The Innovations at Makerere Committee (I@Mak.com) has since 2001 implemented a capacity building programme for decentralization at Makerere University Kampala. The main focus of this committee is to promote innovations in teaching and research to make university education more relevant to the country’s changing needs, especially relating to service delivery under the decentralization policy.

The Innovations at Makerere Committee (I@Mak.com) has since 2001 implemented a capacity building programme for decentralization at Makerere University Kampala. The main focus of this committee is to promote innovations in teaching and research to make university education more relevant to the country’s changing needs, especially relating to service delivery under the decentralization policy.

One of the key strategies adopted to achieve the overall program goal was to promote publishing among the academic staff at Makerere University and other partnering institutions. A lot of knowledge and information relevant to society is generated within Higher Education Institutions, and needs to be appropriately disseminated for public consumption. Through publication, this knowledge would be made accessible to many people outside academia.

Consequently, a Publications Board was established as a Sub Committee of I@Mak.com , to promote scholarly writing and publishing initially among the staff and students of partnering institutions. The Board has since published over 40 books through a public private partnership with M/s Fountain Publishers Limited, a leading local publishing firm. A peer reviewed Journal titled Makerere University Research Journal (MURJ) has also since been introduced and five issues published thus far. On Friday, 11th December 2009, the committee launched 19 peer reviewed books at a lively ceremony held at the Makerere University Guest House gardens.

Mr. James Tumusiime MD, Fountain publishers and Chairman I@Mak.com Publications Board in his opening remarks appreciated the role played by the partnership between Makerere Univesity and the private sector in fostering the dissemination of knowledge especially through publishing. He also appreciated the role of the Revitalization Committee for the Makerere University Press (MUP) aimed at reviving the University’s publishing arm.

A few of the authors present then proceeded to make brief statements on the books to be launched. Dr. Nakanyike B. Musisi, author of three titles “What is Critical Thinking?”, “What is Academic Writing?” and “What is Plagiarism?” acknowledged the role played by members of her family and the Publications Board in encouraging her to author the aforementioned titles. Another author of the day Dr. Seggane Musisi, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry in the College of Health Sciences and co-author of “Psychiatric Problems of HIV/AIDS and their Management in Africa” further stressed the need for Academics to publish their findings.

Representing the Vice Chancellor Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba on the occasion, Prof. Samuel Kyamanywa Dean, Faculty of Agriculture lauded the role played by I@Mak.com and the Publications Board in particular for supporting the realization of a key goal of the University’s strategic plan, publishing research outputs adding that “This would undoubtedly give full thrust to the mission of our university, to provide innovative teaching, learning, research and services responsive to National and Global needs” He further emphasized that the University exits to generate new knowledge and innovations, which must be adequately disseminated through publication.

The Guest of Honor Prof. A.B. Kasozi, Executive Director, National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) who represented the Prime Minister Prof. Apollo Nsibambi welcomed all present to the publications’ launch and highlighted of the I@Mak.com project implementations to date including supporting the annual Vice Chancellor’s Awards for innovation and academic excellence to promote innovativeness amongst pilot local governments and academic staff in partnering higher education institutions. The annual local government innovations award worth USD 30,000, has been awarded four (4) times and the academic excellence and innovations award worth USD 25,000, awarded five (5) times.

He then commended the excellent work done by the Publications Board in partnership with the Private Sector represented by MS Fountain Publishers Limited. The Board has produced over 40 publications in less than four years. He then thanked the development partners Rockefeller Foundation and the World Bank for their role in supporting Makerere University to play a significant role in National service delivery, before proceeding to officially launch the books and sign copies for all the titles’ authors.

Mr. Samwiri Katunguka, Task Manager, I@Mak.com and emcee of the day then read an excerpt from the book ‘Uganda’s human resource challenge: Training, Business Culture and Economic Development, by Jörg Wiegratz , a political Scientist and Economist by training, who is a Research Associate with the Economic Policy Research Centre at Makerere University and has taught at Makerere University and the University of Sheffield .

Read the full VC's Speech here

Read the full Guest of Honour's Speech here

 Click here to read the full excerpt by Jorg Wiegratz 

Full list of Publications launched below 

1. Kiswahili Pupils' and Teachers' Books 5, 6 & 7 Total 6 books by John C. Nsookwa  

2. Beekeeping – Theory and Practice by D.R. Kugonza  

3. Pigs: A guide to Production at Farm Level by D. Mutetikka

4. Okuganyulwa Mu Bulunzi Bw'embizzi by D. Mutetikka and D.R. Kugonza 

5. Fish Farming as a Business J. Rutaisire et. al.  

6. What is Plagiarism? What is Academic Writing? What is Critical Thinking Total 3 titles by Nakanyike B. Musisi and Edgar C. Taylor 

7. Principles of Agronomy: Challenges and Prospects for Higher Crop Yield by Charles Ssekabembe  

8. Realities of Interpersonal Relations Among Politicians and Technocrats Under Decentralisation in Uganda by Peter Claver Matovu 

9. Psychiatric Problems of HIV/AIDS and their Management in Africa by Seggane Musisi, Eugene Kinyanda et al 

10. Uganda's Human Resource Challenge – Training, Business Culture and Economic Development by Joerg Wietgratz et al 

11. Choosing a Career and Finding a Job in Agriculture by B. Bashaasha and Elizabeth Basalirwa 

12. Food and Nutrition Essentials by John H. Muyonga et al.