Agriculture & Environment
Mak, GoU &World Bank Partner to Build Capacity in Public Investment Management
By Jane Anyango
About 20 staff from the School of Economics, the National Planning Authority (NPA) and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) convened at Essella Country Hotel in Wakiso district for a one-week (13th -17th September, 2021) Training of Trainers (ToT) to build capacity in Public Investment Management (PIM).
The training was officially opened by the Principal, Makerere University College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) Assoc. Prof. Eria Hisali on behalf of the University Management.
The training was organized by the World Bank-funded Makerere University Centre of Excellence in Public Investment Management (PIM CoE) in the School of Economics (SoE), College of Business and Management Studies (CoBAMS).
The training was conducted by paired up facilitators from Government of Uganda (GoU) and Makerere University who have built capacity in the area of PIM system and processes and moved to Queens University in Canada while others have built their capacities locally.
The training emanates from a diagnostic study undertaken by MoFPED and the World Bank in conjunction with School of Economics where weaknesses in the Public Investment Management Systems and Processes were identified.
Part of the weaknesses identified were lack of capacity in project appraisals which is a complex analysis that involves rigorous economic analysis using conversion factors and shadow prices, which are not conventional in the daily economics known.
Some of the aspects covered during this Training of Trainers included: An overview of the PIM System and processes in Uganda, Project Concept Note Presentation, Project Profile presentation, Public Private Partnerships. Integrated Bank of Projects, Integrated Project Appraisal and Economic Analysis of Projects.
The Principal Investigator Makerere University PIM CoE Prof. Edward Bbaale who is also Dean School of Economics said, as a result of the glaring challenges, interventions were mapped out to establish the PIM CoE that brought on board the Ministry of Finance, the National Planning Authority and the University in a collaborative initiative.
“Out of that, we competed and received a grant from the World Bank to establish a PIM CoE with the mandate to undertake training, research and advisory services in the area of Public Investment Management.
This training is part of the mandate for which the PIM CoE is established. We are trying to increase on a number of trainers. Initially four staff from the School of Economics have undergone training organized by the Ministry of Finance and the World Bank in the area of Public Investment Management and we feel that the four are not enough to undertake this type of training.
This type of training we are having is a training of trainers with the main intention of increasing the number of trainers in Public Investment Management. Thanks to the World Bank for the grant that is delivering the output and also thanks to the Ministry of Finance for the great partnership”, Prof. Bbaale said.
While officially opening the training, the Principal CoBAMS, Assoc. Prof. Eria Hisali thanked the management of PIM CoE for the numerous activities they have been undertaking over the past one year.
The Principal appreciated the entire management of MoFPED for the support extended to Makerere University, and trainers and participants for interesting themselves in this training program.
“When this initiative was started a couple of years ago, it seemed to be a farfetched idea but I am extremely happy that we can now see some tangible results. Thank you so much for remaining committed and I really hope and look forward to a lot more.
I appreciate the unwavering support from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. They have been participating in the training and playing a key role in having the PIM CoE get to where we are.
The support we got from the World Bank was with a very strong backing from the Ministry of finance. So, we thank you so much and we can only look forward to a stronger collaboration and partnership”, Assoc. Prof. Hisali appreciated.
Dr. Hisali described the PIM CoE as an important initiative whose strategic feet is located within the strategic focus of the college for the next 5-10 years.
“We have taken steps to establish flagship activities. Our focus currently is to have at least one flagship activity at each school. These flagship activities are going to be the main vehicle for engagement with policy makers out there and the community.
At the School of Economics we started with the Centre for Macro-economic Modelling and works are ongoing and this is yet another initiative that can fit within these flagship activities which takes us to the community and policy makers”, the Principal said.
Over the next five to ten years, Prof. Hisali reported that, the college will be keenly focused on enhancing the capacity of all staff including academic, administrative and support staff.
He said, starting the last Financial Year, the college rolled out an initiative requiring every academic staff to pick at the minimum of two new methodological areas.
