Ndejje University, through the Faculty of Agriculture under the leadership of Dr. David Talengera, has embarked on the implementation of the Strengthening Teaching and Research Capacities in Recently Established Uganda Universities to Deliver Climate Resilience and Green Energy Solutions to Farming Communities (STRCUU) Project. The initiative is funded by the European Union.
Ndejje University is the lead implementer, working in partnership with Soroti University. The project focuses on building research and teaching capacity for both institutions, supporting them to contribute more effectively to climate-resilient agriculture and green energy solutions for farming communities.
The action is additionally supported by two European partner universities—University of Pavia (Italy) and Polytechnic University of Porto (Portugal)—together with the Research and Education Agency (REA), a nongovernmental organisation dedicated to expanding access to education for minority and vulnerable groups and advancing agricultural transformation in Africa.
Inception Meeting Held on 20th November 2025
During the inception meeting held yesterday, all partners reaffirmed their commitment to the successful implementation of the project.
Ndejje University’s Vice Chancellor, Rev. Canon Prof. Olivia Nassaka Banja, pledged full adherence to the accountability procedures outlined in the grant and partnership agreement. She tasked the Accounts Office and the Project Coordination Unit to ensure strict compliance with all operational requirements and alignment with the University’s core values.
The Vice Chancellor of Soroti University, Prof. Robert Ikoja-Odongo, highlighted the timeliness of the project, stressing the need for higher education institutions to evolve from being centres of learning to powerhouses of climate solutions and green innovation.
“We in universities should not wait for solutions to be delivered, but should create them. With partnerships from Europe, our institutions must establish themselves as leaders in climate-resilient agriculture, renewable energy, and water management,” he said.
Call for Stronger Intra-African University Collaboration
Dr. Damalie Akwango, RAE Deputy Board Chair and NARO Principal Research Officer, who also coordinates the Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project, encouraged universities like Ndejje to foster greater intra-African collaboration to attract more competitive grants. She commended Ndejje University’s commitment to accountability and applauded the proposal development team for achieving a strong score of 72% in the grant assessment
