Makerere University and the Tumusiime Mutebile Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance the Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile Centre of Excellence for Private Sector Development, marking a significant step toward strengthening collaboration between academia, policy actors, and the private sector.

The agreement formalises a strategic partnership aimed at promoting research, policy dialogue, entrepreneurship development, innovation, and knowledge exchange to support Uganda’s economic transformation and the growth of its private sector.

The MoU, which will run for an initial five-year term, brings together Makerere University’s academic and research expertise with the Tumusiime Mutebile Foundation’s commitment to advancing the legacy of the late Governor Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile, one of Uganda’s most influential economic reformers and a proud alumnus of the University.

Advancing a Shared Vision for Private Sector Development

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Rt. Hon. Amama Mbabazi, SC, Chairman of the Tumusiime Mutebile Foundation, described the occasion as an important milestone that establishes a purposeful partnership between two institutions committed to knowledge, national development, and the advancement of Uganda’s private sector.

“This is an important occasion because it formalises a partnership between two institutions with a shared commitment to knowledge, to national development, and to the advancement of Uganda’s private sector,” he noted.

Rt. Hon. Mbabazi emphasised that Uganda’s future prosperity will depend on the strength and competitiveness of its private sector and the country’s ability to nurture innovation, entrepreneurship, and sound policy.

According to him, the Centre will provide a practical platform through which research can inform policy, young people can be trained and inspired, partnerships can be built, and innovation can be supported to help enterprise flourish.

“These are not separate concerns,” he said. “They are all part of the same national task: building an economy that creates jobs, expands opportunity, and improves the lives of our people.”

Makerere’s Role in Hosting the Centre

Makerere University will host the Centre of Excellence and support its work through its research capacity, innovation ecosystem, and network of scholars and experts. The University leadership noted that the partnership aligns closely with Makerere’s mission as one of Africa’s leading research universities and its commitment to knowledge-driven development.

In her remarks, Prof. Sarah Ssali noted, “Makerere University is fully committed to hosting, resourcing, and championing the Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile Centre of Excellence, and we look forward to working closely with the Foundation to attract additional partnerships that will strengthen its impact.”

The collaboration will bring together academic excellence and practical engagement with the private sector, positioning the Centre as a national resource for policy research, entrepreneurship development, and dialogue on economic transformation.

She also reaffirmed Makerere’s commitment to working closely with the Tumusiime Mutebile Foundation to attract additional partnerships and funding to strengthen the Centre and expand its impact.

Honouring the Legacy of Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile

Beyond its institutional significance, the establishment of the Centre represents a tribute to the enduring legacy of Governor Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile, who served for many years as Governor of the Bank of Uganda and played a central role in shaping Uganda’s economic policy and institutional development.

Governor Mutebile was widely recognised for his intellectual rigour, commitment to sound economic policy, and dedication to building strong institutions that could support sustainable growth and stability.

Through the Centre of Excellence bearing his name, Makerere University and the Tumusiime Mutebile Foundation seek not only to commemorate his contributions but also to continue advancing the values he championed, including policy discipline, intellectual seriousness, and a commitment to national development.

As Rt. Hon. Mbabazi noted that legacy should be understood not merely as remembrance but as meaningful work that benefits future generations. “It is about creating a platform through which research can inform policy, through which young people can be trained and inspired, and through which innovation can be supported,” he said.

A Platform for Ideas, Innovation, and National Development

The Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile Centre of Excellence for Private Sector Development is expected to serve as a hub for research, capacity building, entrepreneurship support, and policy engagement aimed at strengthening Uganda’s private sector and expanding economic opportunity.

By bringing together academia, policymakers, business leaders, and innovators, the Centre will help foster practical solutions to the challenges facing enterprise development while nurturing the next generation of Ugandan entrepreneurs and economic leaders.

Through this partnership, Makerere University and the Tumusiime Mutebile Foundation have taken an important step toward ensuring that Governor Mutebile’s legacy continues to inspire ideas, institutions, and opportunities that contribute to Uganda’s long-term prosperity.

Caroline Kainomugisha is the Communications Officer, Advancement Office, Makerere University.

The Makerere University Careers Expo 2026 has successfully concluded, offering a wealth of opportunities to students from diverse academic backgrounds. Held from March 11–13, 2026, the three-day event climaxed under the theme “Connecting Potential to Purpose: Partnerships for Sustainable Impact.” It provided a dynamic platform for career guidance, job opportunities, entrepreneurship training, networking, innovation, and insights into evolving workplace dynamics.