The college he said trained staff in Impact Evaluation and has been running a modules in Computer Programming and Object Oriented Programming in Stata. In addition Dr. Hisali said, the college is also running a series of modules in Economic Modelling, Advanced Time Series while the School of Business will be commencing capacity building in Event Study Modelling.
Dr. Hisali said that with the support from the Ministry of Finance, NPA and other players in the public and private sectors, there is an ongoing effort to start a graduate degree program in PIMS and to integrate some of these materials into the university curriculum at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
The Principal advised that as government and university embark on this training, it should not be looked at as the end in itself but rather something going to equip all the partners to make bigger contributions.
One of the things Prof. Hisali proposed was the need to take up the idea of a policy lab where on a quarterly basis, the academia, Ministry of Finance, NPA and other stakeholders in PIM should be able to sit together, pick up a topical issue and take off half a day and deliberate on it fully and either make policy suggestions or agree on areas that might require further study in order to come up with meaningful policy interventions in this field.
The second idea proposed by the Principal was getting students on board as the easiest way of getting the multipliers. Dr. Hisali advised that as the university integrates the materials in the curriculum and wait for the degree program, there can be a shortcut where graduate students are encouraged to take up topics for their dissertations and encouraged to pick and use these important tools and in that way, the multiplier will increase and become bigger.
The other issue on taking up multipliers according to Dr. Hisali would be undertaking some studies like computation of shadows and parameters .In this regard, he said, the university can again collaborate with the Ministry to fund a few of these studies in groups.
Dr. Hisali reported that the college has been supporting some research and publications for the last five years but it is now having conversations on the possibility of changing the modality of that support and focus on putting together those resources to support research projects that will be using some of the new tools being learnt.
“So we will be moving away from the old approach to a new dispensation where we look into the methodology you are using and once convinced that it fits within these new areas we are trying to build capacity then we support. So the little facilitation at the college level will be biased towards initiatives like this and then definitely the tools of economic analysis that you are picking through this training will be one of those areas we want to support,” Prof. Hisali said.
Dr. Hisali expressed the university commitment to continue supporting and to ensure that these initiatives succeed saying, management was already in discussion with the ministry to ensure that the PIM CoE can be sustained not to end with the World Bank support.
The Commissioner for Projects and Public Investments in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Hannington Ashaba said Public Investment Management largely involve system, institutions, processes that government uses to appraise public investments to ensure that only tangible and viable projects are implemented to give better returns and to make sure that they contribute to the national development agenda.
Commissioner Ashaba said government has been implementing a number of PIM reforms and notable among them is to build capacity across government to ensure that they have in-country capacity that enables government ministries to do feasibility studies such that only viable projects can be included in the budget and government plan.
“It is on the basis of that that we think that working Makerere University School of Economics will help churn a large number of professionals in PIMS that will be very impactful in supporting government especially under the National Development Plan III which is focusing on core infrastructure projects that will propel the country to a middle class economy”, Mr. Ashaba said.
The commissioner said some of the challenges government is facing in PIMS go beyond capacity to include the fact that Uganda as a developing country has resource constraints. Ashaba told participants that the money is not enough so, it must be rationalized and allocated to only projects with bigger impact that will generate growth and revenue to repair the national debt.
Mr. Ashaba said besides the budget constraints, there is need to ensure that government is working as a whole to solve the coordination issue in the way projects are identified, prepared and studied such that by the time a decision to undertake a project is reached, it is really a project well-grounded to guarantee proper implementation, coordination and completion on time not to escalate costs.
“ Makerere is coming in at the right time when we are deepening the PIM reforms and we think that the academia especially the School of Economics which is setting up a PIM CoE will ensure that some of the curriculum includes PIMS aspects to ensure that graduates churned out are clearly well grounded in public investment.
But also two, we have a gap of evidence around public investment. So, if Makerere could help in undertaking topical studies, that would help generate evidence on how investment contribute to growth and also may be identify most of impactful projects where we need to deepen some of the interventions around PIMS” the commissioner stated.
