During its special meeting held on 19th February 2020, the University Council considered the Management report, the Senate report, the report of the Finance, Planning, Administration and Investment Committee and reports of University Companies.
Council noted:
That the University Senate had recommended candidates for the positions of Principal and Deputy Principal in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Health Sciences and the College of Business and Management Sciences.
That a petition had been received from 43 staff of the College of Health Sciences regarding the search for the Principal of the College. The petition was received late in relation to the date of the Council meeting. Accordingly, more time was needed to study the matters raised.
That the search for Principals and Deputy Principals continued to attract low numbers of applicants. Council needed to review the low interest in the positions and undertake mitigation measures.
That Consultations had been ongoing regarding the search for the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) following the annulment of the initial appointment by Court. The University needed to advance the search process to another stage.
That for the first half of FY2019/2020, the University received a total cash release of UGX 157.966 Billion from the Consolidated Fund, representing 50% of the appropriated budget for FY2019/2020. The total Non-tax Revenue collection for the half year was UGX 56.2 Billion, representing 117% revenue performance of the estimated revenue collection for the half year period.
That total receipts under grants (off-budget) financing was UGX 112.26 Billion representing 42% of the approved off-budget financing for financial year 2019/2020 which is UGX 256 Billion.
That the University received supplementary funding of UGX 1.891 Billion from Government towards the establishment of a Forensic Sciences Institute in the College of Natural Sciences.
That the University experienced budget implementation challenges including a wage bill deficit of UGX 14.619 Billion and domestic arrears of UGX 46 Billion including the arrears owed to Makerere University Retirement Benefits Scheme (MURBS). The Ministry of Finance had been engaged to support the University to cover the deficit.
That the reports and matters concerning University Companies to wit Makerere University Holdings Company Limited, Makerere University Endowment Fund and Africa Institute for Strategic Animal Resource Services and Development (AFRISA) needed to be further studied by the responsible committees of Council including the Audit Committee, Finance, Planning, Administration and Investment Committee (FPAIC), and the Legal, Rules and Privileges Committee.
That Management needed to investigate the operations of Makerere University Private Sector Forum (MUPSF) and make a report to Council.
That there was need to appoint a Board of Directors and Board of Trustees for Makerere University Holdings Company Limited and Makerere University Endowment fund.
That Senate had recommended the establishment of a Biomedical Research Centre in the School of Biomedical Sciences. The proposed Centre is expected to enhance research in Biomedical Sciences.
That the University has commenced on the process of staff appraisal. In addition, it is necessary for all Heads of Administrative Units to submit quarterly performance reports to the Vice Chancellor.
That Management set up a committee to investigate the administration of the 70th graduation. The investigation was expected to address issues relating to the supply of gowns for the 70th graduation. The Committee was also expected to provide recommendations for improving the management of graduation ceremonies.
That there is need to provide alternatives for graduands to access graduation gowns, the options should include hiring or purchasing the gowns.
That at its 148th meeting held on 20th December 2019, Council resolved that all short-term or stopgap contracts that expire were not to be renewed. The Appointments Board permitted the Vice Chancellor to consider urgent matters where he could extend such contracts for a maximum of three months and not exceeding 31st March 2020.
That Management was undertaking commendable efforts to protect University land.
That based on request of the Students Guild, Management extended Guild Elections pending consideration of the proposals to amend the Guild Electoral Regulations as requested by the students during the Emergency Council Meeting of 29th October 2019. Council had received written submissions from the Students’ Guild on the proposed amendments which need to be considered urgently.
That Council needs to enact a Grants Management Policy to streamline the management of grants in the University.
Council Agreed:
To approve the Senate recommendation of candidates for the positions of Principal and Deputy Principal and accordingly recommend the following to the Chancellor for appointment:
Principal College of
Humanities and Social Sciences
Dr. Josephine Ahikire
Principal, College of
Business and Management Sciences
Dr. Eria Hisali
Deputy Principal, College of
Business and Management Sciences
Dr. Bruno Yawe
Deputy Principal, College of
Health Sciences
Dr. Moses Kajja
To defer consideration of the Senate recommendation of the candidate for Principal of the College of Health Sciences pending the decision on the petition raised by staff of the College. The said petition shall be handled within a period of two weeks.
To approve the establishment of a Biomedical Research Centre in the School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences.
To approve the Budget Performance Report for Quarter Two of FY2019/2020.
To refer the proposed amendments to the Guild Electoral Regulations to the Legal, Rules and Privileges Committee, which shall report to Council within a period of one week.
To refer matters of AFRISA to the different Committees of Council to wit: Legal matters be considered by the Legal, Rules and Privileges Committee, Financial and Administration matters be handled by Finance, Planning, Administration and Investment Committee and Audit matters be handled by the Audit Committee
To require all heads of Administrative Units to submit quarterly performance reports to the Vice Chancellor who in turn shall submit the reports to Council.
