KAYONDO, Siraj Ismail (Dr)

Africa, a continent blessed with substantial mineral resources, good climatic conditions and a growing young population of more than 220 million has great potential and promise to emerge as a powerful economic block in the next 50 years (Ahmed and Gautam 2013; IFPRI 2017). To achieve such a dream, Africa has to adequately address its food insecurity challenges in the light of rapid climate change and population explosion. Mega and targeted investments in capacity development, especially in areas of agricultural sciences at a doctoral level, is paramount (Kraybill et al. 2017). The agricultural sector constitutes a significant player in the economic renaissance of all African countries accounting for over 40% of the gross domestic product and providing employment to over 70% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) (Fresco 2015; IFPRI 2016). Yield increase for several crops grown in Africa is an essential milestone in raising household incomes, reducing rural poverty, reducing food prices in urban centres as well as reducing the increasing levels of malnutrition in children. In comparison with other regions, agricultural productivity in Uganda is notably lower, and the area under food production is considerably getting diminished by the rising population in cities. Furthermore, the escalating regional tensions and political impasse in several neighbouring SSA countries have also had a significant impact on the status quo. The low-quality of education, corruption-driven political systems as well as sluggish agricultural and economic sectors are in dare need of a new professional workforce to tables around for a new direction and future (Appleton and Balihuta 1996; Gollin et al. 2016; MFPED 2018). In response, the government in close partnership with key development partners are making huge investments to address the critical issues affecting Uganda's agricultural, education and health sectors to ensure significant transformation and development. Over the past four decades, a significant portion of such long-term investments was directed to supporting advances in higher education with a specific focus on agricultural sciences primarily targeting both physical and human capacity development (Mbabu and Ochieng 2006; Okori and & Adipala 2012; Adetutu and B 2020). Despite such efforts, Uganda is still grappling with a critical challenge of the deteriorating quality of education that is negatively affecting the significant gains achieved in the past 3 decades hence lowering literacy levels, especially among its youngest population stratum (Jones et al. 2007; Kasozi 2019). Unfortunately, the rising enrolment rates among the over 35 Ugandan universities' post-graduate schools possess an enormous challenge to the quality of supervision and mentorship. The overall quality of the graduate education, mentorship and supervision continue to deteriorate, and this could be mainly attributable to severe financial challenges, poor conditions of service coupled with the massive brain-drain to the western world for greener pastures by both excellent professors and students (Lynam and Blackie 1994; Holtman and Mukwada 2014). If no critical steps are taken to revamp the status-quo across Ugandan universities, primarily through improving the quality of graduate mentorship and supervision, the entire system remains on the verge of total collapse (Ssebuwufu et al. 2012; Kasozi 2019).