Business & Management
Mak Researchers Tipped by EfD-Tanzania on Operating from a Policy & Research Perspective
By Jane Anyango
Researchers from Makerere University Environment for Development Initiative (EfD-Mak) Centre on 7th September, 2021 converged in a seminar to learn from EfD-Tanzania on how to effectively operate the centre to attract and motivate research fellows, mobilize resources, conduct research and influence policy.
The seminar held both virtually and physically at EfD-Mak Conference room was officially opened by Assoc. Prof. Eria Hisali the Principal Makerere University College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) represented by his Deputy Assoc. Prof. Yawe Bruno.
Dr. Yawe thanked the EfD-Tanzania and EfD-Mak centre for nurturing and managing the relationship noting that it speaks volumes in terms of working together, mobilizing resources, building trust and partnerships.
The seminar was facilitated by Dr. Byela Tibesigwa, a Senior Research Fellow from EfD- Tanzania who highlighted Tanzania’s experience and the collaborative research recently conducted with development partners, universities and policy makers to drive policy oriented research.
Dr. Byela said the centre has senior and junior research fellows and a ten (10) member multi-stakeholder policy board comprising ministries, the Vice President’s Office, UNDP ,UNEP, Ministry of Tourism, university lecturers, heads of departments, Permanent Secretaries, National Environmental Management Council, different Embassies, among others.
“We identify key policy challenges and convene a policy board workshop once a year to highlight our research plans, engage with and get direction from the board”, she said.
In terms of attracting funding and co-funding, Dr. Byela described the Swedish embassy and the EfD Global Hub as very important reliable partners for funding and connection with other partners.
“We were so lucky to get additional funding from the Swedish Embassy and the global hub that connected and allowed us nurture good relationships and link us with partners like the World Bank, Government of Tanzania, Embassy of Norway, UK, Germany and many other development partners.
You want to keep senior and junior researchers interested besides the EfD core funding, get funds through consultancies and other funding. Invite government ministries and present ideas on their interest of funding. Keep advertising yourself, looking at policy interaction, keeping on news, and summaries in newspapers to attract funding”, Dr. Byela said.
Despite the minimum funding, Dr. Byela advised the center to come up with non-conventional ways to motivate and keep research fellows interested in center activities for example by mentoring their junior research fellows through lunch seminars.
“You can keep and motivate research fellows through research seminars outside the university. Hire the junior and senior research fellows to organize EfD tasks or events. Instead of centre administrators, let the junior and senior research fellows organize field tours.
Most research fellows target publications and making research that is relevant to drive policy dialogue in the country. Put them as authors in publications”, Dr. Byela Tibesigwa advised.
Dr. Byela also noted that currently, EfD-Tanzania does not have written guidelines on how to engage researchers and authorship criteria on projects. She said, it would be good for Makerere University to have guidelines for various operations.
Presenting one of the recently conducted environmental studies on sustainable use of charcoal and resultant policy note in Tanzania, Dr. Byela observed that most of the environmental issues, such as use of charcoal, single use plastic bags and bottles and wrappers are a huge environmental problems cutting across Africa but presenting a delicate balance that requires consideration of other political, economic, social and other aspects.
She said with the EfD Inclusive Green Economy (IGE) program, centers are set to look at the social acceptance and policy issues and this could be good for Makerere University to provide policy direction for the country.
While closing the seminar, the Director EfD-Mak Centre Prof. Edward Bbaale extended appreciation to Prof. Razack of the EfD-Tanzania for making time and nurturing the collaboration with EfD-Mak centre reporting that there is a joint project about gender, food security and COVID-19, a sign of internationalization of research among the centers.
Prof. Bbaale appreciated Dr. Byela Tibesigwa for the inspirational presentation about the EfD- Tanzania.
“You have pointed out the gaps to Makerere and we have learnt. We have a big debt to establish a policy board as a steering committee to provide strategic direction for the centre.
You have talked about collaboration between EfD and the Swedish Embassy. Ours has not been deep. We have had officials attending our policy engagements and presentations. It was not deep to support and recommend us to funders. This is one thing to pick up seriously”, Prof. Bbaale stated.
