Mr. KAWALYA Charles investigated the personal factors associated with happiness at the workplace among professional nurses from public Hospitals in Uganda. In light of today's turbulent work environment, happiness at the workplace is essential for increased productivity. This study found that psychological needs satisfaction (relatedness, competence), psychological capital (resilience, hope), self-driven personality (extroversion) and flow experience (challenge skill balance, concentration on the tasks) are important factors that influence happiness at the workplace. Most importantly, the results confirmed the mediation effect of flow experience in these relationships. Government, especially the ministries of Ministry of Health, Public Service and Human Resource Managers, should consider coming up with a policy on the science of happiness at the workplace. The study was funded by Makerere University Business School, and was supervised by Prof. John Munene and Dr. Sam Mafabi.
LUBOGOYI Bumaali
Employee Goal Congruence in the District Local Governments of Government
Mr. LUBOGOYI Bumaali studied the employee goal congruence as a strategy for production of goods and services that match the needs interest and preferences of the citizenry. Despite public sector reforms such as decentralization, democratic governance and capacity building programs and increased financial support employees have not been able to fully realize district mandate due to diverse interests of multiple actors. A mixed research methodology was employed which explained 46% of the variance in Goal congruence. The study revealed that stewardship behavior, ethical culture and collectivism are key in public sector change, transformation and development. This implies that district managers need to pay greater attention to goal congruence as they grapple with strategies for development. This study was funded by African development Bank and Makerere University Business School.
MUTUMBA Abbey
Franchising Readiness in a Developing Country: A Study of Potential Franchisors in Uganda
Mr. MUTUMBA Abbey’s study focused on franchising values, public-private-partnership (PPP) support and the entrepreneurial ecosystem quality contribute to franchising readiness among the authorized distributors, master agents and multi-branch enterprises among other potential franchisors. The model revealed that complementary proactiveness and innovativeness, PPP support and entrepreneurial ecosystem quality determine the franchising readiness in Uganda. In addition, the potential franchisors that worked with the policy makers, local leaders, universities and media developed into homegrown franchisors by 2019. Consequently, more world-class knowledge, technology and skills transfer/exchange, jobs and wealth creation are being contributed as the potential franchisors open up more branches through more locally-appointed franchisees. Therefore, Uganda’s BUBU policy and industrial parks-allocation policy should favor the more community-engaged potential franchisors. This study was funded by AfDB and MUBS, and was supervised by Prof. John C. Munene, Prof. Joseph Ntayi, and Prof. Mohammad Ngoma.
MAYANJA Samuel
Entrepreneurial networking among Small and Medium Enterprises: the role of nexus of generative influence, positive deviance, informational differences and ecologies of innovation in Uganda
Mr. MAYANJA Samuel studied the determinants of entrepreneurial networking among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Uganda. The findings revealed that entrepreneurial opportunity, nexus of generative influence, ecologies of innovation and informational differences explain entrepreneurial networking of SMEs. One the other hand, positive deviant employees cannot access resources on their own without the support of business owner/manager. Therefore, business owners and employees at all levels should support idea generation through experimentation with learning in mind and adaptability readiness. These would create enabling environment for SMEs to access formal and informal resources from their social networks to overcome the liability of smallness. The study was self-funded, and was supervised by Prof. John Munene, Prof. Waswa Balunywa, and Prof. Joseph Ntayi.
MWESIGWA Rogers
Stakeholder management in public private partnership projects in Uganda
Mr. MWESIGWA Rogers investigated the predictors of stakeholder management in public private partnership (PPP) projects in Uganda; focusing on the relationship between stakeholder behavior, contract completeness, stakeholder attributes, relationship building and stakeholder management. The study found that stakeholder behavior and relationship building are associated with stakeholder management, while contract completeness and stakeholder attributes are negatively associated with stakeholder management. Relationship building partially mediated stakeholder behavior, contract completeness with stakeholder management. Therefore, PPP projects need to build strong stakeholder relationships, understand their behavior and attributes; and manage contracts in order to manage stakeholders’ interests and expectations. There is need for contract monitoring and enforcement mechanism and capacity building among line ministries involved in contract negotiation so that contracts are enforceable. The study was funded by African Development Bank and Makerere University Business School, and was supervised by Prof. John Chrysostom Munene, Prof. Joseph Ntayi and Assoc. Prof Vincent Bagire.
