Meeting Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe

The African Research Universities Biennial Conference (ARUA) 2025, hosted by Makerere University provided me with an opportunity to meet the Vice Chancellor - Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe - and discuss my Fulbright fellowship work with the Great Lakes Center for the Study of the United States.

As explained on the Makerere University website, the role of the Vice Chancellor is "the Chief Coordinator of all administrative, academic and public relations affairs of the University" -- similar to what we could call the university President in the US.

with Vice Chancellor of Makerere University Barnabas Nawangwe

"The Vice Chancellor is the Chief Coordinator of all administrative, academic and public relations affairs of the University. He is also the direct link between the University and the Government, the public and the academic institutions within and outside Uganda. The Vice Chancellor is elected by the Council on the recommendation of Senate and, once elected, sits as an ex officio member of the board and of all its standing committees except the Audit Committee."

Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor, Makerere University, bio:

"Arch. Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe is the current Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, having assumed office in September 2017, and been reappointed for a second five-year term in August 2022. He holds a PhD in Architecture from the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture (KNUCA). He also holds a number of certificates in Management.

"Prior to his appointment as Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nawangwe served Makerere University as the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) from 2013 to 2017, Acting Principal of the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology-CEDAT (2011-2013), Dean of the Faculty of Technology (2002-2011) and Head of the Department of Architecture right from its inception in 1989 until 2002. He has chaired several University committees, including the University Research, Administrative and Financial Reforms Committee."

For more about Vice Chancellor Nawangwe and university governance, see https://mak.ac.ug/university-governance/university-management/central-university-management-committee/vice-chancellors-office

For more about my experience at the ARUA conference, see this blog post

For more about the African Research Universities Alliance ARUA Biennial conference, see this website https://arua.org/conferences/conference2025/