The Director appreciated Dr. Byela for sharing on how to keep researchers motivated and expressed commitment to involve them in data collection and other center activities.
Prof. Bbaale observed that Tanzania’s’ environmental analysis was key in connecting environment to the economy and pointed out key gaps and research areas that are applicable to Uganda.
“We have a debt to mobilize colleagues and partners to take up environmental analysis to implement research from an informed point of view”. The Director said.
Prof. Bbaale thanked the Office of the Principal CoBAMS for according the centre a conducive environment to operate and Prof. Yawe Bruno for opening the seminar.
He said the seminar was one of the many that have been held under the centre except that the facilitator was from another country, a move towards embracing internationalization with many more of the kind expected.
“We are not blocking our local facilitators. They have been facilitators for the last two years but we are building bigger into international experiences”, Prof. Bbaale explained.
He thanked participants for honoring the invitation and making time to attend. He extended invitation for the upcoming researcher’s training on impact evaluation to be facilitated by a colleague from the USA.
Jane Anyango is the Principal Communication Officer, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES)
Business & Management
Public Lecture on Research Collaboration across borders presents enormous opportunities to researchers, faculty and students
Delivering the public lecture, titled: Research Collaboration across borders, Prof. Ken Kamoche from Nottingham University, urged researchers at Makerere University, to undertake research that will strengthen and empower Africa, including fields that are ignored.
“My research has focused on those pertinent issues and fields that are always ignored. I call upon you to re-consider undertaking research in the fields of knowledge management, innovations, indigenous knowledge, identity, artificial intelligence (AI) and Africa at large,” said Prof. Kamoche.
Acknowledging that he had undertaken tremendous research and publication in human resource management and organizational studies, Prof. Kamoche testified that he took a paradigm shift to focus on the values that underpin the organizational behaviour.
Held at Makerere University Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium on 3rd March 2026, the public lecture attracted faculty from Makerere University, Kyambogo University, Uganda Christian University, administrators, researchers, and students. Before heading to the public lecture, Prof. Kamoche held a discipline-specific meeting with academic staff at the School of Business under the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) at Makerere University.
The Africa Research Group: Fostering Global Scholarly Engagement and Capacity Building
Prof. Kamoche highlighted the establishment of the Africa Research Group to address the gap in engagement between scholars in Africa and their counterparts in Europe, Asia, and North America.
Established in 2012, the Africa Research Group at Nottingham University Business School provides a platform to spur knowledge transfer across disciplines and continents.
“I am here to inspire you to do research. If you are looking for a platform, I invite you to utilize the Africa Research Group. We have been able to give researchers from Africa a voice. We welcome research students at all levels,” Prof. Kamoche said.
He pointed out that the Africa Research Group provides mentorship to postgraduate and early-career researchers, supports doctoral supervision, joint publications, and funding applications. Prof. Kamoche encouraged students and faculty members to participate in future activities and pursue collaborative research opportunities.
What inspires Prof. Kamoche?
Responding to a question from the students who admired his commitment to research, publication, authorship, Prof. Kamoche said: “The desire to make a difference and share knowledge with others, and make an impact.”
Research collaboration
During the public lecture, Dr. Christopher Muganga, Dr. Seperia Wanyama, and Dr. Anthony Tibaingana from the School of Business, and Dr. John Mushomi from the School of Statistics and Planning, emphasized the importance of research and collaboration in the transformation of countries and societies in general. The members of faculty stressed the importance of knowledge sharing and exchange of ideas, authorship and publication, mentorship, joint research undertakings and networking.
Global academic collaboration
Dr. Seperia Wanyama highlighted the significance of the public lecture in creating opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the collective advancement of academic and societal understanding.
“The event serves as a platform for fostering diversity in academia, bringing together researchers, students, and administrators to engage in shared learning,” he said.
He applauded Prof. Ken Kamoche for his distinguished contributions global academic collaboration and research. He credited Prof. Kamoche for his willingness to share valuable insights on research collaboration across borders. He urged participants to remain active and engaged throughout the session.
Talent Management and Cross-Continental Collaboration
Prof. Kamoche commended Makerere University for hosting him, reflecting on the golden opportunity to engage with students, faculty, and researchers. He shared insights from his extensive academic journey, research contributions, and initiatives to strengthen collaboration across Africa, Asia, and the West.
