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Prof. Ezra Suruma appointed Chancellor of Makerere University

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The President of the Republic of Uganda has appointed Prof. Ezra Suruma, Chancellor of Makerere University, subsequent to recommendation by the University Council.

Makerere University is the premier University in Africa; a renowned centre of academic excellence, and a hub for research and innovations. In the Thomas Reuters five year (2010-2014) analysis of Africa’s Top ten, Makerere University was ranked one of the most respected Universities in Africa. The ranking which specifically analyses the university reputation in terms of the ability to recruit high-quality staff and students, establish valuable international partnerships, and connect with greater funding prospects featured Makerere as the only University in East and Central Africa.

In exercise of the powers conferred upon the President by Section 30(1) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, the Instrument of Appointment issued and signed by President reads as follows:

“I, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni do hereby appoint: Prof. Ezra Suruma, Chancellor of Makerere University for a period of four years (4) with effect from the date of assumption of duty. Given under my hand and the Public Seal this 2nd day of December 2015.”

The Main Administration Building, Makerere University, Kampala UgandaWith this Instrument of Appointment, Prof. Suruma a distinguished scholar and statesman becomes the third non-Head of State Chancellor of Makerere University.

Chancellor Suruma takes over from Prof. George Mondo Kagonyera, the Second non-Head of State Chancellor who served for two (2) terms from 23rd October 2007 to 23rd October 2015.

The Chancellor is the Titular Head of the University and presides at all assemblies, confers degrees, other academic titles and distinctions of the University.

Who is Prof. Ezra Suruma?

Chancellor Suruma is a distinguished scholar and statesman with a wealth of experience in the field of finance and banking, spanning more than 25 years. He attained a doctorate degree of economics in 1976 from the University of Connecticut, USA; a Masters of Arts in Economics in 1972 and a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 1969, both from Fordham University, New York, USA.

Prof. Ezra Suruma, Chancellor, Makerere UniversityHe is a person of high integrity, excellent public relations and with proven ability to market and internationalize the University. Prof. Suruma is a Senior Presidential Advisor responsible for Finance and Planning. He serves on the Board of the National Planning Authority, participates in numerous national and international economic policy discussions and initiates proposals for policy change. He is the Head of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit responsible for the implementation of priority programmes of the Uganda Government.

From 2005 to 2009, Prof. Suruma served as the Minister of Finance. He was internationally recognized for his outstanding service when he won the award of Africa’s Best Minister of the Year 2008.

Prof. Suruma has been at the centre of objective interactions and negotiations with numerous financial institutions such as the IMF, World Bank, African Development Bank, China Development Bank among others. He is also a Founder Member of Ugafode Microfinance Ltd, a bank with 12 branches in Uganda.

In 1972, Prof. Suruma began his academic career as Assistant Professor at Florida A&M University, USA. He joined the Makerere University service in 1973. From 1973 to 1975, Mr. Suruma was a Lecturer in the Department of Economics, Makerere University. He returned to Florida A&M University in 1976 as Associate Professor of Economics. In 1979, Dr. Suruma returned to Makerere University at the rank of Senior Lecturer, a position he held until 1981 when he moved to Coppin State University in the USA as Professor and Head of the Department of Management Science. To date, he continues to pursue academic interests with several recent publications including “Advancing Uganda’s Economy: A Personal Account” and “African Perspectives on Sovereign Debt Restructuring”.

Following a distinguished career in universities in Uganda and the Unites States, Prof. Suruma joined Government service in 1987 as the Director of Research in the Central Bank. He rose to the rank of Deputy Governor of the Bank in 1990 and later served as the Chairman/Managing Director of Uganda Commercial Bank.

Between 1990 and 2009, Prof. Suruma held various positions including Chairman Governing Council of the African Export Import Bank from 2008 to 2009; Vice Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Panel of African Finance Ministers from 2007 to 2009; Chairman Governing Council of the East African Development Bank from 2006 to 2009; Chairman Governing Council of the Preferential Trade Area (PTA) Bank from 2007 to 2008; Secretary of the Commission for Fast Tracking the East African Federation from October 2004 to January 2005; and Director of Economic Affairs for the National Resistance Movement Secretariat.

Prof. Suruma has been a significant player in the stabilization, reconstruction, restructuring and management of the Ugandan economy since 1986. He has always maintained a passion for economic justice and economic emancipation of the Ugandan people.

He went to Washington in 2010 as a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution and in 2014, the Brookings Institution Press published his book, Advancing the Ugandan Economy, A personal account. He is also a Distinguished Fellow of the Centre for International Governance Innovation, Canada.

The Installation Ceremony for the Chancellor will be held on 18th January 2016

Mark Wamai

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Revised Advertisement for Positions of Principal and Deputy Principal at Makerere University

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An aerial shot of the Main Building, as taken by a drone over the Freedom Square with Left to Right: CHUSS, St. Francis, St. Augustine and CAES Buildings and the Kikoni area (Background) in view. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Makerere University, Uganda’s premier institution of higher learning and one of Africa’s leading research universities, invites applications from suitably qualified and distinguished individuals for the positions of Principal and Deputy Principal in the Colleges listed below. The University seeks visionary leaders with demonstrated academic excellence, strategic leadership, and a commitment to institutional transformation. This advertisement is for the positions of:

  1. Principal and Deputy Principal, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES)
  2. Principal and Deputy Principal, College of Education and External Studies (CEES)
  3. Principal and Deputy Principal, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS)
  4. Principal and Deputy Principal, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB)
  5. Principal, College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS)
  6. Deputy Principal, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS).

