General
5th Mak Self-Assessment Advocates for Diversification
The Quality Assurance Directorate (QAD) on Thursday, 9th May 2019 held a breakfast meeting to update Members of the University Council and Management on the latest findings of the 5th Makerere University Self-Assessment exercise. Held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, the meeting was presided over by the Chairperson of Council Mrs. Lorna Magara, represented by the Vice Chairperson Rt. Hon. Daniel Fred Kidega. It was attended by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs)-DVCAA Dr. Umar Kakumba, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration)-DVCFA Prof. William Bazeyo as well as Members of Management, Principals, Directors and Members of the University Administration. The breakfast was also graced by the Guild President, H.E. Kateregga Julius, Vice Guild President H.E. Judith Nalukwago and Hon. Ahmed Abdirahman the Academic Affairs Minister.
Addressing the meeting, the Director QAD Dr. Vincent Ssembatya shared that Self-Assessment is an important measure of institutional progress and a good precursor for future planning. “Self-Assessment is one of the exercises that the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) expects Universities in Uganda to undertake and I am happy to report that Makerere has taken the lead.”
Some of the firsts in this year’s assessment include results from; Employer Expectation Surveys covering 100 institutions and corporate companies, Student Evaluation of Courses and Teaching (SECAT) obtained from over 300 class representatives and the proposal to adopt institutional performance targets in the run-up to the 100year celebrations in 2022.
In line with Internationalisation, Dr. Ssembatya pointed out the need to diversify conversion systems for International Applicants’ Qualifications to the Ugandan A-Level, Diploma and Mature Entry equivalents. This, he noted, would help attract more scholars; especially from countries that no longer offer the Advanced Level Education (S.5 and S.6), to Makerere. He also put forward the need to consider the resident tuition option as an incentive to attract short term students from leading universities worldwide.
Additionally, the presentation called for the need to strengthen the policy and support environments in line with institutional Internationalisation aspirations. Furthermore, the proposal to offer honorary professorships to academics from long-term partnering institutions was tabled as a way of further diversifying the composition of teaching staff.
On the teaching front, Dr. Ssembatya was happy to report that the University had with the construction of Central Teaching Facilities 1 and 2 met all its teaching space needs. He also called for the need to diversify the current offering of professional courses.
“It is on record that we are producing a large number of Bachelor of Commerce graduates. Makerere should now consider introducing the Master of Commerce in addition to the Master of Business Administration as an alternative for our professionals,” explained Dr. Ssembatya.
Responding to the presentation, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe observed that Self-Assessment is an important activity undertaken by QAD to help keep University operations on course. He therefore thanked the Directorate of the great job done and Vice Chairperson of Council-Rt. Hon. Daniel Fred Kidega for making the breakfast a priority on his schedule.
“We however need to extract the data for each college and share it with the respective leadership,” observed the Vice Chancellor in his reaction. “The assessment should also incorporate a comparison of Makerere’s colleges with peers in the region and Africa, so that we can rank our various disciplines” he added.
“Global trends reveal that research and publication is directly proportional to economic development of any nation. Therefore as we work towards increasing our population of graduate students, we shall improve our research and publications output, and thereby ably contribute to economic development of our nation. In this regard, we thank the Government for allocating UGX30billion in the next financial year to fund research at Makerere.”
In his remarks, the DVCAA Dr. Umar Kakumba thanked QAD for providing snapshot of institution’s health. “Institutions are living organisms; they need to be well nourished and taken care of otherwise they will get bedridden and eventually die. This is therefore a very important exercise.”
In line with improving enrolment especially at graduate level, the DVCAA urged colleges to submit proposals to the University Senate that allow them to run programmes on weekends and other periods that are more favourable for the working class.
“The College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) was the first unit to offer the block week modular release arrangement for the Master of Arts in Public Administration and Management (MAPAM). This can be emulated and adopted by other units” advised the DVCAA.
Dr. Kakumba further urged colleges to take advantage of their respective Centres of Excellence. “Our Centres of Excellence are of diverse origin and give the University strong latitude on Internationalisation, especially with regard to recruitment of staff and students.”
The DVCFA Prof. William Bazeyo on his part lauded Dr. Ssembatya for emphasising the need for diversification, adding that this should also be extended to finances, “because colleges have a huge potential to partner with corporate companies and other agencies to fund their initiatives.”
He urged Principals to work with their staff to quantify all their research, outreach as well as knowledge translation and transfer activities. Quantification, he said, would enable Makerere to meaningfully engage with all prospective partners.