Reflecting on talent management and organizational leadership, Prof. Kamoche noted that he has maintained a strong focus on leveraging his international experiences to foster cross-continental academic collaborations and address challenges relevant to both African and global contexts.
Focusing on talent management, Prof. Kamoche shared insights from his extensive research, explaining how organizations often take an “exclusive” approach, concentrating resources on a small group of high-performing individuals seen as the main drivers of value. He also highlighted a different perspective: the “inclusive” approach, which recognizes that every employee has unique skills that can contribute to the organization’s success.
Using recent research in Kenya’s banking sector, published in the South African Journal of Human Resource Management, Prof. Kamoche illustrated how talent management connects closely with innovation, employee engagement, and confidence. His findings indicated that while high performers are essential, sustainable success comes from balancing focus on star performers with developing the wider workforce.
Prof. Kamoche reflected on earlier studies conducted in Hong Kong, which examined the experiences of employees identified as “high potential.” He noted that being labeled talented can be a double-edged sword, creating pressure, high expectations, and sometimes causing employees to rethink their career priorities over time.
Comparative Insights on Asian Management and Strategic African Partnerships
Prof. Kamoche shared insights from his comparative research on Asian management practices, tracing his academic interest in Asia back to his graduate studies at Oxford. There, he examined Japanese management systems at a time when Japan’s economic model was admired worldwide. Through interviews with senior human resource executives in major Japanese corporations, he sought to understand the foundations of their organizational success.
Prof. Kamoche observed that while African countries are familiar with Western business systems, their understanding of Asian management philosophies remains limited. His research highlighted key differences in operational practices, particularly in areas such as time management and efficiency.
“Some Chinese infrastructure projects run continuously, reflecting a highly results-driven approach,” he noted. He acknowledged challenges raised by local employees regarding cultural differences, labor practices, and the need for more equitable engagement.
Prof. Kamoche emphasized that Chinese investment in Africa is far from uniform, encompassing state-owned enterprises, private firms, and long-term individual entrepreneurs. “African countries must strategically leverage these partnerships to maximize both economic and social benefits while protecting local interests,” he argued.
Dr. Anthony Tibaingana commends Prof. Kamoche’s Scholarly Impact
The Acting Dean of the School of Business, Dr. Anthony Tibaingana, lauded Prof. Kamoche for delivering an insightful lecture at Makerere University, describing the presentation as an exceptional exposition of knowledge and scholarship.
Dr. Tibaingana highlighted the significance of Prof. Kamoche’s return to Africa, describing it as a meaningful reconnection with his roots and a contribution to the continent’s intellectual growth.
The Acting Dean commended the depth of the presentation, particularly its insights into human resource management, leadership, and talent development. He emphasized that Africa, with its youthful population, presents both opportunity and responsibility for scholars to generate research-based solutions to the continent’s challenges.
He underscored the need for academia to address pressing issues such as leadership gaps, institutional weaknesses, and talent retention within universities and organizations.
Dr. Tibaingana encouraged faculty and students to continue engaging through research networks and ongoing conversations facilitated by the Africa Research Group at Nottingham University Business School.
He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to teaching, research, and community outreach, noting that such engagements contribute to long-term academic partnerships and future institutional growth.
Moderated by Dr. Christopher Muganga from the School of Business, the public lecture concluded with the presentation of Makerere University Souvenirs to Prof. Kamoche and networking engagements with students.
Monica Meeme contributed to this story as a Guest Writer
Business & Management
Thirty Public Officers Certified in Integrated Regulatory Cost-Benefit Analysis
Thirty public officers from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have successfully completed a two-week intensive training in Integrated Regulatory Cost-Benefit Analysis (IRCBA), culminating in the award of certificates at a closing ceremony held on 27th February 2026 at the Pearl on the Nile Hotel in Jinja.
The training was jointly organized by the Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence at Makerere University and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), in collaboration with the Infrastructure and Social Services Department (ISSD) and the National Planning Authority (NPA). It focused on operationalizing the Revised Guidelines for the Issuance of Certificates of Financial Implication (CFIs), which came into effect on 1st July 2025.
