General
International Students Tipped on Life at Mak
“Uganda is very peaceful. There is no need to move around with your passport as is the case with other countries… There is no discrimination from Ugandan Lecturers and the ground is level in as far as academics are concerned,” counseled Francis, a South Sudanese 4th Year Bachelor of Petroleum Geoscience & Production Student Representative from the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS).
This was the uplifting mood as Full-term, Short-term and Exchange Students of non-Ugandan descent listened to speaker after speaker at their orientation organized by the International Office on 7th September 2016. Welcoming students to the event, the Office Head, Mrs. Martha Muwanguzi Ngobi, commended the attendees for choosing to complete part or all of their studies at Makerere University.
“At Makerere University, you will not only be rewarded with the best education and world-class qualifications, but will also be enriched with the cultural diversity and experience,” shared Mrs. Ngobi. She commended their courage and commitment in choosing a foreign country with a foreign culture and committed to support their respective academic and personal journeys.
Representing the Dean of Students’ Office, Ms. Magdalene Kalungi thanked the students for choosing Mak and hoped that as Ambassadors, they would encourage students from their countries and universities. So noted that most universities in the world have embraced student and staff exchanges as an aspect of Internationalization and urged them not to drop the ball.
She outlined the various departments under the Dean of Students and regarding Sports and Recreation, encouraged them to register with their respective Halls of Attachment so as to be able to participate in Inter-Hall Games Competitions. “Most of the students at Makerere University are non-resident, with only 4,300 accommodated on campus. Should you desire to stay in the Halls of Residence, please contact the Warden’s Office at your Hall of Attachment,” shared Mrs. Kalungi.
Mrs. Kalungi then advised Students to acquire appropriate visas and passes so as to make the most of their stay in Uganda by enjoying the privileges accorded to students. “Please visit our offices in Room 204 and 218 in the Senate Building and we shall write you a letter of introduction to the Directorate of Immigration” she advised.
International students were also urged to abide by the University rules and regulations so as to enjoy their stay at Makerere. “It doesn’t stop at being admitted. You ought to pay tuition fees for the respective course chosen and officially register for all the courses selected” cautioned Mr. William Serunjogi, Office Assistant in the International Office. He further encouraged students to read for their exams and ensure that they acquire examination permits prior to the start of the exam period.
The Orientation would not have been complete without representation from the Students Guild. The External Affairs Minister, Hon. Shema Emmanuel introduced his colleagues present who included Hon. Production and Employment Minister, Hon. Musherura Daniel, Social Affairs Minister, Hon. Were Salim and the School of Social Sciences Guild Representative Council (GRC), Laban Kiringi.
Hon Shema reiterated that Makerere is a welcoming community and Uganda is a welcoming country. “I therefore urge you all to get involved in student politics and the International Students Cultural Festival,” he said.
Article by Public Relations Office
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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