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Mak staff recommend training on intellectual property and its benefits
Ignited by the knowledge and information tips received during the training workshop, participants advised Makerere University Directorate of Research and Graduate Training and the Uganda Registration Services Bureau to undertake a University wide sensitization programme on intellectual property and its benefits.
“The training workshop has been very useful. It has demystified the idea that intellectual property is complex. We can now testify that intellectual property is very simple. With the knowledge, research and innovations that we generate and/or undertake, the University, researchers and innovators will mutually benefit. We thank the Makerere University Directorate of Research and Graduate Training and the Uganda Registration Services Bureau for the training on intellectual property and its benefits. We recommend that the sensitization programme is extended to staff and students at College level.”
The participants comprising Makerere University Senior Management, Senior Researchers, Principals, Deputy Principals, Deans, Directors, Heads of Units and Staff from the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training emphasized that when staff and students are sensitized on intellectual property and its benefits, the University will be in position to build capacity in intellectual property management, establish intellectual management committees at Unit levels, and explore possibilities of teaching intellectual property management as a cross cutting course.
Addressing the participants on Thursday 7th July 2016, the Director of Research and Graduate Training at Makerere University, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi thanked Uganda Registration Services Bureau for choosing to partner with Makerere University to create awareness on intellectual Property and its benefits; and identification of areas of collaboration aimed at promoting intellectual property in Makerere University and Uganda at large.
Professor Buyinza Mukadasi said the sensitization programmes on intellectual property and its benefits that will be rolled out to different colleges will provide an opportunity for staff and students to understand and appreciate the sections contained in the Makerere University Intellectual Property Management Policy approved by the University Council in March 2008.
“When staff fully understands the Makerere University Intellectual Property Management Policy, they will be able to appreciate the relevance and value of their work. The Makerere University Intellectual Property Management Policy is intended to promote innovative ideas and nurture them for full potential of development and commercialization,” he said.
Prof. Buyinza Mukasasi commended the partnership with Uganda Registration Services Bureau. He emphasized that it is only through formal registration that the University shall transform the science into technologies that can be beneficial to the society and the wider public.
The Director of Intellectual Property Right at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau, Ms. Fiona Bayiga reiterated their commitment to supporting Makerere University in intellectual property management.
“We are really humbled to be here for this training and we promise to continue offering all possible support to Makerere University when we are called upon. We are aware that Makerere has a policy on Intellectual Property Management. We are therefore prepared to support Makerere University in realizing the implementation of this policy,” she said.
Intellectual property rights are the rights given to persons over the creation of their minds. They usually give the creator an exclusive right over the use of his/her creation for a certain period of time.
In a presentation, the Senior Registration Officer-Intellectual Property at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau, Mr. Kalibbala Nyanja Philip highlighted that Intellectual Property ensures that creativity from the human mind is recognised and rewarded.
“The concept of Intellectual Property also requires that those who create benefit. Let the minds that have gone into creativity and innovation get rewarded for it. There should be a commercial benefit. So Intellectual Property encourages societies to CREATE, RECOGNIZE AND BENEFIT,” he said.
Speaking on patent right, the Senior Examiner- Patent at Uganda Registration Services Bureau, Mr. Kaggwa John Marius encouraged Makerere University staff to patent/register their innovations and creative ideas. This would protect individuals from commercially exploiting their work for at least a certain period of time. According to Mr. Kaggwa, by granting the inventor a temporary monopoly in exchange for a full description of how to perform the invention, patents play a key role in developing industry in the world.
“A patent is an exclusive right given by law to inventors to make use of and exploit their inventions for a limited period of time usually not more than 20 years. Once the owner of an invention has been granted a patent in any particular country, they have the legal authority to exclude others from making, using, or selling the claimed invention in that country without their consent, for a fixed period of time. In this way, inventors can prevent others from benefiting from their ingenuity and ultimately sharing profits from the invention, without their permission for a certain period of time. When this period expires, the public has the liberty to exploit the invention without authorization,” he explained.
Mr. Kaggwa also advised Makerere University staff on the role of the Technological and Innovations Support Centers (TISC). “Technological and Innovations Support Centers were designed to provide to innovators and researchers in developing countries with access to higher education, quality technological information and other related services in order to stimulate economic growth.”
The training workshop was held on Thursday 7th July 2016 at Makerere University.
