General
5th LEAP Conference: youth tipped on 4IR entrepreneurial skills
On 30th August 2019, Makerere University hosted the 5th LEAP Conference. Held at CTF 2 Auditorium, College of Business and Management Sciences, the conference engaged students from various universities in Uganda in an inspirational conversation and debate on enhancing entrepreneurship skills among youth.
The LEAP Conference is a students’ initiative designed to highlight the experiences of global leaders who have taken a leap of confidence and driven change throughout the world. Every year, students from all respective Universities in Uganda participate in this unforgettable event, which empowers them to explore thought-provoking topics and participate in both interactive workshops and networking activities.
According to Mr. Dennis Aguma the Founder of LEAP-Uganda, through Conference engagements and workshops, students are primed to become the next generation of game changers, ready to fight off the discomfort that might have held them back from setting the world ablaze.
The 5th LEAP Conference (2019) was officially opened by Dr. Peter Ngategize, the National Coordinator of Private Sector Development Unit (MOFPED). This year’s Conference was organized by Makerere University College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) together with the National Association of Student Enterprises (nase), and the Innovation Village under the theme; Entrepreneurial Bridging: The Youth in the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Remising on the day’s theme, Dr. Ngategize urged students to streamline their entrepreneurship ideas to meet the demands of the 4th industrial revolution era. He advised students to work hard towards the success and growth of their business ideas.
“Be creative and innovative, discover your passion, and attain basic training in order to get skills. With the ever changing world, we also need to be rational in business idea development and with the 4th industrial revolution, we expect an idea that accommodates changes such as technology,” he said.
According to Dr. Ngategize any successful entrepreneur knows that taking risks and exploring new opportunities are often accompanied by a feeling of uncertainty. Drawing from his own experience, he explained to students how welcoming discomfort with open arms has allowed him to achieve his goals and make an impact on the world.
“That feeling of discomfort can make or break you; success can depend on how you handle it. In order to drive change and make an impact on the world around us, we cannot avoid discomfort; we have to embrace it,” he said.
He condemned the spirit of extravagance which has sprouted among the youth and guided them on how to make good use of their money by spending it profitably through setting income generating activities.
Representing the keynote Speaker, Hon Frank Tumwebaze- the Minister of Information and Communication Technology and National Guidance, Mr. Ocero Michael-the Assistant Commissioner Information Technology recognized the role of entrepreneurship and innovation in creating a knowledge based economy in a competitive world. He appreciated the skills and agility of the young entrepreneurs and advised them to move beyond invention to practical solutions that alleviate societal problems.
“The value of your creation will be measured from the extent of its useful impact,” he said.
Mr. Ocero applauded the President of the Republic of Uganda H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for being open to multidisciplinary governance and also, for supporting the ecosystem for ICT Research, Innovation Development, Translation and Commercialization.
He called upon all academic institutions to strategies in promoting key skills required for competency including cognitive, technical problem solving, creativity, work ethics and managerial skills for entrepreneurs. In the same spirit, he urged entrepreneurs to be cognizant of the unique needs of the population, diverse languages and ethical concerns in Uganda.
The Dean School of Business, Dr. Godfrey Akilenge urged Makerere University students to take advantage of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center that has been established by the College through the Department of Marketing and Management to nurture and grow their business ideas.
“The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center provides mentorship and space for young people to start and nurture business ideas. It also gives us more flexibility in doing other activities such as research and outreach as well as raising financial resources for our activities,” he stated.
Dr. Peter K. Turyakira, the Head of Department Marketing and Management revealed that the LEAP Conference is one way of preparing the entrepreneurship students for the forthcoming Makerere Entrepreneurship Expo.
He thanked the organizers for extending an opportunity to Makerere University to host the 5th LEAP Conference and encouraged students to make good use of the knowledge attained in the conference to develop business ideas.
The function was further enriched by a Panel discussion on the Congruence between Incubation and Entrepreneurship Education. The panel discussants included;
- Ms. Rose Tuwine a founder of Echo stoves which was started with the aim of conserving the environment currently employing over 200 workers.
- Lyne Tukei the Public Relations Officer of Xente Tech, a mobile App that can be used to buy products and commodities online, make bill payments among others.
- Ms. Nansuuna of Tukole a company building a community of service providers, through training them and later recommends them to other companies for jobs.
Article by Kanyi Rachael, Volunteer Mak Public Relations Office
Makerere University has officially launched its Strategic Plan 2025-2030, marking a major milestone in its commitment to strengthening research, innovation, and human capital development in line with Uganda’s national development priorities.
The launch brought together senior government officials, university leadership, and development planners, including the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi, and a representative from the National Planning Authority (NPA), alongside the University Vice Chancellor.
