At a public presentation for candidates vying for the position of First Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) for Academic Affairs, Prof. Sarah Ssali delivered her vision under the theme “Strengthening the Teaching–Research Nexus to Deliver High-Quality Graduates for Africa’s Transformation.” Her presentation highlighted her academic profile, service record, and achievements, while also outlining her motivation for the role and innovative strategies to enhance academic efficiency, research, knowledge transfer, partnerships, and student academic affairs.

The DVC for Academic Affairs oversees academic programmes and policies that foster excellence within the University. The office ensures quality assurance, proper planning and coordination of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, curriculum development, and optimal utilization of teaching, research, and library resources. It also supervises Colleges, Faculties, Institutes, Schools, Graduate Training, the University Library, and the Office of the Academic Registrar.

Prof. Ssali, currently the Director of the Institute of Women and Gender Studies, was the only shortlisted candidate for the position, according to Prof. Masagazi Masaazi, Chair of the Search Committee. Prof. Masagazi reported that the search committee was appointed by the Senate in February to identify qualified candidates for the position. The selection process involved a thorough analysis of all legal documents guiding the operations and the subsequent advertisement of the position. He explained that only two individuals had applied, and the presentation was the fifth activity in the selection roadmap.

In his remarks, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, the Academic Registrar, described Prof. Ssali as a distinguished scholar with a rich academic and professional background, consistently demonstrating excellence throughout her career. He further underscored the importance of the DVC Academic Affairs role in safeguarding academic programmes, standards, and student life.

Prof. Ssali holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences and a Master of Arts in Gender Studies from Makerere University, as well as a PhD in International Health Studies from Queen Margaret University. She has also earned certificates in Teaching and Assessment of Postgraduate Students, Problem-Based Learning, and Research Uptake and Data Visualization—credentials that reinforce her academic preparedness for the DVC role. Her career at Makerere began as a Lecturer, steadily rising to Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, and finally Professor of Gender Studies. She has held positions as a Research Fellow at the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), and beyond Makerere, as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Limerick, and a part-time lecturer, reflecting her broad academic experience locally and internationally.

Since 2004, Prof. Ssali has demonstrated strong leadership at Makerere, serving as Graduate Programmes Coordinator, Exchange Programme Coordinator, Dean, and Director of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Centre of Excellence in Notions of Identities. She now leads the Institute of Gender and Development Studies. Her extensive leadership background illustrates her capacity for the DVC position.

She has also been active on numerous strategic university committees, including Council, Senate, and the MasterCard Foundation Steering Committee. Within Council, she has chaired key committees on Quality Assurance (QA), Gender-Based Training and ICT; Staff Development, Welfare and Retirement Benefits; and Student Affairs. She has equally served on the Appointments Board, Audit Committee, Finance, Planning and Administration Committee, and QA Committee—experiences that have honed her policymaking and implementation skills.

In the interactive session that followed her presentation, on the matter of global rankings, Prof. Ssali acknowledged Makerere’s undisputed competitiveness but stressed the need for continuous innovation, noting that other universities are adopting similar excellence strategies.

Regarding accountability, she clarified that the DVC Academic Affairs Office operates within a well-defined framework of institutional policies and structures, including deputizing the Vice Chancellor and working with the Library, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, the University Press, and the Academic Registrar. Accountability, she emphasized, is embedded in the University’s Mother Law-the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, Strategic Plan, and various operational manuals in Human Resource, Finance, Audit, and Academic Programs, making it a continuous process from day one rather than a review at the end of five years.

If appointed, Prof. Ssali would become the second woman to serve as First Deputy Vice Chancellor, following Prof. Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza. The presentation, held on 25^th August 2025 in the Main Hall of the Main Building, was attended by members of the Search Committee, Council, University Management, and academic staff, including the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.

Makerere University, through the Institute of Gender and Development Studies in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on 20^th August 2025 commenced a training program focusing on procurement and business development for women in business. The two sessions, which brought together women from diverse business sectors, were held at the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility. The training covered critical areas such as business requirements and strategic positioning, access to credit—particularly the Women in Business initiative by Stanbic Bank—and navigating procurement processes in the public service, among other vital aspects.

In his remarks, Mr. Paul Agaba, Director of the Procurement and Disposal Unit (PDU) at Makerere University, outlined relevant laws and shed light on reservation schemes for women-owned businesses. He detailed the requirements for companies to participate in procurement reserved for women, the necessary qualifying documents, and the benefits associated with such schemes. Mr. Agaba referred to the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDA) Act of 2003, a law aimed at regulating procurement processes while enhancing service delivery and ensuring value for money. He noted that the Act has undergone several amendments to address emerging issues and reinforce principles of fairness and inclusivity, including measures to integrate previously marginalized groups—women, youth, and persons with disabilities—into business opportunities.