“As leaders, we should also increase our physical engagement with the industry and other partners. Regular engagement opens more doors for our students to undertake internships in these organisations and keeps our graduates relevant to market demands” summed up Prof. Bazeyo.
“As Vice Chairperson of Council and Chair of the Quality Assurance, Gender and ICT Committee, I am immensely proud that this intense Self-Assessment exercise has been undertaken by the small team at the Quality Assurance Directorate. Thank you very much and congratulations!” remarked Rt. Hon. Kidega as he commenced the concluding address.
He noted that quality assurance is a very important aspect of any institution and thanked the Management, Staff and Student Leadership present for their contributions to the self-assessment discussion. “It was so refreshing to hear Makerere University’s contribution to National Development and I believe that the story of our research conversations and concern for country needs to be told more often!”
Rt. Hon. Kidega reiterated that research need not just be scholarly but ought to positively touch the population. He therefore urged the university leadership and researchers to always correlate their activities with the National Planning Agenda and Uganda Vision 2040.
He paid tribute to the outgoing 84th Guild led by H.E. Papa Were Salim for promoting a peaceful environment as the Council transitioned from the old to the current leadership. He thanked the 85th Guild President, H.E. Kateregga Julius and Members of his Cabinet for attending the Self-Assessment exercise despite the busy exam period, adding that he looked forward to a special engagement with the new Guild leadership.
“We come with a lot of humility to work with you. All the solutions to challenges faced by this University reside within us. On behalf of the University Council, I pledge to work with the University Management so that together, we make Makerere a better University” concluded Rt. Hon. Kidega.
Article by Public Relations Office
When a delegation from Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) visited Makerere University on 23rd July 2026, one of the biggest discussions was how universities can effectively manage research grants.
The MUST delegation, led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Pauline Byakika Kibwika, visited Makerere to learn from the University’s experience in managing externally funded research projects. During the meeting, Makerere Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe revealed that while MUST managed research grants worth about UGX 13 billion in the last financial year, Makerere’s research portfolio now stands at approximately USD 250 million.
The discussion focused on the systems, policies and accountability measures that have enabled Makerere to manage one of the largest research portfolios in Africa.
Research Funding Built on Trust.
Prof. Nawangwe explained that Makerere’s research funding comes from different colleges and research units.
He noted that the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) alone attracts about USD 70 million annually, while the School of Public Health receives approximately USD 30 million each year. Together, the two units account for nearly USD 100 million in research funding.
He said these grants are made possible because development partners trust the University to manage public resources responsibly.
“We must ensure proper accountability so that we don’t lose the trust of our donors and continue benefiting from their support,” Prof. Nawangwe said.
How Makerere Manages Research Grants.
Acting University Secretary Mr. Simon Kizito took the MUST delegation through the key requirements that every grant funded project must meet under Makerere’s Grants Administration and Management Support Unit (GAMSU).
He explained that every research project must first be included in the University’s approved budget in line with the Public Finance Management Act before any funds can be spent.
He also emphasized that procurement under research grants must comply with the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDA) Act, regardless of the donor’s procurement guidelines.
“The Auditor General will pounce on you” if procurement procedures are not followed, he cautioned.
Mr. Kizito further explained that all assets purchased using grant funds, including vehicles and equipment, must be recorded in the University’s central assets register unless the funding agreement states otherwise.
He added that separate project bank accounts can only be opened with approval from the Accountant General, while all projects must submit both financial and narrative reports to funders and government and undergo regular audits.
University Bursar Mr. Evarist Bainomugisha noted that although grant funds do not appear directly in the University’s main financial statements, they are fully disclosed in the notes to the accounts and are audited annually before reports are submitted to Parliament.
Lessons from the Research and Innovation Fund.
The delegation also learnt about the Makerere Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF).
Representing the Fund, Dr. Roy William Mayega said Mak-RIF has invested about UGX 172 billion in research and innovation over the last seven financial years.
He explained that 70 percent of the funding supports competitive research grants, 10 percent is reserved for projects addressing national priorities, while the remaining funds support monitoring, evaluation and dissemination of research findings.
According to Dr. Mayega, the Fund has so far supported 1,480 research and innovation projects, with 53% completed and 47% still ongoing.
Looking Beyond Research Grants.
Director of Research, Innovation and Partnerships Prof. Robert Wamala encouraged the visiting delegation to look beyond simply winning research grants.
He emphasized the importance of investing in strong internal systems, using artificial intelligence to improve efficiency, and ensuring that research leads to publications, patents, commercialization and partnerships with industry.
