KAMPALA, UGANDA, EAST AFRICA.

On Monday 6th, Makerere University has officially launched its inaugural writing summer school, a week long professional development program aimed at equipping students, graduates, researchers and staff with practical writing skills required for academic excellence and success in today’s competitive job market. The program jointly organized by the Makerere University Writing Centre and Makerere University Press (MakPress), reflects the University’s commitment to nurturing graduates with not only academic knowledge but also the communication skills needed to thrive professionally.

Held virtually, the launch attracted more than 280 participants from Makerere University and other higher education institutions, demonstrating the growing demand for structured writing support beyond the classroom.

Building the Next Generation of Writers.

Speaking at the launch, the Director of Makerere Writing Press, Prof. William Tayeebwa, said the summer school represents an important investment in developing writers before their work reaches publication.

“The press has traditionally focused on publishing books, journals and scholarly work. Today, we are expanding that mission by helping and develop the writers who will produce tomorrow’s publication.

He noted that MakPress continues to support the publication of books and scholarly works produced by members of the Makerere Community. Using recently published books authored by a member of staff and a student as examples, he encouraged participants to submit manuscripts for publishing support rather than relying solely on self publication.

Writing as a Foundation for Academic and Professional Success.

Chairperson of the Makerere University Writing Centre, Prof. Frederick Muyodi, said the center was established to strengthen the writing competences among students, researchers and university staff.

” The Writers Center is here to support every stage of the writing process from CVs and application letters to research manuscripts, grant proposals, reports and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in writing.”

He explained that the Centre supports writing across multiple disciplines and professional contexts, adding that its long term vision is to extend writing support beyond Makerere University to institutions across Uganda and the East African region.

Equipping Graduates for the Labour Market.

Officially launching the summer school, the First Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Sarah Ssali, described the initiative as a strategic investment in preparing graduates for an increasingly competitive labour market.

She observed that while universities successfully impart disciplinary knowledge, many graduates leave campus without the practical writing skills required to secure employment and other professional opportunities.

“We teach content very, but many students are never taught how to write an effective CV, application letter, motivation statement or scholarly essay. Yet these are the documents that often determine whether someone secures an opportunity.”

Prof. Ssali said the writing summer school would bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional practice by equipping participants with market ready communication skills.

Reaffirming her office’s commitment to the initiative, she added:

“My office is pleased to support this initiative as we institutionalize the Writing Summer School to ensure that Makerere graduates leave not only with degrees but also with practical competencies needed to thrive professionally,”

She officially declared the inaugural Writing Summer School open and expressed optimism that future editions would attract even more participants and resources.

Participants Gain Practical CV Writing Skills.

The first technical session was facilitated by Mr. Abdul Noor Luttamaguzi, a PhD student in the Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences within the School of Bio sciences at Makerere University, a Senior Fisheries Officer with Luweero District Local Government, and the founder and director of the ANL Foundation, an organization that supports youth employment and capacity building.

During the session, he guided participants on developing competitive CVs tailored to specific professionals and employer expectations. He emphasized that applicants should customize their CVs to suit each opportunity instead of submitting the same document for every application. Participants also learned how effectively present their education, work experience, leadership roles technical competencies and professional achievements, while avoiding unnecessary personal information. Practical demonstrations using professional specific CVs provided participants with hands on examples of preparing competitive job application documents.

Looking Ahead.

The Writing Summer School continues throughout the week sessions on application letter writing, responsible use of artificial intelligence, professional communication and other essential writing skills aimed at improving academic productivity and employablity.

Through initiatives such as the Writing Summer School, Makerere University continues to strengthen its commitment to producing graduates who are not academically accomplished but also equipped with practical communication skills that enable them to compete and lead in today’s global workplace.

Kampala, Uganda East Africa.

Makerere University has officially launched its Strategic Plan 2025-2030, reaffirming its commitment to advancing research, innovation, academic excellence and human capital development in support of Uganda’s national transformation agenda.

The Strategic Plan, unveiled by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi, provides a road map for strengthening the University’s contribution to Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy through research, innovation, entrepreneurship and the production of highly skilled graduates.

The launch, held at the University’s Main Hall, brought together government officials, members of the University Council, management, development partners, staff and students to witness what leaders described as the beginning of Makerere University’s next phase of institutional transformation.

