General
1st Research Management Workshop for Departmental Chairs
On Friday 9th August 2019, the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs)-DVCAA in collaboration with the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT) held the first workshop for Department Chairs under the theme “Building Institutional Capacity for Faculty Researcher Development, Funding and Management of Sponsored Research”. Held at the Grand Global Hotel in Makerere the workshop brought together Chairs from the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), College of Education and External Studies, College of Health Sciences (CHS) and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS). This workshop was the second in the series of trainings supported by IREX's University Administration Support Program funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Welcoming participants to the workshop, the DVCAA Dr. Umar Kakumba shared that any university that thrives as a Centre of Excellence in Research must earmark the mechanisms that enhance the generation and dissemination of knowledge.
“As we all know; research is not quick yielding. Returns can take upwards of two to three or even five years. Research is also competitive. We must compete for funding from various calls. We therefore need these interactions to evolve a symbiotic relationship, share experiences and mechanisms of building robust research practices and other academic endeavours,” remarked the DVCAA.
Dr. Kakumba further shared that effective management of funded research is no longer only about the science. He therefore urged academic leaders to build the requisite skills in budgeting for research, writing winning research proposals, grants management, among others.
Delivering the keynote address on The 21st Century Research University: Trends and Experiences, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe thanked Dr. Kakumba for taking on the role of DVCAA with the energy and enthusiasm required to propel Makerere University to the top of the research-intensive Universities’ leaderboard.
“We have a goal of becoming the top research-intensive university in Africa. Malaysia has in its Vision 2020 the objective of becoming an industrialised and developed nation by 2020 courtesy of the five out of its twenty Public Universities designated as Research Universities,” noted the Vice Chancellor, outlining Makerere University’s crucial role in Uganda’s development pathway.
Prof. Nawangwe added that Makerere’s high quality staff is one of the reasons the University is able to compete favourably in terms of research output with other Universities that have more resources. This quality staff, he shared, has among other achievements attracted two World Bank funded African Centres of Excellence in Materials, Product Development and Nanotechnology (MAPRONANO) and Crop Improvement (MaRCCI).
“MaRCCI is already producing results in crop improvements of indigenous food crops such as cowpeas sorghum. The breeding programmes have so far developed a high yielding sorghum line capable of producing up to ten times the yield of indigenous lines” explained the Vice Chancellor.
This, he noted would go a long way in improving food security and increase household incomes as Uganda’s population continues to grow rapidly, which is in line with the National Development Agenda.
The Director DRGT, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi in his presentation on Research Governance & Organisational Capacity: Role of Central Research Office/Directorate expressed his conviction that Chairs of Departments are the epicenter of research activity in the University, by virtue of their being immediate supervisors and coordinators of all academic work in colleges.
“Heads of Department are therefore focal resource persons in building a sustainable research culture and research management systems to enhance the value proposition for quality and relevant research output at Makerere University” added Prof. Buyinza.
The Director further noted that there was a logical link between Research Governance and Research Output. As a way forward he proposed the need strengthen DRGT through the creation of additional divisions especially one in charge of Research Performance.
The presentations that followed were dedicated to: Effective Research Leadership; Research and Researcher Career Development; Funding Research; Managing Research Grants; and Knowledge Transfer Innovations. The Sessions were chaired by Dr. David Owiny, Dr. Sarah Ssali, Dr. Fredrick Muyodi, Prof. John Muyonga and Dr. Robert Wamala respectively.
Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze, Dean Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) while delivering the presentation on Effective Research Leadership for a Research-led University noted that Chairs, by starting with the resources and structures they have now, could achieve a lot in terms of setting the pace for their Departments in the short, medium and long term.
“What goals do we have at Department, School and College level? Are these known by the people? What direction are we giving the staff we lead? Money is important and some people put money first, but I put people first. Invest in the people and good people will bring in the money” she both questioned and counseled.
She urged the Chairs to always be the leaders they desire to see. “Leadership is the key ingredient and it’s not at the top; it is at all levels. You cannot take people where you as a leader have not been. If it is writing, write; if it is putting in the extra time, do it; if it is winning grants, win them and then the people will be inspired to do the same.”
