Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, has been named African Educationist of the Year three times by African Leadership Magazine: first in January 2022, then as part of the Person of the Year 2024 in February 2025, and most recently in December 2025.
His 2025 win followed a rigorous process including public nominations, editorial review, and a global online poll, where he secured 52.92% of votes, defeating contenders: Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir – Minister for Education, Culture & Higher Education (MoECHE): 36.84%; Tetteh Nettey – Founder & President, Marshalls University College, Ghana: 5.62% and Owunari Georgewill – Vice-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria: 4.62%.
The awards recognise his visionary leadership in strengthening academic excellence, expanding innovation ecosystems, and inspiring the next generation of African scholars. This is what he said in an interview at his Ivory Tower office, Makerere Hill in Wandegeya, Kampala, on Monday.
Q: What was special about the award this time?
A: I want to begin by thanking Ugandans for their overwhelming support. They voted massively. It was a very stiff competition, especially between myself and the Somali Minister of Education, who was giving us a hard time. But Ugandans mobilized, voted in large numbers, and encouraged friends around the world to vote. We received votes globally, and I am grateful to all who supported me in winning the African Leadership Magazine Award for African Educationalist of the Year 2025.
This is the third time I’m receiving this award. In the previous two rounds, I didn’t even know I had been nominated until I was informed that I had won. This time, the organizers alerted all contestants, which is why there was wider awareness.
Q: What were the nomination criteria?
A: According to the African Leadership Magazine, I was nominated for the transformation of Makerere into a research-intensive, research-led university, and for the governance and administrative reforms implemented at the institution.
Q: How was the mobilisation done for voting?
A: I simply informed colleagues that I had been nominated and asked them to mobilise votes. Staff and students—especially the Guild leadership—mobilised massively on social media. Our partner universities, like Gondar University in Ethiopia, also voted heavily.
Q: What tricks have you been using to win this award three times, and what does it mean for Makerere University?
A: There are no tricks. As I said, the first two times I didn’t even know I had been nominated. I believe people around the world, especially in Africa, appreciate the transformation at Makerere University over the past several years.
Makerere used to be known mostly for riots. If you Googled Makerere, the first images were students striking. Today, you see innovations—research breakthroughs, inventions. The university is now associated with research and innovation rather than unrest.
Our teaching has also improved: previously, we ranked very low, but now our students themselves speak positively about the quality of teaching. It is this transformation—from a strike-prone institution to a research-led university—that voters are appreciating.
Q: How does it feel to win three times?
A: I feel very good. Competing against a minister with access to extensive resources and still winning is humbling and gratifying.
Q: What does this award mean for your future priorities, especially regarding research?
A: Research and innovation are critically important for Africa, and for Uganda in particular. We have a fast-growing, very young population. Within a few years, millions of young people will be seeking jobs. Foreign direct investment alone cannot create all those jobs. The jobs will come from young innovators coming out of our universities.
That is why we must support research and innovation. I thank the government for responding positively by funding research directly, now up to about USD 80 million annually. This support is helping researchers and students produce cutting-edge innovations. Without strong research, Africa will face serious challenges.
Q: How can African universities prevent talent migration?
A: Africa has great talent. Our young people are trained using resources from very poor families. It’s sad to see them leave and develop already-developed countries. To retain talent, governments must invest heavily in research to create an environment where innovators can thrive.
The example of Kiira Motors shows this clearly. Some of the original innovators left due to early misunderstandings. But those who stayed have succeeded because the government, especially the President, insisted on funding Kiira Motors. If we replicate this across all sectors, our young people will stay, innovate, and transform the economy.
Q: What challenges face higher education, and how do you plan to address them at Makerere?
A: While government support has increased, Makerere’s capacity is huge. Many staff have ideas and want to innovate, but current funding reaches only a small fraction. My role is to continue lobbying for more research funding.
We are also focusing on building capacity—particularly in digital skills and artificial intelligence. Many staff need retraining in digital tools. We are also training young researchers in grant writing and research management through our new Grants Administration and Management Support Unit.
Q: What advice do you give other vice-chancellors?
A: People voted for me because of Makerere’s transformation into a research-led, innovation-driven university. If all universities focus on research, innovation, and commercialisation, we will transform Africa rapidly. In an era of global isolationism, Africa must innovate or be left behind.
Q: How does this translate into student outcomes, especially regarding entrepreneurship in a saturated job market?
A: Students voted massively. I hope they understand why: they are the ones who will transform Africa. Innovation is not limited to engineering—any student in any discipline can innovate.
Makerere exhibitions have shown brilliant student ideas. What was lacking before was post-idea support. Now, the Ministry of Science and Technology has a fund for innovations, and Makerere’s Research and Innovation Fund is already helping students create companies that employ others.
My message to students is: Do not waste your time at university. Engage in innovation and research. Leave Makerere with at least one solid idea. Even if you don’t get a job, you can create one—for yourself and for others—and contribute to Uganda’s development and Africa’s transformation.