The 360o Network nominated Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba as one of Uganda’s most outstanding leaders. The Professor addressed the forum. The 360° Meet the CEO Forum brings Uganda’s top CEOs in touch with the people they inspire to share their knowledge and experience. The objective of this forum is to help young people appreciate what it takes to be a successful leader and provide an opportunity for them to share in wisdom.
29th September 2010: Launch of MSSEESA, Department of Physics
Materials Science and Solar Energy for Eastern and Southern Africa (MSSEESA) network is a society with Chapters in Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia and Uganda. The aim of the network is to develop human and infrastructure capacity in advanced research in materials science and solar energy. This will be done through strengthening the research facilities and Graduate training programmes by complementing the activities of materials science and solar energy in the various institutions in Eastern and Southern Africa. With the establishment of MSSEESA network, Graduate students in any institution in the region will be able to take a course at any institution and be able to carry the credit to the home institution
22nd September 2010: Annual Scientific Conference
Mak hosted the 6th Annual Scientific Conference under the theme “Global Health Challenges: Training, research, service delivery – maximizing benefits to the people”. The College of Health Sciences takes pride in forging excellent alliances and collaborations. It is therefore not surprising that the College held the Annual Scientific Conferences as an activity of National Science Week. This year’s conference was jointly organized by the Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health (UNACOH).
21st – 23rd September 2010: African Humanities Workshop
Mak hosted the African Humanities Conference in Senate Hall
20- 24th September 2010: RUFORUM Biennial Meeting
Under the theme Building Capacity for Improved Food and Livelihood Security in Africa, RUFORUM under Makerere University hosted this meeting. This meeting provided Universities and their critical shareholders the opportunity reflect on what the continent needs to do to transform its agricultural sector and cause it to stimulate development in our countries and region.
9th September 2010: University Council retreat
The University Council held a retreat at Lake Victoria Serena Hotel where they discussed issues on the Evaluation and Performance of the Council Body.
9th September 2010: VC meets team from University of California
6th September 2010: Visit to School of Education
The members of staff in the School of Education hosted the Vice Chancellor at the school and discussed issues on how to develop the school for its better and smooth running. 6th September 2010: 9th Vice Chancellors Media briefing
The 9th monthly media briefing featured the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences. The Vice Chancellor made presentations on the availability of transcripts, for graduates from January 2010 and the previous, save for those from a few units which he mentioned. He also alerted the public on conmen claiming to work on behalf of Makerere so as to sell them University land. He then introduced Members of the University Management who had assumed office since January 2010.
1st September 2010: Carnegie Excellence Awards
Mak hosted the handover ceremony of the Carnegie Phase II research Awards at the Senate Building. Carnegie is a Corporation in New York that aims at developing research management in higher education’s institutions in Africa
1st – 2nd September 2010: Google Uganda Event
The Google Uganda event at Speke Resort Munyonyo was a platform from which IT moguls such as software developers, technology entrprenuers and marketing professionals exchanged views, wined and dined. Mak took part in this initiative under FCIT.
September 2010
30th September 2010: 360° Meet the CEO Forum
The 360o Network nominated Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba as one of Uganda’s most outstanding leaders. The Professor addressed the forum. The 360° Meet the CEO Forum brings Uganda’s top CEOs in touch with the people they inspire to share their knowledge and experience. The objective of this forum is to help young people appreciate what it takes to be a successful leader and provide an opportunity for them to share in wisdom.
29th September 2010: Launch of MSSEESA, Department of Physics
Materials Science and Solar Energy for Eastern and Southern Africa (MSSEESA) network is a society with Chapters in Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia and Uganda. The aim of the network is to develop human and infrastructure capacity in advanced research in materials science and solar energy. This will be done through strengthening the research facilities and Graduate training programmes by complementing the activities of materials science and solar energy in the various institutions in Eastern and Southern Africa. With the establishment of MSSEESA network, Graduate students in any institution in the region will be able to take a course at any institution and be able to carry the credit to the home institution
22nd September 2010: Annual Scientific Conference
Mak hosted the 6th Annual Scientific Conference under the theme “Global Health Challenges: Training, research, service delivery – maximizing benefits to the people”. The College of Health Sciences takes pride in forging excellent alliances and collaborations. It is therefore not surprising that the College held the Annual Scientific Conferences as an activity of National Science Week. This year’s conference was jointly organized by the Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health (UNACOH).
21st – 23rd September 2010: African Humanities Workshop
Mak hosted the African Humanities Conference in Senate Hall
20- 24th September 2010: RUFORUM Biennial Meeting
Under the theme Building Capacity for Improved Food and Livelihood Security in Africa, RUFORUM under Makerere University hosted this meeting. This meeting provided Universities and their critical shareholders the opportunity reflect on what the continent needs to do to transform its agricultural sector and cause it to stimulate development in our countries and region.
9th September 2010: University Council retreat
The University Council held a retreat at Lake Victoria Serena Hotel where they discussed issues on the Evaluation and Performance of the Council Body.
