VC Nawangwe’s China Tour Sets Stage for AI, Energy, and Health Research Labs at Makerere University

Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, has successfully wrapped up a high-impact visit to China, where he engaged with key institutions to lay the groundwork for collaborative research in advanced scientific and technological fields.

Professor Nawangwe meet with academic leaders, tech innovators, and health experts. His engagements included visits to the Guangdong Centre for Chemistry Research at South China Normal University (SCNU), Super Pack Batteries, GDSN Company, and the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre at Sun Yat Sen University.

His visit began at SCNU, where he explored collaboration prospects with the university’s School of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. The focus of discussions was on launching joint research programs in artificial intelligence and data mining key drivers for Uganda's technological transformation.

At Super Pack Batteries, Professor Nawangwe held productive talks with Chief Operations Manager Tony Li. The two explored ways to establish battery research laboratories at Makerere University, which would contribute to innovations in electric vehicles, energy storage, and sustainable domestic power solutions. Li expressed keen interest in the partnership, emphasizing the mutual benefits of knowledge exchange and technology transfer for Uganda’s growing energy sector.

The Vice Chancellor was later hosted by GDSN Company’s CEO and Guangdong Chamber of Commerce President, Huo Jiaxiong. Their discussions focused on opportunities for collaboration in digital innovation and technology incubation, aimed at strengthening Makerere’s role in regional research development.

The final leg of the visit took Professor Nawangwe to Sun Yat Sen University’s Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre, where he met with Amy Luo. Their meeting centered around advancing eye health research, with plans to develop specialized optometry research facilities in Uganda to tackle the country’s growing vision health challenges.

The proposed research collaborations are expected to accelerate innovation and build capacity in fields vital to Uganda’s development, including clean energy, artificial intelligence, and public health.

This initiative is poised to usher in a new chapter for Makerere as a global player in research and innovation, with far-reaching benefits across academia, industry, and society.