To stimulate economic growth and development in African countries, participants at the 5th International Scientific Meeting emphasized the need to actively engage the youth in designing and implementation of community livelihood and health programs.
“Youth comprise the highest population in most of the African countries. They are bright, energetic young leaders with a wide and open mind. This provides us with a golden opportunity and a need to harness their socio-economic potential, utilize their abilities in research and community development,” stressed the participants.
Convening in the Makerere University Main Hall, from 30th June- 1st July 2016, Scientists, Professors and Researchers from different parts of the world shared knowledge and ideas on how to reduce poverty, boost trade, enhance resilience of livelihoods, improve human livelihood, and ensure Africa’s health security.
Participants guided by the theme, Sparkling Innovations for Sustainable livelihoods and Health in Africa, showcased numerous research projects to demonstrate the impact of international and regional partnerships on Sustainable Livelihood and Health in Africa.
The 5th International Scientific Meeting was organized by Makerere University College Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity under the sponsorship of Regional Universities Mediated Partnerships for Enhancing Livelihoods and Health in Africa (RUMPHELA). The conference was officially opened by the Makerere University Deputy Vice Chancellor in-charge of Academic Affairs, Associate Professor Ernest Okello Ogwang.
In a speech read by Associate Professor Okello Ogwang, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu said the is in line with the auspices of partners and the Government of Uganda.
“Through these partners, the College has conducted Short-term training in International Cultural Boma, International Summer Schools, International Scientific Meetings, workshops, in-training leadership and community service learning. Supported laboratories and to date, Government of Uganda has offered more support for the laboratories in Biosecurity and Zoonoses,” he said.
During the conference meeting, participants shared ideas on improving the animal sector with a particular consideration for animal health and safety, production and consumption of healthy and safe animal resource products, provision of healthy and safe grounds to people involved in animal production as well as tapping into the opportunities for job creation and employment.
To achieve this, participants commended the need to develop their scientific research and ideas in line with entrepreneurship and business development with an essential element of income generating skills and job creation. In addition, they encouraged fellow scientists to always provide factual data and information on the various research projects/programs in time to allow an effective and instrumental timeline for youth engagement.
Giving a key note address on improving livelihood, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Gender and Social Development, Mr. Puis Birigimana said that institutions should actively engage the youth when designing and implementing livelihood and community programs. Mr. Birigimana said the youth are more productive, business oriented with an influential effect on the African countries’ economic status.
“Youth constitute the highest population percentage in Uganda. Therefore leaving them behind creates a bigger gap between prosperity and stagnation. We need to make a fruitful engagement with them, especially in scientific programs. This is because youth are more productive, prefer agricultural activities and they are young, bright and energetic,” he said.
Citing the youth livelihood program designed and implemented by the Government of Uganda in order to reduce the high rate of unemployment and poverty among youth, Mr. Birigimana highlighted that the government’s strategy to actively engage the youth has yielded success in poverty alleviation in Uganda. He also mentioned that the project has witnessed more employment benefits, improved the incomes and instilled a saving culture among the youth.
“Always listen to the young people. Interact with them in a cool and humble way. I assure you it works very well. We used this strategy in the Youth Livelihood Program and we recorded success,” said the Permanent Secretary.
Besides designing youth centered livelihood programs, Prof. Kabasa said that the education system should provide the essential element of practical skills where a person is in position to work for oneself and change oneself to a transformative capital.
He reiterated the need to change the current education system of an African child urging that a single person should have several values and skills in addition to the general knowledge.
“Give the youth a livelihood not labor capacity because that was earlier given and no longer exists. As experts we need a paradigm shift. In this current generation, it does not matter how many resources you have. If you don’t know how to use the resources, they will never be enough,” he said.
Prof. Kabasa called for the vocationalization of the education system in Africa. According to him, the current education system has depended so much on infusing knowledge leaving humans with what he termed as malnourished human capacity.
‘’If we teach and lead today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow. There is therefore a need for higher institutions to change the ways of learning in order to deliver knowledge passed on following systematic manner. They need a different thinking package of competences in order to enhance livelihoods,” Prof. Kabasa explained.
The Dean, School of Biosecurity, Biotechnical and Laboratory Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Associate Professor Frank Mwiine recommended the need for Uganda to host several conferences similar to the 5thInternational Scientific Meeting to provide solutions to emerging societal challenges.
“As you may be aware, Uganda is facing many challenges like any other country in the world. We, scientists should commit ourselves to transforming our societies in order to have a better and meaningful life,” he advised.
Associate Professor Mwiine thanked the organizing committee for ensuring that the 5th International Scientific Conference was a success. The conference meeting climaxed with a certificate awarding ceremony.