Mr. Ashaba was also optimistic that the University PIM CoE will not only help government in capacity building and conducting topical studies and research but, also come in handy to act as independent reviewers of government so that they can give independent advice on viability of some of the projects so that they can assist government in taking decisions on some public investments.
The Manager Makerere University PIM CoE Dr. Willy Kagarura said the aim of the center is to train people locally and internally so as to improve what is delivered to the students to be relevant on the job market.
“Four people have been on this training with the Ministry of Finance. We want to extend our capacity at our school to deliver the mantle and train people in government offices and our students so that they don’t face challenges when out of the university.
We are continuing to update ourselves to international levels and in October 2021, we are supposed to go to Queens University but some four people have been admitted to attend the Queens University training so that we build capacity at that level, then our graduates here will be skilled continuously up the international standards.” Dr. Kagarura explained.
Another centre mandate according to Dr. Kagarura is to develop short and long term Public Investment Management curriculum and materials. He said, with the support of the Ministry of Finance, the short term courses, materials and curriculum used in the ToT training were developed.
Dr. Kagarura also reported that as part of the mandate, the center has trained government practitioners in Munyonyo and was now partnering with Ministry of Finance in partly delivering that.
“In conducting research, two impact evaluation studies have commenced and there is another study to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on Public Investment Management framework in Uganda. The other one is to roll out training and awareness to other universities where the trainees will be used to go to other universities”, Dr. Kagarura added.
Dr. Kagarura also reported that the centre has established an office for sustainably managing the trainings and was in touch with the Institute of Public Management to have an accreditation as an approved training entity so that once people train, they do exams from the Institute of Public Management and get a certificate. This will easy recruitment of interested people and service delivery.
Besides the funder’s conditions and the COVID-19 Lock down that partly delayed the commencement of the center activities, Dr. Kagurura decried the tedious process in the PPDA that hampered the center activities. He said the Centre activities planned to start in 2017 delayed till September 2020 due to multiple approvals in the PPDA.
“We need to establish the loss incurred through this PPDA processes to our economy. If I can get a laptop at the market at shs 3 million, through PPDA it will take a year in hustles and approvals and get it at shs.9 million or lowest at Shs. 7million, this is just a laptop, what about the roads! So processes are a problem”, Dr. Kagarura submitted.
He said despite the COVID-19 lock down, the trainings were conducted online with interruptions of connectivity. Dr. Kagarura called upon the, donors, University, college, Ministry of finance, NPA and other partners for support to ensure the centre is sustained beyond the World Bank funding.
Jane Anyango is the Principal Communication Officer, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES)
Agriculture & Environment
Makerere Hosts Inaugural Falling Walls Lab Competition as Innovators Pitch Solutions to National Challenges
Students and researchers from Makerere University and other institutions pitched 12 innovations addressing challenges in healthcare, clean energy, agriculture, waste management and community resilience during the inaugural Falling Walls Lab Kampala, held at the School of Public Health Auditorium, Makerere University.
The competition brought together emerging innovators to present solutions to practical challenges through a three minute pitch, followed by questions from a panel of judges.
Modelled on the Falling Walls format that originated in Berlin, the event required each participant to identify a “wall” a problem or barrier, and demonstrate how their innovation seeks to break it down.
Mudhasi wins with newborn jaundice screening device
Andrew Mudhasi of Makerere University emerged as the overall winner with a score of 90 per cent for a low cost medical device designed to improve newborn jaundice screening across different skin tones.
Mudhasi explained that the device uses optical sensor technology and a skin tone targeting algorithm to provide a rapid reading, with the aim of helping nurses and clinicians identify jaundice more efficiently.
During questions from the jury, Mudhasi said the device had not yet been tested on actual babies but had undergone laboratory testing using simulated skin tones.
He reported an accuracy rate of 94 per cent when the device was compared with laboratory spectrophotometers.
