General
Mak Honours Prof. Capt. Dr. Virginio Lachora Ongom
On Thursday, 28th June 2018, Makerere University paid well-deserved tribute to one of the most hardworking researchers and publishers in his day and first African Dean of the School of Public Health (MakSPH), Prof. Capt. Dr. Virginio Lachora Ongom. Appropriately described as the “Meteorite from Pakwach” by the day’s emcee, Mr. George Piwang Jalobo, Prof. Ongom’s light brilliantly flashed across the sky of Pakwach District to the rest of Uganda, then to Kenya onto India and then vanished after only forty seven years, leaving behind a trail of achievements and publications.
The writing on the wall became clearer as speaker after speaker paid tribute at the Inaugural Memorial Lecture. Prof. Ongom was a hardworking academic and army officer who was passionate about using his time and resources to cause a change in his community. As a father, he was a strict disciplinarian and time keeper whose home often turned into an impromptu ‘reception centre’ for patients he often ferried over hundreds of kilometres from his Panyagoro village to Mulago Hospital.
“Prof. Ongom intervened and treated those who had been ‘bewitched’ and they recovered. That is how those ‘witches’ survived being lynched by their community, thanks to his research” said the College of Health Sciences (CHS)’ Deputy Principal-Dr. Isaac Okullo in his welcome remarks.
Representing the CHS Principal-Prof. Charles Ibingira, Dr. Okullo paid tribute to Prof. Ongom’s perseverance and determination in the face of resource constraints, to arrest the spread of bilharzia and treat affected persons. “This is what we always want as the result of our research.”
Dr. Okullo congratulated MakSPH upon continuing to raise awareness about bilharzia and other Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and thanked partners such as MaxMind Corporation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) as well as stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health (MoH)’s Vector Control Division (VCD) and the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) for supporting bilharzia research. “The event is a first step to galvanise support to eliminate bilharzia and other NTDs and so we still need your continued support to take this cause forward” he added.
Describing the late Prof. Capt. Dr. VL Ongom as a true patriot, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe in his remarks said, “The major purpose of this function therefore is to honour the patriotism, commitment and hard work of all researchers including Prof. Ongom, whose selfless effort and dedication brought these findings to light.”
Prof. Nawangwe further stressed that as the leading research university in Africa, Makerere would provide leadership in the endeavour to raise funds for training and research, in order to contribute to elimination of Bilharzia in Uganda. He shared Makerere’s pride at being research leaders in areas such as HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Malaria, as well as other diseases that hamper socio-economic development in Africa.
“We thank the Government for the support it continues to give this institution and pledge that every single coin will be put to the good cause of eliminating bilharzia and other Neglected Tropical Diseases” he concluded.
Introducing the Inaugural Memorial Lecture, the MakSPH Dean, Dr. Rhoda Wanyenze shared that the event was a continuation of an initiative embarked on by the School in December 2017; to honour all its erstwhile Heads. Four of these namely; Prof. Josephine Nambooze, Prof. John Kakitahi, Prof. Fred Wabwire-Mangen and Prof. David Serwadda were present to celebrate Prof. VL Ongom’s rich legacy, appropriately described by Dr. Wanyenze as “a trail of evidence through his scientific publications for posterity.”
The Dean further shared the School’s proposal to establish the Prof VL Ongom Endowed Chair and Endowment Fund, to support capacity building, research and innovations towards eliminating bilharzia and NTDs, including nodding disease. “This Endowed Chair presents a great opportunity to enhance the capacity of the University, Ministry of Health and UPDF Medical Services, to ably contribute solutions to this big challenge.
“Our target is to raise at least US$2million by June 2019, when we hold the next Prof. Ongom Memorial Lecture and at least US$15million by June 2024, a landmark year, when we celebrate 50 years since the Institute of Public Health was established, and the 6th annual Prof VL Ongom Memorial Lecture. Ladies and gentlemen, this is not just about money, but the real impact that we can and should make on the affected communities” remarked Dr. Wanyenze.