Associate Professor Anthony Gidudu, Chairperson of the Organizing Committee, expressed gratitude to sponsors and participants for their support.

“Thank you, Makerere University, for entrusting me with this immense responsibility,” he said, acknowledging the collective effort behind the event’s success.

He encouraged students to fully utilize the opportunities presented at the expo. “Make the most of it,” he urged.

The expo attracted prominent partners, including the Parliament of Uganda and the Uganda Police Force, who offered valuable career insights and opportunities. Gidudu also welcomed Professor Buyinza Mukadasi, the Academic Registrar of Makerere University, recognizing his pivotal role in shaping students’ academic journeys.

On behalf of the University, Professor Buyinza Mukadasi emphasized the significance of the Career Expo 2026.

“This event gives us a chance to support our students in transitioning from the academic world to the world of work,” he noted.

He commended the theme for underscoring the importance of aligning students’ abilities with purpose and societal contribution. Prof. Mukadasi also expressed appreciation to key partners, including the MasterCard Foundation, NSSF, and the Parliament of Uganda, as well as collaborators such as the Makerere University Advancement Office, Stanbic Bank, Old Mutual, DFCU Bank, Uganda Baati, and ABSA.

Reflecting on the role of technology, he noted that artificial intelligence enhances efficiency but does not replace human potential. He urged students to embrace lifelong learning, referencing the well-known assertion that “the illiterate of the 21^st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”

In his keynote address, Paul Rumanda Rugambwa, Head of Human Resources at the Infectious Diseases Institute, emphasized the importance of aligning potential with purpose.
“Potential is what you have, while purpose is what the world expects from you tomorrow,” he said.

Rugambwa encouraged students to develop transferable skills, seek mentorship, and uphold integrity. He highlighted agility and digital literacy as essential competencies in today’s job market.

“It doesn’t matter what course you are pursuing, you must be digitally literate,” he emphasized.

He also urged students to view their peers as future collaborators, drawing inspiration from global success stories built on partnerships.

The closing session featured a panel discussion with representatives from various organizations who deliberated on key issues across multiple sectors.

Israel Arinaitwe, Head of Personal Banking at Stanbic Bank Uganda, highlighted the bank’s commitment to supporting youth entrepreneurship through targeted initiatives. He noted the availability of internship opportunities, skills training, and the Stanbic Business Incubator, which equips young people with practical business skills. He encouraged students to build financial discipline and relationships early.

On inclusion, Gorretti Byomire, Director of the Disability Research and Learning Centre at Makerere University Business School, emphasized the need for inclusive employment practices for persons with disabilities. She called for stronger commitments from both government and the private sector, including the adoption of employment quotas and incentives. She also underscored the importance of building confidence and resilience among persons with disabilities.

Addressing technology adoption, Fred Percy Kisa, Senior Manager Transformation at NSSF Uganda, urged students to embrace artificial intelligence as a complementary tool.
“It is not machine versus human; it is human plus machine versus human,” he noted, encouraging a focus on critical thinking and problem-solving.

He highlighted the growing global AI economy and called on Africa to strengthen its contribution to research and innovation.

On employment dynamics, Evelyn Kisakye, Placement Officer at the Federation of Uganda Employers, emphasized the importance of flexibility and adaptability in today’s job market. She highlighted initiatives such as the Work Readiness Project, which connects graduates to opportunities in sectors like agriculture and tourism while equipping them with essential soft skills.

Commissioner of Police Anatoli Muleterwa, Head of Community Policing Department, outlined career opportunities within the Uganda Police Force. He noted that the institution accommodates a wide range of professional qualifications and highlighted four entry pathways, from constable to officer level. He encouraged students to prepare for and consider careers in national service.

The Career Expo 2026 concluded with a strong call to action, urging students to harness their potential, embrace innovation, and pursue purpose-driven careers. Participants, predominantly students, left with renewed clarity and direction, equipped with the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to make meaningful contributions to Uganda’s development.

There are some evenings that feel less like an event and more like a reunion of history.

On Friday, 6^th March, 2026, Nile Hall at Hotel Africana transformed into exactly that, a living archive of stories, laughter, old friendships, and shared purpose as alumni of the Makerere University College of Health Sciences gathered to celebrate 100 years of training health professionals.

