General
All set for HE Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library Launch
On Friday 13th February 2015, Makerere University will host the high profile launch of the historic H.E. Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library in honour of one of her most illustrious and outstanding alumnus, 1951-1955, H.E. Mwai Kibaki. This first-ever Presidential Library at Makerere University will house; The H.E. Mwai Kibaki Endowed Chair in Economics and The East African Mwai Kibaki Centre for Leadership, Public Finance and Public Policy.
Speaking at his first official press briefing of the year held on 9th February 2015, the Chancellor Prof. George Mondo Kagonyera announced that the H.E. Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library is estimated to cost US$50million. Of this, $40million will go to the Presidential Library and US$10million to the H.E. Mwai Kibaki endowed Chair in Economics.
“The H.E. Mwai Kibaki Endowed Chair in Economics will be held by an internationally credentialed and globally competitive Professor of Economics while the East African Mwai Kibaki Center for Leadership, Public Finance and Policy will, among other things, provide a unique forum for equipping and re-tooling African Ministers of Finance and Permanent Secretaries including Secretaries to Treasury,” said Prof. Kagonyera.
Explaining to the media and all present why Makerere chose the Third President of Kenya out of all her alumni of the same cohort, the Chancellor noted that H.E. Mwai Kibaki was the first African to graduate with a 1st Class Honours Degree in the Arts in 1955 as well as the first African to graduate with distinction in the BSc Public Finance programme at the London School of Economics (LSE) in 1958. He further noted that H.E. Kibaki’s choice to return and serve his alma mater from 1958 to 1960 as Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Economics and Political Science instead of taking up other lucrative offers was commendable and worthy of recognition.
“Through the H.E. Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library, Makerere will tell and re-tell the story of H.E. Mwai Kibaki, which is the story of African Excellence. This is the meaning of immortalizing H.E. Mwai Kibaki on the Main Campus of his alma mater” added The Chancellor. Addressing the media at the same briefing, the Vice Chancellor Prof. John
Ddumba-Ssentamu thanked H.E. Mwai Kibaki for accepting the gesture by his alma mater to establish a Presidential Library in his honour. “The University Management fully supports this initiative as it is in line with our strategy of re-positioning and transforming Makerere University as a world-class Center of Excellence in Africa and beyond” said the Vice Chancellor.
Prof. Ddumba-Ssentamu further shared that the H.E. Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library would go a long way in raising the profile of Makerere University as a Center of Excellence in Economics, and create a springboard for inclusiveness of all alumni. “We are confident that through such initiatives, Makerere University is moving towards its desired position of being No. 1 on the continent” he added.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Prof. Barnarbas Nawangwe accredited the uniqueness of the library when he said that, “the H.E Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library will be the first presidential library built by a former president at his Almer –mater, at a University where he studied. It will also be the first library in Africa to have an endowed chair in economics."
In his remarks the Acting Principal of College of Business and Management Sciences (COBAMS), Prof. Eria Hisali said that they are looking at the project as an opportunity to raise the profile of the School of Economics and the College of Business and Management Sciences as a whole.
“We hope that this project will transform us into a world class economists and compete with other economic disciplines at any other University in the world. The exploits of this event will indeed raise the profile of Makerere University and create a spring board of inclusiveness of all alumni. We are confident that through such initiatives, Makerere University is moving towards its desired position of being number one institution on the continent,” he remarked.
In a statement from the Guild Government, the Guild President H.E Ivan Bwowe thanked H.E. Kibaki who served as a Vice President of the Students Guild during his stay at Makerere for leading by example. “We are proud to be given an opportunity to have an information hub at Makerere. We are in full support of this project and we want to see it succeed” read the statement.
Please see Downloads for full statements by Chancellor, Vice Chancellor and Guild President.
Article by Public Relations Office
The Makerere University Council and Top Management have today convened at Speke Resort Munyonyo to deliberate on the University’s Strategic Plan 2025/2026 – 2029/2030. The retreat seeks to align Makerere’s priorities with the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and ensure that all key stakeholders contribute to shaping the institution’s next five years.
Opening the discussions, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, underscored the centrality of planning in the University’s growth trajectory. He called on members of management to actively participate in the drafting of the new strategic plan. Prof. Nawangwe highlighted Makerere’s progress in recent years, noting that the University has drawn a roadmap to becoming a research-led institution, with publications rising from 700 five years ago to 2,000 currently.
He further pointed out the revision of research policies to align with the University’s research agenda, as well as the establishment of innovation hubs that support product development, commercialisation, and intellectual property management. Commending staff for their resilience and success, Prof. Nawangwe congratulated them on winning significant individual grants, some of which now surpass institutional grants. “NDP IV is intended to grow the country tenfold, and I am confident Makerere will make a huge contribution,” he remarked.
In her keynote remarks, the Chairperson of the University Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara, described the retreat as a defining moment for Makerere’s role in Uganda’s transformation. She urged the University to move beyond traditional teaching and research, positioning itself as a central driver of national development.
“Our mandate extends beyond academia. The knowledge we generate, the leaders we shape, and the innovations we deliver must directly fuel Uganda’s growth,” Mrs. Magara stated.
She outlined priority national development areas— agro-industrialisation, tourism, mineral-based development, and advances in science and technology—where Makerere’s expertise can make a decisive impact. Emphasising the urgency of challenges such as youth unemployment, climate change, food insecurity, and fragile health systems, she noted that within these lie opportunities for Makerere to lead in testing and scaling solutions.