That the University Senate be required to set up a Search Committee for the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration).
That Management investigates the operations of Makerere University Private Sector Forum and reports to Council at the next meeting.
To extend the tenure of the outgoing Board of Directors of Makerere University Holdings Company Limited and the Board of Trustees of Makerere University Endowment Fund for one-year effective 31st August 2019.
That Management considers alternative ways for graduands to access graduation gowns. This should include the option of purchasing or hiring the gowns.
That there shall be no extension of stopgap and or short-term contracts beyond 31st March 2020 without authorisation of the Appointments Board.
That management presents a proposed Grants Management Policy to the Legal, Rules and Privileges Committee within a period of two weeks.
The Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi on Thursday 29th May, 2025 held a press conference to update members of the Media on the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) Medical Drone Programme, and the Kampala Status Summary 2023 on Road Safety Risk Factors, conducted under the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety, a collaborative effort between the Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit and the Trauma, Injury, and Disability (TRIAD) Unit at Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH). Also presented were updates on; Digital Certification of Academic Transcripts, Digital Supervision of Graduate Students, Inclusive e-Learning and Smart Classrooms, and Launch of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Laboratory at the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS).
The event held in the Senior Common Room, Main Building, was on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe presided over by the Acting (Ag.) DVC AA and substantive Academic Registrar, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi. Presentations were made by Executive Director of the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), Dr. Andrew Kambugu and Head of the Trauma, Injuries, and Disability (TRIAD) Unit, Dr. Fredrick Oporia. Dr. Jimmy Osuret and Dr. Esther Bayiga from TRIAD supplemented Dr. Oporia’s presentation. In attendance were; the Director for ICT Support (DICTS)-Mr. Samuel Mugabi, Deputy Chief – Public Relations-Ms. Betty Kyakuwa, Deputy Chief Security Officer-Mr. Musa Mulindwa and other university officials.
The proceedings of the Press Conference follow below;
Vice Chancellors’ Press Statement
Good morning colleagues, members of the press,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to this important media briefing, where we share compelling findings from two groundbreaking studies that reflect Makerere University‘s ongoing commitment to impactful research, innovation, and community transformation.
The first is a pioneering initiative led by the Infectious Diseases Institute—the IDI Medical Drone Programme. This project explores the use of drone technology to deliver lifesaving HIV medications and test samples to hard-to-reach populations, particularly in Kalangala District and the West Nile region. The study demonstrates how drones can overcome logistical barriers, reduce costs, and enhance access to critical healthcare in some of Uganda’s most underserved communities.
The second study is the Kampala Status Summary 2023 on Road Safety Risk Factors, conducted under the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety. This collaborative effort between the Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit and our Trauma, Injury, and Disability Unit here at Makerere University presents over two years of data on vehicle speed and helmet use in Kampala. It provides vital insights into the human behaviours and systemic gaps contributing to road traffic injuries and fatalities—particularly among vulnerable road users. The study also offers evidence-based recommendations for enforcement, planning, and public health messaging aimed at making Kampala’s roads safer for all.
We are proud to support this kind of research that not only advances knowledge but also drives tangible improvements in public health and safety.
Before I invite the researchers to present their findings, allow me to briefly highlight some transformative developments in the areas of academic registry and ICT advancement here at Makerere University:
Digital Certification of Academic Transcripts:
Alumni can now certify their transcripts digitally through the Makerere Academic Records System (Mak-ARS https://makars.mak.ac.ug/), eliminating the need for physical visits. This user-friendly platform allows access from anywhere in the world, supported by comprehensive video tutorials and public communications.
Digital Supervision of Graduate Students
We have introduced the Research Information Management System (Mak-RIMS), piloted at the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, to streamline the supervision of Master’s and PhD research. This initiative enhances accountability, timely feedback, and is now being rolled out university-wide to improve graduation rates.
Inclusive eLearning and Smart Classrooms
Through support from development partners and the Government of Uganda, we are establishing multimedia studios and smart classrooms across our colleges. These state-of-the-art facilities are designed to produce professional, accessible learning content, including tools tailored for students with visual and auditory disabilities. This aligns with our goal of equitable, globally competitive education.
Launch of the AI Laboratory at CoCIS:
The newly launched Artificial Intelligence Laboratory will spearhead the development of AI-enabled solutions tailored to Uganda’s socio-economic needs, including localized assistive eLearning tools and context-sensitive curriculum development.
These initiatives are part of our broader vision to transform Makerere University into a research-led, inclusive, and globally relevant institution.
The Senior Program Director, Higher Education and Research in Africa, International Program, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Prof. Omotade Akin Aina on 23rd May 2025 visited Makerere University during his short trip to Kampala. Prof. Aina was received on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe by Prof. Tony Oyana, Principal of the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS).
