A delegation from SESRIC conducted a study visit to Uganda, which was organized by the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) in collaboration with the Ugandan Embassy in Türkiye. The purpose of the visit was to explore the opportunities for further cooperation with relevant national authorities and OIC institutions based in Uganda, and learn more about the latest efforts of the country in promoting inclusive and sustainable development in the case of Mount Elgon region. The SESRIC delegation consisted of Dr. Kenan BAĞCI, Senior Researcher, and Muzamil EDEMA, Researcher at SESRIC.

During the study visit, the delegation visited various institutions, including the three campuses of the IUIU (Main Campus in Mbale, Kampala, and the Females' campuses in Kampala), the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) headquarters, the Turkish Embassy in Uganda, and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) offices in Kampala.

During the visits to the three campuses of IUIU, the delegation met with Prof. Ismail Simbwa GYAGENDA, the University Rector. In their discussions, Prof. Gyagenda emphasized the need and significance of promoting collaboration between IUIU and SESRIC in the areas of research and innovation, as well as the promotion of reverse linkage between the OIC sister institutions to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and expertise, as well as the sharing of best practices. He further highlighted the importance of collaborating with SESRIC to promote Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in order to meet the dynamic needs of labour markets and address youth unemployment. Additionally, during the visit, Dr. Kenan BAĞCI delivered a presentation on "The Role of Women in the Economy and Public Life in OIC Countries" to students at the IUIU Females' Campus.

In their visit to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) headquarters, the SESRIC delegation met with Mr. Godfrey NABONGO, Deputy Executive Director of UBOS, and discussed a range of activities, including the digital census, an exercise UBOS is planning to conduct starting on 9 May 2024. Mr. Nabongo emphasized on the need to have further collaboration with SESRIC during and after the census, with a focus on capacity building programmes on how to create postal codes using the census data.

The SESRIC delegation also paid a courtesy visit to the Turkish Embassy in Uganda, followed by the TİKA offices in Kampala, where the delegation provided an explanation of the mandate and various activities of SESRIC to H.E. Ambassador Fatih AK and Mr. Ömer AYKON, the Coordinator of TİKA offices in Kampala. The study visit concluded with field visits to Mount Elgon region and its neighbourhoods to learn more about the promoting of value chain in coffee production among the smallholder farmers and initiatives taken towards the promotion of sustainable tourism benefiting from the stunning natural beauty of the region.

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