General
Mak Digitizes over 10,000 Land Records Dating from 1830 to 1995
Over 10,000 records on land in Uganda under the custody of Makerere University Library have been digitized. The process supported by the Government of Uganda under Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) aimed at preserving and promoting access to land and archival records for the period of 1830-1995 that are at high risk of deterioration.
The composition of land archives digitized include but are not limited to; land titles, Lukiiko minutes on land and correspondences, land treaties and testamentaries. Other documents included paper archives on the Uganda Protectorate, Church Missionary Society, Makerere University and instigation of clans.
According Ms. Rhodah Nalubega the Principal Investigator of the Project; Digitization of Land Archival Documents in Makerere University Library (1830-1995), the project was inspired by the information gap on the history of land in Uganda. The project team was equally motivated by the change in habits of scholarly communities who prefer to access documents in electronic format.
“The escalating demand of archival documents in Makerere University, the fragility of the documents due to age, physical handling, environment issues, brittleness and the existing contentious issues on land prompted us to think of how best to conserve and preserve the documents in their original formats without extinction” she said.
Speaking at the Dissemination workshop, on Friday 28th May, 2021, Mr. Kizito Bashir who represented the Chief Executive Officer of Buganda Land Board (BLB) Owek. Simon Kaboggoza Muwanga recognized the importance of archiving critical documents related to land ownership when he said, “I cannot tell you how important it has been for Buganda Land Board to rely on archived documents to fulfil our mandate. The political history of the kingdom and the country at large such as the 1900 agreement, Battaka movement, the 1966 Kabaka crisis and the land decree created several information gaps and the need to rely on archived documents.”
Mr. Kizito therefore said that documentation has enabled BLB to resolve land conflicts that have existed in the kingdom and the country at large. He added that BLB has greatly relied on old records dated 1900-1930 to reclaim assets that belong the kingdom of Buganda.
“We have heavily relied on the lists of land owners that were provided for in 1900, the subsequent surveys and registrations that happened in 1922-1930. Using these records, we have been able to differentiate between the original mailo land that belongs to the kingdom and private mailo land that belongs to individuals” he said.
He however, mentioned that the recording process has been evolving over time from the Final Certificates (FCs) which are evident on the micro films and the subsequent surveys, to Viral Register Volumes (MRVs) up to the current plot and block systems. He noted that the revolution is premised on land archival documents.
He congratulated Makerere University upon reaching the tremendous milestone of preserving and protecting the land archives in an electronic and digital format. He called upon the university leadership to seek institutional collaboration between the University and various key players in the sector with other archived information.
Ms. Monica Naluwooza, a Project Team Member mentioned that the digitized materials will be hosted under the Africana section of the Makerere University Institutional Repository and will be accessible to the public through rightful University procedures. Other members of the team are Ms. Racheal Nabbosa and Ms. Sara Maka.
The Makerere University Librarian Dr. Helen Byamugisha applauded the team for investing their efforts in causing visible change and adding value to their country through digitizing some of the most important and historical documents. She acknowledged the tremendous support that the University Management and Government of Uganda have consistently extended to the University Library to achieve its goals.
“The role of the library in the university is to enhance teaching and learning as well as research. It is therefore regarded as the heart of the university. Indeed, Makerere University Library is the heart of the Ivory Tower,” she noted.
Makerere University, through the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) and the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), has signed an open Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). This MoU is one of several initiatives aimed at strengthening the university’s global collaborations and research partnerships.
In his remarks, Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe highlighted Makerere’s recent centenary celebrations as a testament to its long and influential history in Africa. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to serious, research-driven collaboration, noting Makerere’s aspiration to become a leading student-centered research university that develops solutions to regional challenges.
Prof. Nawangwe emphasized that Makerere’s research addresses critical issues such as widespread poverty, high youth unemployment, the devastating effects of climate change on agriculture, rapid population growth, and political interference in production. These challenges, he explained, call for climate-resilient agriculture, stronger health systems to address emerging diseases, and more inclusive governance. He further observed that Africa’s ambitious goal of producing one million PhDs in the next decade remains constrained by inadequate supervision capacity across the continent, stressing that collaborations like this MoU are key to bridging that gap.
EPRC Executive Director, Dr. Sarah Sewanyana, described the signing as particularly significant for EPRC and its Board of Directors as they embark on a new five-year strategic plan (2025/26–2029/30). She explained that the plan strongly emphasizes strategic collaborations, with this partnership serving as a prime example of leveraging collective strengths to deepen impact. She underscored EPRC’s role in advancing evidence-based policymaking for national development, aligning with Uganda’s National Development Plan IV.