9th September 2010: VC meets team from University of California
6th September 2010: Visit to School of Education
The members of staff in the School of Education hosted the Vice Chancellor at the school and discussed issues on how to develop the school for its better and smooth running. 6th September 2010: 9th Vice Chancellors Media briefing
The 9th monthly media briefing featured the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences. The Vice Chancellor made presentations on the availability of transcripts, for graduates from January 2010 and the previous, save for those from a few units which he mentioned. He also alerted the public on conmen claiming to work on behalf of Makerere so as to sell them University land. He then introduced Members of the University Management who had assumed office since January 2010.
1st September 2010: Carnegie Excellence Awards
Mak hosted the handover ceremony of the Carnegie Phase II research Awards at the Senate Building. Carnegie is a Corporation in New York that aims at developing research management in higher education’s institutions in Africa
1st – 2nd September 2010: Google Uganda Event
The Google Uganda event at Speke Resort Munyonyo was a platform from which IT moguls such as software developers, technology entrprenuers and marketing professionals exchanged views, wined and dined. Mak took part in this initiative under FCIT.
The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released admission lists of candidates admitted under the Talented Sports Men & Women, Disability and District Quota Schemes with Government sponsorship 2026/27 Academic Year including appeals and remarked cases.
Other admission lists released include A-Level Applicants with Ugandan and those with Foreign Qualifications, Diploma in Performing Arts, Mature-Age Entry and Bachelor of Education (EXTERNAL Batch 2) for the Academic Year 2026/2027 under self sponsorship.
Makerere University has officially launched its Strategic Plan 2025-2030, marking a major milestone in its commitment to strengthening research, innovation, and human capital development in line with Uganda’s national development priorities.
The launch brought together senior government officials, university leadership, and development planners, including the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi, and a representative from the National Planning Authority (NPA), alongside the University Vice Chancellor.
Hon. Henry Musasizi unveils the Makerere University Strategic Plan (2025-2030).
A Vision Anchored in National Transformation
Speaking at the launch, the Vice Chancellor underscored the University’s ambition to significantly expand graduate training and strengthen its contribution to national development. He noted that the institution is targeting a return to pre-COVID enrolment levels and a substantial increase in postgraduate numbers by 2030, with a focus on producing highly skilled graduates, innovators, and researchers.
He emphasized that the Strategic Plan positions the University as a key driver of Uganda’s transformation through knowledge generation, innovation, and entrepreneurship, aligned with national priorities.
“The staffing distribution is shown here. Under the approved establishment, we intended to have 419 Professors, but we currently have only 75. We planned for 473 Associate Professors, but currently have only 144. This clearly demonstrates that we still have considerable room for growth in strengthening our academic staff profile,” the VC said.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.
The VC appreciated researchers and research centres, that continue to attract substantial research funding. He highlighted the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) and the Makerere University Walter Reed Project which attracted approximately US$70 million in international research funding into Uganda.
“When you combine the grants won by all our researchers through competitive international funding, the total exceeds US$200 million,” he said.
In her remarks, the Chairperson of the University Council, Dr. Lorna Magara, described the Strategic Plan as more than an institutional roadmap, calling it “a public covenant with the people of Uganda.”
She noted that the Plan marks “the launch of Makerere University’s next chapter,” adding that decisions taken over the next five years will shape not only the future of the institution, but also Uganda’s development trajectory through graduates, research, innovations, and leadership.
Dr. Lorna Magara.
Dr. Magara emphasized Makerere’s unique national role as Uganda’s premier public university, entrusted with public resources and public confidence.
“Every investment made in Makerere must produce measurable value for the people of Uganda,” she said, underscoring the need for accountability, integrity, and impact.
Ambitious Targets for Transformation
The Council Chairperson and the Vice chancellor outlined bold performance targets under the Strategic Plan, including doubling postgraduate enrolment, increasing STEM enrolment from 30% to 55%, improving PhD completion rates from 10% to 35%, and more than doubling peer-reviewed research output, alongside a significant rise in patents and innovations.
Dr. Magara stressed that these targets are not aspirations alone but binding commitments against which institutional performance will be measured.
Hon. Henry Musasizi (3rd R) and Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (2rd L) display an autographed dummy of the signed Strategic Plan as L-R: Hon. Kadondi Gracious, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, Rt. Hon. Daniel Kidega, Dr. Lorna Magara, H.E. Mubiru John Bosco and Prof. Sarah Ssali witness.
“Ambition is precisely what this moment demands. A strategic plan is not measured by the elegance of its language, but by the lives it transforms,” she said.
Call for Stronger Governance and Legal Reform
Dr. Magara also highlighted the need for reform of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, Cap. 262, noting that the current legal framework has not kept pace with the evolving realities of university governance and innovation.
She called on Government and Parliament to support a timely review of the Act to enable universities to better optimise knowledge systems, productive assets, and innovation capacity in support of national development.
