Social accountability is an approach to governance by which citizens, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and other non-state actors hold government and services providers accountable for their performance. While implemented at
different stages of the public financial management cycle, Social Accountability Tools enable civil society practitioners the knowledge to generate demand for and ultimately improve governance at the local,
regional, and national levels.
The World Bank Institute (WBI) is offering an e-learning course on Social Accountability Tools for the Africa Region, which focuses on the how-to of social accountability by introducing some of the most commonly-used tools.
This online course aims to build practitioners awareness of the wide range of existing social accountability tools and to enhance their capacity to design, implement and manage social accountability interventions in their
unique local and national context. This course will be hosted online through the e-Institute platformfrom June 15-July 30, 2012.
The course is organized into four modules that present the key concepts and provide opportunities to apply and discuss SA tools that have been used by practitioners around the globe.
* Module 1: Budget Work;
* Module 2: Participatory Budgeting;
* Module 3: Participatory Public Expenditure Tracking Surveys (PETS);
* Module 4: Performance Monitoring (includes Citizen Report Cards, Community Scorecards, Social Audits, Procurement Monitoring, and others).
The program will include 40 hours of on-line instruction distributed over 10 weeks, requiring a dedication of approximately 6-9 hours per week by each participant. International expert practitioners will provide on-line
facilitation for each module, and real-life success stories are utilized to illustrate the selected tools. These expert facilitators will be available to respond to participant queries on a daily basis. Additionally, a time will be set for the facilitators to interact online with participants and answer questions over Skype etc.
The medium of instruction is English. Participants from Francophone and Lusophone Africa are welcome to participate. At present, French and Portuguese speakers with sufficient command of English are encouraged to
enroll in this the course. WBI is working on producing the course in French, but please note that this will not be available until a future date.
The e-learning course is free of charge and participants completing the on-line instruction will be awarded with a certificate extended by WBI.
Target Audience: Civil Society Practitioners in Africa that have a general knowledge/specific background on social accountability and are ready to learn more about specific tools and their implementation. Other interested
individuals that focus their work in social accountability in Africa.
Dates: June 15 July 30, 2012
Course format: 40 hours of facilitated on-line instruction distributed over 10 weeks. A certificate will be awarded by WBI upon completion.
Contact: Ms. Carolina Vaira at WBI (cvaira@worldbank.org <mailto:cvaira@worldbank.org> )
Participant Selection for e-Learning Course on Social Accountability
Participant Profile:
The course will target Social Accountability practitioners in the Africa Region who meet the criteria described below:
– CSOs, NGOs and other organizations with high credibility at the regional and national level
– Junior/Middle level members/officials of CSOs/NGOs that have past/present work experience in Social Accountability
– Members of CSOs/NGOs that are already working with the World Bank through different projects and initiatives
– Individuals with established credentials as community organizers and trainers that are seeking knowledge on Social Accountability tools
– Finally, the course will welcome Government Representatives working at the local and national level that have expressed great interest in Social Accountability training and who require this knowledge to inform their
current work with civil society in their own countries.
Participants will be asked to send a short statement on their current work, responsibilities, reason for applying, and expectations for the course: The team members will do a pre-selection of candidates who will be invited to
participate in the e-learning course.
In a vibrant celebration of youth leadership and African unity, Makerere University hosted the Second Annual Guild Leaders’ Summit, an event that brought together high-profile dignitaries, student leaders, and international partners for a powerful dialogue on the future of the continent. The summit, organized by the Guild Presidents Leadership Academy, served as a rallying point for East Africa’s young leaders to confront Africa’s most urgent challenges—on their own terms and with their own solutions.
A Warm Welcome and Reflections on Makerere’s Legacy
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, welcomed the distinguished guests, who included Former President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo, former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, Justice Simon Byabakama, Hon. Mathew Rukikaire, and European Union Deputy Ambassador Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, among others.
In his address, Prof. Nawangwe reflected on Makerere’s deep historical ties to East Africa’s liberation and development movements. He reminded the audience that Makerere University has been a crucible for the continent’s leadership, stating:
“Jomo Kenyatta was the first person to receive a degree from Makerere when, in 1963, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by then Chancellor Julius Nyerere. All freedom fighters in East Africa studied at Makerere.”
