The search process for the next substantive Makerere University Vice Chancellor has kicked off. The Vice Chancellor shall be responsible for the academic, administrative and financial affairs of the University, and in the absence of the Chancellor, preside at ceremonial assemblies of the University and confer degrees and other academic titles and distinctions of the University.
Section 31(4) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act stipulates that the Vice Chancellor shall be appointed on terms and conditions determined by the University Council for five years and shall be eligible for re-appointment for one more term.
The five year contract for the current Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu will be coming to an end on 31st August 2017.
On Tuesday 11th April 2017, Makerere University Council approved the guidelines of the search process for the next substantive Vice Chancellor of Makerere University (2017-2022).
According to Section 31 of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001, a Search Committee that is composed of two members from the University Council and three from the University Senate shall identify suitable candidates for the post of Vice Chancellor and forward them to the Senate to nominate three candidates for recommendation to the University Council. The University Council will then make its recommendation to the Chancellor who will appoint the Vice Chancellor.
The five member Search committee is chaired by Hon. Irene Ovonji Odida. The members include: Mr. Bruce B. Kabaasa, Dr. Betty Ezati, Dr. Frank Mwine and Prof. Joseph Y.T. Mugisha.
Addressing the media during the Press Conference held on Wednesday 12th April 2017, assured the public of a fair, transparent and competitive process when she said, “Each candidate shall be given equal rights and opportunity to express his or her capability to lead the institution as the Vice Chancellor. In order to produce the best possible outcome, the committee is going to use various methods such as interviews, public presentations and analysis of documents to assess and evaluate the individual capabilities.”
Hon. Ovonji Odida together with the Members of the Search Committee reiterated their readiness to complete the search process within a period of three (3) months.
“Makerere University Council approved guidelines on Tuesday 11th April 2017. We have started our work. We are officially opening the search process that will take three months; we envision concluding the process before the term of the current Vice Chancellor ends,” she said.
For a candidate to be eligible for nomination, he/she must;
Have PhD/ academic doctorate from a recognized academic institution
Be more than 40 years and below 65 years of age at the time of application
Must have a proven track record of academic management including supervision of graduate students and research.
At least five years of teaching experience at the rank of Associate Professor or equivalent in a reputable institution with excellent track record of research of at least 10 peer reviewed publications.
At least 10 years of working experience at Senior Management position, four of which must have been served at the minimum level of Dean of School/Faculty or its equivalent in a reputable public or private institution with excellent track record in management, leadership, and building winning teams.
Have a high level of integrity, be team player with excellent public relations and communication skills.
Proven /demonstrated high level of experience in networking, resource mobilization and preparation of grant wining proposals. He/she should have knowledge and proven experience in engaging with international partners
Proven experience in national, regional and/or international policy development in higher education.
Thorough knowledge of structural, legislative and regulatory framework for management of higher education in Uganda.
Good knowledge of public financial management and strategic planning.
The advertisement can be accessed by following the link below:
72 undergraduate students of Makerere University have successfully been admitted to the Millennium Fellowship Class of 2026, an initiative of the Millennium Campus Network (MCN) and United Nations Academic Impact. Makerere’s Fellows were selected from a record-breaking 76,000 applicants from over 6,000 campuses across 174 countries to participate in the ambitious programme.
According to the Fellowship website, the programme aims to make the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and UN Academic Impact Principles a reality on campuses, in classrooms and throughout communities. Millennium Fellows are university undergraduates selected for their leadership on sustainable development projects in their communities. As Fellows, they complete a semester-long leadership development programme that strengthens their student organizing, partnership-building and community-impact skills.
In his congratulatory message to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Sam Vaghar the Executive Director, MCN shared that Over 330 campuses across 60 nations have been selected to host 2026 Millenium Fellows. “Congratulations to you and Makerere University for having a cohort of Millennium Fellows from your student body again this year!”
Below is a sample of the work of the Class of 2026.
At Harvard University, a UN Academic Impact member institution in the United States of America, Millennium Fellows are expanding OpenDoor, an AI-powered platform that helps people navigate retraining, job opportunities and pathways into high-demand careers. The project grew from their work with people experiencing homelessness and from seeing how difficult workforce programmes can be to navigate even when support exists. Advancing SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, it expects to reach about 7,500 people during the Fellowship.
At the University of Ilorin, a UN Academic Impact member institution in Nigeria, Millennium Fellows are building what they describe as Africa’s first green AI policy framework, helping policymakers and developers understand how artificial intelligence can advance while reducing energy use, pollution and material waste. Aligned with SDG 13: Climate Action, it expects to reach about 75 people during the Fellowship.
At BRAC University, a UN Academic Impact member institution in Bangladesh, a Millennium Fellow is advancing SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production through a start-up replacing single-use products with environmentally friendly alternatives. Its current focus is a paper pen that uses roughly 90 per cent less plastic than a conventional pen, with a seed built in so it can grow into a plant when properly disposed of. The project expects to reach about 450 people.
At Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, a UN Academic Impact member institution in Moldova, a Millennium Fellow is advancing SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being by studying how environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity may affect recovery after brain surgery. By bringing simple digital monitoring tools into postoperative care, the project aims to help doctors make timelier decisions.
We wish our Millennium Fellows an impactful fellowship.
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‘s position in the July 2026 edition of the Webometrics Rankings has improved from 925th to 776th globally and from 13th to 11th on the Continent, compared to the January 2026 edition. Makerere remains the top-ranked University in Uganda and East Africa.
The new rankings are as a result of improved performance in the Impact Rank, which measures the number of external domains referring/linking to Makerere (from 1,593 to 1,185) and the Excellence Rank, which measures Research papers in the top 10% most cited between 2019 and 2023 (from 1,095 to 715).
Please see the attached screenshots for details or view Makerere‘s rankings online using the link below:
The Webometrics Ranking of World Universities aims to recognize and promote the digital transformation of higher education institutions by evaluating how effectively they reflect their academic, research, and societal contributions online.
We remain committed to ensuring that all our good work in teaching and learning, research, knowledge transfer, and partnerships continues to be reflected online through various journals and other platforms.
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