Government Endorsement and Strategic Alignment
Hon. Henry Musasizi commended the University for developing a forward-looking Strategic Plan aligned with Uganda’s Vision 2040 and the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which serves as the foundation for the country’s Tenfold Growth Strategy.
He explained that Uganda’s ambition to grow its economy from about USD 50 billion to USD 500 billion requires accelerated growth driven by productivity gains, innovation, and strong human capital development.
Hon. Henry Musasizi.
“Universities are central actors in national transformation. They are engines of knowledge creation, innovation, and human capital development,” he said.
The Minister stressed that government priorities include strengthening research, promoting industrialization, and ensuring that knowledge generated in universities is translated into practical solutions that support economic growth. He further highlighted the importance of accountability, efficiency, and value for money in public investments in higher education.
Universities as Drivers of the Tenfold Growth Strategy
In his presentation, the Senior Planner at the National Planning Authority, Samuel Kasule, emphasized that the Strategic Plan is firmly anchored in Uganda’s comprehensive development framework under Vision 2040 and NDP IV.
He noted that the Tenfold Growth Strategy seeks to accelerate Uganda’s economic growth into double-digit territory, enabling the country to achieve structural transformation and reach upper middle-income status.
Mr. Samuel Kasule.
Kasule underscored that universities play a critical role in this transformation through labour productivity, research, and innovation. He pointed out that priority sectors such as agriculture, tourism, minerals, oil and gas, and ICT depend heavily on skilled graduates and strong research ecosystems.
He also highlighted the importance of competency-based education, alignment of academic programmes with national human resource needs, and strengthening postgraduate training and research outputs.
A Shared Commitment to Transformation
Across all speeches, a strong message emerged: universities are central to Uganda’s development agenda and must evolve into research-intensive institutions that directly contribute to economic transformation.
The Strategic Plan 2025-2030 was widely commended for its focus on innovation, industry collaboration, digital transformation, and the commercialization of research outputs.
Government leaders reaffirmed continued support for higher education institutions through research funding, innovation ecosystems, and strengthened university–industry partnerships.
Conclusion
The launch of the Strategic Plan 2030 signals a renewed commitment to positioning the University as a key partner in Uganda’s development journey. With strong alignment to national priorities, the Plan is expected to accelerate research, innovation, and skills development necessary for achieving Uganda’s long-term economic ambitions. The Strategic Plan may be accessed at: https://mak.ac.ug/about/strategic-plan
Visionary Blueprint to Drive Excellence, Innovation, and National Development.
Kampala, Uganda – July 2, 2026. — Makerere University today officially launched its Strategic Plan 2026–2030, outlining a bold roadmap for academic excellence, research innovation, and transformative impact on Uganda and the region. The high-profile launch event, held at Makerere University Main Campus, brought together government leaders, university stakeholders, development partners, and academia.
The Chief Guest, Hon. Henry Musasizi, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, presided over the official launch. In his presentation, Vice Chancellor Prof. Nawangwe Barnabas highlighted the University’s past achievements and the new Plan’s strategic vision. “This Strategic Plan builds on our rich legacy while positioning Makerere University as a leader in addressing contemporary challenges through cutting-edge research, quality education, and innovation,” he stated.
The Plan was developed through an inclusive process led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, with input from across the University community. It aligns closely with national development priorities, as affirmed by Dr. Joseph Muvawala, Executive Director of the National Planning Authority.
University Council Chairperson Dr Lorna Magara emphasised the Council’s oversight role and commitment: “The University Council is fully committed to providing the strategic leadership and oversight necessary for the successful implementation of this Plan. It will strengthen Makerere’s role as a driver of Uganda’s socio-economic transformation and ensure we remain a beacon of excellence in higher education across Africa.”
Development partners, Vice Chancellors from other public universities, college principals, deans, professors, and student representatives attended the event, underscoring broad stakeholder support.
Key Pillars of the Strategic Plan 2026–2030 include enhancing excellence in teaching and learning, advancing research and innovation, strengthening infrastructure and sustainability, promoting inclusivity, and deepening engagement with industry and government. Following the formal proceedings, guests participated in a networking breakfast and media engagement session.
Additional Quotes:
“Makerere University remains Uganda’s flagship institution. This Strategic Plan will further harness our intellectual capital to contribute meaningfully to the National Development Plan and Vision 2040.” — Hon. Henry Musasizi, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
“We are excited to embark on this new strategic journey. With the support of our dedicated staff, students, alumni, and partners, we will achieve even greater heights in the next five years.” — Prof. Nawangwe Barnabas, Vice Chancellor, Makerere University
Makerere University is Uganda’s oldest and largest public university, established in 1922. It is a world-class institution recognised for academic excellence, groundbreaking research, and cross-disciplinary innovation. With over 35,000 students and a strong alumni network, Makerere continues to shape leaders and solutions for Africa and beyond.
For more information, contact:
Ms. Eunice Rukundo, Deputy Chief, Public Relations