General
Mak graduates encouraged to write and publish their scholarly work
On 23rd August 2019, the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training organized an orientation for masters, Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) and postgraduate diploma students for the Academic Year 2019/2020. Held in Big Lab 2 of Makerere University College of Computing and Information Sciences, the well-attended meeting enabled new students to have an enormous interaction with Makerere University leadership.
During the meeting, students were encouraged to write and publish their scholarly work. According to the Director of Research and Graduate Training Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, students should let the world know of their robust ideas through writing and publishing.
He recognized the impact of scholars on community development through research, writing and publishing. According to Prof. Buyinza, notable developments and societal transformations are a result of published research that is accessed and used by people to make the world a better place.
“Through research and writing the world has been able to innovate and develop impactful ideas that have transformed societies. Many students have made meaningful contributions to people’s understanding of the past and the present,” he said.
Prof. Buyinza also advised students to participate in research seminars to enhance their skills and knowledge in writing. “Graduate seminars are vital. They guide you on how to approach research questions, write proposals and how to discuss your points right. Endeavor to attend them. Also through these seminars, you are able to meet prominent scholars and writers and share meaningful ideas,” he said.
In an address on Makerere University Graduate Academic Processes, Regulations and Policies, the Deputy Director for Research and Graduate Training Assoc. Prof. David Okello Owiny urged students to read, understand and strictly follow the rules and regulations governing the University. “We have rules and regulations you must observe. These regulations apply to all students of Makerere University,” he vividly said.
Dr. David Kiwanga from the Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS) urged students to enroll on the Academic Information Management System (AIMS), under the students’ portal to access results online, pay tuition and register. He encouraged students to make use of the internet kiosks and acquire Makerere University email addresses to access the Makerere University E-Learning Environment (MUELE).
The Manager, Grants and Revenue; Mrs. Jackie Keirungi Ayorekire sensitized students on the importance of timely payment of University dues. She also advised them to always generate a Payment Reference Number (PRN) before depositing their tuition in the bank. “Fees payment is due on your arrival at the university and endeavors to personally bank your tuition,” she said.
The Manager Counselling and Guidance Centre, Makerere University Mr. Henry Nsubuga informed students about the Center’s dedication towards nurturing students into responsible citizens. He encouraged students to fully utilize the counseling and guidance services provided at the Centre to free their minds of any problem that will hinder their academic excellence.
Representing the University Librarian, Dr. Hellen Byamugisha, Ms. Nabbosa Rachael called upon students to register with the Makerere University Library and the College Libraries in order to access reading materials.
On matters of security, ASP. Nixon Okello, the Chief Security Officer of Makerere University, briefed students on the safety precautions and encouraged then to report criminal cases.
Article by Esther Joy Nakibombo, 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
-
General19 hours agoUndergraduate Admission Lists 2026/2027
-
General1 week agoMakerere Hands Over CCE Hall to NEC for Renovation
-
General1 week agoFees Waiver Female Scholarship 2026/2027
-
General2 weeks agoMakerere University Set to Develop Curriculum to Transform Graduate Supervision and Mentorship
-
Education2 weeks agoMakerere University Signs MoU with Fukui University to enhance Research, Teacher Development and STEM Education