting value addition
to our Oil.
She said,”We do not want to drill and sell off our oil before adding value on it,we shall be loosing a lot.”
Dr Peter Kimbowa,the Key note speaker at the summit challenged the Makerere Convocation Association to always take a lead in bridging between the current Students,Staff,Alumni and the future, if it’s dreams are to be practically realized.
Dr Kimbowa also asked the leadership of Makerere Convocation Association to help the Ivory Tower achieve it’s dream of becoming a self-sustaining engine of production through research and research commercialisation.
This,he says can be achieved through strong collaboration with Banks as Financiers.
The Vice Chancellor Makerere University Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe commended the Convocation for coming up with this idea and said ,it will help them to mobilise funds which can help finance many projects that had stalled due to lack of funds.
Nawangwe cited 1,000 admitted Learners in Makerere University who annually drop out of their courses due to tuition problems.He said it’s painful,for these are happen to be the brightest learners on their courses.
George Mugabi Turyamureeba,the Makerere University Convocation Association Chairperson in his speech said, “This Convocation Fundraising will become an annual event.We shall every year ,call our Alumni and CEO’s to such a round table summit.
Notable among the Guests in attendance,were State Minister for Gender in charge of Youths and Children affairs Balaam Barugahare Ateenyi,Ministers from Buganda Government,CEO’s of different Banks and other Alumni.