This year’s meeting started with a summer course for international students and collaborators from 6th -9th June 2016 to expose participants to one health concepts, food production, biosecurity, hygiene/ safety and public health. This was followed by community outreach activities for two weeks in the Districts of Kampala, Tororo, Mbale, Bukedea, Soroti, Kaberamaido, kibale, Kasese and Kiruhura. Participants were also able to share their field experience in the two days (28th and 29th June 2016) international cultural Boma.
Since its inauguration in 2011, the International Scientific Meeting has enabled the College Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-security record more achievements including the transformation of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine to an industrial value chain geared College.
The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released admission lists of candidates admitted under the Talented Sports Men & Women, Disability and District Quota Schemes with Government sponsorship 2026/27 Academic Year including appeals and remarked cases.
Other admission lists released include A-Level Applicants with Ugandan and those with Foreign Qualifications, Diploma in Performing Arts, Mature-Age Entry and Bachelor of Education (EXTERNAL Batch 2) for the Academic Year 2026/2027 under self sponsorship.
Makerere University has officially launched its Strategic Plan 2025-2030, marking a major milestone in its commitment to strengthening research, innovation, and human capital development in line with Uganda’s national development priorities.
The launch brought together senior government officials, university leadership, and development planners, including the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi, and a representative from the National Planning Authority (NPA), alongside the University Vice Chancellor.
Hon. Henry Musasizi unveils the Makerere University Strategic Plan (2025-2030).
A Vision Anchored in National Transformation
Speaking at the launch, the Vice Chancellor underscored the University’s ambition to significantly expand graduate training and strengthen its contribution to national development. He noted that the institution is targeting a return to pre-COVID enrolment levels and a substantial increase in postgraduate numbers by 2030, with a focus on producing highly skilled graduates, innovators, and researchers.
He emphasized that the Strategic Plan positions the University as a key driver of Uganda’s transformation through knowledge generation, innovation, and entrepreneurship, aligned with national priorities.
“The staffing distribution is shown here. Under the approved establishment, we intended to have 419 Professors, but we currently have only 75. We planned for 473 Associate Professors, but currently have only 144. This clearly demonstrates that we still have considerable room for growth in strengthening our academic staff profile,” the VC said.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.
The VC appreciated researchers and research centres, that continue to attract substantial research funding. He highlighted the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) and the Makerere University Walter Reed Project which attracted approximately US$70 million in international research funding into Uganda.
“When you combine the grants won by all our researchers through competitive international funding, the total exceeds US$200 million,” he said.
In her remarks, the Chairperson of the University Council, Dr. Lorna Magara, described the Strategic Plan as more than an institutional roadmap, calling it “a public covenant with the people of Uganda.”
She noted that the Plan marks “the launch of Makerere University’s next chapter,” adding that decisions taken over the next five years will shape not only the future of the institution, but also Uganda’s development trajectory through graduates, research, innovations, and leadership.
Dr. Lorna Magara.
Dr. Magara emphasized Makerere’s unique national role as Uganda’s premier public university, entrusted with public resources and public confidence.
“Every investment made in Makerere must produce measurable value for the people of Uganda,” she said, underscoring the need for accountability, integrity, and impact.
Ambitious Targets for Transformation
The Council Chairperson and the Vice chancellor outlined bold performance targets under the Strategic Plan, including doubling postgraduate enrolment, increasing STEM enrolment from 30% to 55%, improving PhD completion rates from 10% to 35%, and more than doubling peer-reviewed research output, alongside a significant rise in patents and innovations.
Dr. Magara stressed that these targets are not aspirations alone but binding commitments against which institutional performance will be measured.
Hon. Henry Musasizi (3rd R) and Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (2rd L) display an autographed dummy of the signed Strategic Plan as L-R: Hon. Kadondi Gracious, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, Rt. Hon. Daniel Kidega, Dr. Lorna Magara, H.E. Mubiru John Bosco and Prof. Sarah Ssali witness.
“Ambition is precisely what this moment demands. A strategic plan is not measured by the elegance of its language, but by the lives it transforms,” she said.
Call for Stronger Governance and Legal Reform
Dr. Magara also highlighted the need for reform of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, Cap. 262, noting that the current legal framework has not kept pace with the evolving realities of university governance and innovation.
She called on Government and Parliament to support a timely review of the Act to enable universities to better optimise knowledge systems, productive assets, and innovation capacity in support of national development.
Government Endorsement and Strategic Alignment
Hon. Henry Musasizi commended the University for developing a forward-looking Strategic Plan aligned with Uganda’s Vision 2040 and the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which serves as the foundation for the country’s Tenfold Growth Strategy.