The online Oxford dictionary definition of an Incentive is a thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something or a payment or concession to stimulate greater output or investment. Presenting on Incentivising Research and Researcher Career Development, Prof. Tonny Oyana the Principal, College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS) noted that whereas many African countries focus on the number of PhDs produced, in the case of research, they only make a difference if they are of high quality.
He further noted that whereas Researcher Career Development in Africa mostly starts at Masters level, Universities top tier research universities start nurturing talent as early as Secondary level. “When we admit top talents, let us streamline them. We should grow and nurture those talents in line with research interests. The US and South Korea have done it; we should also do it.”
Prof. Oyana called for the need to teach research as an organizational skill at higher education institutions and challenged Department Chairs to come up with talent lists of their academic units. These, he noted, would help to profile each lecturer’s research interests and use the amalgamated results establish research priorities at Department, School and College level.
“Thanks to establishing an effective grants management system, the School of Public Health manages a throughput of between US$ 29 to 33million annually. Academic Units should deliberately grow their grants capacity” remarked Dr. Roy William Mayega as he began his presentation on Establishing and Managing Research Grants: Perspectives and Prospects.
Dr. Mayega also shared that there has been a deliberate effort by MakSPH Leadership and Staff to search and apply for grants and funding opportunity announcement (FOA) notices as listed in GRANTS.gov; a U.S. Federal Government website that lets organisations from around the world apply for over 1,000 grants programs. He urged colleagues to also regularly look out for Annual Program Statement (APS) releases by USAID through the various country missions.
He tipped the Chairs on the need to incorporate monthly management meetings as good practice of the Grants Management Cycle, and urged his audience to always conduct due diligence on all collaborators to avoid bringing disrepute to the funding agency or host institution. Sustainability of the project after the funding cycle was another aspect that he emphasized ought to be included in the grant application. “Our funders like to see sustainability captured by the applicant.”
Research Funding and Building Functional Research Networks was the next presentation to the Chairs by Dr. Charles Masembe from the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), and Principal Investigator of a three year US$1.2m African Union (AU) Grant to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Africa. Walking Chairs through his grant application and award process, he noted that academics ought to look at research as a business whose growth thrives on networking.
He urged colleagues who were starting out to opt for associate partner positions in grants so as to gain experience. Touching on the writing process, he admitted that it was hard for academics to subject their applications to scrutiny by a third party but noted that this was very important. “Get a neutral person to read through your application and trust them to point out areas of improvement. This will be important in improving your line of thought.”
Dr. Maureen Mayanja made the final presentation of the day on Knowledge Transfer, Innovations Development and Partnerships: Lessons from Leading Universities. She touched on the importance of establishing a one-stop centre for Knowledge Transfer at Makerere University because “structured systems ensure that information is shared university wide and immediate feedback on the data collected is disseminated to the communities that participated in the project.”
Presenting lessons on evaluating knowledge sharing from Michigan State University (MSU), Dr. Mayanja noted that the institution had come up with two vehicles; MSU Extension and MSU Technologies, to take their vast knowledge resources directly to the community and support commercialization of academic research respectively.
Using MSU Extension’s various positions and ranks, Dr. Mayanja emphasized the need to introduce Parallel Growth Structures, that allow staff to invest their efforts where their passions belong, without fear of being penalized. “A member of staff who is passionate about the extension system can grow from the rank of Program leader to Senior Program Leader, Extension specialist, Senior Extension Specialist, Extension Educator, Senior Extension Educator, Associate Program Leader and all the way to District Director Extension”
She also called for the need to Makerere to establish university-based partnerships for multidisciplinary research as vehicles that can attract funding from development partners and the industry.
Article by Public Relations Office
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Education
Makerere University signs Memorandum of Understanding with International Rescue Committee to Advance Research, Innovation and Partnerships
Makerere University has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Rescue Committee to formalize undertakings in research, innovation & partnerships.
Signed in September 2025 by the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and the Country Director, International Rescue Committee, Mr. Elijah Okeyo, the MoU provides a framework to implement research intensive programmes, promote innovative teaching and learning, internationalization, and contribute to societal transformation.
According to Mr. Okeyo, the MoU re-affirms Makerere University as the academic partner of the International Rescue Committee (IRC). “This MoU formalizes IRC’s working relationship with Makerere University. This framework empowers both institutions to tap into opportunities together. We believe in equal partnership. Makerere University commits to being our partner in research to contribute to evidence based humanitarian undertakings,” he said.