He further emphasized that reservation schemes are designed to provide incentives for women-owned businesses. To qualify, a business must be registered with the appropriate authorities, with at least 51% of its shares owned by one or more Ugandan women. On specific requirements, he highlighted the need for registration with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), annual registration with the PPDA to be listed among providers, and documentation proving 51% female shareholding. However, Mr. Agaba noted that more effort is needed to actualize some provisions, such as ensuring that 15% of every procurement plan in public institutions and all procurements below UGX 30 million are reserved for women.

Representing UNDP, Ms. Beatrice Nabagya Mugambe, whose organization funded the training, underscored the importance of the program, describing it as a response to critical gaps identified through organizational assessments and surveys. She observed that despite ongoing efforts in gender-responsive procurement, women’s participation in procurement processes remains limited—a challenge not unique to Makerere but also evident across other agencies. She pointed to barriers such as lack of capital, insufficient information about bid opportunities and procedures, perceptions that bid amounts are beyond their reach, and limited business networks that could otherwise facilitate collective bidding. She stressed that such limitations can be overcome through collective action.

Addressing the topic of access to credit, Mr. Joel Mukasa, Relationship Manager at Stanbic Bank, highlighted opportunities available to women-owned businesses through the bank. Drawing from over seven years of experience, he noted that women tend to be better business managers, with 90% of loans disbursed to women being repaid, compared to less than 50% among men, attributing the gap to men often diverting business funds for personal use. Mr. Mukasa explained that Stanbic Bank has established several initiatives tailored for women, including the ‘Grow Project’ in partnership with the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) and the government, and the ‘Stanbic for Her’ program. He clarified that the ‘Grow Project’ does not provide free money but rather credit facilities designed for active women entrepreneurs. To qualify, businesses must be registered as sole proprietorships headed by women, companies with at least 51% female shareholding, partnerships led by women, or formal/informal savings groups composed entirely of women. Applicants are also required to have an operational account with Stanbic Bank for at least six months, which eases qualification without the need for audited books.

Prof. Sarah Ssali, Head of the Institute of Gender and Development Studies, reaffirmed Makerere University’s commitment to gender equity and justice as central pillars of its operations. She noted that Makerere is the first public institution globally to apply for the UNDP’s Gender Equality Seal, with the process beginning in 2022. As part of this commitment, the university is evaluated on gender parity in student enrollment. Since 1991, initiatives such as the 1.5 scheme, the establishment of a gender institute, and other affirmative action programs, including those addressing disability and inclusion, have been implemented to promote gender balance among students.

She added that as a gender-responsive employer, the university emphasizes women’s representation in its workforce, particularly in leadership and staffing. Makerere has a comprehensive Gender Equality Policy and Framework supported by affirmative action, which has significantly increased women’s representation in both employment and leadership roles. However, Prof. Ssali acknowledged that challenges persist in the area of procurement. Bound by the PPDA Act, the university cannot impose gender quotas since bidding is based on merit and fair competition. Low participation of women in bids is often due to their operation at a micro-level, lack of familiarity with the PPDA Act, and insufficient capital to handle large contracts.

To address these challenges, Prof. Ssali said Makerere is exploring lawful strategies to promote gender parity in procurement. The main focus is to strengthen women-owned businesses so they can compete effectively for large contracts, while also supporting small and medium women entrepreneurs as they scale up. She explained that the current workshop was deliberately designed for women in business, with participation restricted to women-owned companies. Its primary goal was to build competitiveness by equipping participants with knowledge of pre-qualification, bid submission, assessment, appraisal, and selection processes—ensuring women-owned businesses are fully integrated into Makerere’s procurement activities as part of the university’s broader gender inclusivity agenda.

Ms. Sara Nakibuuka, a practicing procurement professional at Makerere University, stressed the importance of such initiatives in supporting women entrepreneurs. She encouraged women to take full advantage of provisions under the existing Acts of Parliament to expand their business opportunities and strengthen their market presence.

The Women in Business Training 2025 was moderated by Donna Keirungi, a member of the Makerere University Gender Equality Seal implementation team.

The Makerere University Innovation Pod is thrilled to announce the launch of the E-Mobility Skilling Programme: Cohort 2, in partnership with Kiira Motors Corporation and UNDP Uganda! This immersive one-year program offers exceptional Bachelor of Science and related discipline students (2^nd-3^rd year) the opportunity to gain cutting-edge skills in electric vehicle technology.

We are seeking motivated individuals from Physics, various Engineering fields, Industrial Art, Architecture, and Business (Marketing) with a strong academic record. Participants will engage in hands-on training, industrial immersion at Kiira Motors, and contribute to the development of the “Moonshot Project.”

Apply by September 1, 2025, to be part of this transformative skilling initiative. Female students are strongly encouraged to apply.

Learn more and apply here: https://forms.gle/jntp2TrzYqJ4TrKv9