“This retreat is about discipline and focus. Our strategy cannot be a wish list; it must be a blueprint for measurable national impact,” she said, challenging participants to critically reflect on how Makerere can anchor Uganda’s food security, nurture digital innovators, strengthen health resilience, and raise transformative leaders.
She concluded with a call for boldness and clarity in execution: “The next five years are decisive. Makerere must shift from being a participant in national development to being its strongest driver. What we agree here must position Makerere not only as Uganda’s premier university but also as a trusted national partner and a beacon of Africa’s transformation.”
The retreat involved detailed discussions and contributions from University leaders, aimed at developing a practical and impact-driven strategic plan that cements Makerere’s role in advancing Uganda’s development agenda.
Education
Makerere University signs Memorandum of Understanding with International Rescue Committee to Advance Research, Innovation and Partnerships
Makerere University has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Rescue Committee to formalize undertakings in research, innovation & partnerships.
Signed in September 2025 by the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and the Country Director, International Rescue Committee, Mr. Elijah Okeyo, the MoU provides a framework to implement research intensive programmes, promote innovative teaching and learning, internationalization, and contribute to societal transformation.
According to Mr. Okeyo, the MoU re-affirms Makerere University as the academic partner of the International Rescue Committee (IRC). “This MoU formalizes IRC’s working relationship with Makerere University. This framework empowers both institutions to tap into opportunities together. We believe in equal partnership. Makerere University commits to being our partner in research to contribute to evidence based humanitarian undertakings,” he said.
Under this collaboration, Makerere University and IRC will work on developing child-centered learning resources, innovative curricula, and policy-relevant research to enhance the quality of education in crisis-affected regions.
At Makerere University, the MoU brings on board, the College of Education and External Studies (CEES), Makerere University Institute of Teacher Education and Research (MITER), and the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Research Centre.
To concretize the MoU, the Principal of the College of Education and External Studies, Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga convened a partnership meeting on Friday 12th September 2025 involving a delegation from the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Dr. David Kabugo, the Deputy Director of Makerere University Institute of Teacher Education and Research (MITER), and Ms. Ritah Namisango, the Principal Communication Officer.
The delegation from the International Rescue Committee (IRC) consisted of the following: Mr. Elijah Okeyo-Country Director, Mr. Vincent Wanyama-Senior Program Development and Quality Coordinator, Mr. Richard Omasete-Policy and Advocacy PlayMatters, and Ms. Janet Nambuya-Grants and Partnerships Coordinator.
The MoU focuses on the following areas of interest: Early Childhood Development, joint research and capacity building in education, the plight of refugees and the host communities, humanitarian aid, as well as, evidence based research to inform the education policy.
In line with its mandate, IRC brings onboard, its unmatched expertise in helping children in crisis-affected areas. The MoU therefore positions both institutions to undertake a leading role in the protection of children and families through evidence based research, access to education, and humanitarian undertakings.
Dr. Kabugo, the Deputy Director MITER, noted that the MoU opens new opportunities for joint efforts in research, training, and policy. He said: “We are committed to co-designing practitioner research, engaging in professional development, and generating evidence to guide the education policy in Uganda and beyond.” Dr. Kabugo explained that this partnership builds on years of cooperation between CEES and IRC, especially in child-centered methods such as play-based learning.
Prof. Mugagga described the MOU as a practical framework that connects Makerere University’s research with IRC’s field experiences. He stated that the College of Education and External Studies (CEES) conducts programmes focused on the future of the young people through training and empowering students/teachers. He articulated that the College significantly impacts on the education sector through delivery of quality academic programmes and research under the School of Education, School of Distance and Lifelong Learning, and the East African School of Higher Education Studies and Development.
“Our strongest synergy is education and early child-focused care,” Prof. Mugagga emphasized. He revealed that the collaboration presents CEES with a strong and reliable partner (IRC), which stands for protection and the well-being of children and families. “Through this MoU, both CEES and IRC, will significantly contribute to improving education for children, families, and communities impacted by conflict and crisis.”
Prof. Mugagga commended IRC for the earlier support and expertise extended to the College in the development of the early childhood centre, and working together to provide valuable input during the Ministry of Education and Sports’ consultative process that led to the Early Childhood development policy.
Reflecting on the increasing number of refugees enrolling for studies at Makerere University, Prof. Mugagga said: “ IRC has come at the right time. The College will tap into the IRC expertise to teach our staff and learners components in refugee education. They will equip our students and teachers with knowledge and skills in refugee education. Some of our students will cooperate with IRC to undertake research in refugee settlement and host communities.”
Prof. Mugagga implored both MITER and IRC to undertake research and develop modules on refugee education, parenting, re-tooling street children, integration of a health component into the curriculum, and management of truamatised students/learners who come from areas affected by war, conflict and crisis.
On the issue of play materials, Prof. Mugagga stressed that already made play materials derial creativing. “Both CEES and IRC should work towards a context that empowers children and learners to ignite their creative potential by developing home-made play materials,” he submitted.
About IRC
Stating a brief profile history about IRC, Mr. Okeyo explained that IRC is a global non-profit organisation that provides humanitarian aid and assistance to people affected by conflict and disaster. IRC has been active in Uganda since 1998, originally assisting displaced populations in Northern Uganda and later expanding its efforts to refugee settlements and urban areas.. Currently, IRC operates more than 35 health facilities in refugee settlements and runs a variety of programs in health, education, protection, and economic recovery. IRC also undertakes projects focusing on early childhood development, prevention of gender-based violence, and protection of refugees and families.
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