General
Mak Chair Council Launches ARIS Development
The Chairperson of Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara on Thursday 6th May, 2021 launched the development of an in-house Academic Records Information System (MakARIS) aimed at ensuring full control by the University of its academic processes and records. The launch follows a resolution by the University Council at its 151st meeting, and undergirds four overarching goals of the Makerere University Strategic Plan 2020-2030.
The four goals are: A research-led University responding to National, Regional and Global development challenges; Innovations in Teaching and Learning that respond to the changing environment; An engaged University with enhanced partnerships with industry, the community and international institutions; and A professionally governed, equitable, inclusive and gender mainstreamed institution.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe in his welcome remarks thanked the Chairperson and Members of Council for the resolution that paved way for the development of MakARIS. He thanked Acting (Ag.) Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), Dr. Josephine Nabukenya for accepting to chair the Steering Committee that will spearhead the development of MakARIS.
“I believe that all processes in the University should be digitized and effected on an integrated system. I therefore thank the Acting DVCFA who since her appointment has ensured that IT-dependent systems are implemented promptly” remarked the Vice Chancellor.
Prof. Nawangwe’s appointment of Dr. Nabukenya as Chairperson MakARIS Steering Committee was based on her vast experience as Associate Professor of Information Systems, developer of IT polices and leadership of various research projects.
In her acceptance remarks, Dr. Nabukenya noted that Makerere University has the requisite capacity to develop a fully integrated Information System and introduced her committee members. These are;
- Dr. Umar Kakumba – Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs)
- Mr. Hudson Musoke – Ag. Director Legal Affairs
- Mr. Yusuf Kiranda – Ag. University Secretary
- Mr. Alfred Namoah Masikye – Academic Registrar
- Dr. Vincent Ssembatya – Director Quality Assurance Directorate (QAD)
- Mr. Samuel Mugabi – Director Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS)
- Prof. Henry Alinaitwe – Principal College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT)
- Assoc. Prof. Josephine Ahikire – Principal College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS)
- Mr. Silas Ngabirano – Assistant Commissioner ICT, Ministry of ICT and National Guidance
Also introduced were members of the technical team consisting of Software Engineers, System Integration Specialists, Systems Analysts, Enterprise Architects, Programmers and Research Assistants. The technical team made up of staff from the School of Computing and Informatics Technology (CIT) and DICTS.
The Ag. DVCFA shared that the development will be carried out within a period of 6 months and is justified by; Reduction of costs as there will no recurring license fees, Accommodation of user stakes (students, banks and other stakeholders to be consulted) and Ownership (the system will be owned by Makerere University).
Furthermore, the development is justified by; Customization (the system will be customizable to meet emerging needs), Reduced security risks on institutional data, and Improved service provision to various users. The MakARIS enterprise architecture will ensure that all process and systems that feed into the management of student records will be integrated so as to cater for both present and future requirements.
“It gives me so much pleasure to be able to participate in this launch, which is at the heart of what Council has always desired to do” remarked the Chairperson Mrs. Magara as she commended the Steering Committee for the presentation and planned activities.
She noted that once fully developed, the system will provide an enriching environment for the University to draw out and utilize the vast potential that exists within the various colleges. The Chairperson added that efficiency and effectiveness are key elements of Information Systems, short of which, they are as good as dead.
“Automation will greatly improve information flow, alleviate the frustrations that many have experienced in the past and as a result, holdups will be history” said Mrs. Magara.
She applauded the University Management and technical team for the efforts taken to develop the system so far and pledged Council’s support in the form of any policies that will need to be enacted to ensure that the system is implemented. Mrs. Magara concluded her remarks by challenging University units to look beyond solving institutional challenges to helping Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies tackle national needs.
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.
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.
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. 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.
“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.
“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.
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
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