H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta is received upon arrival at Makerere University by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.
Building on this rich history, Prof. Nawangwe affirmed the university’s current mission to tackle pressing continental issues. “Today,” he said, “Makerere is committed to addressing Africa’s challenges—climate change, disease, poverty, food security, conflict resolution, and economic development. But we cannot do this alone.”
He echoed sentiments later shared by the keynote speaker, stressing that Africa must no longer depend on external interventions:
“Foreign agencies will not solve all Africa’s problems. It is our young people who must step forward and lead the change.”
Uhuru Kenyatta: “You Are the Last Line of Defence”
In a keynote address that resonated deeply with the students and delegates in attendance, Former President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a bold and urgent call to action for Africa’s youth.
“No one is coming to save us,” Kenyatta declared. “You are the last line of defence in the battle to rescue the heart and soul of Africa.”
H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta (2nd Right) poses for a group photo during the courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor with Left to Right: Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Ms. Sarah Kagingo and Guild President-H.E. Churchill James Ssentamu.
Positioning today’s youth as the heirs of the continent’s freedom fighters, Kenyatta described the current moment as a new “independence era”—not of political liberation, but of economic and intellectual sovereignty. He urged students to think critically about intra-African trade, which currently accounts for less than 2.5% of global commerce, and to advocate for the removal of internal barriers to trade, innovation, and mobility.
“You are the freedom fighters of this generation,” he said. “Universities must be incubators of change, and students must be the trustees of tomorrow’s Africa.”
Pan-Africanism, Leadership, and Action
Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo encouraged students to take up the mantle of Pan-Africanism with unwavering commitment. She acknowledged that while the rhetoric of African unity is inspiring, real progress demands more than words:
Left to Right: The Vice President-H.E. Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister Emeritus-Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, Hon. Matthew Rukikaire and other dignitaries follow proceedings.
“You must embrace the spirit of Pan-Africanism. But it is easy to say these words—the challenge lies in collective implementation.”
She emphasized the importance of action-oriented leadership and urged the youth to harness their creativity, energy, and education for the benefit of the continent.
European Union’s Message: Leadership with Integrity
Representing Team Europe, the EU Deputy Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, gave a passionate speech on the values of authentic leadership, integrity, and inclusive development. He praised Makerere University as a space where “intellectual ambition meets civic responsibility” and emphasized that leadership is not about prestige, but purpose:
“Be a leader because of what you want to be—not because of what you want to have,” he said.
Citing former Makerere alumni such as Julius Nyerere and Wangari Maathai, Chartrain called on students to model courage, resilience, and humility:
“True leadership emerges in moments of loss—when resilience, not triumph, becomes the measure of one’s character.”
The EU, he said, remains committed to supporting youth through programs like Erasmus+, the EU Youth Sounding Board, and partnerships with organizations like Faraja Africa Foundation and Restless Development. These initiatives empower youth not as symbols, but as active participants in shaping policy and governance.
The Legacy Continues
Throughout the summit, speakers highlighted the importance of legacy and long-term impact. They challenged young leaders to think not just about the present, but about the systems and institutions they will leave behind. In the words of Former President Kenyatta:
“Leadership is not about the next election. It’s about the next generation.”
The summit ended on a high note, with students invigorated and inspired to lead with purpose. As global support grows less predictable and Africa stands at a crossroads, the message from Makerere was clear: the future of the continent is in the hands of its youth. And as the Guild Leaders’ Summit demonstrated, they are ready.
The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released lists of Diploma holders admitted under the Government Sponsorship Scheme for the Academic Year 2025/2026.
Under the Diploma Holders Government Sponsorship Scheme admission does not exceed 5% of the intake capacity to the respective Degree Programme.
The list can be accessed by following the link below:
Are you a researcher or student working in protein-related research, structural biology, or bioinformatics?
The African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data Intensive Sciences (ACE) Uganda with support from Google DeepMind, invites researchers and students seeking to integrate AlphaFold into their work to apply for the AlphaFold Workshop to be held at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University-Kampala, Uganda from 16th to 20th June 2025.