He noted that universities should not only focus on attracting grants but also on translating research into solutions that benefit society.
Learning from Makerere’s experience.
Prof. Pauline Byakika Kibwika said MUST recently established a Research Institute to coordinate research activities and grant management under one structure. She explained that the University wanted to learn from Makerere’s experience as its own research portfolio continues to grow.
“We have come to learn from your achievements as well as the challenges, so that we can do things better,” she said.
She added that the visit marks the beginning of closer collaboration between the two institutions, with a follow up technical engagement planned to allow the MUST team to learn more about Makerere’s grant management systems, including the GAMSU online platform.
General
Makerere, Southwest Minzu University and NARO Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance Livestock Research and Innovation
Makerere University has taken a significant step towards strengthening international research collaboration following a high-level meeting with a delegation from Southwest Minzu University, China, to advance a strategic partnership in animal husbandry, veterinary sciences and agricultural innovation.
Held on 23rd July 2026, the meeting brought together representatives from Makerere University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB), the Advancement Office, Southwest Minzu University and the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) to discuss a long-term collaboration aimed at enhancing livestock productivity, promoting scientific research and building institutional capacity.
The proposed partnership builds on an earlier study visit by NARO to Southwest Minzu University, where discussions identified opportunities to introduce high-quality goat breeds with superior genetic traits for crossbreeding with indigenous Ugandan breeds. The initiative positions Uganda as the first country in Africa to benefit from the introduction of these specialised breeds, with the goal of improving livestock productivity and supporting farmers’ livelihoods.
While livestock improvement forms the foundation of the collaboration, partners agreed that the five-year initiative will extend far beyond animal husbandry. The partnership is expected to foster joint research in agro-technology, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, microbiology and laboratory sciences, creating new opportunities for scientific innovation and knowledge exchange. The project will be anchored at NARO’s Kawanda research facilities before expanding to twelve research institutions across Uganda, with Makerere University providing academic leadership, scientific expertise and research support.
Welcoming the delegation, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Sarah Ssali, reaffirmed Makerere University‘s commitment to international collaboration as a driver of research excellence, innovation and capacity development. She noted that the University, through the advancement office, continues to leverage its extensive global partnerships to facilitate knowledge exchange while addressing national development priorities through research.
Prof. Ssali further observed that introducing improved goat breeds presents an opportunity to transform Uganda’s livestock sector by enabling farmers to move beyond subsistence production towards more commercially viable animal husbandry systems. She emphasized that the success of the partnership will depend on effective coordination, well-defined institutional frameworks and sustained communication among all partners.
Speaking on behalf of Southwest Minzu University, the visiting delegation expressed appreciation for Makerere University‘s hospitality and reaffirmed their commitment to establishing a lasting institutional partnership with both Makerere University and NARO. Beyond collaborative research, the delegation highlighted opportunities for staff exchanges, joint scientific projects and postgraduate training, including scholarships for Makerere students pursuing Master’s and PhD programmes. They also extended an invitation to Makerere University‘s leadership to undertake a reciprocal visit to Southwest Minzu University in China.
Discussions also focused on operationalizing the partnership for the benefit of International education through staff and student exchange. Makerere University‘s International Office committed to developing an implementation framework linking Makerere University and Southwest Minzu University, while ensuring that staff and postgraduate students benefit from scholarship opportunities, research collaborations and international mobility programmes. The Office will also coordinate the development of exchange guidelines and work with the Academic Registrar on postgraduate scholarship applications.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to building a sustainable partnership that combines international expertise with Uganda’s research priorities. By bringing together Makerere University‘s academic excellence, Southwest Minzu University’s specialized expertise and NARO’s national agricultural research infrastructure, the collaboration is expected to strengthen livestock research, advance scientific innovation and contribute to Uganda’s agricultural transformation.
Expected Outcomes of the Partnership
The proposed collaboration between Makerere University, Southwest Minzu University and the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) is expected to create a strong platform for advancing research, innovation and capacity development in Uganda’s agricultural sector. By combining the complementary strengths of the three institutions, the partnership seeks to promote multidisciplinary research in animal husbandry, biotechnology, agro-technology, artificial intelligence and microbiology, while supporting the development of innovative solutions to address challenges in livestock production and animal health.
A key anticipated outcome is enhanced academic and research capacity through joint research initiatives, staff exchanges and postgraduate training opportunities. The partnership is expected to provide Makerere University students with access to Master’s and PhD scholarships at Southwest Minzu University, while enabling researchers and academic staff to participate in collaborative research, scientific exchange programmes and international knowledge-sharing initiatives. These engagements are expected to strengthen institutional research capacity and foster the development of highly skilled professionals in veterinary and agricultural sciences.
