General
90 take part in Mak-SU ADA 2nd Joint Doctoral School
The Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT), Makerere University and the African Doctoral Academy (ADA) at Stellenbosch University (SU) have this week 12th to 16th September 2016 held the second Joint Doctoral School with two courses on Doctoral Supervision and Becoming a Lecturer. The course on Doctoral Supervision is being attended by 40 senior academics from Makerere University, Muni University, Kyambogo University, Gulu University, Ndejje University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) and Busitema University. Similarly, that on Becoming a Lecturer: Teaching and Learning in Higher Education is being attended by 50 early career academics from the same institutions.
The 1st Joint Doctoral School attracted over 100 participants from five public universities in Uganda and was held from 18th to 29th April 2016 at Makerere University. During the training participants tackled two cross cutting courses on Philosophy of Methods and Writing and Publishing an article.
The Joint Doctoral School is a result of discussions held between Makerere University and Stellenbosch University in June 2015. DRGT hosted Mr. Christoff Pauw, Manager, International Academic Networks and Ms. Corina Du Toit, Head, African Capacity Programme both of the Postgraduate and International Office at Stellenbosch University. After the meeting, it was agreed that cross–cutting courses through Joint Doctoral Schools should be conducted at Makerere University.
Opening the Joint Doctoral School on Monday 12th September 2016, the Deputy Director DRGT, Professor David Owiny, on behalf of the Director DRGT, Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza welcomed the facilitators from SU and thanked them for offering their time to train at Makerere University. Identifying himself as an Alumnus of SU, Prof. Owiny thanked the African Doctoral Academy (ADA) for funding the joint doctoral school.
Professor Owiny also recognized the sacrifice that participants had made to attend the courses, especially on the first day which was a public holiday. He encouraged participants to stay hroughout the entire one-week course.
Commenting on the course, the Director, Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza noted that over years, DRGT has realized the need to develop joint doctoral training programmes with other well ranked Universities in Africa. “To achieve our goal, we are implementing a collaborative doctoral school programme with the African Capacity Programme and International Office at Stellenbosch University, South Africa” he said.
In her remarks, Ms. Du Toit informed participants that Stellenbosch University’s long term collaborative partnership with Makerere University was the basis of hosting the Joint Doctoral Schools at Makerere. She expressed her pleasure conducting the second Joint Doctoral School and thanked DRGT for coordinating the school. She then wished participants a fruitful week of training.
The course on Doctoral Supervision was facilitated by Prof. Jan Botha from the Stellenbosch University, Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST), while the second Becoming a Lecturer: Teaching and Learning in Higher Education was by Prof Magda Fourie-Malherbe, Centre for Higher and Adult Education, SU and Dr Sonja Strydom, Centre for Learning Technologies, SU.
The course concluded today Friday 16th September with a ceremony where participants in the two courses were awarded academic certificates by Stellenbosch University.
Article by Public Relations Office and DRGT
Business & Management
PIM Centre Holds 9th Steering Committee Meeting, Set to Benefit from World Bank Support
The Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence at Makerere University today, October 10th, 2025, held its 9th Steering Committee Meeting to review progress made in the first quarter of the financial year and plan for the months ahead.
The meeting was chaired by Ms. Getrude Basiima, who represented Mr. Hannington Ashaba, Director Budget at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED). Ms. Basiima commended the Centre for its continued commitment to strengthening public investment management capacity across government institutions.
In her remarks, Ms. Basiima applauded the Centre for successfully hosting the Public Investment Management Conference held in August at Makerere University. The conference attracted key policymakers, development partners, and academics who deliberated on how to enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and impact of public investments in Uganda.
She further shared exciting news that the Government of Uganda has secured funding from the World Bank to support the public investment management function. The PIM Centre, she announced, will be among the key beneficiaries of these funds — receiving support for the construction and acquisition of a permanent home to enhance its institutional sustainability and training capacity.
Reviewing the Centre’s quarterly performance, Ms. Basiima congratulated the team for successfully conducting three specialized trainings in the first quarter, reaching officials from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. These trainings continue to strengthen the technical competencies required for effective project preparation, appraisal, and implementation in line with Uganda’s National Development Plan.
She encouraged the Centre to integrate climate change considerations into its future training programmes, noting that sustainable public investment must now account for environmental resilience and climate adaptation.
The centre team presented the proposed structure/ organogram, the financial performance of 2024/2025, research areas for 2025/2026 and the strategic plan for 2025 – 2030.
The Steering Committee reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the PIM Centre’s vision of becoming a regional leader in building capacity for efficient, transparent, and sustainable public investment management.
A significant development unfolded at Makerere University during a strategic, hour-long meeting in the vice chancellor’s boardroom on 7th October 2025, marking a deepening bond with the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. The primary goal was to move beyond existing collaborations and formalize a new Double Doctorate (PhD) program. Prof. Sarah Saali, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, set the tone by emphasizing that institutional partnerships are crucial to Makerere University, which she proudly called the leading research and most collaborative university in the world.
The discussion promptly formed the core structure of the program: a four-year PhD (or three if the master’s was research-based), with supervision duties split 50-50% between the two institutions. A key feature is the mobility requirement, stipulating that PhD candidates would spend a total of six months in the Netherlands, potentially divided into two three-month periods. Crucially, the University of Groningen confirmed there would be no teaching requirement during this stay, allowing students full access to focus on their research. A major financial hurdle was overcome with the adoption of a fee-waiver policy; Makerere would waive tuition for incoming Groningen candidates, and Groningen would reciprocate for Makerere‘s students, significantly boosting the program’s financial viability.
However, the critical issue of the stipend remained. Dr. Anita Veltmaat explained that to meet the required living standard of approximately €1,875 per month in Groningen, the incoming candidate must secure a partial external scholarship of around €250 per month. The positive news is that if the candidate secures this minimum scholarship, the University of Groningen is prepared to top up the amount to the full living standard for the six months the student spends in the Netherlands. It was noted that this initial financial hurdle might be simplified for Makerere students, as many are already staff members receiving a salary, which could help cover the required €250.
The path forward was clear: it was to complete the agreement template guided by the setup committee from both institutions. The plan culminated in scheduling an online follow-up meeting for Tuesday, November 11th, to review the first revision of the agreement, capping a highly constructive discussion that solidified the two universities’ shared future in graduate education.
Makerere University was represented by Prof. Sarah Ssali, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academics Affairs; Dr. Ruth Nsibirano, Head of the Department of Gender Studies; Dr. Patricia Ndugga, School of Statistics; Dr. Stella Achen and Dr. Joseph Watuleke, School of Distance and Lifelong Learning; Agatha Ainemukama, School of Engineering; Racheal Nuwagaba, School of Psychology; Awel Uwihanganye, Martine Rugamba, and Hawa Ndagire from the Advancement Office; and Muhammad Kiggundu from the Institute of Gender and Development Studies.
The University of Groningen was represented by Dr. Dinie Bouwman, Senior Policy Advisor, Internationalization and Quality Assurance; Dr. Anita Veltmaat, Faculty of Social Behavior and Social Sciences, Department of International Studies, involved in mentorship programs for women; and Dr. Alette Arendshorst, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, working on graduation/collaboration for students/staff.
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