The choice of the person to deliver the Inaugural Prof. V.L. Ongom Memorial lecture couldn’t have been more appropriate. Prof. Birgitte Vennervald is no stranger to Uganda’s fight against bilharzia. Having first come to Uganda in 1989 under the auspices of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), Prof. Vennervald has gone on to traverse more Districts and villages in Uganda than the average national, thanks to the inspiration awakened by Prof. Ongom’s research and publications on the same.
“Prior to Prof. Ongom’s publications, most of the research on schistosomiasis was conducted outside sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Egypt, South America and Asia” shared Prof. Vennervald. “In this presentation we quote two of his papers on The Epidemiology and consequences of Schistosoma Mansoni” she continued.
Taking note of the aforementioned papers published in 1972, Prof. Vennervald stressed that these had to be revisited and further examined because Prof. Ongom had the benefit of understanding the local dialect and culture in his native Panyagoro community. “He had to rely on his hands to do all the necessary tests and his research demonstrated that in a community where bilharzia exists, it may end up being the most important public health need. We therefore should follow in Prof. Ongom’s footsteps for he indeed demonstrated that research must be evidence-based” she enthused.
Prof. Vennervald went on to congratulate MakSPH, the Ministry of Health (MoH) as well as other partners upon their continued research and vector control programmes that have led to the elimination of the previously endemic river blindness in from 18 out of the original 39 Districts of Uganda. “I nevertheless call upon the School of Public Health to make bilharzia and NTDs an attractive topic to students and researchers so as to keep the subject vibrant. Additionally, general drug distributors should be trained on how to handle or refer cases of bilharzia and other NTDs.”
She nevertheless called for a multi-sectoral approach in the fight against bilharzia and NTDs by involving agencies such as; MoH, Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) as well as the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, in order to safeguard tourists from being infected by diseases especially waterborne ones such as bilharzia.
Prof. Vennervald however took note of poor medicine uptake due to fear of side effects, the lack of child-friendly treatment and poor sanitation especially among migratory fishing communities as problems that still threatened the fight against bilharzia. “Some areas such as the islands of Lake Victora and districts in the Albertine region such as Hoima, Buliisa and Pakwach have experienced bilharzia upsurge.
“Despite all this, we learn from Prof. Ongom that we should remain focused on bilharzia by insisting that this is our problem, our community’s problem and Uganda’s problem in order to bring it to an end. You have the knowledge, research base and dedicated people in Makerere and Ministry of Health. You should be able to find a lasting solution to this problem and meet Government’s Vision 2040 goal” she concluded.
“We have done a lot of research and made a lot of interventions but we must admit that the bilharzia problem is much bigger than we thought” remarked Dr. Narsis Kabatereine, the discussant of the Inaugural Memorial Lecture. As one who joined the MoH’s Vector Control Division (VCD) in 1980, Dr. Kabatereine paid tribute to Prof. Ongom, who despite living for a short time wrote very prolific papers that demystified previous notions that only Caucasians were susceptible to schistosomiasis.
“I therefore thank Dr. Rhoda Wanyenze and Dr. Christopher Orach for encouraging research on schistosomiasis. This goes to show that research in implementable activities is still much-needed in today’s public health interventions” added Dr. Kabatereine.
The day’s tributes would have been incomplete without voices from those who knew Prof. V.L Ongom way before he became the trailblazing researcher and publisher. Speaking as a trio; Former Prime Minister-Rt. Hon. Kintu Musoke, Second Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of East African Affairs-Hon. Kirunda Kivejinja and Former Minister and Ambassador-Prof. Semakula Kiwanuka oscillated the audience between spellbinding silence and bouts of laughter.
“In 1958 I attended an interview to secure a scholarship to India, where the other interviewee was a young man called V.L Ongom” reminisced Rt. Hon. Kintu Musoke. “While I went on to secure a scholarship from the Government of India, V.L. Ongom received the Madhvani scholarship. Later when we met in India, it was ‘love at first sight’! The Ongom we knew was a serious student, a serious religious man and a serious political operator” he added.
“Hearing my senior colleague describe VL Ongom as a political animal was the biggest surprise to me” began Prof. Semakula Kiwanuka in reference to Rt. Hon. Kintu Musoke’s remarks. “Ongom and I met at Namilyango College in 1953 and what I remember is that he was extremely serious, hardworking and very clever.