A Vision Anchored in National Transformation
Speaking at the launch, the Vice Chancellor underscored the University’s ambition to significantly expand graduate training and strengthen its contribution to national development. He noted that the institution is targeting a return to pre-COVID enrolment levels and a substantial increase in postgraduate numbers by 2030, with a focus on producing highly skilled graduates, innovators, and researchers.
He emphasized that the Strategic Plan positions the University as a key driver of Uganda’s transformation through knowledge generation, innovation, and entrepreneurship, aligned with national priorities.
“The staffing distribution is shown here. Under the approved establishment, we intended to have 419 Professors, but we currently have only 75. We planned for 473 Associate Professors, but currently have only 144. This clearly demonstrates that we still have considerable room for growth in strengthening our academic staff profile,” the VC said.
The VC appreciated researchers and research centres, that continue to attract substantial research funding. He highlighted the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) and the Makerere University Walter Reed Project which attracted approximately US$70 million in international research funding into Uganda.
“When you combine the grants won by all our researchers through competitive international funding, the total exceeds US$200 million,” he said.
In her remarks, the Chairperson of the University Council, Dr. Lorna Magara, described the Strategic Plan as more than an institutional roadmap, calling it “a public covenant with the people of Uganda.”
She noted that the Plan marks “the launch of Makerere University’s next chapter,” adding that decisions taken over the next five years will shape not only the future of the institution, but also Uganda’s development trajectory through graduates, research, innovations, and leadership.
Dr. Magara emphasized Makerere’s unique national role as Uganda’s premier public university, entrusted with public resources and public confidence.
“Every investment made in Makerere must produce measurable value for the people of Uganda,” she said, underscoring the need for accountability, integrity, and impact.
Ambitious Targets for Transformation
The Council Chairperson and the Vice chancellor outlined bold performance targets under the Strategic Plan, including doubling postgraduate enrolment, increasing STEM enrolment from 30% to 55%, improving PhD completion rates from 10% to 35%, and more than doubling peer-reviewed research output, alongside a significant rise in patents and innovations.
Dr. Magara stressed that these targets are not aspirations alone but binding commitments against which institutional performance will be measured.
“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.
Call for Stronger Governance and Legal Reform
Dr. Magara also highlighted the need for reform of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, Cap. 262, noting that the current legal framework has not kept pace with the evolving realities of university governance and innovation.
She called on Government and Parliament to support a timely review of the Act to enable universities to better optimise knowledge systems, productive assets, and innovation capacity in support of national development.
Government Endorsement and Strategic Alignment
Hon. Henry Musasizi commended the University for developing a forward-looking Strategic Plan aligned with Uganda’s Vision 2040 and the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which serves as the foundation for the country’s Tenfold Growth Strategy.
He explained that Uganda’s ambition to grow its economy from about USD 50 billion to USD 500 billion requires accelerated growth driven by productivity gains, innovation, and strong human capital development.
“Universities are central actors in national transformation. They are engines of knowledge creation, innovation, and human capital development,” he said.
The Minister stressed that government priorities include strengthening research, promoting industrialization, and ensuring that knowledge generated in universities is translated into practical solutions that support economic growth. He further highlighted the importance of accountability, efficiency, and value for money in public investments in higher education.
Universities as Drivers of the Tenfold Growth Strategy
In his presentation, the Senior Planner at the National Planning Authority, Samuel Kasule, emphasized that the Strategic Plan is firmly anchored in Uganda’s comprehensive development framework under Vision 2040 and NDP IV.
He noted that the Tenfold Growth Strategy seeks to accelerate Uganda’s economic growth into double-digit territory, enabling the country to achieve structural transformation and reach upper middle-income status.
Kasule underscored that universities play a critical role in this transformation through labour productivity, research, and innovation. He pointed out that priority sectors such as agriculture, tourism, minerals, oil and gas, and ICT depend heavily on skilled graduates and strong research ecosystems.
He also highlighted the importance of competency-based education, alignment of academic programmes with national human resource needs, and strengthening postgraduate training and research outputs.
A Shared Commitment to Transformation
Across all speeches, a strong message emerged: universities are central to Uganda’s development agenda and must evolve into research-intensive institutions that directly contribute to economic transformation.
The Strategic Plan 2025-2030 was widely commended for its focus on innovation, industry collaboration, digital transformation, and the commercialization of research outputs.
Government leaders reaffirmed continued support for higher education institutions through research funding, innovation ecosystems, and strengthened university–industry partnerships.
Conclusion
The launch of the Strategic Plan 2030 signals a renewed commitment to positioning the University as a key partner in Uganda’s development journey. With strong alignment to national priorities, the Plan is expected to accelerate research, innovation, and skills development necessary for achieving Uganda’s long-term economic ambitions. The Strategic Plan may be accessed at: https://mak.ac.ug/about/strategic-plan
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