During his visit, Prof. Aina met with the Project Implementation Committee, representatives from the Consolidating Early Career Academics Programme (CECAP) phase I Fellowship Cohort, and current Fellows of phase II. The meeting discussed the progress of CECAP II, which focuses on fostering academic development and research among early-career academics.
Left to Ritght: Dr. Jesca Nakavuma and Prof. Julius Kikooma alongside Prof. Omotade Akin Aina during the meeting.
CECAP II is being implemented by Makerere University in collaboration with four other Ugandan public universities, including; Busitema University, Gulu University, Kyambogo University and Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza, the Project Principal Investigator was represented at the meeting by the Director of Graduate Training, Prof. Julius Kikooma.
The Directorate of Graduate Training at Makerere University has equipped several Senior ranking lecturers with expert knowledge in a Training of Trainers’ workshop on “Philosophy of Methods”.
In his remarks at the opening of a 3-day training workshop at Level4 Conference Hall – Senate Building, the Director of Graduate Training Prof. Julius Kikooma said, “The teaching of Philosophy of Methods gives all participants the fundamentals to extend knowledge to other learners, hence its importance in upholding the Makerere University values.”
Kikooma urged and challenged the participants to also attend and actively participate in the follow up of learners’ training of students, stating that the PhD students need support as the directorate continues to coordinate the curriculum of PhD by-research that was approved by the senate recently.
“To holistically implement the senate approved PhD curriculum, we are coordinating capacity building trainings of all stake holders in a structured approach with the different units of the University. Many more trainings including Training of Trainers in advanced research methods course are on the way.”
He further urged the participants to be intentional in their teaching profession and in whatever they were doing, adding “Apart from focusing on practices as teachers and researchers, we can engage in wider philosophical debates in our research areas so that we are relevant in the society and in the empowerment of PhD research students.”
The participants for the Philosophy of Methods training were from College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Education and External Studies, Makerere University Business School among others.
During the same training, Dr. Dickson Kanakulya stressed the need to train senior lecturers in the Philosophy of Methods, saying, “The biggest connection is that societal problems require concrete research to find solutions. Our challenge in Africa is that we employ a short barrow approach to find solutions to problems. This cannot work. We need consistent researchers to solve problems. Lasting solutions to societal issues can only be got through training such as Philosophy of Methods, where researchers come up with new models for societal solutions.”
Prof. Julius Kikooma pose for a photo with participants and facilitators.
Dr. Kanakulya said that Makerere University remains the biggest research University in Africa and philosophy of Methods helps to come up with good research tools that produce good research outputs. “Research has shown that the higher the number of PhD researchers in any given country, the higher the levels of development of that country e.g. the USA, China etc., adding that research is not limited to only medicinal or agricultural related issues.”
He said philosophy of methods, encourages philosophical creativity in research, “It is meant to bring out philosophical generation of concepts, theories and ideas. It is meant to encourage students to question the existing philosophical assumptions and status quo in a given field of knowledge such that new philosophical concepts are created.”
For successful rollout of government programs like the National Development Plan 4, Dr. Kanakulya said that Philosophy of Methods training needs to be integrated into such systems. “Philosophy of Methods focuses on ethical thinking aspects. For example, for a better rollout of the Parish Development Model, we need implementers to be ethical.” He added.
Prof. Sulait Tumwiine, the associate Dean of Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research at MUBS said, “This is a discussion where new ideas are shared to guide and gauge applicability in the current knowledge diversity coupled with lots of technological development including Artificial Intelligence and Chat GPT.”
He added, “As professors of Universities, we need to understand how we leverage on what comes up so that it does not take our space, but also appreciate how we can support growth of knowledge. The Philosophy of Methods training is the answer.”
Dr. Jim Spire Ssentongo highlighted that Philosophy uses more of the critical mind than Science. He added that philosophy is more of speculation of the mind.
“Sustainability of philosophy Education encourages us to continue training. Philosophy being the oldest discipline retained special status in the academia as a pinnacle of pursuit of knowledge. All disciplines have major elements of philosophy citing examples in the philosophy of Mathematics and Physics.
Dr. Spire added, “If you do not understand philosophy, you cannot deeply investigate anything because philosophy is the reality of understanding everything. Philosophy is the basis of understanding what knowledge is and how it is arrived at.”
Also participating in the workshop was Prof. Joseph Ntaayi from MUBS, in his remarks he said PhD students need the philosophy of methods training to understand how to best to create knowledge. He added that ontological and epistemological questions that lead to good research design methods can only be answered by this training.
Dr. Robert Kakuru, a Lecturer in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences said that the Philosophy of Methods training is needed by every graduate student as well as supervisors to critically determine the choice of methods to use in academic research. For example, “If one wants to use a questionnaire as an interview approach, one should understand, why that approach and yet without this training, the why cannot be answered.” He added.