Positioning Makerere for National Transformation.

Delivering his remarks, Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe said the Strategic Plan reflects Makerere University’s ambition to become an even stronger research led institution that responds directly to Uganda’s development priorities.

He noted that the University intends to restore student enrollment to pre COVID levels while significantly increasing postgraduate training to produce more researchers, innovators and professionals capable of addressing national challenges.

Prof. Nawangwe also highlighted the University’s growing research portfolio, commending researchers and research centers that continue to attract substantial international funding.

“when you combine the grants won by all our researchers through competitive international funding, the total exceeds US$200 million,” He said.

The Vice Chancellor also pointed to the need to strengthen the University’s academic workforce, noting that although progress has been made, more investment is required to fill approved academic positions, particularly at professor and associate professor levels.

Strategic Plan Sets Ambitious Institutional Targets.

Chairperson of the University Council, Dr. Lorna Magara, described the Strategic Plan as more than an institutional document, calling it “a public covenant with the people of Uganda.”

She said the Plan outlines measurable commitments that will guide the University’s performance over the next five years, including expanding postgraduate enrolment, increasing STEM participation, improving doctoral completion rates and strengthening research productivity.

“Ambition is precisely what this moment demands. A strategic plan is not measured by the elegance of its language, but by the lives it transforms,” she said.

Dr. Magara emphasized that every investment in Makerere University should translate into tangible benefits for society through research, innovation, leadership and skilled graduates.

She also called for reforms to Uganda’s Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act to strengthen university governance and create an enabling environment for innovation and knowledge production.

Government Reaffirms Support.

Launching the Strategic Plan, Hon. Henry Musasizi commended Makerere University for aligning its institutional priorities with Uganda’s Vision 2040, the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and the country’s Tenfold Growth Strategy.

He observed that universities remain central actors in national development because they produce the knowledge, innovation and skilled workforce required to transform Uganda’s economy.

“Universities are central actors in national transformation. they are engines of knowledge creation, innovation and human capital development,” he said.

The Minister emphasized government’s commitment to supporting research, innovation and stronger collaboration between universities and industry to ensure that knowledge generated within higher education institutions contributes directly to economic growth.

Universities Critical to Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy.

Presenting the national development perspective, Samuel Kasule, Senior Planner at the National Planning Authority, explained that the Strategic Plan aligns closely with the Uganda’s long term development framework.

He noted that achieving the country’s ambitious economic growth targets will depend heavily on universities producing competent graduates, expanding research and strengthening innovation ecosystems that support priority sectors including agriculture, tourism, ICT, minerals, manufacturing, and oil and gas.

Kasule further underscored the importance of competency based education and post graduate training in building the human capital required for sustainable national development.

A Shared Vision for the Future.

Throughout the launch, speakers emphasized that Makerere University’s future lies in becoming an increasingly research intensive, innovation driven institution that responds to national and global development challenges.

The Strategic Plan 2025-2030 outlines priorities that include strengthening research excellence, promoting innovation and commercialization, expanding digital transformation, enhancing partnerships with industry, and producing graduates equipped to drive socioeconomic transformation.

Its launch marks a renewed commitment by Makerere University to remain at the forefront of knowledge generation and to contribute meaningfully to Uganda’s long term development aspirations.

Introduction

As you may recall, we recently launched the second half of our 10-year Strategic Plan. This Plan prioritises academic excellence, research and innovation, infrastructure development, human resource strengthening, and societal transformation to position Makerere as a leading driver of Uganda’s and Africa’s development.

As our updates today will demonstrate, Makerere University is steadily progressing towards implementing our Strategic Plan 2025–2030.

1. Makerere promotes and hires 153 lecturers

People remain at the heart of our Strategic Plan, as beneficiaries but also as key implementers, who are largely the staff. The University continues to make significant strides in building a robust and motivated workforce through strategic recruitment, appointments, and promotions.

In the last year, the Appointments Board collectively approved multiple appointments across academic leadership, fresh academic hires, and numerous administrative and support staff positions. These include several high-level academic leadership roles like Deans and Heads of Department, as well as fresh appointments.

We are dedicated to a merit-based recruitment process to fill critical gaps and to investing in both academic excellence and efficient service delivery. We congratulate all newly appointed and promoted staff and reaffirm our dedication to creating an enabling environment that attracts, develops, and retains top talent.