The innovation is intended initially for use in clinics and hospitals, with Mudhasi saying the team is also considering a version that could eventually allow mothers to screen babies at home.
Mudhasi’s innovation has previously received recognition at the African Business Concept Challenge and the iF Design Student Award, according to his presentation.
Rhonda’s innovation tackles diaper waste
Rhoda John of the University of Nairobi emerged in second place with 89.6 per cent for an innovation addressing the problem of used diaper waste.
Under the theme “Breaking the wall of diaper waste and drug soils,” Rhonda explained that her team extracts sodium polyacrylate, the absorbent polymer found in diapers, and replaces the sodium with potassium.
The resulting potassium based superabsorbent material is designed to act as a “water battery” in soil by absorbing and retaining water for plants during dry periods.
John said testing showed a 99 per cent increase in germination and a 23 per cent increase in drought resistance.
The innovation also seeks to reduce the amount of used diapers ending up in landfills and the environmental effects associated with their decomposition.
During the question and answer session, John explained that her team was working with government environmental officials in Nairobi on a pilot collection system to address the challenge of gathering used diapers at scale.
Mahera takes third place with herbal peptic ulcer treatment
Stuart Mahera of Makerere University finished third with 86.2 per cent for a herbal formulation targeting peptic ulcers.
Presenting under the theme “Breaking the wall of Nature and Modern Medicine,” Mahera argued that conventional treatment for peptic ulcers can involve multiple medicines and may be associated with side effects and antimicrobial resistance.
His proposed formulation, MARAC capsules, is intended as a monotherapy, combining properties required for peptic-ulcer treatment in a single capsule.
Mahera said his team had carried out quality control work, including characterisation and dose quantification, and had conducted preclinical trials on laboratory mice.
He also told the jury that an application had been submitted to the National Drug Authority as the team awaits the next stage of the regulatory process.
According to Mahera, the proposed seven day treatment would cost about Shs21,000, compared with the existing 14 day treatment approach.
Innovators present solutions to practical challenges
The remaining presentations covered a wide range of challenges.
Esther Nakungu of Utamu University presented Agri-Track, a digital record keeping solution intended to improve visibility, accountability and management of farm operations and financial information.
Dr. Jimmy Chachiga, a Makerere University participant, presented a solar photovoltaic cooker with a heat storage system designed to provide a cleaner and more reliable cooking option during both sunny and non sunny periods.
His presentation focused on reducing dependence on biomass fuels and addressing the challenges associated with intermittent solar energy.
Abdul Noor Luttamaguzi, a PhD student and senior government fisheries officer, presented a mobile application aimed at helping fish farmers and extension officers report, track and manage disease outbreaks.
Henry Duke Tamale presented a herbal cream targeting antibiotic resistant biofilm infections associated with diabetic foot ulcers.
Marvin Seruwu proposed adapting existing near infrared brain monitoring technology to help detect extra-axial brain bleeds in health facilities where access to CT and MRI equipment is limited.
His proposal seeks to repurpose existing technology towards a diagnostic need that could be particularly important in settings where advanced imaging facilities are not readily available.
Kennedy Kisame presented a poultry alert and diagnosis system combining satellite weather information with computer vision disease detection. The proposed system could be accessed through a smartphone application, SMS or USSD, making it potentially usable by farmers with limited internet access.
Frank Atwiine proposed a solar powered mobile diagnostic van designed to bring ultrasound and other diagnostic services closer to rural communities.
Johnson Makmot, a software and blockchain developer, presented a platform that combines GPS tracking and blockchain-based tokens to incentivise and verify plastic-waste collection in Kampala.
Dr. Nelson Ndugu, from a partner university, presented an artificial intelligence tool designed to translate agricultural research publications into local Ugandan languages and generate voice notes for radio-based extension delivery.
The final presentation came from Dr. Juliet Akola, a Ugandan post doctoral researcher at Mangosuthu University of Technology in South Africa.
