Eighteen students of Gulu University have today been confirmed beneficiaries of UPCHAIN grants during the opening session of a three-day workshop on concept note and proposal writing held at the university’s new library.
UPCHAIN – Unlocking the Potential of Green Charcoal Innovations to Mitigate Climate Change in Northern Uganda – is a new project at Gulu University researching viable ways of producing and using briquettes (green charcoal) from agricultural residues in cooking as an alternative to firewood and black charcoal. The project aims to contribute to efforts toward stopping deforestation, reducing smoke-induced health issues as well as creating employment.
The students received their Scholarship award letters from Prof. David Okello Owiny, the Gulu University Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) in charge of Academic Affairs, who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. George Openjuru Ladaah. Prof Lone Dirckinck-Holmfeld of Aalborg University, the UPCHAIN project Principal Investigator (PI), graced the ceremony virtually.
Eleven of the awards are in Masters, six in PhD, and one is a postdoc. The awardees include Fredrick Amanyire (PhD in Agricultural and Applied Biosciences), Judith Awachorach (PhD in Business Management), Damasco Okettayot (PhD in Education), Hilda Acan (PhD in Agricultural and Applied Biosciences) and Kevin Aber (PhD in Computer Science). Others are Cannary Baguma (MSc. in Biosystems Engineering), Peter Okot Mwa (MSc. in Biosystems Engineering), Ezekiel Mbazalire (MA in History), Simon Okello (MA in History), Kasim Odong (MA in Science Economics), Yoweri Kidega (MA in Business Administration), Asia Kibwanga (MA in Education), Peter Odida (MA in Education), David Kilama (MSc. in Biosystems Engineering), Raymond Tamale Kiggundu (MSc. in Biosystems Engineering) and Gladys Aciro (Msc. in IT for Development). The postdoc was awarded to Dr. Geoffrey Tabo, a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science.
Dr. Agatha Alidri, the Project Coordinator, UPCHAIN, said the selection process was competitive and transparent. There was a concern, however, that only one female candidate applied for a Masters grant opportunity.
Prof. Owiny challenged the awardees, especially the PhD grant beneficiaries, to be committed to their studies.
DVC David Okello Owiny addresses participants before handing the UPCHAIN awardees their letters
“You need to change your way of life. Can you wake up at 3:00 am, can you go to bed beyond midnight? You need to forfeit certain things,” he said.
UPCHAIN is a four-year multi-disciplinary project. It is a collaboration between Gulu and two Danish Universities, Aalborg University and the University of Copenhagen. It is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and administered by the Danida Fellowship Centre (DFC). The project was birthed at BSU.