“I was the President of the Uganda Students Association at the University of Nairobi but I never knew Ongom to be political! I don’t know what happened to those who went to India” remarked Prof. Semakula Kiwanuka, sending the audience roaring with laughter. “Today is therefore a wonderful day and we thank Makerere for honouring the distinguished scholar that Ongom was. Your presence here especially that of His Excellency the Vice President is testimony to that and I thank you for honouring my classmate, my schoolmate and my universitymate” he concluded.
“Your honouring Ongom and indeed honouring us today has fulfilled in our lives that when you do something good for your country, you will one day be recognised” eulogized Hon. Kirunda Kivenjinja. “As leaders, we hold positions of power and can get things done, but we didn’t want to remind the President to honour Ongom” he continued.
“As freedom fighters, there are three things we don’t do; we don’t seek our own glory, we don’t mourn our dead and we don’t lobby. We therefore thank the organisers of this Memorial lecture for befittingly honouring Prof. Ongom and his family today” summarised Hon. Kivejinja.
In his remarks, the Vice President H.E. Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi who represented the President H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni saluted the University for honouring distinguished leaders, noting that in so doing, “Makerere University, as a whole, and the College of Health Sciences and School of Public Health, in particular; have embarked on becoming transformation agents!
“This is a wonderful example of Academia getting out of its traditional “ivory tower” mentality into the real world to solve real problems that affect real people! This is re-orientation from ideological dis-orientation which has been a real obstacle to Uganda’s transformation since colonial times!” he added.
The Vice President observed that Prof. VL Ongom had the energy of an Army Captain Doctor even in Academia and seamlessly blended into the Army and Government in service of his community and Nation. “He was also a very religious man, who put his Catholic Christian faith in practice. For he was Chairman of St Augustine’s Chapel Community, and was a true patriot who drove the Chaplain, Rev. Fr. David Kiyingi, to the Uganda-Kenya border and to safety in the 1970s! This occurred when Idi Amin’s soldiers wanted Rev. Fr. Kiyingi dead or alive” he further praised.
H.E. Kiwanuka Ssekandi further noted the importance of a skilled and healthy population in enabling Uganda to realize her Vision 2040 and pledged the Government’s as well as UPDF Medical Services’ readiness to join MoH at the frontline of the struggle to eliminate Bilharzia and other NTDs by 2040.
“These historic projects have been eloquently articulated by the Dean, Dr. Rhoda Wanyenze. I will arrange to meet with the leadership of the University and School of Public Health in the nearest future to discuss these proposals in detail” concluded the President’s speech.
“If there was anyone who learnt anything from his strict timekeeping it was me” shared Ms. Elizabeth Ongom as she paid tribute. “You knew him as Professor but we knew him as Daddy. All we wanted was a father but we understood his commitment, he had to treat people” she added.
“As a family, we are extremely grateful and dearly thank Makerere University for honouring our late father Prof. Virginio Lachora Ongom. As you have heard from Prof. Vennervald’s lecture, Prof. Ongom’s research had impact and some of the bilharzia survivors he treated are today happily married. We also pay tribute to the gift of friends that our late father left behind who have been an integral part of our lives” shared the eldest son Mr. Godfrey Ongom.
There was a hushed silence from the audience as Mama Cecilia Ongom took her turn to pay tribute to her dearly departed husband. Speaking gently and yet authoritatively, Mama Ongom thanked Makerere University and all the organisers for the wonderful tribute to Prof. Ongom. She also thanked the Vice President for representing His Excellency the President at the Inaugural lecture, as well as all in the audience who had spared time to attend the event. “We were both in the same medical profession and we knew the call. We had to care” she summed up.
Prof. Capt. Dr. VL Ongom made a great contribution to science through his research in parasitology, especially in bilharzia and sexually transmitted infections. He published profusely; with over twenty five peer-reviewed publications as the first author, and overall, had over 35 publications including four theses. He was a Board member of the Uganda Commercial Bank; now Stanbic Bank, and oversaw the establishment of the bank’s branch in Pakwach district. In recognition and honour of his outstanding contributions, the Pakwach District Council on Saturday, 30th June 2018 renamed its Health Centre IV the Prof. VL Ongom Memorial Hospital.