Prof. James Wokadala, Acting Principal of CoBAMS, emphasized that the collaboration seeks to preserve and expand vital human knowledge while strengthening partnerships between academic institutions and global research networks. He noted that these networks are instrumental in advising legal and policy professionals, as well as aligning research agendas with both national and corporate priorities. He expressed pride in the extensive efforts of the School of Economics that have expanded these activities in recent years. He pointed to significant accomplishments that have been achieved in collaboration with IGC, including hosting a 2025 high-level international conference on mobile money payment systems, which positioned Makerere University as a thought leader on critical African economic issues. He also celebrated the successful bid by the School of Economics to host the ‘Africa Meeting of the Econometric Society’ in 2027, further demonstrating its contribution to impactful scholarship and policy influence.
The Acting Principal further emphasized that the new partnership with LSE will build on these achievements, offering immense benefits such as expanding capacity-building opportunities for faculty and students, especially in research and Public Infrastructure Management (PIM). The collaboration will also provide platforms for knowledge dissemination and policy dialogue, while addressing pressing socio-economic and health challenges. Ultimately, he said, formalisation of the partnership amplifies CoBAMS’ commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and innovation.
Speaking on behalf of LSE’s International Growth Centre (IGC), Executive Director Dr. Jonathan Leape expressed delight at formalizing the long-standing collaboration with Makerere and EPRC. He highlighted current joint projects, including research on the impact of the 2020 gender-based vaccine program on women’s skills and learning, studies on reforms in STEM education, and investigations into barriers limiting business growth for entrepreneurs. He stressed that the core mission is to bring researchers and policymakers together to address pressing policy challenges with robust, reliable evidence and innovative solutions.
The event, held on 27th August 2025, was attended by several dignitaries including Dr. Richard Newfarmer, Country Director for Uganda and Rwanda (IGC); Dr. Nhial Kuch, Senior Country Economist (IGC); and Mary Teddy Nakyejwe, IGC Programme Officer. Also present were the Director of Research, Dr. Ibrahim Kasirye and other members of EPRC leadership.
Makerere University has hosted a delegation from the Ghent University Association, led by Prof. Mieke Van Herreweghe, Vice Rector of Ghent University. The delegation included representatives from Howest University and Hogent University of Applied Sciences.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe welcomed the team and highlighted Makerere University’s commitment to addressing the pressing challenges in the region. These include climate change, which continues to hinder investment, and Uganda’s rapidly growing population that has surged from 5 million in the late 1940s to nearly 50 million currently, creating socio-economic challenges such as high youth unemployment.
He emphasized that Makerere’s research agenda focuses on understanding the fast-growing population, tackling health challenges, advancing governance and human rights, and fostering peace through initiatives such as the Rotary Peace Center—the only one of its kind on the African continent. Research at Makerere also seeks to provide solutions to youth unemployment in one of the world’s youngest nations.
The Vice Chancellor further noted that Makerere University teaches and conducts research across a wide spectrum of disciplines, organized into colleges including Agriculture, Business and Management, Computing, Education and External Studies, Engineering and Technology, Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine. The university also hosts over 60 specialized research centers, among them Centers of Excellence such as the Regional Centre for Crop Improvement, which works to enhance food security, manage pests and diseases, and improve agricultural productivity. Another key institution is the Infectious Diseases Institute, which leads research on HIV/AIDS. With these initiatives, he added, Makerere continues to expand its research footprint while strengthening global partnerships.
Prof. Van Herreweghe provided an overview of Ghent University, founded in 1817 and ranked among the top 100 universities globally for decades. With its motto “Dare to think,” Ghent University has built a strong international reputation. It also holds the distinction of being the only Belgian, and currently the only European, university with a campus in South Korea. Established in 2014, the campus offers bachelor’s programs in applied biotechnology.
She highlighted Ghent’s joint PhD programs, which are structured as sandwich programs to support African universities. Under this arrangement, PhD candidates spend two years funded at Ghent University and another two years at their home university (such as Makerere), with joint supervision from both institutions. These programs, she noted, are a strategic way of fostering international collaboration.
During the visit, Ghent University signed a Student Exchange Agreement with Makerere University to complement the existing Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement will pave the way for more joint initiatives and strengthen collaboration in the years ahead.
The delegation also included Mr. Lieven Theys, International Coordinator for Business Management at Howest University, who explained that Howest clusters its programs into three key domains: Design and Technology, Human Well-being and Health, and Business and Organization. Dr. Robin Stevens represented Hogent University of Applied Sciences, which runs programs across nine schools including Business and Management, Computer Sciences, Biosciences, Industrial Technology, Teacher Training, and Healthcare.
The visit, held on 27th August 2025, was attended by Makerere University officials and members of various colleges, among them Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) and Principal of the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Prof. Tonny Oyana-Principal College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Prof. Moses Musinguzi-Principal College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Prof. Julius Kikooma-Director Graduate Training, Assoc. Prof. Yazidhi Bamutaze-Deputy Principal College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Assoc. Prof. James Wokadala-Deputy Principal College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Assoc. Prof. Richard Idro-Deputy Principal College of Health Sciences, and Dr. Cathy Mbidde, Manager of the Makerere University Innovation Pod (Mak UniPod).
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