The delegation was led by Rector Prof. Eva Schulev-Steindl and Vice-Rector Prof. Doris Damyanovic, accompanied by senior academic and international cooperation representatives: Prof. Christoph Pfeifer, Dr. Andreas Melcher (Coordinator of CDR, BOKU representative in Africa-UniNet), Dr. Mathew Herrnegger (BOKU Africa Coordinator), and Dr. Margarita Calderón-Peter (BOKU International Relations).
The visit formed part of a broader engagement with Ugandan higher education institutions and focused on institutional consolidation, long-term research alignment, and structured mobility.
From Project-Based Cooperation to Programme-Level Collaboration
The KAB-BOKU partnership began in 2023 under the Africa-UniNet-supported MaziWa project (Land Use and Land Cover Change Effects on Water Quality Characteristics of the Maziba Sub-Catchment) and expanded through the APPEAR-funded KI-WATER initiative. Together, these projects have established a platform for applied hydrological research, joint postgraduate supervision, and field-based scientific training in the Kigezi Highlands.
Through KI-WATER (Building Regional Capacities in Integrated Water Resources Management in Kigezi Highlands, Western Uganda), Kabale University has strengthened its research infrastructure with upgraded water-quality and water-quantity monitoring systems, and an automated weather station with online data access. These investments are intended to support systematic water quality and hydrological data collection in a region historically characterised by limited long-term monitoring records.
Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals
In her speech, Rector Eva Schulev-Steindl commended the established BOKU–KAB collaboration in water resources research and emphasised its relevance to Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). She noted that strengthening water-quality monitoring systems, expanding hydrological datasets, and building analytical capacity contribute directly to improved water resources management in climate-sensitive regions such as the Kigezi Highlands.
Strategic Priorities for the Next Phase
The strategic discussions were led by Prof. Johnny Mugisha, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The discussion explored the potential for future collaborations across multiple dimensions.
Informed by the successful track record of the MaziWa and KI-WATER projects, water resources management remains the flagship area of cooperation, particularly in the Kigezi Highlands, where land-use change, erosion, and climate variability exert growing pressure on freshwater systems.
Both institutions agreed to transition from project-based engagement toward structured, programme-level collaboration. Priority areas include:
- Institutionalised staff and student mobility
- Joint MSc and PhD supervision
- Development of postgraduate training pathways in water resources management
- Interdisciplinary research linking hydrology, agriculture, ecosystem health, and climate resilience
The partnership is also exploring expanded cooperation in climate-resilient agriculture and biotechnology, reinforcing the link between water systems, food security, and sustainable development.
Institutional Commitment
The meeting with KAB leadership and faculty representatives reaffirmed a shared commitment to long-term institutional integration. With strengthened infrastructure, operational field observatories, and a clearly articulated strategic direction, the BOKU–KAB partnership is positioned to deliver sustained contributions to water security, environmental research, and regional capacity development in East Africa.
