The AWaRMN flag has been flying high at Makerere University in Uganda having been recently selected for a site visit by an evaluation team from the African Union (AU) on the 12th of March 2024. This year Makerere University has been shortlisted for consideration for selection as an AU Centre of Excellence in fisheries and aquaculture. The proposed Centre of Excellence is intended to be hosted by the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity in collaboration with the College of Natural Sciences.

As part of the selection process an evaluation team from the AU was assigned to assess the respective schools based on specific criteria relevant to the curricula, human resources, teaching, and research facilities among others. The evaluation criteria also required evidence of existing successful international collaborations as a means of illustrating competencies in this regard.

The AWaRMN programme which is currently being co-ordinated from the Department of Chemistry under the College of Natural Sciences was nominated by Makerere University leadership as an example of a highly successful, ongoing international project to serve as a point of benchmarking performance excellence. This was a great achievement for the AWaRMN project and a commendable acknowledgement for the Makerere University team. The evaluation team lead by Etienne Hinrichsen and accompanied by Patrick Karani from AU-IBAR, Daniel Adjei Boateng, an aquaculture expert, Prof Charles Masembe from College of Natural Science and Assoc.

Prof Jessica Nakavuma from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity arrived at the Department of Chemistry on Tuesday the 12th of March 2024. AWaRMN students were engaged and interviewed regarding their experiences of being a part of the project. The AU-team asked students about their country of origin and the type of mobility they are on. Overall, the AU-team was greatly impressed by the impact that the project continues to have on scholarship holders it’s general organisation.

As the AWaRMN program is currently in its final year, this recognition by Makerere University as an exceptionally performing international program is a success story of the project’s impact at institutional level and the programme’s visibility. Well done to the Makerere University team for representing AWaRMN very well over the years.