Article by: Makerere University Public Relations Office
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Makerere University and World Bank Sign Partnership to Strengthen Environmental and Social Sustainability Capacity
On 5th March 2026, Makerere University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Development Association (IDA), the financing arm of the World Bank Group, establishing a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening environmental and social sustainability systems in Uganda and the wider East African region.
The collaboration brings together Makerere University through the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) and the World Bank to jointly advance training, research, and policy advisory in environmental and social sustainability.
The three-year agreement provides a framework for cooperation focused on building national capacity to manage environmental and social risks associated with large-scale development investments.
Advancing Sustainable Development through Knowledge Partnerships
The partnership will be anchored in the Environment and Social Sustainability Centre (ESSC) at Makerere University, a national hub established to promote applied research, policy engagement, and professional training in environmental and social governance.
Through the Centre, the two institutions will collaborate to strengthen Uganda’s ability to plan and implement development projects in ways that safeguard communities and the environment.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Ms. Francisca Ayodeji (Ayo) Akala, the World Bank Country Manager emphasised that the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to strengthening systems that support sustainable growth.
“This partnership with Makerere University is an important step in strengthening Uganda’s systems for environmental and social sustainability. By working through the Environment and Social Sustainability Centre, we aim to build the capacity of professionals across government, the private sector, and development institutions to better manage environmental and social risks and deliver investments that promote sustainable growth while protecting people and the environment.” Ms. Francisca Ayodeji (Ayo) Akala, World Bank Country Manager, Uganda, noted.
The partnership will support training, research, and policy advisory activities through the ESSC, helping Uganda pursue a development trajectory that promotes economic growth while protecting people and the environment.
Building National Capacity for Environmental and Social Risk Management
Uganda’s development agenda under the Fourth National Development Plan prioritises large-scale investments in infrastructure, agro-industrialisation, energy, and science and technology. However, such investments require strong environmental and social risk management systems to ensure sustainable outcomes.
The new partnership, therefore, focuses on building a skilled workforce capable of applying international best practices in environmental and social governance.
Under the MoU, Makerere University will design and deliver demand-driven short-course training programs targeting public sector officials, development practitioners, financial institutions, civil society organisations, and private sector actors implementing major projects.
Seven certificate-level short courses have already been developed and approved across multiple colleges at the University. These courses cover areas such as environmental and social risk management, climate risk assessment, construction health and safety, and integrating environmental and social considerations into investment cycles.
“Makerere Universityis proud to partner with the World Bank in strengthening Uganda’s capacity to manage environmental and social risks in development investments. Through the Environment and Social Sustainability Centre, we have already developed and approved seven certificate-level short courses across multiple colleges, designed to equip professionals in government, the private sector, and development institutions with practical skills to plan and implement sustainable projects. This collaboration reflects Makerere’s commitment to providing knowledge-driven solutions that support Uganda’s development while safeguarding communities and the environment.” Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe noted.
Strengthening Collaboration between Academia and Development Partners
As part of the agreement, the World Bank will support the development and delivery of the training programs, including conducting Training of Trainers (ToT) on the Bank’s Environment and Social Standards and international best practices.
The Bank will also leverage its convening power to encourage participation from development partners, government institutions, and project implementers, while supporting impact monitoring of trained professionals to document improvements in project performance and job creation.
The collaboration will further promote professional networking, policy dialogue, knowledge exchange, and the development of knowledge hubs containing environmental and social tools, databases, and resources for practitioners.
Positioning Makerere as a Regional Knowledge Hub
Through this partnership, Makerere University seeks to position the Environment and Social Sustainability Centre as a leading knowledge hub for environmental and social governance in Africa.
By combining academic expertise with the World Bank’s global experience in development financing and technical assistance, the initiative is expected to strengthen the institutional capacity required to deliver sustainable and climate-resilient investments in Uganda.
The partnership also aligns with the World Bank’s broader commitment to supporting Uganda’s development agenda and strengthening country systems for environmental and social sustainability.
Together, the two institutions aim to equip professionals across government, the private sector, and development organizations with the skills required to ensure that Uganda’s development pathway remains inclusive, responsible, and environmentally sustainable.
