Makerere University has entered a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Psalms Food Industries, aimed at strengthening practical training, research, and innovation while equipping students with the kind of skills the job market is actually looking for.
The agreement, signed this week at the university’s main campus, is designed to close the gap between classroom learning and real industrial practice by giving students direct hands-on training opportunities within the food processing sector.
University leaders framed the partnership as part of a broader shift toward practical, industry-focused education, one meant to ensure graduates leave with both academic grounding and genuine workplace experience.
Addressing The Equipment Gap
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Prof. Sarah Ssali said the partnership would help tackle one of the persistent challenges facing practical training at the university, namely limited access to modern industrial equipment. While acknowledging government efforts to strengthen the agricultural sector, she noted that a real gap still exists in the industrial machinery available to students.
“There remains a persistent gap in the availability of adequate industrial machinery to bridge the divide for our students,” Ssali said.
She added that the agreement would give students access to Psalms Food Industries’ production facilities and technology, complementing the practical training students already receive in university laboratories.
Industry’s Perspective
Psalms Food Industries Chief Executive Officer Denis Ngabirano described the partnership as an investment in innovation and in Uganda’s future workforce, saying the company is looking to tap into the fresh thinking and analytical skills students bring, particularly in business analytics, research, and technical problem-solving.
“We are essentially inviting the best and brightest minds to help us navigate the future,” Ngabirano said.
He argued that partnerships like this one go beyond simple recruitment, framing closer university-industry ties as essential to tackling youth unemployment and ensuring graduates come out with skills that actually match what employers need. Ngabirano also encouraged more private companies to pursue similar partnerships with higher education institutions.
What The Partnership Covers
Over the next five years, the two institutions will focus on three main areas:
1. Structured industrial placements that count toward students’ academic programmes while giving them real workplace exposure.
2. Joint research projects targeting challenges in food science, manufacturing, and industrial management.
3. Specialised workshops and skills development sessions led by industry experts, covering technical competencies not always taught in standard university curricula.
University officials expect the partnership to boost innovation, improve graduate employability, and deepen the working relationship between academia and the private sector.
The agreement adds to a broader trend of Ugandan universities pursuing closer industry ties, as institutions look to produce graduates with the practical skills needed to support the country’s industrialisation and economic growth.
