The Board of Trustees (BoT), Makerere University Retirement Benefits Scheme (MURBS) has reassured its members that it has laid strategies to minimize impact of the upcoming election periods in 2021 and 2022 for Uganda and Kenya respectively on the Scheme’s growth. These reassurances were made by the Chairperson, BoT, Mr. Grace Wilber Naigambi as he delivered his remarks at the 9th Annual General Meeting held in the Central Teaching Facility 2 (CTF 2) Auditorium, Makerere University on 22nd October 2019.
“On behalf of the BoT, I would like to reassure Stakeholders that the future prospects of the Scheme remain highly promising… MURBS’ governance will lay emphasis on instituting value adding strategies to grow member funds that will enable the Scheme celebrate its true purpose of securing the retirement of members” remarked Mr. Naigambi.
The Chairperson shared that MURBS’ medium to long-term targets include attaining a largest member benefit of UGX500million by 2023 and achieving 100% income replacement ratio by 2027. As at 30th June 2019, only 1.15% of the Scheme’s 3,793 members had benefits in the range of UGX200-250million while the current income replacement ratio stands at 23%.
MURBS foresees the possibility of achieving such targets based on incentives like the Government’s reduction of withholding tax on long-term bonds with outstanding maturity of ten years or more from 20% to 10%. “The change has increased investor appetite for long-term bonds” added Mr. Naigambi.
At 69.1%, Treasury Bonds constitute MURBS largest fixed income assets and largest asset class. A reduction of withholding tax on these will translate into increased returns for members. As at 30th June 2019, the fixed incomes had a 90.57% impact on overall returns.
The Chairperson further shared that MURBS had after a serious evaluation of its investment asset classes resolved to divest from equities and strategically invest in real estate/property. Following the presentation of the Scheme performance for the Financial Year 2018/2019 on 11th October 2019, the BoT introduced its first Property Project; Ivory Estate Sonde. “The BoT is convinced that through this strategy, the Scheme will greatly enhance its investment income.”
The Chairperson in his remarks further stressed the need for members to embrace the Annuity arrangement as opposed to the lump sum payment upon retirement. During the financial year 2018/2019, MURBS operationalized the annuity option for retirees with minimum benefits of UGX100million. This figure was arrived at as a basic minimum amount that can return a reasonable monthly income after retirement. Annuities are available for guaranteed periods of ten, fifteen and twenty years.
Sharing more about MURBS premier property investment; Ivory Estate Sonde, the Secretary BoT, Dr. John Mulindwa Kitayimbwa said this was the first real estate project to feature solar street lighting. He added that the Estate will feature roads named according to halls of residence. These will be eight metres wide for access roads and twelve metres wide for main roads. Site visits for members have been planned for 24th, 29th and 31st October 2019.
72 undergraduate students of Makerere University have successfully been admitted to the Millennium Fellowship Class of 2026, an initiative of the Millennium Campus Network (MCN) and United Nations Academic Impact. Makerere’s Fellows were selected from a record-breaking 76,000 applicants from over 6,000 campuses across 174 countries to participate in the ambitious programme.
According to the Fellowship website, the programme aims to make the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and UN Academic Impact Principles a reality on campuses, in classrooms and throughout communities. Millennium Fellows are university undergraduates selected for their leadership on sustainable development projects in their communities. As Fellows, they complete a semester-long leadership development programme that strengthens their student organizing, partnership-building and community-impact skills.
In his congratulatory message to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Sam Vaghar the Executive Director, MCN shared that Over 330 campuses across 60 nations have been selected to host 2026 Millenium Fellows. “Congratulations to you and Makerere University for having a cohort of Millennium Fellows from your student body again this year!”
Below is a sample of the work of the Class of 2026.
At Harvard University, a UN Academic Impact member institution in the United States of America, Millennium Fellows are expanding OpenDoor, an AI-powered platform that helps people navigate retraining, job opportunities and pathways into high-demand careers. The project grew from their work with people experiencing homelessness and from seeing how difficult workforce programmes can be to navigate even when support exists. Advancing SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, it expects to reach about 7,500 people during the Fellowship.
At the University of Ilorin, a UN Academic Impact member institution in Nigeria, Millennium Fellows are building what they describe as Africa’s first green AI policy framework, helping policymakers and developers understand how artificial intelligence can advance while reducing energy use, pollution and material waste. Aligned with SDG 13: Climate Action, it expects to reach about 75 people during the Fellowship.
At BRAC University, a UN Academic Impact member institution in Bangladesh, a Millennium Fellow is advancing SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production through a start-up replacing single-use products with environmentally friendly alternatives. Its current focus is a paper pen that uses roughly 90 per cent less plastic than a conventional pen, with a seed built in so it can grow into a plant when properly disposed of. The project expects to reach about 450 people.
At Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, a UN Academic Impact member institution in Moldova, a Millennium Fellow is advancing SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being by studying how environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity may affect recovery after brain surgery. By bringing simple digital monitoring tools into postoperative care, the project aims to help doctors make timelier decisions.
We wish our Millennium Fellows an impactful fellowship.
The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released admission lists of candidates admitted under the Talented Sports Men & Women, Disability and District Quota Schemes with Government sponsorship 2026/27 Academic Year including appeals and remarked cases.
Other admission lists released include A-Level Applicants with Ugandan and those with Foreign Qualifications, Diploma in Performing Arts, Mature-Age Entry and Bachelor of Education (EXTERNAL Batch 2) for the Academic Year 2026/2027 under self sponsorship.
Makerere University‘s position in the July 2026 edition of the Webometrics Rankings has improved from 925th to 776th globally and from 13th to 11th on the Continent, compared to the January 2026 edition. Makerere remains the top-ranked University in Uganda and East Africa.
The new rankings are as a result of improved performance in the Impact Rank, which measures the number of external domains referring/linking to Makerere (from 1,593 to 1,185) and the Excellence Rank, which measures Research papers in the top 10% most cited between 2019 and 2023 (from 1,095 to 715).
Please see the attached screenshots for details or view Makerere‘s rankings online using the link below:
The Webometrics Ranking of World Universities aims to recognize and promote the digital transformation of higher education institutions by evaluating how effectively they reflect their academic, research, and societal contributions online.
We remain committed to ensuring that all our good work in teaching and learning, research, knowledge transfer, and partnerships continues to be reflected online through various journals and other platforms.
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