General
MURBS declares Market-high Rate of Return for 2nd year running
At the Fourth Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Makerere University Retirement Benefits Scheme (MURBS) held on 18th December 2014, the Secretary-Board of Trustees (BoT), Dr. John Kitayimbwa declared at 12% yet another market-high rate of return for the Staff Scheme as compared to similar schemes like NSSF which declared 11%. The rate of return is used by schemes and corporations to measure the profit on any investments they have made over a period of time; and in the case of MURBS, in respect of the year ended 30th June 2014.
In his introductory remarks given at the Fourth AGM held in the College of Engineering Design Art and Technology (CEDAT) Conference Hall, Dr. Kitayimbwa lauded the BoT, MURBS Administrator-Liaison Financial Services as well as Fund Managers PineBridge Investments and StanLib for a job well done. He thanked officials from the Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority (URBRA) for taking time off to attend the AGM. URBRA is the regulatory authority in charge of managing the operations of retirement benefit schemes in Uganda and was represented at the 4th AGM by the CEO-Mr. Moses Bekabye, Legal Services Manager-Ms. Rita Nansasi and Ms. Janet Iremera.
In her report, the MURBS Chairperson Hajati Fatumah Nakatudde was happy to note that MURBS is a fully licensed retirement benefits scheme in accordance with URBRA with eight out of nine Trustees licensed by the regulator. She noted that the gains made by MURBS were buoyed by the favourable investment climate as Uganda registered a positive growth of 4.7% driven mainly by Government expenditure on infrastructure. As a result, MURBS made a gross income of UGX 6.7billion and a net income of UGX 4.5billion. She further reported that the scheme paid out over UGX 2.4billion in benefits.
The Chairperson however noted that the scheme continues to experience challenges in the form of unremitted contributions from the employer amounting to UGX 3.94billion for the period November 2013 to June 2014. “As such it has been impossible to award interest on contributions received during the course of the year on a time-weighted basis” said the Chairperson.
She further reported that the total fund value of MURBS stood at UGX 65.72billion as compared to UGX 78.85billion the previous year. The drop in fund value was as a result of an impairment loss on contributions receivable from the employer amounting to UGX 33.46billion. The Chairperson however reassured members that the trustees with the help of courts of law were pressing for the recovery of this debt as owed to the scheme by the University.
Hajati Nakatudde was also glad to inform members that the scheme with the help of the Administrator had developed an online platform to enable members to access their profiles instantly. “We have developed an online platform that will allow members to access their MURBS records and member statements in real-time as well as make changes to their member details and we thank our Administrator Liaison Financial Services for this milestone” said the Chairperson.
Presenting the Financial Statements for the year ended 30th June 2014, the Scheme’s Principal Pensions Officer Mr. Vitalis Omondi noted that the scheme still had a number of qualifying members with uncollected benefits. He reported that MURBS membership grew from 3,193 to 3,254 as at 30th June 2014 implying an increased number of employee contributions to the scheme. MURBS Investments grew from UGX 43.3billion in 2013 to UGX 52.7billion in 2014 thanks to the great work by Fund Managers PineBridge investments and Stanlib.
Supplementing the Administrator’s report, Dr. John Kitayimbwa noted that MURBS received an investment income of UGX 5.2billion in 2014 with the biggest gains received from treasury bonds interest. Growth in income was also experienced due to gains in share price for brands like Safaricom where the scheme owns shares. He further noted that the scheme had saved money by not incurring any legal costs in 2014. He however appealed to URBRA to help expedite cases of members with medical conditions seeking to access their funds to meet treatment costs. He noted that the current Uganda Medical Board (UMB) assessment procedures were too tedious and often left members frustrated as they failed to use their own savings to pay for treatment.
In his remarks, the URBRA CEO Mr. Moses Bekabye informed members that the Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority (URBRA) Act of 2011 has provisions mandating employers to contribute to their employees’ retirement benefits. He backed MURBS in recognizing the unremitted employer contributions as a debt in favour of scheme members but took a softer stance when he advised members to avoid litigation by settling any matters amicably. With regard to delays by UMB in assessing member requests to avail funds for treatment, Mr. Bekabye reassured the AGM that this matter was being addressed in the current submissions by URBRA in a bill before parliament. “Among the mandatory benefits that will make contributions to retirement benefits schemes will be i) Age Benefit ii) Survivor Benefit-in the event of employer death iii) Invalidity Benefit-in case one is sick or incapacitated and cannot work anymore and iv) Minimum Health Care Package. This will mean that employees who make mandatory contributions will be able to get medical treatment” said Mr. Bekabye.
