KAMPALA, Uganda: The Government of Australia has pledged its commitment to continue extending support to Uganda’s education sector in areas of research, scholarships, and student and academic staff exchange programmes.
The remarks were made by the Uganda High Commissioner to Australia, H.E. Dorothy Samali Hyuha, during an exclusive interview with this website on 28 December 2025.
She highlighted that hundreds of Ugandan students have directly benefited from Australian Government education programmes through strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and established frameworks.
Dorothy noted that these MoUs fall under collaborative frameworks, including the Australia–Africa Universities Network Forum (AAUNF), through which Makerere University has joined efforts to explore collaborative opportunities between Australian and African universities.
She explained that these initiatives focus on advancing joint academic research and expanding student exchange programmes, promoting mutual benefit for all participating institutions, alongside other strategic opportunities.
Efforts have been undertaken to pursue collaborative research initiatives in several areas, including addressing climate change and integrating resilience into urban planning for future cities and towns.
In this context, the University of Western Australia, the University of New South Wales, and the Australia–Africa Universities Network, in partnership with Gulu University and Gulu City authorities, have launched a co-design urban planning project. The initiative aims to develop a smart city and, once successful, will be extended to other Ugandan cities.
Under the education sector science and technology transfer programme, Australian universities have entered into framework agreements with Ugandan universities, fostering scholarly and developmental initiatives.
These activities include research collaboration; joint academic programmes such as courses, conferences, and symposia; as well as staff and student exchanges and scholarships, all of which are pursued collaboratively.
Several Memoranda of Understanding have been established, including partnerships between Makerere University and Western Sydney University; Gulu University and the University of New South Wales; and Makerere University Business School (MUBS) and the University of Newcastle.
The High Commissioner observed that under the Australia Awards Programme, more than 37 Ugandans have benefited from master’s scholarships in various fields of study in Australia over the past decade.
These postgraduate studies have enabled many beneficiaries to make significant contributions to Uganda’s economic development.
Through the Australian Direct Aid Programme, approximately 20 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are actively engaged in key sectors such as agriculture, education, healthcare, water, and sanitation, delivering essential services to vulnerable communities and contributing to social and economic development.
These NGOs include World Vision Australia (WVA), which contributes to the budget of World Vision Uganda under the Health and Nutrition for All (HANA) project.
The School for Life Foundation operates in Mpigi and Rakai districts, providing primary, technical, and adult education, as well as school infrastructure services.
Meanwhile, the Te Kworo Programme provides healthcare and education services to vulnerable women and children in Agago District, Northern Uganda.