Under this collaboration, Makerere University and IRC will work on developing child-centered learning resources, innovative curricula, and policy-relevant research to enhance the quality of education in crisis-affected regions.
At Makerere University, the MoU brings on board, the College of Education and External Studies (CEES), Makerere University Institute of Teacher Education and Research (MITER), and the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Research Centre.
To concretize the MoU, the Principal of the College of Education and External Studies, Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga convened a partnership meeting on Friday 12th September 2025 involving a delegation from the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Dr. David Kabugo, the Deputy Director of Makerere University Institute of Teacher Education and Research (MITER), and Ms. Ritah Namisango, the Principal Communication Officer.
The delegation from the International Rescue Committee (IRC) consisted of the following: Mr. Elijah Okeyo-Country Director, Mr. Vincent Wanyama-Senior Program Development and Quality Coordinator, Mr. Richard Omasete-Policy and Advocacy PlayMatters, and Ms. Janet Nambuya-Grants and Partnerships Coordinator.
The MoU focuses on the following areas of interest: Early Childhood Development, joint research and capacity building in education, the plight of refugees and the host communities, humanitarian aid, as well as, evidence based research to inform the education policy.
In line with its mandate, IRC brings onboard, its unmatched expertise in helping children in crisis-affected areas. The MoU therefore positions both institutions to undertake a leading role in the protection of children and families through evidence based research, access to education, and humanitarian undertakings.
Dr. Kabugo, the Deputy Director MITER, noted that the MoU opens new opportunities for joint efforts in research, training, and policy. He said: “We are committed to co-designing practitioner research, engaging in professional development, and generating evidence to guide the education policy in Uganda and beyond.” Dr. Kabugo explained that this partnership builds on years of cooperation between CEES and IRC, especially in child-centered methods such as play-based learning.
Prof. Mugagga described the MOU as a practical framework that connects Makerere University’s research with IRC’s field experiences. He stated that the College of Education and External Studies (CEES) conducts programmes focused on the future of the young people through training and empowering students/teachers. He articulated that the College significantly impacts on the education sector through delivery of quality academic programmes and research under the School of Education, School of Distance and Lifelong Learning, and the East African School of Higher Education Studies and Development.
“Our strongest synergy is education and early child-focused care,” Prof. Mugagga emphasized. He revealed that the collaboration presents CEES with a strong and reliable partner (IRC), which stands for protection and the well-being of children and families. “Through this MoU, both CEES and IRC, will significantly contribute to improving education for children, families, and communities impacted by conflict and crisis.”
Prof. Mugagga commended IRC for the earlier support and expertise extended to the College in the development of the early childhood centre, and working together to provide valuable input during the Ministry of Education and Sports’ consultative process that led to the Early Childhood development policy.
Reflecting on the increasing number of refugees enrolling for studies at Makerere University, Prof. Mugagga said: “ IRC has come at the right time. The College will tap into the IRC expertise to teach our staff and learners components in refugee education. They will equip our students and teachers with knowledge and skills in refugee education. Some of our students will cooperate with IRC to undertake research in refugee settlement and host communities.”
Prof. Mugagga implored both MITER and IRC to undertake research and develop modules on refugee education, parenting, re-tooling street children, integration of a health component into the curriculum, and management of truamatised students/learners who come from areas affected by war, conflict and crisis.
On the issue of play materials, Prof. Mugagga stressed that already made play materials derial creativing. “Both CEES and IRC should work towards a context that empowers children and learners to ignite their creative potential by developing home-made play materials,” he submitted.
About IRC
Stating a brief profile history about IRC, Mr. Okeyo explained that IRC is a global non-profit organisation that provides humanitarian aid and assistance to people affected by conflict and disaster. IRC has been active in Uganda since 1998, originally assisting displaced populations in Northern Uganda and later expanding its efforts to refugee settlements and urban areas.. Currently, IRC operates more than 35 health facilities in refugee settlements and runs a variety of programs in health, education, protection, and economic recovery. IRC also undertakes projects focusing on early childhood development, prevention of gender-based violence, and protection of refugees and families.