In the reactions that followed from the audience, members urged the BoT to calculate how much the University owed MURBS such that stakeholders could be consulted on what action to take through their respective staff associations. Members also raised queries on who approves the expenditure by BoT, how much of beneficiaries’ contributions should be spent by the BoT as well as issues to do with impairment as shared in the Chairperson’s report to the AGM.
In response the BoT reassured members that Trustees are part of the URBRA Committee that checks expenditure ratios of Retirement Benefits Schemes in Uganda and so far, MURBS is one if the best performing schemes in the country with regard to compliance. Trustees further shared that the BoT budget is approved based on an annual work plan. and in compliance with URBRA regulations. With regard to the debt owed by the University which led to the impairment loss, the BoT advised that the best way of recovering this debt was through staff General Assembly action, which the association leaders present resolved to follow up.
In her closing remarks, the Chairperson Hajati Fatumah Nakatudde thanked all present for contributing to the discussion at the 4th AGM. She further requested members present to remind all retirees to pick their benefits from the scheme, according to the lists of names published in the media.
The emcee of the day and Public Relations Officer for the Academic Staff Association (MUASA) Mr. Louis Kakinda thanked the BoT for their transparency which had led to a fruitful 4th AGM. He further urged members present to support the MUASA Executive and Management in the quest to get the Government to deliver on its promises. “Remember that our contributions are meager and we are pushing Government to give us the UGX 15million for a Professor pro rata, and so we urge you to keep supporting us,” he concluded.
Article by Public Relations Office
During the afternoon of September 21, 2026, Makerere University played host to regional discussions as students, academics, and government officials gathered to commemorate the International Day of Peace under the theme “Investing in Regional Peace and Trade for Shared Prosperity”.
The event organised by the Makerere University 92nd Guild Security Ministry in partnership with the Global Peace Guild, served as the official launch of the East African Peace and Trade Law Moot Court Competition. The idea was conceived as an annual event where the youth across East Africa will gather to deliberate on the nexus between regional peace and trade in fostering regional integration.
Acting Vice Chancellor (VC) of Makerere University Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga graced the event, welcomed the distinguished guests and set a reflective tone for the day.
Reminiscing about his old days the VC noted, “lecturers were the ones who used to come and talk about politics, economics, and law but somehow, somewhere, things never went well”. He appreciated the Students’ Guild, and all who were involved in organising the celebration and launch for a good job done.
Prof. Mugagga further encouraged students to look beyond the classroom, urging them to engage in critical debates in different sectors while emphasising that peace is a prerequisite for all development.
People anchor Trade – Keynote address
Representing the guest of honor who was the Minister of State for East African Community Affairs Hon. James Magode Ikuya, Dr. Andrew Musiime – Commissioner for Political Affairs, delivered a keynote address.
His entry was that you cannot talk about trade and not talk about people. Trade is done by people, and therefore as a Ministry, they facilitate free movement of people.
Dr. Musiime provided a comprehensive breakdown of the East African Community (EAC) as an intergovernmental organisation.
“So it is an intergovernmental organisation. Therefore, the governments remain with their constitution, the governments remain with their sovereignty, the governments remain with their national boundaries, the governments remain with their national laws, Musiime explained.”
He mentioned that the East African Community is anchored on the four pillars for integration that is the Customs Union, the Common Market, the Political Federation and Monetary Union.
Dr. Musiime equally challenged the students to move beyond theory, urging them to research the EAC treaty and actively participate in regional integration.
In a gesture of togetherness, he told the distinguished guests that the Ministry operates an open door policy for students and those interested in engaging can apply for opportunities across the Ministry’s various departments.
From UPE to the Halls of Parliament
The event also featured inspiring remarks from the National Female Youth Member of Parliament, Hon. Mercy Kanyesigye. Reflecting on her own journey from Universal Primary Education (UPE) to the halls of Parliament, she delivered a powerful message on peace and security.
In agreement with Prof. Muggaga, she linked the day’s theme to the practical realities of trade, noting that sustainable trade can not exist without peace.
“This moot competition is therefore not just academic exercise. It’s a training ground for the next generation of East African traders, lawyers, negotiators, judges, policy makers who will defend the spirit of our East African common market and our custom union”, Kanyesigye told the attendees.