Mode of application

Interested individuals for the positions of Principal and Deputy Principal should submit the following documents sealed in an envelope addressed to the University Secretary;

  1. A signed letter of application;
  2. Certified copies of academic certificates and transcripts;
  3. The curriculum vitae of the candidate;
  4. Three (3) letters of recommendation;
  5. Copies of the required minimum number of publications;
  6. Copies of letters of appointment to leadership positions at the level of Head of Department and/or its equivalent or higher in a recognised institution comparable to Makerere University;
  7. A copy of the applicant’s national ID or passport; and
  8. A copy of the last letter of clearance from the Inspectorate of Government or other equivalent national body.

The deadline for applications is 6th July 2026 at 5:00 p.m. East African Time.

Applications should be hand-delivered to:

The University Secretary
Makerere University
Main Administration Building,
Level 2, University Secretary’s Office

Or submitted via email at search.principal@mak.ac.ug

Makerere is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from suitably qualified individuals regardless of gender, disability, or other legally protected status. The University is committed to promoting diversity, inclusion and excellence in all its activities.

THIS ADVERT CANCELS THE EARLIER ISSUED ADVERT DATED 17TH JUNE 2026

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Makerere Launches Upgraded Financial Management System and Roadmap

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Prof. Tumps Ireeta - Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance & Administration) launch the roadmap for upgrading the Mak FMS in Council Room on 17th June2026.

Makerere University on 17th June 2026 launched the upgraded Financial Management System (Mak-FMS) and Implementation Roadmap aimed at ensuring paperless end-to-end transactions right from requisition to sign-off. Mak-FMS was initially launched on 10th July 2024 to automate requisition initiation and approval. The upgraded system will ensure that the hitherto paper-based payment voucher generation, examination, digital clearance, and sign off are completed digitally.

Presiding over the launch on behalf of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, the Principal, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta commended the Directorate of Finance and the Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS) on the strides made in digitalisation of financial processes at Makerere. He nevertheless called for the need to make approvals time bound at each stage of the process to ensure that requisitions are sanctioned or deferred for additional input promptly.

The University Bursar, Mr. Evarist Bainomugisha informed attendees at the launch that the objective of the Mak-FMS upgrade was to ensure paperless transactions by 1st July 2026. He added that Champions had been appointed from colleges and administrative units, and will together with ICT Support Staff be trained by DICTS to support users during the transition.

Mr. Bainomugisha nevertheless noted that incorporation of Mak-FMS into Uganda’s Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) remains undone. He therefore called upon Finance Officers and Accountants to prudently ensure that the money committed on the Makerere system is charged to the appropriate Government code.

DICTS Chief, Mr. Samuel Mugabi reiterated that the upgraded system is not entirely new but is only aimed at further enhancing accountability and transparency of financial management for efficiency of Makerere’s business operations. He added that the upgraded Mak-FMS will be integrated with the recently rolled out Procurement System in a phased approach, especially as users increasingly get acquainted with the paperless working environment. He equally reiterated DICTS readiness to support the Directorate of Finance to ensure a holistic training of users.

Highlighting the ten-day Implementation Roadmap, DICTS Deputy Chief, Mr. Juma Katongole noted that launch of the upgraded Mak-FMS marked Day 1, while Day 2 will be dedicated to training Finance Officers, Accountants and ICT Support Staff and Day 3 to training Champions and more ICT Support Staff. Days 4 and 5 will be dedicated to Hands-on Training Sessions for College Bursars, Accountants and Champions, while Day 6 will feature University-wide pilot implementation of the upgraded Mak-FMS.

Day 7 of the roadmap will handle user support clinics and help desk sessions, while Day 8 will feature refresher training and a workshop on frequently encountered issues. A University-wide simulation exercise covering the end-to-end payment lifecycle will be held on Day 9 and Day 10 will host the readiness assessment meeting and go-live sign-off.

In order to ensure a smooth transition to a digital Mak-FMS, a help desk will remain operational throughout the period and user manuals as well as quick-reference videos will be developed and distributed on the University Knowledge Base and DICTS Social Media platforms.

Mark Wamai

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CHS Quality Assurance Guide Book

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An aerial photo of the College of Health Sciences (CHS), Makerere University showing Left to Right: The Sir Albert Cook Memorial Library, School of Biomedical Sciences, Davies Lecture Theatre, School of Public Health, Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital (MSWNH)-Background Left and Nakasero Hill-Background Right, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The College of Health Sciences (CHS) QA Guidebook streamlines academic excellence, outlining essential quality processes, committee structures, and regulations aligned with Makerere University Policy and the 2004 Graduate Guidebook. It details roles for staff and students, including examination management, committee terms of reference, and highlights staff/student achievements.

Key Components of the QA Guidebook

  • Committees & Structure: Defines roles for the Quality Assurance, Gender Mainstreaming, and ICT Committee, ensuring alignment with SDGs and university policies and NCHE
  • Examination QA Processes: Outlines procedures for setting, moderating, and marking exams, ensuring standards and ethical compliance.
  • Regulations & Guidelines: Based on the Makerere University Quality Assurance Policy Framework (2007) and Graduate Guidebook 2004 ensuring consistency across all programmes.
  • Roles & Responsibilities: Clearly defines the responsibilities of Deans, Heads of Departments, and Students in Internal Quality Assurance.
  • Key student information in academic processes.
  • Commitment to support graduate training.
  • Recognition & Faculty Development: Recognizes outstanding female professors and acknowledges staff who completed PhDs in 2024–2026

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