The collaboration is also expected to strengthen the link between research and practice. With NARO serving as the implementation anchor for field-based activities and Makerere providing academic and scientific leadership, the partnership aims to facilitate the translation of research into practical innovations that improve livestock productivity, enhance food security and contribute to sustainable agricultural development in Uganda.
At the institutional level, the partnership is expected to expand Makerere University‘s international research networks, attract collaborative research opportunities and reinforce its position as a leading research-intensive university. By fostering long-term collaboration across academia, research institutions and international partners, the initiative has the potential to contribute to Uganda’s agricultural transformation while advancing knowledge generation, technology transfer and evidence-based innovation.
Caroline Kainomugisha is the Communications Officer, Advancement Office.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and Members of Management on 23rd July 2026 hosted a delegation from Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) led by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Pauline Byakika-Kibwika. The visit follows the formation of the Grants Office under the newly opened MUST Research Institute. This delegation was therefore keen to benchmark Makerere University’s Grants Administration and Management Support Unit (GAMSU)’s experience as the office responsible for managing all MUST’s research and innovation funding takes shape.
Welcoming the delegation, most of whom are alumni of Makerere University, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe commended MUST on strides made in human capacity development throughout the 37 years of existence, particularly in the health sciences.
“We have collaborated in various areas, particularly in medicine – I see many of our researchers publishing together, and we have joint programmes, especially in HIV/AIDS research” the Vice Chancellor remarked, before adding “Our collaboration in medicine is very strong, and it would be good to expand this collaboration to other disciplines.”
Prof. Nawangwe emphasized that although this was a benchmarking visit, the learning process is two-way and as such, the team from Makerere is equally keen to learn from their MUST counterparts. “As a slightly smaller university, you may have more time to reflect on issues than we do,” he explained.
In her remarks, Prof. Byakika-Kibwika thanked the Vice Chancellor and University Management for accepting to host the benchmarking delegation, noting that it was a homecoming visit for her and several colleagues. She equally acknowledged that collaborations in Medicine take the lion’s share of existing work between two intuitions.
“Our largest faculty, formerly the Faculty of Medicine, has recently been renamed the Faculty of Health Sciences to better reflect its broader mandate. However, our other faculties include: Faculty of Science, Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Faculty of Computing and Informatics, and the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology (Engineering)” she explained.
She added that in 2026, MUST established the Faculty of Agriculture, Environment and Veterinary Sciences, and is restructuring the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies to strengthen its focus as a science and technology university. Away from academia, Prof. Byakika-Kibwika shared that MUST’s hitherto semi-autonomous research centres had been brought under the umbrella of a Research Institute, “to provide a coordinated framework for research.”
They include the Centre of: Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine; Innovation and Technology Transfer; Tropical Forest Conservation; Maternal, Newborn and Child Health; Entrepreneurship; and Public Policy and Economic Data.
Turning to the gist of the visit, Prof. Byakika-Kibwika noted that as MUST continues to restructure its units and grow it’s grants portfolio, tapping into Makerere University’s wealth of experience in attracting and managing funding from both the Government and development partners is inevitable.
“Makerere, as the leading university in the country, continues to support other universities, and we would like to benefit from that experience,” Prof. Byakika-Kibwika remarked. “We hope to learn from both your achievements and your challenges so that we can improve our own systems” she concluded.
The meeting was attended by the Acting University Secretary-Mr. Simon Kizito, University Bursar-Mr. Evarist Bainomugisha, Director Research, Innovation and Partnerships-Prof. Robert Wamala, Director Research and Graduate Training-Prof. Julius Kikooma, Head GAMSU- Prof. Sylvia Antonia Nakimera Nannyonga-Tamusuza, Member of Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) Coordinator-Dr. Roy William Mayega and Advancement Office’s Mr. Vincent Lubega Nsamba.
The MUST delegation included; Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs)-Prof. Joseph Ngonzi, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration)-Prof. Robert Bitariho, University Secretary-Mr. Vincent Kansiime Kwatampora, and Chief Human Resources Officer-Mr. Prinari Behangana. Others included Finance Manager-CPA Annah Atuhaire, MUST Research Institute Chief Research Officer-Assoc. Prof. Angella Musiimenta, Principal Legal Officer-Mr. Timothy Mugumya, Deputy Secretary (Planning)-Ms. Robinah Nakakeeto and Dean Faculty of Business and Management Sciences-Dr. John Baguma Kule.
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