MAKERERE AND KYOTO UNIVERSITY SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Makerere University and Kyoto University, Japan at a ceremony held on the 16th December 2015 in the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University. The Deputy Vice Chancellor – Academic Affairs Assoc. Professor Okello Ogwang signed on behalf of Makerere in his capacity as the Acting Vice Chancellor. The ceremony was attended by H.E. Ambassador Junzo Fujita (Ambassador of Japan to Uganda), Professor J.Y.T. Mugisha (Principal – College of Natural Sciences), Professor Deborah Baranga (Department of Zoology, Entomology & Fisheries Sciences). The ceremony was also attended by staff from Kyoto University including Professor Furuchi Takeshi, Prof. Chie Hashimoto and Dr. Famitaka Wakamatsu.
In the MoU Makerere University and Kyoto University have agreed to collaborate in a number of areas:
a) Exchange of scientific materials, publications, and information
b) Exchange of academic and administrative members of staff and, researchers
c) Joint research and joint expeditions
d) Meetings and seminars for research, education, and outreach
In his remarks after the MoU signing, Ambassador Junzo Fujita said that it was his second time to visit Makerere University and it was a great pleasure to be back. The Ambassador congratulated the three universities that have now signed MoUs with Kyoto University. Kyoto University has signed 3 MoUs with African Universities to work together in primatology research. These include Makerere University, Conakry University in Guinea and University of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Prof. Furuchi Takeshi from Kyoto University in his remarks explained that under the MoUs initial research will be funded for 3 years.
The signing of the MoU follows formation of the African Primatological Consortium (APC) in December 2014 with the aim of championing African Primate Research and Conservation through collaborations in research and capacity building. APC brings together primatologists from Uganda, Japan, Belgium, Cameroon, Canada, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Kenya, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, United Kingdom and United States of America.
A number of research projects by Makerere staff are currently being sponsored under this consortium i.e. Chimpanzee Distribution and population status in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Uganda by Prof. Isabirye Basuta; Mangabey’s Food Resources in Mabira Forest Reserve by Prof. Deborah Baranga; and Bee-keeping as a Conservation Tool: Opportunities and Challenges in Uganda by Mr. Chemurot Moses.
The first African Primatological Conference organized by APC was also held under the main theme of ‘Building African Primate Research and Conservation networks’ and with sub-themes: Ecology and behavior of African primates; Primate Health and emerging diseases; and Conservation and management of African primates and other wildlife.
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