Article by Public Relations Office
General
Makerere University and International Partners Sign MoU for the 9th Kampala Geopolitics Conference
Makerere University, on 10th March, 2026, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Embassy of France in Uganda, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), and Alliance Française de Kampala to organize the 9th edition of the Kampala Geopolitics Conference (KGC), scheduled to take place on 15–16 April 2026 at Makerere University.
The signing formalizes the continued partnership that has established the Kampala Geopolitics Conference as one of the region’s leading platforms for dialogue on global affairs, bringing together scholars, policymakers, civil society leaders, and students to debate the major geopolitical and socio-economic transformations shaping the world.
The conference, inspired by the Nantes Geopolitics Conference in France, was first launched in Kampala in 2018 and has since grown into a unique intellectual space for cross-continental exchange between Africa and Europe.
A Platform for Ideas, Dialogue, and Youth Engagement
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, emphasized the importance of the Kampala Geopolitics Conference as a platform that connects academic discourse with global policy conversations while empowering students to engage with the complex challenges shaping the international system.
The Vice Chancellor noted that hosting the conference reflects Makerere University’s long-standing commitment to fostering intellectual exchange and positioning the institution as a hub for regional and global dialogue.
“Makerere University is proud to host the Kampala Geopolitics Conference because it creates an important platform for debate and exchange on the global issues shaping our world, while giving our students the opportunity to engage directly with leading thinkers and policymakers,” said Prof. Nawangwe.
Prof. Nawangwe further commended the Embassy of France in Uganda, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and Alliance Française de Kampala for their continued collaboration with Makerere University in organizing the conference over the years. He expressed confidence that the 2026 edition will once again provide a dynamic platform for dialogue, bringing together scholars, policymakers, and students to examine the geopolitical trends shaping Africa and the wider world.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, H.E. Virginie Leroy, Ambassador of France to Uganda, highlighted the significance of the conference as a platform that encourages dialogue on global issues while empowering young people to participate in shaping the future.
Since its inception, the Kampala Geopolitics Conference has created opportunities for students, researchers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to engage with some of the most pressing global debates. The Ambassador noted that the curiosity and engagement of Ugandan students have become one of the defining features of the conference.
“This conference has become a unique space where students, researchers, policymakers and civil society exchange ideas on the major transformations shaping our world,” Ambassador Leroy said, adding that the event demonstrates the intellectual vitality of Uganda’s youth and the strength of the partnerships that sustain it.
Strengthening Partnerships for Global Dialogue
The Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a long-standing partner in the initiative, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting platforms that foster meaningful discussions on international affairs and regional dynamics.
Speaking during the ceremony, Anna Reismann, Director of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Uganda, emphasized the importance of the conference in connecting local perspectives with global debates.
She noted that Africa has increasingly become a focal point in global geopolitics, attracting engagement from a wide range of international actors through investments, trade, security cooperation, and diplomatic partnerships. While these engagements create new opportunities for economic growth and technological advancement, they also raise important questions about sustainability, governance, and the terms of international cooperation.
According to Reismann, the conference provides an important forum to examine these issues and to encourage dialogue that bridges academic perspectives with practical policy considerations.
The 2026 edition of the Kampala Geopolitics Conference will focus on key global and regional issues shaping international relations and development.
Among the themes to be explored are the future of development cooperation, particularly as global aid dynamics evolve and countries explore more sustainable and balanced partnerships. Another panel will examine youth and public policy in Africa, recognizing the critical role that young people play in shaping governance, innovation, and development across the continent.
With Africa home to the youngest population in the world, discussions will highlight the importance of ensuring that young people are not only beneficiaries of public policies but also active contributors to their design and implementation.
Makerere University at the Centre of Global Conversations
Hosting the conference reflects Makerere University’s continued commitment to fostering intellectual exchange and positioning the institution as a hub for regional and international dialogue.