A Strategic Reform for Fiscal Credibility
In closing remarks delivered on by Commissioner Paul Patrick Mwanja behalf of the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury, participants were commended for undertaking the training during a demanding budget cycle, when many MDAs are simultaneously preparing the FY 2026/27 Budget, executing the FY 2025/26 Budget, and implementing the National Development Plan IV and the Tenfold Growth Strategy.
The PS/ST emphasized that the revised Guidelines mark a significant shift toward a more transparent, data-driven, consultative, and analytically rigorous approach to evaluating policy and legislative proposals. Participants were equipped to assess fiscal implications, evaluate economic and socio-economic impacts, analyze distributional effects, and address uncertainty using structured analytical tools.
They were reminded that training alone is not sufficient, the real test lies in consistent application. As members of the third cohort, they were challenged to serve as reform ambassadors, championing evidence-based policymaking and strengthening analytical standards across government.
Bridging Academia and Public Service
Delivering the official closing remarks, the Director of the PIM Centre of Excellence, Prof. Edward Bbaale, commended participants for their active engagement and unwavering commitment throughout the training.
He described the programme as both timely and strategic, designed to equip officers with practical tools to prepare robust Statements of Financial Implication (SFIs) that support credible issuance of CFIs. He noted that strong financial analysis enhances fiscal discipline, policy coherence, and the overall quality of legislation and public policy in Uganda.
Prof. Bbaale underscored the longstanding partnership between Makerere University and the Ministry of Finance, highlighting how it continues to bridge academia and public service by combining analytical rigor with practical policy experience. He emphasized that the collaborative model — bringing together faculty from the College of Business and Management Sciences and practitioners from Government, reflects the core vision of the PIM Centre of Excellence: strengthening national systems through evidence-based policymaking.
During the two weeks, participants gained hands-on experience in applying cost-benefit analysis across four critical dimensions: budgetary analysis, socio-economic analysis, distributive impacts, and risk assessment. Prof. Bbaale encouraged them to return to their institutions as agents of transformation, improving evaluation frameworks, strengthening regulatory decisions, and ensuring that public interventions deliver value for money and long-term development impact.
He also reaffirmed the Centre’s broader mandate beyond training, noting its recent support to the revision of Development Committee Guidelines, assessment of public investment performance since NDP I, and hosting of the Second Public Investment Management Conference in August 2025.”
Building from “Zero Kilometre”
Earlier, the Manager of the PIM Centre of Excellence highlighted the practical approach adopted during the training. Participants began with blank Excel sheets and built analytical models from scratch, likened to the engineering concept of starting at “zero kilometre,” where construction begins from the very starting point and progresses step by step.
The interactive sessions enabled participants from diverse disciplines, including policy analysts, planners and statisticians, to interrogate assumptions, refine costing approaches, and debate implementation and enforcement frameworks. Their sector-specific insights enriched the learning process and strengthened the analytical models developed.
The Manager noted that excellence is not about knowing everything, but about bringing together the right expertise. Facilitators from MoFPED, NPA, the Office of the President, and Makerere University ensured that theory remained grounded in practical government realities.
Participants Applaud Practical and Engaging Sessions
Speaking on behalf of the cohort, a participant described the training as highly engaging and transformative. The combination of theory and practical application, coupled with patient facilitation, allowed officers from varied professional backgrounds to learn from one another.
The participant highlighted the final day’s discussions as the most impactful, expressing confidence that the knowledge gained would enhance policy analysis and improve the quality of programmes and projects across MDAs.
Certificates Awarded
The ceremony concluded with the award of certificates to all 30 participants in recognition of their successful completion of the IRCBA training. The certification marks another milestone in Government’s effort to build a critical mass of experts capable of institutionalizing rigorous financial and economic analysis in public policy processes.
As the workshop was formally declared closed, participants were encouraged to apply their newly acquired skills consistently, mentor colleagues, and contribute to strengthening fiscal governance across Government.
The PIM Centre of Excellence reaffirmed its commitment to continuous research, policy advisory support, and capacity building as Uganda advances toward more credible, transparent, and sustainable public decision-making.
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