As expected of any such institution, the University deals with staffing challenges arising from
retirements, resignations, and other specialised needs. We have always managed these through targeted recruitment, contract appointments, post-retirement contracts for professors, and staff development programmes.

SUMMARY: JULY 2025 – to date

2. 2026/2027 Academic Year Calendar

We are pleased to announce that the University is fully prepared for the new 2026/2027 Academic Year, which will commence and progress as follows:

• Fresher’s Orientation Week: Saturday 1^st August to Friday 7^th August 2026.
• Semester One: Saturday 8^th August to Saturday 5^th December 2026.
• Semester One Examinations: Monday 16^th November to Saturday 5^th December 2026.
• Semester One Holiday Break: Saturday 5^th December 2026 to Friday 15^th January 2027.
• 77th Graduation Week: Monday 11^th to Friday 15^th January 2027.
• Semester Two: Saturday 16^th January to Saturday 15^th May 2027.

All newly admitted students (undergraduate and graduate) can now access their provisional admission letters via their individual application portals. We urge students to settle any outstanding payments promptly to ensure a smooth registration.

3. CCE (Complex) Hall Renovation

World-class infrastructure is a cornerstone of our Strategic Plan and hence remains a top priority for us. Last month, Makerere University handed over the CCE (Complex) Hall of Residence to the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) for comprehensive renovation and overhaul works at a cost of UGX 12 billion, fully funded by the Government of Uganda. This historic female hall, built in the 1950s, will undergo major structural improvements and a facelift. Works are expected to be completed within 12 months. This renovation will significantly improve living conditions for female students and further enhance the University’s residential infrastructure.

We are confident that NEC will deliver quality work that restores this important facility to modern standards for our students. This is the fourth major project undertaken by NEC at Makerere, following the renovations of the perimeter wall, Lumumba Hall, and Mary Stuart Hall.

4. Makerere to host the East African Universities Debate Championships

We are proud to announce that Makerere University will be hosting the East African Universities Debate Championships (EAUDC) 2026 from 26^th July to 1^st August 2026.
Hosting this flagship regional event reaffirms the University’s position as an intellectual powerhouse and leader in higher education in East Africa. It also enriches student life and nurtures leadership skills. The championships will bring together top debaters from universities across the region for high-level intellectual exchange, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and preparing the next generation of thought leaders and policymakers.

5. Research, Innovation and Societal Transformation – Makerere’s Leadership in the Ebola Response

One of the strongest expressions of our Strategic Plan is the University’s impactful engagement in solving real-world problems. Through the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), Makerere has become Africa’s new nerve centre in the fight against the current Ebola outbreak. On June 26, 2026, we proudly hosted the launch of the Joint Continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST) — a partnership between Africa CDC and WHO Africa — at IDI’s McKinnell Knowledge Centre.

The launched command hub enables real-time, cross-border coordination of surveillance, logistics, and response efforts, as Dr. Andrew Kambugu, Executive Director of IDI, will explain. IDI’s contributions include laboratory strengthening, clinical support in treatment units, infection prevention, community engagement, and active research on diagnostics and therapeutics. This work not only addresses the immediate Ebola crisis but builds long-term health system resilience across the continent.

Makerere’s role in the fight against infectious diseases such as Ebola – from on-the-ground support in treatment units and community engagement to hosting this continental nerve centre – exemplifies how the University is leveraging its research strengths to address pressing global challenges while nurturing the next generation of leaders.

This is fully consistent with our commitment to advance research and innovation that drives societal transformation by, for example, translating academic expertise into tangible public health impact and long-term resilience across Africa.

Conclusion

These developments affirm Makerere University’s commitment to the Strategic Plan 2025–2030. We are building a stronger institution that delivers excellence in teaching and learning, cutting-edge research, modern infrastructure, and meaningful contributions to national and continental development. We thank the Government of Uganda, our development partners, staff, students, and the media for your unwavering support.

AS WE BUILD FOR THE FUTURE.

Press coverage

SoftPower News: Makerere Promotes and Hires 153 Lecturers

Kampala Media TV: Makerere University Strengthens Academic Excellence with Massive Staff Recruitment, Infrastructure Expansion Ahead of New Academic Year

New Vision: Makerere University Recruits 240 staff, promotes 81