Kampala, Uganda | June 18, 2025
In a landmark step toward strengthening international collaboration in research and education, the Research and Education Network for Uganda (RENU) and Brazil’s National Research and Education Network (RNP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday, 11th June 2025, during the TNC25 Conference—one of the largest and most prestigious global research and education networking conference.
The signing of the MoU was presided over by Caroline Tuhwezeine, the Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RENU and Lisandro Granville, the CEO of RNP.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ms. Tuhwezeine remarked, “At RENU, collaboration is at the heart of how we innovate. We’re thrilled to partner with the Brazilian NREN (RNP) to explore new frontiers in emerging technologies, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure. This MoU represents a critical step in leveraging global expertise to enhance the services we offer our members. We are especially looking forward to learning from RNP which is considered to be an advanced NREN that operates in a developed country (Brazil) whose socio-economic and infrastructural contexts share key similarities with Uganda’s, making this partnership both relevant and impactful.
Lisandro Granville remarked, “National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) play a historic and strategic role in advancing the information society and fostering global scientific collaboration. The signing of this agreement between RENU and RNP further strengthens the spirit of cooperation that defines our networks. This partnership allows us to share challenges, solutions, and best practices, amplifying our collective impact in key areas such as connectivity, cybersecurity, and capacity building. Deepening our relationship with Uganda’s Research and Education Network highlights how much we can learn from each other and how much we can build together.”
The MoU, which will remain in effect for an initial period of three years, outlines a shared commitment to advancing research, education, and digital innovation through a wide range of collaborative initiatives. These include:
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- Joint development of advanced network infrastructure and the exchange of best practices in connectivity;
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- Experimentation with Open RAN and 5G technologies through shared test environments;
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- Capacity building programs in network engineering, cybersecurity, and digital transformation;
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- Collaborative research in programmable and software-defined networks (SDN), as well as development of new ICT applications;
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- Expansion of eduroam and academic roaming services across both countries;
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- Joint participation in international forums to advocate for the role of NRENs in global research and education agendas;
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- Technical and institutional exchange programs to promote cross-cultural knowledge sharing.
The partnership is expected to deliver immediate and long-term value for RENU member institutions by enabling access to enhanced ICT solutions, joint research infrastructure, and global knowledge exchange. RENU members will also benefit from increased opportunities in emerging technologies, eduroam mobility, and advanced cybersecurity support.
With over 400-member institutions and more than 900 connected campuses, RENU continues to serve as a cornerstone of Uganda’s digital transformation in the education and research sectors. Similarly, in Brazil, RNP connects over 4 million users across 1,800 campuses of 800 institutions, offering a broad portfolio of services tailored to the needs of the education and research communities. This MoU between RENU and RNP marks a significant step forward in expanding RENU’s portfolio of strategic international partnerships, further strengthening its position as a key enabler of connectivity, innovation across borders and continents.
