Prof Moses Muhwezi, the principal of Makerere University Business School (MUBS), has said the institution is reinforcing its emphasis on practical teaching such that students can experience what they are expected to do in the real work environment.
Muhwezi was speaking during a training session organised by MUBS, where more than 600 women and young people from Central Uganda are being equipped with practical skills to produce alternative, affordable, and cleaner sources of energy.
The initiative is intended to transform communities that still rely heavily on charcoal and firewood.
Muhwezi said professors and lecturers with some practice are urgently needed in today’s fast-changing world to help address some of today’s challenges, like climate change.
The initiative that will run under the theme “Green Energy for Women and Youth Resilience in East Africa” is aimed at bridging the skills gap through technical and vocational training.
Dr Sylvia Aarakit, the principal investigator of the Green Project, said they are partnering with more than 145 technical institutions across the country to train women and youth in cleaner energy methods.
She noted that many of the beneficiaries can turn waste, commonly known as kasasiro, into useful products, including charcoal alternatives.
“We are putting much focus on women and youth because these are the major drivers of the economy and they have direct contact with the environment,” she said.
The project is funded by the government of Canada and also focuses on other key pillars, including climate resilience, education, and science in artificial intelligence, governance, and global health.
Statistics from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) show that only 19% of Ugandans use clean energy for cooking, while the rest continue to rely on charcoal and firewood, contributing to the rapid destruction of natural forests.