Akola presented a community digital resilience initiative focused on mapping risks in Kampala’s informal settlements, including flooding, fire, poor sanitation, waste management and inadequate infrastructure.
Her proposal seeks to combine local community knowledge with geographical information systems and link identified risks to action plans involving municipalities and other stakeholders.
Nawangwe calls for more investment in innovation
Closing the event, Prof. Nawangwe congratulated all the participants and described their presentations as an important beginning for Makerere University, Uganda and the wider region.
Drawing on his experience attending the Falling Walls conference in Berlin, the Vice Chancellor said initiatives of this nature are important because innovation will play a major role in determining the future of countries.
He encouraged participants to make their pitches more precise by clearly identifying the problem they are addressing, explaining their proposed solution and demonstrating what they have already achieved.
Prof. Nawangwe also welcomed the participation of innovators from other universities and countries, noting that the Kampala event had attracted participants beyond Makerere.
He thanked the Africa Office of the Falling Walls Foundation for its role in bringing the initiative to Makerere and encouraged continued support for innovation.
The Vice Chancellor further linked innovation to Uganda’s growing youth population and the need to develop home-grown solutions to address challenges such as youth unemployment.
The inaugural Falling Walls Lab Kampala ultimately provided a platform for innovators to move ideas beyond the classroom and laboratory and demonstrate how research, technology and creativity can be applied to challenges affecting communities.
| Position | Winner | Institution | Score |
| 1st | Andrew Mudhasi | Makerere University | 90% |
| 2nd | Rhoda John | University of Nairobi | 89.6% |
| 3rd | Stuart Mahera | Makerere University | 86.2% |
Agriculture & Environment
CAES Freshers Urged to Embrace Academic Excellence to Become Agents of National Transformation
Orientation is an important first step in helping newly admitted students transition into a new academic and social environment. Beyond introducing students to institutional structures and services, orientation provides an opportunity to set expectations, clarify responsibilities and inspire students to approach their university journey with purpose. For the 2026/2027 intake at Makerere University’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), the orientation emphasized the importance of making the most of the university experience, pursuing academic excellence, and developing the knowledge, skills, and values needed to become responsible citizens, innovative professionals, and agents of national transformation.
The CAES Freshers’ Orientation, held on Thursday, 6th August 2026, at the School of Agricultural Sciences (SAS) Quadrangle, provided newly admitted students with an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the College’s academic programmes, administrative structures, technological resources, library services, counselling and other student support services. Beyond introducing the freshers to the University environment and the resources available to support their academic journey, the orientation emphasized the broader purpose of university education. Students were encouraged to view their time at Makerere not merely as a pathway to academic qualifications, but as an opportunity to develop relevant competencies, build character, discover their potential and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to address real-world challenges and make meaningful contributions to society.
CAES: A College of Opportunities
Welcoming the freshers to CAES, the Principal, Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga, urged them to recognize the significance of the opportunity they had received to study at Makerere University and to use their time at the institution wisely.
Prof. Nabanoga reminded the students that university represents a critical stage in their journey towards becoming responsible and productive citizens. She cautioned them against letting the excitement, newfound freedom and social opportunities distract them from their academic responsibilities.
“You are at the tail end of your journey to becoming important citizens, and therefore you need to use your time at the University effectively,” she said, urging the students to begin thinking about what they wish to become from the very beginning of their university education.
She emphasized that success at university requires discipline, commitment and a clear sense of purpose. The freshers were encouraged to take ownership of their education and make deliberate decisions that would contribute to their personal and professional growth.
According to Prof. Nabanoga, CAES is strategically positioned to prepare graduates who can respond to some of the most pressing challenges facing Uganda and the wider world, particularly in food production, agriculture, environmental sustainability and entrepreneurship.
“CAES is at the centre of national development. No life exists without food and a conducive environment,” she noted, describing CAES as a “college of opportunities” where students are equipped with the knowledge and skills to become change agents.
