Coordinator, Mobilisation & Advocacy.
The Network for Education & Multidisciplinary Research Africa (NEMRA) celebrated its 5th anniversary on Friday 1st December 2023, at the flashy Piato Restaurant along Lumumba Avenue, in Kampala. The ceremony was graced by over 50 top researchers, academics, practitioners, graduate students, and various stakeholders, with more participation on Zoom. This was combined with end of year jubilations.
Under the theme “Networking for Uganda’s Socioeconomic Transformation: The role of Education, Innovation and Multidisciplinary Research “, NEMRA members and guests celebrated numerous strides that the organisation has made over the last 5 years including successful research projects, training and mentorship , partnerships and collaborations , advocacy and publicity, research publications, support to graduate students, membership growth, among other great milestones. NEMRA boasts of a highly diversified membership of over 150 members covering individuals and institutions from Africa, UK, Ireland, among others.
The audience listened to testimonies after testimonial from a number of NEMRA members as to how steadily the research outfit has grown from inception to its 5th birthday, as well as the countless ways in which they have benefited as members over time. One can only expect many more success stories during the 6th anniversary come next year. Notable among the speeches, was a keynote address from Prof. Moses Byaruhanga, of Mountains of the Moon University. The good Professor pitched the idea of creating and sustaining formidable academic and research relationships. The keynote speaker listed key ingredients of achieving such a goal which included demystifying myths; being a role model, empathetic, visionary; maintaining boundaries , and paying attention, among others. While concluding his remarks, Prof. Muhumuza enumerated big data analytics, artificial intelligence, researcher development and commercialisation, as well as innovation as being critical for NEMRA’s growth given its role in socio-economic transformation of Uganda and beyond.
The highlight of the day was the launching of the NEMRA Newsletter dubbed “NEMRA @ 5” which contains insightful pieces about the journey from inception and edited by a veteran journalist, Mr. Arinaitwe Rugyendo. Members and guests were then treated to a sumptuous dinner.
“Research is seeing what everybody else has seen and thinking what nobody else has thought.”– Albert Szent-Györgyi
