The Vice Chancellor of Gulu University, Professor George Ladaah Openjuru, has welcomed the establishment of a new network linking researchers, science journalists, and civil society activists, describing it as a valuable platform for expanding public understanding of science and research and fostering collaboration that can improve lives.
Professor Openjuru made the remarks while officiating at the launch of the Empowerment for Research-Based Advocacy (EReBA) network, held at Gulu University on July 30, 2025.
“You have created a network and learned how to connect CSOs, scientists, and journalists,” he said. “Now, you should promote research for the benefit of society. All these efforts should ultimately improve the lives of people,” he added.
The launch of the EReBA network coincided with the conclusion of a three-day interactive engagement that brought together journalists, CSO representatives, and researchers to explore how best they can work together for evidence-based change.
As part of the closing activities, Professor Openjuru presented awards to winning journalists, researchers, and CSO representatives in recognition of their contributions to evidence-based journalism and advocacy during the year 2024–2025.
Mr. Peter Wamboga-Mugirya of the Science Foundation for Livelihoods and Development (SCIFODE) was recognized as the top performer among CSOs in Uganda. Dr. Nathan Kanuma Taremwa from the University of Rwanda and Dr. Agatha Alidri from Gulu University received awards as the best networkers among researchers in Rwanda and Uganda, respectively.
Among journalists, Tonny Abet of Daily Monitor was awarded Best Journalist. Daily Monitor’s Olivier Mukaaya and Henry Okurut of UBC were named first and second runners-up, respectively.
The awards and the network launch also marked the official closure of the EReBA pilot phase, paving the way for the broader development of the EReBA initiative. The pilot was managed jointly by the Danish Development Research Network (DDRN) and the Uganda Science Journalists Association (USJA), with participation from the Rwanda Association of Science Journalists (RASJ), and with funding from the Danish umbrella NGO Civil Society in Development (CISU).
Speaking on behalf of the EReBA implementers, Mr. William Odinga Balikuddembe, the President of USJA, said that the EReBA partnerships had the potential to influence policies for people-centred development based on research.
“The EReBA partnership will bring these three groupings—researchers, journalists, and CSOs—to the same table to address issues of public interest. The researchers provide the evidence, the journalists make it simple to understand and easy to access, and the CSOs amplify the call for change,” said Balikuddembe.
“With this approach, our development as communities or nations will be guided by research evidence,” he added.
Photos by Martha Apolot