The Chinese government, through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has committed to funding a joint Safety Laboratory at Makerere University, Kampala, according to the University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.
Although the full scope and financial details of the funding are yet to be disclosed, the commitment is significant. It represents one of the latest BRI-related investments in Uganda and reflects a broader reorientation of China’s engagement strategy in Africa. It is important to note that Beijing’s emphasis appears to be shifting from large-scale, capital-intensive “traditional” infrastructure projects, such as roads, railways, and hydropower dams, to what Chinese policymakers now describe as “small and beautiful” initiatives. These projects are not only “smaller” in size, but are designed to have a more direct and visible impact on local communities, particularly in the social and human development sectors.
The collaboration between Makerere University and Tsinghua University (China’s premier institution and consistently ranked among the world’s top 15), also demonstrates Beijing’s growing interest in fostering “people-to-people” exchanges. Such partnerships extend China-Africa relations beyond the economic and infrastructural spheres, to include close cultural, educational, and scientific cooperation.
Founded in 1911, Tsinghua University is one of China’s oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning. Makerere University, established in 1922 and now 103 years old, remains Uganda’s leading university and was recently ranked the top institution in the East African region.
In recent decades, China has emerged as Uganda’s leading trading partner and one of its principal sources of foreign direct investment. Beijing’s financial support has funded some of Uganda’s largest infrastructure projects, including the 600 MW Karuma Hydropower Project (approximately USD 1.4 billion), the 183 MW Isimba Hydropower Dam (USD 568 million), and the 51 km Entebbe–Kampala Expressway (USD 476 million), among others.
However, China’s development financing strategy under the BRI appears to be undergoing recalibration. Beijing is now demonstrating greater selectivity and strategic caution in project approvals, a shift that reflects broader global economic headwinds and domestic fiscal priorities. For example, China recently refused to fund Uganda’s section of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project from Malaba, at the Kenyan border, to Kampala despite nearly a decade of negotiations. The project, valued at approximately USD 2.3 billion, would have been China’s largest single infrastructure financing commitment to Uganda publicly known to date.
The establishment of the Safety Laboratory at Makerere thus marks both a symbolic and substantive development in the China-Uganda relationship. It highlights a new phase in China’s BRI engagement, one that prioritizes scientific collaboration, local capacity building, and cross-cultural exchange alongside traditional infrastructure development.
Congratulations to both Makerere University and Tsinghua University on this milestone initiative.
This brief analysis was prepared by Joel Odota, co-founder of the China-Uganda Research Network (CURN). The views expressed are his own. Joel holds two master’s degrees, one from Peking University, China’s second-ranked institution located adjacent to Tsinghua University, and another in International Relations from the Australian National University. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in education (Geography and History) from Makerere University, Uganda.
