Makerere University
in Uganda 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.
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
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. – The
Observer
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