In Press

Innovation exhibition unveils tricks to boost the economy

Published

4 years ago

April 27, 2021

Mark Wamai

A researcher explains how the mobile e-governance service digital system works during the exhibition. Photo: The Observer.

_{By Ernest Jjingo}

On April 15, the Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund organised an exhibition for the public to engage with some of the researchers and innovators from Makerere University College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS).

As ERNEST JJINGO writes, the Shs 60bn fund has empowered hundreds of innovators to provide key solutions in the sectors of health, farming as well as information and communications technology.

At the College of Computing and Information Sciences, dozens of exhibitors were on hand to welcome guests for the special event.

In many ways, it was sort of accountability for each exhibitor’s grant. Unlike farming exhibitions where exhibits are material stuff, most of this exhibition was digital and touched areas of taxation, healthcare as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

For one, Alex Mwotil stood out with his development of Crane Cloud, an open-source multi-cloud service layer for highly available cloud-based services in Africa.

Basically, Crane Cloud helps you to avoid the complexity and high expense of purchasing and managing a user’s own physical servers and other related infrastructure. Mwotil explained that Crane Cloud manages the infrastructure while you the user manage your applications and you get to only pay for what you use.

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In Press

Registration without incentives won’t grow business in Uganda, experts warn

Published

2 weeks ago

August 31, 2025

Mak Editor

Prof. Marcus Larsen presenting the research insights. College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) and the Copenhagen Business School, in partnership with Uganda Small Scale Industries Association, dissemination workshop on Firm Formalization and Sustainable Development, 29th August 2025, CoBAMS Conference Hall, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

_{By John Odyek}

Business and tax registration alone are not enough to secure the survival, growth, or sustainability of firms in Uganda, according to new research that has been released.

The study conducted by scholars from Makerere University, Copenhagen Business School, and the Uganda Small Scale Industries Association (USSIA) found that formalisation must be supported by targeted reforms, government incentives, and strong backing from business associations and civil society if it is to deliver green and inclusive growth.

Titled “Firm Formalisation and Sustainable Development,” the study launched on August 28, 2025, at Makerere University.

In Press

Climate change puts Uganda’s trade future at risk

Published

4 weeks ago

August 18, 2025

Mak Editor

Dr. Peter Babyenda, Post Doc Researcher. Environment for Development (EfD) initiative at Makerere University inception workshop for two-year research project aimed at studying energy demand and efficiency among Ugandan households and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), supported by a $30,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation under the CECAP program, 14th May 2025, EfD Conference Room, Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

_{By Dr. Peter Babyenda}

Uganda’s growing integration into regional and global markets is facing a serious threat from climate change, according to a new study examining the country’s trade performance between 1990 and 2023. The study reveals that rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns are undermining export capacity, damaging vital infrastructure, and pushing up the cost of trade.

The writer is a Research Fellow, Lecturer and Policy Engagement Coordinator at EfD-Mak Centre, School of Economics, CoBAMS, Makerere University; Email: pbabyenda@gmail.com

In Press

The crisis of impressions in Uganda

Published

4 months ago

May 26, 2025

Mak Editor

Assoc. Prof. Mike Ibrahim Okumu officially opening the workshop. Environment for Development (EfD) initiative at Makerere University inception workshop for two-year research project aimed at studying energy demand and efficiency among Ugandan households and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), supported by a $30,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation under the CECAP program, 14th May 2025, EfD Conference Room, Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

OKUMU MIKE IBRAHIM | In recent times, I have come to better understand why many frontier organisations such as the Economic Policy Research Center now prefer to observe prospective employees—through internships, consultancy roles, or temporary assignments—before offering permanent contracts. This trend reflects a broader social phenomenon: the rise of impression management, what we locally call kufera. Unfortunately, this culture of appearances has crept into the realm of public service, where form often triumphs over substance, and packaging overshadows the true content of delivery.