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Press Release: Hult Prize @Mak On-Campus Challenge A Success

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Makerere University on Thursday, 8th November 2018 hosted this year’s Hult Prize On-campus edition Grand Finale with the First Lady Honorable Janet Kataaha Museveni who was represented by Hon. Frank Tumwebaze the Minister of ICT as the Guest of Honor. “Apart from giving her apologies, the first Lady has given you 20 million” Hon. Tumwebaze said.

Over 100 prototypes were presented to the jury of social entrepreneurs and influential personalities around the country. Among the 71 teams that registered, Precotech a waste management system won the Hult Prize On-campus innovations challenge 2018 that took place on Thursday, 8th October, 2018 at Makerere University Main Building. Precotech will advance to the regional finals representing Makerere University and Uganda in March 2019 from where they will interact and compete with like-minded brains for a slot at the Grand Finale in New York City. “You have become the flag bearers of Makerere University in the Next stage of the competition ”declared Silver Walugembe, the campus director.

Members of Precotech-A Waste Management System that won the Hult Prize at Makerere University On-Campus Innovations Challenge 2018

“Precotech’s innovation aims at breaking barriers to employment through training the unskilled, but also, using a concept that is easy to comprehend, that is, Trash for Cash. The team is comprised of the CEO and Head of the Legal Department, Mukisa Joshua William, a 3rd year law student, Babirye Victoria Sharon, the head of the Software Engineering Department, Ntulume Joseph Brian, the head of the System Engineering Department and Mutambuze Paul, the head of the Waste management, Innovations and Value-Added Chain Department, all final year student at the College of Information Technology at Makerere University. “Don’t come up with these ideas for just your dissertation and making sure you get your degrees. Look at how you can continue with it. The government will support you by not taxing local content” Hon. Frank assured the innovators.

The Hult Prize innovation challenge is a start-up accelerator for impact entrepreneurship which brings together the brightest college and university students from around the globe to solve the worlds most pressing issues through pitching ideas and launching companies. The Hult Prize 2019 challenge is ‘’ Youth Unemployment” and the winning team will win a seed capital of one million USD at the grand finale in New York.

Members of the Jury including Mr. Arinaitwe Rugyendo (2nd L), Ms. Nyanjura Doreen (3rd R), Mr. Mathias Ssemanda (2nd L) among others at the Makerere Grand Finale

The jury consisted of Mr. Arinaitwe Rugyendo, the proprietor of the Red Pepper, Hakiza Ronald, founder and CEO of Ugabus, Katende Steven, a social entrepreneur and nominee of the Queens Young Leaders Award Nominee, Nyanjura Doreen, the Makerere University LC5 Councilor, Simon Ssenyonga, Eyeru Jacob of the Debating Society of Uganda, Mr. Patrick Enywaru, Founder and CEO Fade Media, Mr. Otim Jimmy Moses, Ms. Sarah Kobusingye, Mr. Hamid Tenywa, Mr. Kagoda Rogers, Ms. Rehma Kirunda and Mr. Mathias Ssemanda.

The competition had two highly competitive rounds, with the first round having two split sessions in the Senior Common Room and the University Main Hall. The jury selected six top teams that advanced to the second round of the competition. In the second round, the competing teams presented before a jury of fourteen that converged after the first round of the competition.

A screenshot of Precotech's Market Research shows some statistics of Kampala City's waste management situation

The event was presented by Hon Watum Patrick the 84th Guild ICT Minister, was convened and mobilized by the Campus director Mr. Walugembe Silver, with Ms. Ankunda Esther, Mr. Abdul Twaib Magambo, Ms. Kakai Dorothy, Mr. Kasule Jonathan Kalule and Ms. Ahimbisibwe Prize Mari as the organizing committee and Mr. Oyeki Gerald as moderator.

Special thanks to Honorable Janet Kataha Museveni, Honorable Frank Tumwebaze, Makerere University Management, Mulago METS programme, ResilientAfrica Network, Innovation Village, the Hult Prize team, all the participants and all the people who made this day a success. For more details and graphics about the event follow Hult Prize Makerere on Twitter using @hultatmak.