“At CAES, we focus on skilling you to become change agents to feed nations and to protect the environment, and to become job creators,” she said.
Prof. Nabanoga further encouraged the freshers to take advantage of the expertise available within the College, particularly by actively engaging with their lecturers and seeking guidance whenever they encounter academic or other challenges.
She also underscored the importance of investing in young people as future leaders and contributors to national development, noting that sustainable transformation requires a generation equipped with the skills, values and capacity to take on leadership and other critical responsibilities.
CAES Human Capital Critical to National Development
Speaking on the relevance of CAES to Uganda’s development agenda, the Deputy Principal, Prof. Bamutaze, highlighted the College’s responsibility to produce the human capital required to drive the country’s socio-economic transformation.
He noted that Uganda’s development priorities, including agro-industrialization, tourism and mineral-based development, require innovative, skilled and dynamic human resources capable of turning opportunities into tangible solutions.
“The country desires innovative and dynamic people who can contribute to its socio-economic development,” he said.
Prof. Bamutaze encouraged the freshers to take their education seriously and use their time at Makerere to develop the competencies, creativity and innovative mindset needed to respond to emerging national and global challenges.
Students Urged to Become Problem Solvers
The Dean of the School of Agricultural Sciences, Dr. John Baptist Tumuhairwe, explained that the School is committed to producing graduates capable of identifying challenges and developing practical solutions.
He urged the students to make academic excellence a guiding principle throughout their university journey, emphasizing that consistent effort, discipline and commitment would be critical to their success.
Dr. Tumuhairwe also stressed the importance of respect, encouraging students to respect themselves, their colleagues, lecturers, administrators and the wider University community.
He cautioned the freshers against behaviours and activities that could undermine their academic progress and future prospects, particularly betting, drug abuse and irresponsible sexual behaviour.
The Dean further encouraged the students not to underestimate the programmes they had been admitted to. He noted that every programme presents opportunities for success when students remain committed, focused and willing to work hard.
He urged the freshers to take ownership of their academic journeys rather than judging their programmes solely on the basis of perceived popularity or immediate career prospects.
Freshers Encouraged to Settle Down and Focus on Excellence
Representing the Dean of the School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering, Prof. Ivan Muzira Mukisa encouraged the freshers to settle into university life quickly and begin working towards academic excellence from the outset.
He cautioned them against wasting time and urged them to develop productive habits early, noting that the routines and discipline established during the first year can significantly influence their academic performance throughout their university journey.
Prof. Mukisa emphasized the importance of effective time management and encouraged students to strike a healthy balance between academic responsibilities and social activities.
He also highlighted the value of teamwork, noting that the ability to work collaboratively is an important skill both within the University and in the professional world.
The students were further encouraged to seek guidance whenever they encounter difficulties instead of struggling with challenges on their own. They were reminded to make use of the academic and student support structures available within the College and University.
Similarly, the Dean, School of Forestry, Environmental and Geographical Sciences, Prof. Revocatus Twinomuhangi urged the students to focus on academic and professional success.
Freshers Introduced to University Services and Policies
In addition to the guidance from College leadership, the orientation familiarized the freshers with important administrative, technological and student support services that will shape their experience at Makerere University.
The College Registrar, Ms. Jofrina Kyohairwe, briefed the students on registration procedures and key academic policies. The session aimed to familiarize the freshers with the administrative requirements they are expected to fulfil and help them avoid challenges arising from failure to comply with University regulations and procedures.
The students were also introduced to ICT support services by Mr. Albert Muhumuza, who highlighted the importance of effectively using the University’s digital platforms and technological resources to support their learning.
They were further introduced to library services, which provide access to essential academic resources for coursework, research and independent learning.
The orientation also highlighted counselling and guidance services available to students to support them as they navigate academic, personal and social challenges during their university experience.
Pictorial of the orientation:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1DmjNj1pdounFv9juFTDG98p2XQO3tq6b?usp=sharing
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