By Hadijah Yahyah
Kampala, Uganda- In a momentous celebration held at the leafy Piato Restaurant along Lumumba Avenue in Kampala, the Network for Education & Multidisciplinary Research Africa (NEMRA) commemorated its remarkable journey on Friday, 1st December 2023.
The event, attended by over 50 esteemed researchers, academics, practitioners, graduate students, and various stakeholders, unfolded against the backdrop of the organization’s 5th-anniversary celebrations, seamlessly blending with the festive spirit of year-end jubilations.
Under the resonating theme, “Networking for Uganda’s Socioeconomic Transformation: The Role of Education, Innovation, and Multidisciplinary Research,” NEMRA members and distinguished guests reflected on the organization’s significant strides over the past five years.
The occasion, graced with both physical and virtual presence, showcased NEMRA’s commitment to fostering a collaborative environment for research, innovation, and education.
NEMRA, which boasts a highly diversified membership exceeding 150 individuals and institutions, has cultivated a vibrant community encompassing contributors from Africa, the UK, Ireland, and beyond.
The anniversary celebration provided a platform for participants to delve into many achievements, including successful research projects, extensive training and mentorship initiatives, strategic partnerships and collaborations, impactful advocacy and publicity efforts, a rich array of research publications, and unwavering support to graduate students.
The heart of the celebration lay in the heartfelt testimonials shared by NEMRA members, each narrating the organization’s steady growth and the myriad ways in which they’ve personally benefited as active participants.
As the evening unfolded, it became evident that NEMRA has become a hub for intellectual exchange and a catalyst for personal and professional growth for its members.
A keynote address by Prof. Moses Muhumuza, hailing from Mountains of the Moon University, added intellectual gravitas to the event.
In his address, Prof. Muhumuza advocated for the creation and sustenance of formidable academic and research relationships.
He emphasized key ingredients for achieving this goal, including demystifying myths, serving as a role model, being empathetic and visionary, maintaining boundaries, and paying attention to the nuances of collaborative endeavors.
In his concluding remarks, Prof. Muhumuza highlighted critical areas for NEMRA’s growth, pinpointing big data analytics, artificial intelligence, researcher development, commercialization, and innovation as pivotal in the organization’s role in the socioeconomic transformation of Uganda and beyond.
His insightful commentary set the stage for NEMRA’s future endeavors, aligning with the evolving landscape of academic and research excellence.
The pinnacle of the celebration was marked by the launch of the “NEMRA @ 5” Newsletter, a compendium of insightful pieces chronicling NEMRA’s journey from inception.
Edited by the veteran journalist, Mr. Arinaitwe Rugyendo, the newsletter promises to be a valuable resource, offering perspectives on the organization’s growth, challenges, and triumphs.
It symbolizes NEMRA’s commitment to knowledge dissemination and creating a lasting legacy of its contributions to the academic and research landscape.
Several members were awarded with certificates of appreciation for their outstanding contribution to NEMRA. The awards were given out by distinguished professors Monica Chibita, Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication at Uganda Christian University, and Dr. Christine Mwebesa, a Presidential Advisor.
The evening was concluded on a delightful note with members and guests treated to a sumptuous dinner, providing a convivial setting for further networking and discussions.
As NEMRA steps into its sixth year, the celebration served as a testament to the organization’s resilience, impact, and the bright future it envisions in contributing to the socio-economic transformation of Uganda and beyond.
“Research is seeing what everybody else has seen and thinking what nobody else has thought.” – Albert Szent-Györgyi
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