OMEKE Michael
Dynamics of Enterprise growth of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) in Uganda
Mr. OMEKE Michael studied the growth of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) as socio-enterprises using a multi-theoretical approach. The findings revealed that re-organizing and renewing resources, exchange and sharing of resources and information, self-organizing and adaptive behaviour explain the growth of SACCOs. On the other hand, laws, rules, standards and shared beliefs alone do not necessarily contribute to the growth of SACCOs. Therefore, SACCOs should adopt modern technological applications, build capacity of staff and members, share and exchange knowledge, skills and experiences, self-organize themselves and adjust to the ever changing demands in the dynamic environment. The study was funded by Kyambogo University and supervised by Prof. Pascal Tindi Ngoboka, Dr. Isaac Nabeta Nkote and Dr. Isaac Newton Kayongo.
ONYINYI Benard
Quality management practices among small and medium scale enterprises in Uganda
Mr. OYINYI Benard’s study examined quality management practices among Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Uganda. The study revealed that knowledge management potential is positively and significantly related to quality management practices among SMEs. Besides, resource transformation capabilities positively and significantly predict quality management practices and there exists a positive and significant relationship between benchmarking competency and quality management practices among SMEs. Further, the effect of knowledge management potential on quality management practices varies with the level of ICT robustness. Therefore, government should design framework policies to guide SME management in knowledge management, resource transformation and benchmarking competencies in the ICT dominated environment to support them adopt ideal quality management practices in the current competitive business environment. This study was funded by Makerere University Business School, and was supervised by Prof. Will Kaberuka and Dr. Nichodemus Rudaheranwa.
Please click the links below to navigate to the PhD Citations for the respective Sessions.
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 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.
Hon. Henry Musasizi unveils the Makerere University Strategic Plan (2025-2030).
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.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.
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. Lorna Magara.
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.
Hon. Henry Musasizi (3rd R) and Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (2rd L) display an autographed dummy of the signed Strategic Plan as L-R: Hon. Kadondi Gracious, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, Rt. Hon. Daniel Kidega, Dr. Lorna Magara, H.E. Mubiru John Bosco and Prof. Sarah Ssali witness.
“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.
Hon. Henry Musasizi.
“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.
Mr. Samuel Kasule.
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
Visionary Blueprint to Drive Excellence, Innovation, and National Development.
Kampala, Uganda – July 2, 2026. — Makerere University today officially launched its Strategic Plan 2026–2030, outlining a bold roadmap for academic excellence, research innovation, and transformative impact on Uganda and the region. The high-profile launch event, held at Makerere University Main Campus, brought together government leaders, university stakeholders, development partners, and academia.
The Chief Guest, Hon. Henry Musasizi, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, presided over the official launch. In his presentation, Vice Chancellor Prof. Nawangwe Barnabas highlighted the University’s past achievements and the new Plan’s strategic vision. “This Strategic Plan builds on our rich legacy while positioning Makerere University as a leader in addressing contemporary challenges through cutting-edge research, quality education, and innovation,” he stated.
The Plan was developed through an inclusive process led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, with input from across the University community. It aligns closely with national development priorities, as affirmed by Dr. Joseph Muvawala, Executive Director of the National Planning Authority.
University Council Chairperson Dr Lorna Magara emphasised the Council’s oversight role and commitment: “The University Council is fully committed to providing the strategic leadership and oversight necessary for the successful implementation of this Plan. It will strengthen Makerere’s role as a driver of Uganda’s socio-economic transformation and ensure we remain a beacon of excellence in higher education across Africa.”
Development partners, Vice Chancellors from other public universities, college principals, deans, professors, and student representatives attended the event, underscoring broad stakeholder support.
Key Pillars of the Strategic Plan 2026–2030 include enhancing excellence in teaching and learning, advancing research and innovation, strengthening infrastructure and sustainability, promoting inclusivity, and deepening engagement with industry and government. Following the formal proceedings, guests participated in a networking breakfast and media engagement session.
Additional Quotes:
“Makerere University remains Uganda’s flagship institution. This Strategic Plan will further harness our intellectual capital to contribute meaningfully to the National Development Plan and Vision 2040.” — Hon. Henry Musasizi, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
“We are excited to embark on this new strategic journey. With the support of our dedicated staff, students, alumni, and partners, we will achieve even greater heights in the next five years.” — Prof. Nawangwe Barnabas, Vice Chancellor, Makerere University
Makerere University is Uganda’s oldest and largest public university, established in 1922. It is a world-class institution recognised for academic excellence, groundbreaking research, and cross-disciplinary innovation. With over 35,000 students and a strong alumni network, Makerere continues to shape leaders and solutions for Africa and beyond.
For more information, contact:
Ms. Eunice Rukundo, Deputy Chief, Public Relations