General
Mastercard Foundation Scholars at Makerere University encouraged to participate in philanthropy work
By Carol Kasujja Adii and Bernard Buteera
Mastercard Foundation Scholars at Makerere University have been encouraged to embrace the spirit of philanthropy as a vital foundation for fostering stronger and more resilient communities. This inspiring call to action took place during the 2025 Community Open Day at the Freedom Square on Saturday, September 6, 2025, where hundreds of Mastercard Scholars, Scholar-alumni, and partners of the Scholars Program gathered to initiate a fundraising drive for the signature Annual Scholars Day of Service.
The Annual Scholars Day of Service stands as a hallmark event through which the Scholars give back to the community in impactful and sustainable ways. During a keynote address titled “How Philanthropy Shapes Resilient Communities,” Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration, emphasised that while local philanthropy is not a new concept in Uganda, a more intentional mobilisation of this giving back power is necessary to address broader social challenges.
“Communities that mobilise their own resources—financial, human, and material—are empowered to take ownership of their development. Ownership naturally leads to sustainability, ensuring that solutions emerge from local knowledge, context, and values rather than being imposed from the outside. This approach is essential for effectively tackling our social challenges,” Prof. Ireeta stated.
In his remarks delivered by Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala, the Principal of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof. Ireeta highlighted the importance of nurturing the inherent power of local giving. He urged the celebration of current local philanthropic efforts, which can be initiated at the individual, religious, and community levels.
“To foster a culture of giving, we need to create platforms that promote structured, transparent, and impactful contributions,” he argued. “It’s crucial to strengthen our generosity, particularly among the youth, and cultivate a society where giving is valued as a core aspect of leadership and citizenship.”
Prof. Ireeta further noted, “The future of our Communities’ strength lies not in distant promises but in our own hands and collective actions. By fostering local philanthropy, we can build a society that is not only fairer but also more resilient and united.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr. John Osuna, Transition Lead for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, who spoke on behalf of the Program Director, Prof. Justine Namaalwa, expressed gratitude to the Scholars for their collaborative efforts in turning the idea of giving back into reality.
“Let us embody humility, kindness, and compassion through actionable philanthropy. By doing so, we can create lasting impacts, enhancing our reputation as a community that genuinely cares,” Mr. Osuna stated.
The Community Open Day was organised under the inspiring theme: “Nurturing Philanthropy for Resilient Communities,” paving the way for future initiatives that strengthen community bonds through collective generosity.
“We believe that through nurturing philanthropy for resilient communities, our communities shall be able to organise themselves to build resilience beyond what we shall give back,” Mr. Osuna explained.
The vibrant event saw Scholars and Scholar-alumni actively participating by bringing items for auction and buying tickets for the raffle draw as a means of mobilising resources for the construction of a ventilated pit latrine, renovation of two classroom blocks and providing tanks for harvesting clean water for Bwera Primary School in Kabale District.
Speaking at the event, Mrs. Agnes Katumba, the Director of Katumba Estates, one of the long-standing partners of the Scholars Program at Makerere University, tasked the Scholars to embrace the heart of giving back without expecting something in return.
“I thank the Mastercard Foundation; they not only provide scholarships but also give back to the community. I have been able to grow because of them. For scholars, you do not have to wait to be wealthy to give back; every coin counts,” Mrs. Katumba said.
Katumba Estates Ltd contributed three million shillings to the Scholars Give Back project. Another long-standing partner, DFCU Bank, pledged over sh10 million towards the Scholars’ building project.
In her presentation, Ms. Malvin Akwara, a Mastercard Foundation Scholar-alumna, urged current Scholars to contribute to their communities in various ways, including mentorship and guiding young people.
“We are all here because someone chose to give. During my first year at Makerere, I contributed to some young man’s school fees back home in my community. The young man is now in his second year at Makerere. You don’t have to be wealthy to make an impact; be intentional in your giving, and you will witness the difference it makes. There is no greater fulfilment than helping someone in need,” Akwara stated.
The event was punctuated with a number of activities that ranged from auctioning items, raffle draws, exhibitions, quizzes and a lot of games and fun.
Carol Kasujja and Bernard Buteera form the communications team for the Scholars Programme at Makerere University.
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