September 02, 2026: The College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) through the Environment for Development Initiative (EfD at Mak Centre) hosted a farewell event to celebrate the outstanding contributions of Dr Gemeda Olani Akuma as he concluded his postdoctoral fellowship at Makerere University.
About Dr Gemeda
Dr Gemeda Olani Akuma from the University of Cape Town, South Africa has served as a Postdoctoral fellow at Makerere University from July 2025 to September 2026.
During the Postdoctoral fellowship, Dr Gemeda has made significant contributions to research on water systems, biodiversity, and ecosystem services in Uganda. He has collaborated closely with Makerere faculty members on several research projects, with two scientific manuscripts currently under review for publication.
Beyond research, Dr Gemeda played an instrumental role in mentoring graduate students (master’s and PhD students) by providing technical guidance on their research projects and dissertations.
A Fellowship Built on Learning and Collaboration
Speaking at the farewell ceremony, Dr Gemeda appreciated the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) for supporting his postdoctoral fellowship at Makerere University.
Specific to his postdoctoral fellowship, Dr Gemeda said: “I was focused on my work. I came here to learn, understand the wider research dynamics, enrich my experience, widen my international networks. It has been a very productive engagement. Two papers have been written, submitted to journals, and they will be published soon.”
Reflecting on his experience, he appreciated the professional relationships and academic networks built during his stay, describing them as a strong foundation for future collaboration.
“The EfD community has been like a family to me. It has been very welcoming and supportive, and it made me feel at home throughout my fellowship,” he said.
He acknowledged the support and cordial working relationship that he received from Prof. Edward Bbaale, Dr Peter Babyenda, and Mr. Gyaviira Ssewankambo.
Dr Gemeda described his fellowship at the EfD-Makerere Centre as a productive engagement that enriched his research experience, expanded his international exposure, and created valuable opportunities for future collaboration.
He pledged to remain an ambassador for Makerere University by sustaining the academic and professional relationships established during the fellowship. He expressed commitment to pursuing future joint research initiatives and invited colleagues to Ethiopia to further strengthen academic collaboration.
Sustaining Networks for Future Research
The Principal, College of Business and Management Sciences and Director-EfD Makerere Centre, Prof. Edward Bbaale, commended Dr Gemeda for his remarkable contribution to the College’s research agenda and graduate training.
“Dr. Gemeda’s work demonstrated the value of postdoctoral fellows in strengthening research and scholarly publication at Makerere University. He described his research outputs as scientifically rigorous, well disseminated, and of significant academic value,” he noted.
Underscoring the experience gained from Dr Gemeda’s productive postdoctoral fellowship, Prof. Bbaale called upon Makerere University to strengthen and institutionalize the postdoctoral programme to significantly contribute to its research-intensive strategy. Prof. Bbaale articulated that postdoctoral fellowships have a great potential including deepening collaboration between researchers in Uganda and institutions abroad.
Prof. Bbaale highlighted that Makerere University should tap into the experience gained from programmes such as Dr Gemeda’s postdoctoral fellowship to improve its institutional frameworks and encourage more academic units to host postdoctoral researchers.
He commended the EfD-Makerere Centre for providing a supportive research environment and emphasized the importance of sustaining the academic networks established during the fellowship to foster future research collaboration, knowledge exchange, and joint scholarly initiatives.
Advancing Research, Policy and Graduate Mentorship
Moderating the ceremony, Dr Peter Babyenda, Policy Engagement Coordinator at College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), applauded Dr Gemeda for advancing research and policy engagement with Government of Uganda ministries and agencies.
He praised Dr Gemeda’s mentorship of master’s and PhD students and his contribution to Natural Capital Accounting research, noting that his fellowship had made a lasting impact on research, policy engagement, and capacity building at Makerere University.
Farewell Messages from Colleagues and Participants
During the farewell ceremony, Dr Nicholas Kilimani, a research fellow at EfD and member of faculty at CoBAMS thanked Dr Gemeda for his support to Environment for Development (EfD). He expressed hope for continued collaboration, wishing him productivity and success in his next chapter.
Dr Florence Lwiza, a faculty member at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) described Dr Gemeda as approachable and highly productive, particularly in strengthening the visibility of collaborative research. She wished him success and expressed confidence that their professional collaboration would continue.
Ms Rhoda Kahita, a member of staff at the Centre of Excellence for Africa Climate-Sensitive Macroeconomic Modelling (CEACM), praised his diligence and willingness to support colleagues, describing him as hardworking, approachable, and always ready to assist despite his demanding schedule.
Mr. Gyaviira Ssewankambo, Manager of the Environment for Development Initiative (EfD)-Makerere Centre, commended Dr Gemeda’s exceptional commitment and dedication to collaborative research.
“That experience reflected his passion, determination, and commitment to producing quality work,” Ssewankambo said.
Ms Alice Nalweera, a researcher at the EfD-Makerere Centre, appreciated the Centre for hosting Dr Gemeda and highlighted his positive attitude and teamwork, noting that he made a significant contribution to the Centre’s collaborative research environment.
Ms Ritah Namisango, Principal Communication Officer at Makerere University, applauded Dr Gemeda for advancing the University’s vision of “Building for the Future” through research, partnerships, grant writing, and international collaboration.
To re-kindle the Makerere University spirit and friendship, Prof. Edward Bbaale, the Principal College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), and some of the master’s and PhD students he has mentored presented to Dr Gemeda commemorative Souvenirs amidst applause from the audience.
The ceremony was attended by several Makerere University officials and members of the EfD-Makerere Centre, including Prof. Edward Bbaale-Principal-College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) and Director-EfD Makerere Centre, Dr Peter Babyenda- Policy Engagement Coordinator at CoBAMS, Gyaviira Ssewankambo-Manager-EfD Makerere Centre, researchers, and members of faculty who have worked closely with Dr Gemeda-MAK
