education 7 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Global Crises Demand Unified Solutions, Stresses Makerere VC
Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe emphasized the need for interdisciplinary and international collaboration to tackle complex global challenges. A specialized program at the university is using Uganda's waste management issues as a case study for developing such collective solutions. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/global-challenges-require-collective-solutions-says-prof-nawangwe-5586984
Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, has highlighted the critical need for enhanced cooperation across various sectors to effectively address the multifaceted global challenges facing humanity.
Speaking at the opening of a Blended Intensive Programme focused on polycrisis management, Prof. Nawangwe, represented by his deputy Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, stated that no single entity holds all the answers. “We therefore need to build stronger bridges across disciplines, institutions, sectors and countries,” he urged.
He pointed out that issues like climate change, food and energy insecurity, economic instability, conflict, and migration are increasingly intertwined. These interconnected problems, he argued, cannot be solved through isolated or fragmented approaches. “The important message for us as universities is that interconnected problems cannot be adequately addressed through fragmented solutions,”
The intensive program, titled “Enhancing Skills in Polycrisis Management: African and European Approaches,” brings together students and academics from Makerere and several European universities, including the University of Salzburg, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
As a practical exercise, the participants will delve into Uganda’s waste management challenges, focusing on aspects like waste segregation and recycling. Dr. Anthony Tibaingana, a program coordinator, explained that waste management was selected due to the severity of the problem and the urgent need for tangible solutions, referencing past incidents like the Kiteezi landfill issue.
This initiative aims to foster a deeper understanding and develop practical strategies by exposing students and faculty to international peers and experts, paving the way for joint research and educational endeavors.