Makerere University Holdings Limited (Mak Holdings) in collaboration with the University Management is hosting the Makerere University Property Investor Conference on Tuesday 5th December 2017, to engage national, regional and international property development stakeholders (financiers, developers and advisors and among others) in order to market University properties and projects.
Starting at 8:30am at Serena Hotel Kampala, the Conference presents us with a platform to present to Investors in Property Development, national and international partners the opportunities that we have.
To improve her financial position and the nature and extent of the services offered by the University to its students and personnel, Makerere University Council established Mak Holdings in 2014, as her corporate entrepreneurial and investment arm mandated to manage all her economic interests. Mak Holdings Board which is chaired Mr. Charles Mbire consists of Seven (7) members from private and public sectors as well as the University.
In collaboration with Council, the Mak Holdings Board embarked on the journey to effectively utilize Makerere University’s land assets motivated by the following:
To unlock value, generate benefits and income for the University;
To contribute to the University’s long-term ambition of financial sustainability; and
To ultimately change Uganda’s higher education financing for generations to come.
Consequently, Mak Holdings undertook feasibility study and after its finalization, the following has been prioritized;
The development of additional facilities for the University; and
The commercialization of land through commercial property development of the University’s underutilized and/or unoccupied land to unlock its value and generate income.
In both instances, property development is to be undertaken by means of private sector participation and investment. This is because Makerere University (and by extension Mak Holdings) lacks or does not wish to commit its own financial resources to undertake the development of each Project and does not wish to incur capital investment commitments or other financial commitments (current and/or future) in relation to the development and procurement of any Project; the Makerere University (and by extension Mak Holdings) wishes to leverage the value of each Project Site and private sector expertise and innovation.
The Projects comprise:
Project 1: Conference Centre and 3-Star Hotel at the current Makerere University Guest House
Project 2: 5 Star Luxury Hotel, Commercial Centre and Upmarket Apartments – Kololo
Project 3: Gated Community and Upmarket Apartments – Makindye
The expectation is that any participation by private sector in the projects outlined above shall take the form of a Development Lease – the letting of the relevant Project Site by Mak Holdings to a Private Sector Party who will conclude a long term commercial lease with Mak Holdings with a view to undertaking the development (designing, financing, procurement, construction, operation and maintenance) of the relevant Project for its own account.
Through the Makerere University Property Investor Conference, we will hook partners with a vision, a long-term outlook, and the best team to deliver on the Project with financial capacity and experience.
The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released full results for the Mature Age Entry Scheme Examinations for the Academic Year 2025/2026 held on Saturday 14th December, 2024.
The Candidates who scored a final mark of 50% and above passed the examination and have been recommended by the Pre-Entry & Mature Age Committee to the University’s Admissions Board for Consideration.
The Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) has in collaboration with Centre for Teaching and Learning completed the training of the first cohort of Graduate Supervisors.
Participants were academic staff from two colleges namely, College of Engineering, Art and Design (CEDAT) and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES).
The three-day training that took place at the Telepresence Centre, Senate Building ended on Friday 20thJune 2025.
In his closing remarks to the participants, the Director of Graduate Training Prof. Julius Kikooma said, “This is the first cohort we are working together with the Center for Teaching and Learning to put together continuous professional development Program so that we are able to enforce the new teaching and learning policy.”
He said that before lecturers are allocated students for supervision, they must first go through this form of formal teaching and learning training to equip them thoroughly with certification required of supervision of graduate students.
“We are coming up with process to ensure that the certificates earned by participants allow you to supervise graduate students. This is the direction of the university and we must ensure that such trainings are concluded and completed successfully by all participants”, Prof. Kikooma.
Prof. Julius Kikooma – Director of Graduate Training
“We can only have you certified upon completing all the exercises in the training process. This is when you will be eligible to receive the work load for supervision”, He added.
“This training of Supervisors is going to be continuous so that all academic staff in colleges and schools are equipped. This first cohort is going to be our building block to the future trainings in the colleges.”
With such capacity building trainings, Prof. Kikooma said that the university is on the right path to achieving its targets in the new strategic plan of increasing the number of graduate students while progressively reducing the under graduate students.
He further hinted that, “We are in the process of writing a curriculum on this, which will be presented for approval before it is rolled out.”
He echoed all participants to share the knowledge they have acquired adding, “Share all you have learnt, do not keep it. Be open minded, have proper communication channels and the sky will be the limit for you.”
Dr. Robinah N. Kulabako, The Head of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at CEDAT welcomed the training adding, “This training is very pertinent. I have had the opportunity to supervise Masters and PhD students for over 15 years and I must say that the need to be subjected to this training cannot be over emphasized because there is need to learn, unlearn and relearn many aspects involved in the supervision process.”
She added, “We are moving towards knowledge-based supervision rather than experience-based supervision. This means we must be informed and equipped to be able to advise, guide and mentor to be able to lead a successful supervision journey for both supervisor and supervisee.”
Dr. Andrew Gilbert Were – a lecturer at CEDAT and a participant said, “It is important that all supervisors of graduate students receive this certification from Makerere University through a systematic training process that enables them to attain diverse skills to facilitate learning of graduate students from diverse cultures and with unique set of circumstances.”
“This training is long overdue. In fact, it was an oversight that we could be allowed to supervise students without undergoing supervisors’ training.”
Dr. Dorothy Ssebowa, The Director Centre for Teaching and Learning support- CEES said, “The training this time round has had a mix of early career professionals including Lecturers, Supervisors and Professors share experiences. We have learnt a lot more from experienced supervisors who have shared practices on how they have done supervision over the years.”
“The knowledge and experience-based approaches have made this collaboration very active, interactive and learner centered which has resulted into a collaborative learning from the interdisciplinarity of staff from CEDAT and CAES. The issue now is to continue with professional development across all levels.” She added.
The Makerere University Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) in collaboration with the Centre for Teaching and Learning completed the training of the first cohort of Graduate Supervisors. This activity was supported by the iCARTA – Institutionalization of Advanced Research Training in Africa, a NORHED II Project at Makerere University.
R-L: Arch. Kenneth Ssemwogerere (Head of Department, Architecture), Dr. Kizito Maria Kasule (Deputy Principal, CEDAT), and Mr. Kayongo Daniel (Plascon Uganda National Sales Manager) during the official handover of a donation at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Makerere University, on Tuesday, 25th June 2025.
The Department of Architecture at Makerere University’s College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology (CEDAT) is set to begin a significant refurbishment of its design studios starting 1st July 2025. This initiative marks a pivotal step in enhancing the learning environment for architecture students and fostering innovation in design education.
The refurbishment project has received a significant boost from Kansai Placon Uganda Limited, which donated UGX 15 million worth of paint to support the transformation. This contribution highlights the growing partnership between academia and industry in shaping the future of architectural education in Uganda.