Doctors who once hurried through the corridors of Mulago Hospital as young students walked in now as senior consultants, professors, policymakers, and global experts. Some had not seen each other in decades. Many, I believe, picked up conversations exactly where they had left them during their student days.

But one thing was clear from the moment guests began arriving: this was not just a dinner. It was a celebration of a legacy.

Where Old Friends Found Each Other Again

The hall filled with familiar greetings:

“You were in the class of ’92, right?”
“We survived those ward rounds together!”
“Do you remember Davies Lecture Theatre before exams?”

Over 437 alumni and friends of the College attended, out of more than 500 tickets purchased, a remarkable turnout for the first-ever MakCHS Alumni Dinner.

Among them were distinguished former faculty and leaders who helped shape the College over the decades, including former Vice Chancellor Prof. George Kirya, Prof. George Paul D’Arbella, Prof. Anokbonggo, and Prof. Sam Luboga.

Their presence reminded everyone in the room that the College’s story is not just about buildings and laboratories but about people who devoted their lives to teaching, healing and the lives of our nation’s citizens.

A Home That Shaped Generations

In a message delivered on behalf of the Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, herself an alumna of the College, the evening took on a deeply personal tone.

She reflected on returning to Makerere not just as a national leader in health, but as someone whose professional journey began in the very halls the dinner was celebrating.

“Reaching a centenary is not merely the marking of time; it is the celebration of generations of dedication, scholarship, and service that have shaped the health and well-being of our nation.”  Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng highlighted in her remarks.

Her remarks resonated with many medical school alumni in the room who recognised their own journeys in her words. She spoke warmly of the demanding yet formative days of medical school, recalling the long hours of study, intense ward rounds, and the mentors who insisted that medicine must be practised with both rigour and compassion.

“Medicine is not just about diagnosis and treatment, but about service, humility, scientific rigour, and compassion.” She further noted in her speech.

Those lessons, she said, remain as relevant today as they were decades ago.

For 100 years, the College of Health Sciences has trained professionals who now form the backbone of Uganda’s health system and continue to shape global health.

As the Minister noted, graduates of the College today serve everywhere, in hospitals and health centres across Uganda, as public health leaders shaping national policy, as researchers generating new medical knowledge, as educators training the next generation of doctors

“Our health system stands on the shoulders of these professionals.” She noted.

It was a moment that reminded everyone present that the institution’s influence extends far beyond Makerere Hill.

The evening also carried moments of reflection. A special tribute was paid to the generations of faculty and alumni who kept the College strong even during difficult times in Uganda’s history, including periods of limited resources, national instability, and public health crises.

The Minister also acknowledged the recent passing of Dr. Zirembuzi, a respected member of the academic community in the Department of Paediatrics.

His contribution to training young doctors and caring for children, she noted, embodied the very spirit that has defined the College for a century.

Alumni Power in Action

Beyond celebration, the evening also had a purpose. The dinner marked the launch of a fundraising effort to refurbish the iconic Davies Lecture Theatre, a space etched into the memories of generations of medical students. And alumni responded enthusiastically.

By the end of the night, dinner and raffle ticket sales reached UGX 118 million. Additional donations and pledges totalled about UGX 100 million and USD 7,000. It was a powerful reminder that alumni engagement is not only about nostalgia but also about investing in the institution’s future that shaped them.

Looking to the Next Century

During the evening, the College’s leadership also shared updates on the institution’s state and direction. The message was clear: the next 100 years will demand even more innovation, collaboration, and commitment.

Uganda’s health system faces complex challenges, from infectious diseases to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and mental health. Strengthening the health workforce and expanding research that informs national policy will remain critical priorities. The College’s alumni were reminded that it will continue to play a central role in that mission.

By the end of the night, conversations had spilled across tables and into hallways. Photos were taken. Old stories resurfaced. Long-lost friends reunited. New collaborations were imagined.

And there was one clear consensus among those present: This should not be the last time. Indeed, alumni resolved that the dinner should become an annual tradition, strengthening the bonds between generations of MakCHS graduates.

More Than a Celebration

As the evening drew to a close, the feeling in the room was unmistakable. This was not simply a celebration of the past. It was a reminder that the College of Health Sciences is a living community, one built by generations of professionals united by a shared calling to heal, to teach, and to serve.

And if the energy in Nile Hall, on Friday, 6th March, 2026, was any indication, the next century of MakCHS will be just as remarkable as the first.

Caroline Kainomugisha is the Communications Officer, Advancement Office, Makerere University.