Through its partnerships with global institutions such as the Embassy of France, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and Alliance Française de Kampala, Makerere continues to create platforms that connect academic knowledge with policy discussions and real-world challenges.
The Kampala Geopolitics Conference is expected to once again bring together leading experts, scholars, and practitioners from across Africa and Europe, while providing students with a rare opportunity to engage directly with global debates.
As preparations for the 2026 edition gather momentum, the partners expressed confidence that the conference will continue to inspire critical thinking, encourage dialogue across disciplines and generations, and strengthen cooperation between Africa and its international partners.
Caroline Kainomugisha is the Communications Officer, Advancement Office, Makerere University.
Following successful development of the Integrated Electronic Pre-Award Grants Management System for Sponsored Research, the Grants Administration and Management Support Unit (GAMSU) at Makerere University held a dissemination workshop, to onboard the University leadership, principal investigators, researchers, staff and partner institutions.
Held on Friday 6th March 2026, the dissemination workshop provided a platform to demonstrate the Integrated Electronic Pre-Award Grants Management System for sponsored research at Makerere University, and to receive instant feedback from physical and virtual participants.
Participants were drawn from the University leadership, including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Finance and Administration, the University Secretary, the Director-Graduate Training, Director-Research, Partnerships and Networking, Principals, Deputy Principals, Deans, Heads of Department, Principal Investigators, researchers, Heads of Administrative Units, representatives from international partner institutions, and members of the Grants Management Steering Committee (GMSC).
Welcoming the internal and external stakeholders to the dissemination workshop, the Head of GAMSU, Prof. Sylvia Antonia Nakimera Nannyonga-Tamusuza, emphasized that feedback from the participants was a vital step, that would not only enrich the grants management and administration processes, but also contribute to refining the system.
Expressing GAMSU’s commitment to the automation of the entire grants cycle, Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza credited the University leadership, the research project team members, and the different units within Makerere University, as well as, international partners, for the support rendered to GAMSU in developing the system.
The Integrated Electronic Pre-Award Grants Management System
Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza highlighted that the initiative responds to growing global competition for research funding and longstanding administrative challenges that researchers have faced when accessing and managing grants.
This digital initiative is designed to modernise how the institution handles research funding applications and administrative workflows before awards are granted. The system, aims to streamline the entire grant application lifecycle — from identifying funding opportunities to proposal preparation, compliance review, reporting, and closeout management.
Recognition of the Project team
Headed by Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza (Principal Investigator), the project team members include the following: Denis Michael Wamala (I.T Specialist), Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala (Senior Researcher-GMSC), Prof. Charles Masembe (Senior researcher-GMSC), Ivan Mutyaba (Grants Administrator-IREX Alumnus), Mordecai Tayebwa (Grants Manager-IREX Alumnus, Esther Kabinga (Legal Affairs Advisor), Innocent Tumwebaze (Early-Career researcher), Caroline Nabwire (Grants Administrator-GAMSU), Harriet Nambooze (Senior Grants Administrator) , and Victor Chris Watasa (System’s Design Consultant).
Acknowledgment of funding partners
The development of the Integrated Pre-Award Grants Management System was supported by the International Research and Exchange Board (IREX) through funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, with additional contributions from Makerere University.
Institutional leadership welcomes system development
On behalf of the University Management, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, lauded the Principal Investigator, Prof.Sylvia Antonia Nakimera Nannyonga-Tamusuza and her project team, for the development of the system aimed at digitizing the pre-award grant processes at Makerere University.
Opening the dissemination workshop, Prof. Ireeta, who doubles as the Chairperson of the Grants Management Steering Committee (GMSC), highlighted that the Integrated Electronic Pre-Award Grants Management System, would significantly benefit Makerere University and the researchers.
Prof. Ireeta emphasized that as Makerere University continues to implement its research agenda, the funding question becomes paramount. Acknowledging that funding through grants significantly facilitates research undertakings at Makerere University, Prof. Ireeta underscored the value of the Integrated Electronic Pre-Award Grants Management System, as an excellent addition, to existing processes aimed at amplifying the research profile of the University, as well as, streamlining grants management and administration.
