The Archbishop of Uganda, His Grace Henry Luke Orombi is a man who is passionate about his role as the leader of the Church of Uganda (COU).
The Archbishop of Uganda, His Grace Henry Luke Orombi is a man who is passionate about his role as the leader of the Church of Uganda (COU).
This extraordinary job, by any measure, keeps him quite busy with his flock. He has recently returned from countrywide tour of Western, Northern and Northeastern Uganda, during which he interfaced with over 10,000 young people of College and Secondary School-going age, including launching a multipurpose hall named in his honour at Kyeizoba Girls School, Bushenyi District in April 2011.
As he traversed the country preaching, mentoring and encouraging, His Grace, in both his former and current capacities, developed a new passion – for Girl Child Education. He was soon to discover another partner with the same cause, the Makerere University Gender Mainstreaming Directorate (GMD) headed by Ms Catherine Kanabahita. On 24th June 2011, the Archbishop hosted a dinner to celebrate achievements of the Female Scholarship Initiative and to publicize the Makerere University Female Scholarship Foundation (MUFSF). He has also willingly advised the GMD and pledged his support to Makerere University, in her quest to secure funding up to the tune of 1.5bn shillings, from the Peace Recovery and Development Plan for Northern Uganda (PRDP) under the Office of the Prime Minister. The funding is meant to enable disadvantaged girls from greater northern Uganda pursue quality higher education at Makerere University.
Fresh from a function at Ogenda Girls High School, Nebbi District on 20th August 2011, where he and his wife Mrs Phoebe Orombi, and the Bishop of Nebbi Diocese Rt Rev Alphonse Wathokudi had installed Mrs. Patience Karugire as the patron of Girl-Child Education in Nebbi, His Grace visited Makerere University's Main Administration building for the very first time on 24th August 2011. His mission was simple and yet historic, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between Makerere University and the Church of Uganda.
Reverend Canon Dr. Ebong Johnson, Chaplain St. Francis Chapel Makerere University, led the prayer at this historic gathering. In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba thanked His Grace the Archbishop for honouring the University’s invitation, and observed that there was a need for both parties to work together to ensure that development in Uganda is equitably distributed, by moving in to address the needs of education, especially in greater northern Uganda. “Our graduates need to be able to engage the communities through partnerships with the districts, local governments, private companies and other stakeholders.” He said. He further noted that the only way to foster this kind of engagement is by offering quality higher education students to disadvantaged students from these districts.
Mrs Elizabeth Gabona, Commissioner for Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Sports, thanked the Archbishop for honouring Makerere University by his visit and lauded COU for partnering with the University to increase equitable access to Higher Education in Uganda. “The Government, in recognition of the fundamental role education plays is continuously extending invitations to partners like the Church to join in supporting equitable access to education,” she remarked.
She however noted the need for universities and the church to support efforts by Head Teachers to enforce morals and etiquette in the current generation of students, amidst the rampant moral degradation, “There are so many interventions we could put in place, that don’t necessarily need financial support, the Lord being our helper.”
In his speech, the Archbishop expressed his joy at the spirit of partnership and intervention in the communities of this country, as shown by such initiatives. As such, he commended GMD for engaging the COU on the needs of girls especially education. His Grace further extolled the School of Veterinary Medicine, led by Professor John Kabasa, and the Africa Institute for Strategic Animal Resource Services and Development (AFRISA) for partnering with the Church to bring services to the least constituency in Uganda. “The church and the religious bodies are spread allover the nation and if you use them as a vehicle, this country can be reached.” “I do believe very strongly, that as we work together, and as we think about this nation together, there will be a great output in the future to come,” he further added.
His Grace also thanked Makerere University and the Government for creating the community engagement platform – AFRISA, which is committed to nurturing transformative skills, technology innovations and community services, through Academic-Community-Public-Private Partnership. “Makerere has the key to open up the minds of the people and empower them to overcome disease, poverty and ignorance,” he added.
The Archbishop further urged university leaders to uphold the partnership and work to build on the synergies and God given gifts to make this world a better place to live in for generations to come. “COU undertakes to enter into partnership with Makerere University, because we believe this has been a missing link in making the communities we serve have better livelihoods.”
“I believe very strongly that this is only the beginning and this beginning will grow into something bigger and better because I can see that the key players are the key players that can change this nation.” “May God bless our partnership,” he concluded.
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