Caroline Kainomugisha is the Communications Officer, Advancement Office, Makerere University
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Makerere University Explores Expanded Partnership with Stanbic Bank to Advance Innovation and Investment
On 5th March 2025, the Vice Chancellor, Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, paid a courtesy visit to Stanbic Bank Uganda’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mumba Kalifungwa. The purpose of the visit was to explore areas for further collaboration with Stanbic Bank Uganda to strengthen innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic investment.
The engagement reaffirmed the long-standing relationship between the two institutions and provided an opportunity to explore how academia and the financial sector can work together to unlock opportunities for students, staff, alumni, and the broader Ugandan community.
Discussions during the meeting focused on innovation and entrepreneurship support, student development programs, infrastructure partnerships, and investment opportunities linked to the University’s strategic development agenda.
Driving Innovation and Youth Entrepreneurship
During the engagement, the Vice Chancellor highlighted Makerere’s continued efforts to position itself as a research-led and innovation-driven university, emphasising the importance of partnerships with industry in translating academic research and ideas into practical solutions.
He underscored the need to empower young people with the skills and support required to create enterprises and generate employment opportunities, given Uganda’s fast-growing population, particularly the mushrooming young population. According to UBOS, by 2024, the young population was approximately 22.8 million persons out of a total population of 45.9 million people.
“If we do not support young people to innovate and create enterprises, we risk facing serious economic and social challenges. The employment of the future will increasingly be created by young people themselves,” he noted.
Among the proposals discussed was the possibility of establishing a Stanbic-supported innovation competition, aimed at stimulating entrepreneurship and providing a platform for students and young innovators to transform ideas into viable businesses.
Such an initiative could build on existing innovation and incubation programs run at Makerere and Stanbic Bank while strengthening collaboration between academia and the private sector in supporting enterprise development.
Expanding Strategic Collaboration
Speaking during the meeting, Mr Mumba Kalifungwa, the Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic Bank Uganda reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Makerere University.
He noted that while the bank has long provided financial services to the university and its staff, there is a significant opportunity to deepen collaboration in areas that generate broader societal impact.
“As an institution, we are interested in partnerships that go beyond financial services to create meaningful impact in society through the Stanbic Bank positive impact agenda. Education is one of the most important sectors through which we can drive that impact,” he noted.
The CEO also highlighted Stanbic Bank’s National Schools Championship program, which promotes innovation among secondary school students across Uganda, noting that a similar approach could potentially inspire initiatives at the university level.
Exploring Investment and Infrastructure Opportunities
The meeting also explored opportunities for collaboration in investment and commercialisation initiatives linked to university infrastructure and land assets.
University representatives shared insights into ongoing efforts to explore public–private partnership (PPP) models for strategic investments aimed at improving infrastructure and unlocking value from underutilised university assets.
Potential development opportunities discussed include projects related to hospitality facilities, commercial spaces, and other revenue-generating infrastructure within and around the university. Such initiatives could provide sustainable revenue streams for the university while creating opportunities for private sector participation in campus development.
Supporting Students, Staff, and Alumni
Additional discussions focused on expanding programs that benefit the wider Makerere community. These include financial literacy initiatives for students, expanded internship and graduate training opportunities, and collaborative programs to support student entrepreneurship and enterprise development.
The meeting also explored opportunities for collaboration in alumni engagement, leveraging Makerere’s extensive global alumni network to strengthen partnerships between the university and industry.
Programs aimed at improving financial preparedness and retirement planning for staff were also discussed, alongside potential housing and asset financing solutions tailored to the needs of university employees.
“Through this partnership, we are exploring opportunities that support the entire Makerere community, from financial literacy and entrepreneurship programs for students to internship pathways, alumni engagement, and financial preparedness initiatives for staff. These efforts will be anchored within the renewed collaboration framework between Makerere University and Stanbic Bank Uganda,” said Mr Awel Uwihanganye, Chief Advancement Officer.
The Chief Advancement Officer further noted that these initiatives are expected to be anchored within a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Makerere University and Stanbic Bank.
A Shared Vision for Impact
Both institutions expressed optimism about the potential of the partnership to contribute to national development by supporting innovation, enterprise creation, and the development of future leaders.
As Makerere University continues to strengthen its role as a leading research and innovation institution in Africa, partnerships with forward-looking institutions such as Stanbic Bank Uganda remain critical in advancing the university’s mission of generating knowledge, nurturing talent, and driving solutions that address national and global challenges.
Caroline Kainomugisha is the Communications Officer, Advancement Office, Makerere University
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