“If we maximally utilize the system, the University and its researchers will be better placed to apply, attract and win grants, which will definitely boost the grant and research profile of this institution,” he said.
He encouraged the participants to actively follow the proceedings, and provide constructive input during the feedback session, in order to contribute to the refinement of the system.
Format of the dissemination workshop
The dissemination workshop featured a series of presentations including: Makerere University’s Strategic Research Direction; the Context of Administration and Management of Grants at Makerere University; Project Overview; Purpose and Objectives of the workshop; Overview of the Pre-Award Grants System Development; Technical demonstration of the system; and the Discussion and Stakeholder Feedback session.
The benefits of the system and the challenges it seeks to address
Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza, Head of GAMSU and Principal Investigator of the project, explained that the electronic pre-award system addresses several structural challenges in research grant management.
She said Makerere University faces increasing global competition for research funding. “Grants have become highly competitive, and we need stronger institutional strategies to support our researchers,” she said.
According to Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza, the previous grant management environment was fragmented because different university units operated independent systems. The new platform seeks to streamline processes and support database-driven decision-making for capacity building and institutional planning.
She explained that the system is designed to support researchers even before they begin writing proposals. “Understanding the funder’s requirements is critical. If a researcher does not clearly understand what the funder is asking for, even a well-written proposal may fail to secure funding,” she said.
The Head of GAMSU stressed that transparency and accountability were central goals of the system. “With proper work logs and documentation, we can demonstrate accountability in grant administration,” she added.
She noted that principal investigators often require institutional documents such as audit reports and registration information when applying for grants. Centralised data storage, she said, would make such information more accessible.
Support for researchers, not replacement for individual applications
Prof. Nannyonga-Tamuzusa clarified that the system does not eliminate individual grant applications. “GAMSU is providing support to researchers. We want our staff to compete favourably within the global research community,” she said.
She explained that academic staff operate at different career levels. “Some staff are new to research grant applications and may need guidance. Others are experienced. Our role is to provide support whenever it is needed,” she stated
Addressing challenges in grant administration
The Head of GAMSU identified several challenges motivating the system’s development. These include: increasing international competition for research funding, fragmented awareness of funding opportunities across university units, limited coordination between researchers, colleges, and administrative structures, capacity gaps in grant proposal development, heavy reliance on manual administrative processes and limited institutional data for strategic planning.
She pointed out that GAMSU’s role is coordination, compliance, and institutional oversight rather than revenue collection.
Leaders and Researchers urged to adhere to university policies
Presenting the Context of Administration and Management of Grants at Makerere University, Mr. Yusuf Kiranda-University Secretary, articulated that the University Council, approved the Grants Administration and Management Policy in 2020, which provides governance guidance for research funding management. He appealed to participants to always read and make reference to the policy on matters pertaining to grants management and administration.
The University Secretary emphasized that research funds secured through grants are managed on behalf of Makerere University and the Government of Uganda. He therefore, urged researchers and principal investigators to uphold transparency and accountability when managing grant resources. “Funds acquired through grants must be accounted for within stipulated timelines and must demonstrate value for money,” said Mr. Kiranda.
In the same vein, he called upon research teams to follow the university’s human resource recruitment guidelines when appointing project staff.
Mr. Kiranda highlighted the importance of registering all grants managed across university units with GAMSU, noting that centralised oversight supports institutional accountability.
Director of Research highlights strategic research direction
Prof. Robert Wamala, Director of Research, Innovation and Partnerships (DRIP), presented the university’s strategic research agenda. He observed that university partnerships have sometimes been underutilised due to the absence of supporting infrastructure, such as the pre-award system.
The university’s research mandate includes promoting research coordination, strengthening innovation capacity, supporting technology transfer, and mobilising research funding.
Prof. Wamala said the university’s research strategy is guided by a 10-year institutional development plan aligned with Uganda’s National Development Plans. “The vision is to build a sustainable, research-led university that produces a highly productive academic workforce and versatile graduates,” he said.