92nd Guild Calls for Embracing Dialogue
Hon. Denis Mabirizi, the Minister of Security for the Makerere University 92nd Guild, underscored the event’s purpose by highlighting that peace is the foundation for justice, opportunity, and cooperation. He then called upon the student community to reject violence and intolerance, urging them to use dialogue and established leadership structures to address their concerns.
Mabirizi also emphasized that universities are not just centers of academic excellence, but places where the leaders of tomorrow are shaped.
“Universities are not only centers of academic excellence, they are also places where future leaders are shaped. The conversations we have, the values we promote, and the decisions we make today will influence the kind of society we create tomorrow. Peace begins with each one of us, Mabirizi noted.”
The Global Peace Guild Initiative
Mr. Joseph Micheal Tenywa, the founder and President of the Global Peace Guild, shared the vision behind the organization. He explained that the Global Peace Guild was born out of a desire to involve young people in the promotion of peace, trade, and regional integration.
“Global Peace Guild is an initiative born out of a desire to have young people get involved into the promotion of peace, trade, and regional integration.”
He reminded the audience that regional integration would only become a reality when young people actively participate in the market and hold policy makers accountable.
“As we commemorate the International Day of Peace, it’s an invitation for young people to get involved, not only in ensuring that there is no violence, but that we also put in place the conditions that take our strength, and these are our economic provisions, we call it trade.”
The launch of the East African Peace and Trade Law Moot Court Competition marks a significant milestone for the student community as it brings together academic rigor with a focus on regional policy.
International Day of Peace is observed globally on September 21, 2026, under the unified United Nations theme: “Invest in Peace – For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day”. The day emphasizes that achieving lasting peace requires continuous local action, shared civic responsibility, and strategic conflict mitigation to ensure long-term regional development.
Makerere University has urged female students admitted under the Makerere University Council Tuition and Functional Fees Waiver Scholarship for the 2026/27 academic year to take the opportunity seriously, focus on their academic performance, and stay alert about their personal safety.
The message was delivered during an orientation for the scholarship beneficiaries at the Senate Conference Hall, where officials from the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate welcomed the students and shared guidance on academic success, security, mentorship, and responsible social conduct.
The Chief Gender Mainstreaming Officer cautions students on safety and self-reliance
Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine, Chief Gender Mainstreaming Officer, congratulated the students on receiving the scholarship and urged them not to take it for granted.
She advised them to seek information from the relevant university offices instead of relying on assumptions or what fellow students tell them, and to keep records of official communication whenever they raise concerns or follow up on university matters.
Dr. Baine said students should take responsibility for their own security, warning them not to trust strangers easily and urging them to be careful about where they go and who they interact with.
She also reminded them that strong academic performance is required to keep the scholarship, and encouraged them to ask for help early whenever they face academic, social, or other challenges instead of waiting until the situation becomes harder to manage.
Students urged to aim for first-class results
The officers welcomed the students and encouraged them to put their studies first, urging them to aim for first-class academic results during their time at Makerere.
They advised them to use the academic support available to them, including help from course mates and any tutorials or mentoring offered within their colleges, and not to hesitate to seek assistance when they have concerns about their results or coursework.
The GMD team also spoke to scholars about personal safety, cautioning students against accepting help from strangers, including with luggage or transport, and referred to a recent incident in which a student’s belongings were stolen. She urged them to stay alert as they settled into university life.
Focus on academic foundations and safe social conduct
Other speakers, including Ms. Susan Mbabazi, who is the Principal Gender Officer, Ms. Abilat Lozirah, and Cynthia Ayaa Kamaketch emphasised the need to build a strong academic foundation from the start of the semester. They encouraged students to attend lectures regularly, read beyond classroom notes, use university resources such as internet access and the library, and develop steady study habits instead of waiting until exams are near.
They also warned students to be careful when meeting people they do not know well, advising them to hold academic discussions and social meetings in open, public spaces such as Freedom Square rather than in private rooms.
The students were also encouraged to seek mentorship from university staff and others who could guide them in their academic and career development, and to identify a mentor before leaving the orientation.
The orientation also pointed students to key university services and locations they should know, including the university health facilities, the Makerere Police Post, the Counselling and Guidance Centre, and places of worship on campus.
Speakers reminded the students that the scholarship gives them a chance to pursue their education at Makerere University, and that keeping it depends on their discipline, academic performance, and willingness to seek support when needed.
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