Makerere University is set to award a prestigious honorary Doctor of Laws Degree (LL. D) to Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The university council approved senate's recommendation to award Merkel the LL. D in recognition of her outstanding leadership, contribution to Makerere University, Uganda, humanity and global health. The decision was reached during a meeting held on Friday December 20. Council is presided over by Lorna Magara.
This was communicated as business for approval from the university academic organ, the senate, based on a request submitted by Prof Rhoda Wanyenze in June 2019 nominating the chancellor for the award which was considered by the academic board of the college of Health Sciences in July.
Senate agreed that Merkel is an outstanding leader who has tremendously influenced society including global health and health security and that she has exceptionally contributed to humanity, a recommendation that has been upheld and approved by the council.
Under the Makerere University Statute (XIII), a Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) is awarded to a person in recognition of his/her distinguished and outstanding contribution to public service at the national, regional and international levels, especially in the areas of academic excellence, political, social and economic reforms.
Born in Hamburg on July 17, 1954, Merkel was trained as a physicist, as the only woman in the theoretical chemistry section at the East Germany academy of Sciences where she was awarded a PhD in Physical Chemistry.
She joined politics after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall where she rose as a political leader of the Christian Democratic Union Party, from the minister for Women and Youth in 1990 to minister for the Environment in 1994, and lastly to the top position of chairwoman. Merkel then became the first female chancellor of the federal republic of Germany.
In 2017, she took on the six-month rotating position of president of the European Council (EUCO) and chair of the G8. Since then, according to the citation of Makerere, there has been a steady increase of Germany's role in society and global health.
"Her leadership has focused on redesigning global health care systems and tax reforms in Germany and international relations, refugee settlements, and management of global health threats for the international community," reads Makerere's citation on Merkel.
Germany contribution to Makerere
In a century lifetime of Makerere, the institution has established partnerships with a number of German Universities including Katholische University, Leuphana University, University of Tubingen, Protestants University, University of Oldenburg and University of Bonn.
"These exchange program opportunities have also broadened students' knowledge and understanding of working in different settings," says Makerere's vice chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe.
Between 700 and 800 university students, researchers and staff have benefited from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) grant scholarships and pursued Masters, PhD studies and Post Doctorate degrees.
The University authorities say that since 1967, a DAAD representative and senior lecturer at Makerere has been able to teach German studies for over 52 years now.
"Through DAAD, Makerere University has hosted a number of programmes, events and conferences for example good health research practices, teaching, college seminars and workshops," says Nawangwe.
Adding that; "Academic researchers and technical experts at Makerere University have been provided with job opportunities to contribute to community development through consultancies from GIZ and KfW in areas inclusive but not limited to health, development, housing and environmental protection."
Germany contribution to Uganda
Germany remains the largest contributor to multilateral support through the European Development Fund, World Bank, United Nations, African Development Bank and other international financial entities that fund Uganda's development projects.
Through the German-Uganda Development Cooperation that started off in 1964, Germany has been able to tackle several pressing issues in Uganda in areas of water and sanitation, health and education.
Since 2004, the German government has committed grants worth more than €250 million (about Shs 800 billion) for the Cooperation. In 2007, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) declared Uganda a priority country for development cooperation.
From 2017 to date, Germany has made available over 50 million Euros (about Shs 203.3 billion) in additional funding with a view of supporting Uganda's efforts to take in and care for refugees from neighboring countries.
In November 2018, a total of €69.5 million (about Shs 282.6 billion) were provided by the German government for two-years to focus on the use of renewable energies as well as Uganda's rural development. Through the EU delegation in Uganda, German has contributed as grant financing to a tune of €26.9 million (about Shs 118 billion) to support Ugandan civil society organizations (CSOs).
For more than 40 years, the German language has been taught in Ugandan schools as part of the curriculum with currently more than 5,000 Ugandans students taught.
The Germany government has also supported Uganda police in capacity building through training, transport and equipment provision since 2008.
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