Linkage Between Fort Hare and Makerere Long overdue – Prof Derrick Swartz

Fort Hare Vice Chancellor Professor Derrick Swartz and his counterpart at Makerere University in Uganda Professor PJM Sebuwufu met in Kampala, Uganda in May this year to kick-start what will be the University of Fort Hare’s first intra-Africa linkage.

Professor Swartz’s delegation consisted of the executive deans, Prof Jan Raats, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Prof. Daniel Okeyo, Faculty of Science and Technology, Prof John Hendricks, Faculty of African and Democracy Studies, Prof Phillip Iya, Dean of Govan Mbeki Research and Development Centre, Nhlanganiso Dladla, Faculty of Management, Development and Commerce and Ms Lulama Ngalo-Morrisson Dean of Students.

Also forming part of the Vice Chancellors entourage was the Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor, Dr Petrus Strijdom and the Division of Marketing and Communication Director, Luthando Bara.

“The linkage between the two institutions is exciting and long overdue,” said Prof. Swartz. The two institutions share a lot in common, both were established in the early 1900s and have, over the years, been hailed as beacons of African leadership and academic excellence.

The purpose of the visit to Makerere was, “To establish the major changes in the transformation process at Makerere University, assess their significance and analyse their implications with a view to deriving inspiration to guide and strengthen the transformation process at Fort Hare which is also faced with similar processes of change. Fort Hare seeks, not only to establish the strengths and weakness on which to build a strong partnership but also to specify pedagogical, research and social outreach and sustainable development niche programmes which will act as catalyst to promote strong and lasting partnership between the two institutions,” stated Bara. He said “beyond establishing the distinctive character and values of Makerere University with comparative advantage to Fort Hare, it was imperative for Fort Hare to identify specific areas of disciplinary, inter and multi disciplinary projects of mutual benefits to both the universities.

The linkage will be officially signed when the Ugandan delegation comes to Fort Hare later this year. It will concentrate on, amongst other things, collaborations pertaining to agrarian research, biotechnology, trade, human rights, student and staff exchange programmes and appropriate technology.”

Bara went on to say that the move to establish links with Makerere University was supported by diplomats in both countries and it is expected that it will also help in the development of cordial relations between the two governments, both of which are currently seeking solutions to problems of systematic under development caused by formerly depressing social and political climates.

According to the South African Ambassador to Uganda, Bavumile Vilakazi, there is a need for joint research between the two institutions for social and political transformation in Africa. He said the agreement is not only academically relevant but also historically and politically pertinent to the developmental challenges facing many African countries. He said South African was the biggest investor in Uganda and there was a need for institutions of higher education to play a major role in research support for economic development and sustainability.