He explained that Uganda’s ambition to grow its economy from about USD 50 billion to USD 500 billion requires accelerated growth driven by productivity gains, innovation, and strong human capital development.
Hon. Henry Musasizi.
“Universities are central actors in national transformation. They are engines of knowledge creation, innovation, and human capital development,” he said.
The Minister stressed that government priorities include strengthening research, promoting industrialization, and ensuring that knowledge generated in universities is translated into practical solutions that support economic growth. He further highlighted the importance of accountability, efficiency, and value for money in public investments in higher education.
Universities as Drivers of the Tenfold Growth Strategy
In his presentation, the Senior Planner at the National Planning Authority, Samuel Kasule, emphasized that the Strategic Plan is firmly anchored in Uganda’s comprehensive development framework under Vision 2040 and NDP IV.
He noted that the Tenfold Growth Strategy seeks to accelerate Uganda’s economic growth into double-digit territory, enabling the country to achieve structural transformation and reach upper middle-income status.
Mr. Samuel Kasule.
Kasule underscored that universities play a critical role in this transformation through labour productivity, research, and innovation. He pointed out that priority sectors such as agriculture, tourism, minerals, oil and gas, and ICT depend heavily on skilled graduates and strong research ecosystems.
He also highlighted the importance of competency-based education, alignment of academic programmes with national human resource needs, and strengthening postgraduate training and research outputs.
A Shared Commitment to Transformation
Across all speeches, a strong message emerged: universities are central to Uganda’s development agenda and must evolve into research-intensive institutions that directly contribute to economic transformation.
The Strategic Plan 2025-2030 was widely commended for its focus on innovation, industry collaboration, digital transformation, and the commercialization of research outputs.
Government leaders reaffirmed continued support for higher education institutions through research funding, innovation ecosystems, and strengthened university–industry partnerships.
Conclusion
The launch of the Strategic Plan 2030 signals a renewed commitment to positioning the University as a key partner in Uganda’s development journey. With strong alignment to national priorities, the Plan is expected to accelerate research, innovation, and skills development necessary for achieving Uganda’s long-term economic ambitions. The Strategic Plan may be accessed at: https://mak.ac.ug/about/strategic-plan
Visionary Blueprint to Drive Excellence, Innovation, and National Development.
Kampala, Uganda – July 2, 2026. — Makerere University today officially launched its Strategic Plan 2026–2030, outlining a bold roadmap for academic excellence, research innovation, and transformative impact on Uganda and the region. The high-profile launch event, held at Makerere University Main Campus, brought together government leaders, university stakeholders, development partners, and academia.
The Chief Guest, Hon. Henry Musasizi, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, presided over the official launch. In his presentation, Vice Chancellor Prof. Nawangwe Barnabas highlighted the University’s past achievements and the new Plan’s strategic vision. “This Strategic Plan builds on our rich legacy while positioning Makerere University as a leader in addressing contemporary challenges through cutting-edge research, quality education, and innovation,” he stated.
The Plan was developed through an inclusive process led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, with input from across the University community. It aligns closely with national development priorities, as affirmed by Dr. Joseph Muvawala, Executive Director of the National Planning Authority.
University Council Chairperson Dr Lorna Magara emphasised the Council’s oversight role and commitment: “The University Council is fully committed to providing the strategic leadership and oversight necessary for the successful implementation of this Plan. It will strengthen Makerere’s role as a driver of Uganda’s socio-economic transformation and ensure we remain a beacon of excellence in higher education across Africa.”
Development partners, Vice Chancellors from other public universities, college principals, deans, professors, and student representatives attended the event, underscoring broad stakeholder support.
Key Pillars of the Strategic Plan 2026–2030 include enhancing excellence in teaching and learning, advancing research and innovation, strengthening infrastructure and sustainability, promoting inclusivity, and deepening engagement with industry and government. Following the formal proceedings, guests participated in a networking breakfast and media engagement session.
Additional Quotes:
“Makerere University remains Uganda’s flagship institution. This Strategic Plan will further harness our intellectual capital to contribute meaningfully to the National Development Plan and Vision 2040.” — Hon. Henry Musasizi, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
“We are excited to embark on this new strategic journey. With the support of our dedicated staff, students, alumni, and partners, we will achieve even greater heights in the next five years.” — Prof. Nawangwe Barnabas, Vice Chancellor, Makerere University
Makerere University is Uganda’s oldest and largest public university, established in 1922. It is a world-class institution recognised for academic excellence, groundbreaking research, and cross-disciplinary innovation. With over 35,000 students and a strong alumni network, Makerere continues to shape leaders and solutions for Africa and beyond.
For more information, contact:
Ms. Eunice Rukundo, Deputy Chief, Public Relations