A CHALLENGE FOR US BY US.

For further details please contact

Silver Walugembe,
Hult Prize campus Director Makerere University,
Erstwhile Legislator- Students' Guild Council,
Makerere University,
Email: walsil.sw[at]gmail.com

Mark Wamai

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Call for Applications: Government Sponsorship 2026/27

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Makerere University -Main Building

The Academic Registrar, Makerere University informs all Head Teachers of Advanced Level (UACE) Schools with UNEB Centre Numbers that applications for admission to Public Universities and other Tertiary Institutions for 2026/2027 Academic Year for government sponsorship will be done electronically/online using the Academic Management Information
System (ACMIS) from 15th October, 2025 to 31st December, 2025. The Public Universities include:
(a) Makerere University
(b) Makerere University Business School
(c) Mbarara University of Science and Technology
(d)Kyambogo University
(e) Gulu University
(f) Busitema University
(g) Muni University
(h) Kabale University
(i) Lira University
(j) Soroti University
(k) Mountains ofthe Moon University

NB: The list of Other Tertiary Institutions is provided on the online application portal.

Other Important documents:

Mak Editor

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Business & Management

PIM Centre Holds 9th Steering Committee Meeting, Set to Benefit from World Bank Support

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Mak PIM COE Steering Committee

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.

The PIM Steering Committee in a meeting held at Emin Pasha Hotel

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.

Betty Kyakuwa
Betty Kyakuwa

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Strengthening Collaboration between Makerere University and the University of Groningen

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Seated: Prof. Sarah Ssali (C), Dr. Dinie Bouwman (L) and Dr. Anita Veltmaat (R) with teams from Makerere University and the University of Groningen during the meeting on 7th October 2025. Strategic meeting between Makerere University and the University of Groningen, Netherlands to move beyond existing collaborations and formalize a new Double Doctorate (PhD) program, 7th October 2025, Main Building, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

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 parties from Makerere University and the University of Groningen meeting in the Vice Chancellor's Boardroom. Strategic meeting between Makerere University and the University of Groningen, Netherlands to move beyond existing collaborations and formalize a new Double Doctorate (PhD) program, 7th October 2025, Main Building, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
The parties from Makerere University and the University of Groningen meeting in the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom.

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.

Prof. Sarah Ssali (R) presents a Mak Souvenir to Dr. Anita Veltmaat. Strategic meeting between Makerere University and the University of Groningen, Netherlands to move beyond existing collaborations and formalize a new Double Doctorate (PhD) program, 7th October 2025, Main Building, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Sarah Ssali (R) presents a Mak Souvenir to Dr. Anita Veltmaat.

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 meeting in session. Strategic meeting between Makerere University and the University of Groningen, Netherlands to move beyond existing collaborations and formalize a new Double Doctorate (PhD) program, 7th October 2025, Main Building, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
The meeting in session.

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.

The Team from Makerere University from Left to Right: Dr. Ruth Nsibirano, Dr. Racheal Nuwagaba, Dr. Patricia Ndugga, Dr. Stella Achen, Dr. Joseph Watuleke, and Ms. Agatha Ainemukama. Strategic meeting between Makerere University and the University of Groningen, Netherlands to move beyond existing collaborations and formalize a new Double Doctorate (PhD) program, 7th October 2025, Main Building, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
The Team from Makerere University from Left to Right: Dr. Ruth Nsibirano, Dr. Racheal Nuwagaba, Dr. Patricia Ndugga, Dr. Stella Achen, Dr. Joseph Watuleke, and Ms. Agatha Ainemukama.

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.

Prof. Sarah Ssali (R) presents a Mak Souvenir to Mrs. Alette Arendshorst. Strategic meeting between Makerere University and the University of Groningen, Netherlands to move beyond existing collaborations and formalize a new Double Doctorate (PhD) program, 7th October 2025, Main Building, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Sarah Ssali (R) presents a Makerere Souvenir to Mrs. Alette Arendshorst.

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.

Mak Editor

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