Priority research themes
In his presentation, Prof. Wamala outlined Makerere University’s nine (9) priority research areas for the next five years. These include: Health and health systems; Sustainable urbanisation and housing; Governance, social justice, and equity; Agricultural transformation and food security, Education systems development; Economic growth, business, and innovation; Climate change and natural resource management; Cultural heritage; and Science, engineering, and technology.
Prof. Wamala encouraged researchers to align proposals with these institutional priorities. He urged academic staff to access university policies available on the official website (https://policies.mak.ac.ug)
Graduate training and institutional coordination
Prof. Julius Kikooma, Director of Graduate Training, said the establishment of GAMSU represents a major cultural shift in research administration.
He explained that earlier academic practice required researchers to independently search for funding opportunities and manage grants. “While that approach sometimes produced successful researchers, it also resulted in inconsistencies in proposal preparation and accountability reporting,” he said.
Prof. Kikooma emphasized the importance of institutional systems in meeting changing donor compliance requirements. He stated that grant writing involves two equally important components. “Approximately 50 percent depends on scientific proposal quality, while the other 50 percent depends on institutional compliance and administrative coordination,” he said.
He encouraged researchers to integrate GAMSU early in proposal development rather than treating the unit as a final review office.
Strategic investment in research competitiveness
In a document presented by Ms. Ritah Namisango, Prof. Charles Masembe-a member of the research team outlined the project overview, purpose, and workshop objectives, including system dissemination, stakeholder engagement, and functionality demonstration.
He stated that the electronic pre-award grants system is a strategic investment in Makerere University’s future research competitiveness. The digital transformation in grant administration will improve efficiency, strengthen accountability, and enhance access to funding opportunities.
Deputy Principal of CoBAMS applauds GAMSU Contributing to the discussion and stakeholder feedback session, the Deputy Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Associate Professor James Wokadala, commended GAMSU for the development of the system aimed at increasing the chances of winning grants. He appealed to GAMSU to cascade the training to the various units within the University.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars have been encouraged to embrace mentorship programmes as a way of maximising opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Mentorship is a professional relationship in which an experienced person (the mentor) supports another (the mentee) in developing specific skills and knowledge that enhance both professional and personal growth.
While speaking at a Mentor–Mentee matching session held on Saturday at the Central Teaching Facility, Mr Steven Langa, a counsellor and director at Family Life Network, told scholars that mentorship plays a pivotal role in preparing the next generation of leaders capable of transforming Uganda and Africa.
“We live at a very challenging time in history, a time when Uganda and Africa have to rise up to the occasion to provide leadership, professional excellence and innovation,” Mr Langa, said.
In his presentation, Mr Langa explained that a mentor is not a parent, therapist, or romantic partner, but rather a coach who helps the mentee build essential skills.
“The mentoring relationship is built on mutual trust, respect and communication and involves both parties meeting regularly to exchange ideas, discuss progress and set goals for further development. A mentor does not need to know, or to provide all the answers; instead, the mentor encourages the mentee to use their available resources to identify solutions,” Mr Langa, noted.
Speaking at the same event, Ms Eva Nabasumba, the Principal Academics and Career Development Officer at the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, encouraged scholars to build strong relationships with their mentors, which could later provide credible referees for employment, scholarships and other opportunities.
She highlighted several benefits of mentorship for mentees, including gaining advice, knowledge and insights from experienced professionals; developing professional communication skills; building valuable industry networks; engaging in employment-related conversations; exploring career pathways; and learning strategies for job searches, résumé writing and interviews.
During the session, mentors introduced themselves to their new mentees, allowing scholars to identify and connect with suitable mentors. Some of the mentors are doctors, teachers, counsellors, engineer’s business people and Accountants.
Apollo Mulondo, one of the mentors, urged scholars to take the mentorship opportunity seriously and respect the time and commitment of their mentors.
“Some of us are who we are today because of our mentors. Our offices are always open to you, so feel free to visit anytime. It does not matter what your background is you can make it,” Mulondo said.
The mentor–mentee matching session enabled scholars to interact with professionals from different fields, giving them an opportunity to identify mentors whose experience aligns with their academic and career aspirations. The engagement also created a platform for scholars to begin building networks that will support their growth beyond the university.
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