Dr. Allen Kabagenyi, a Lecturer in the Department of Population Studies, College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) has today October 29, 2021 been inducted as a fellow of the Uganda National Academy of Sciences (UNAS) in the category of Physical Sciences. The induction took place during the 2021 Annual Scientific Conference under the theme Uganda’s Health: Transcending Sectors, Looking to the Future.
Dr. Kabagenyi is a demographer/ Population scientist with over ten years of working experience in population and reproductive health, specifically maternal health, focusing on family planning, HIV/Aids, fertility and related reproductive health issues. Allen is a member of the Ministry of Health Maternal and Child Health Technical Working Group and the National Demographic Dividend Steering Committee. She recently led the development of an Operations Manual for integrating Gender and Demographic Dividends into National Plans, Policies and Programmes for African countries. She was also a Lead Editor of The Roadmap for Harnessing Uganda’s Demographic Dividend Report. Dr. Kabagenyi has led multiple research projects, published widely, and mentors students at both Masters and PhD levels. She is a KISH Fellow and an academic affiliate of the University of Michigan. She is a Fellow of Wolfson College, University of Cambridge and a Policy Communication Fellow of Population Reference Bureau (PRB). Dr. Kabagenyi was the 2019 winner in Demography top 40 under 40 for exceptional work awarded by Vision Media Group; 2017 award winner of the 120 Under 40: The New Generation of Family Planning Leaders, awarded by Bill and Gates Foundation and Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health. She was also the 2017 American Psychological Foundation (APF), Henry P. David Reproductive Health award winner. Currently, she is leading efforts to establish a Research Ethics Committee at CoBAMS. She is the Principal Investigator of; “Accelerating Covid-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Uptake in Uganda: Snapshot Study”​​​​​​​ and “Adolescent Motherhood, Vulnerability Assessment and Newborn care practices, in Eastern Uganda (AMNEP)”.
Quoting Sir Isaac Newton, in her acceptance speech, Dr. Kabagenyi was grateful to God and went on to thank her nominators, mentors, colleagues, family and friends for supporting her, saying “We stand tall on shoulders of Giants”. She said becoming a fellow of the distinguished UNAS has inspired her to commit to contribute to the wealth of knowledge. She affirmed her commitment to foster the values of UNAS.
About UNAS
The Uganda National Academy of Sciences is an independent, non-profit, non-political, and membership-based service organization. UNAS was created to provide credible, balanced, and evidence-driven advice to the nation on matters of science and development.UNAS draws its membership from the Fellowship of the Academy who are recognized for their lifetime achievements in the sciences and humanities. Fellows are active contributors to the national and international academic community. The UNAS Fellowship is composed of scholars from disciplines including the natural and social sciences, as well as the arts and humanities—all of whom have been selected through a rigorous vetting process.
Betty Kyakuwa is the Principal Communication Officer, College of Business and Management Studies (CoBAMS)
Arising from an existing Memorandum of Understanding (September 2021) between University of Padova, Italy (UniPd) and Makerere University (Mak), the two institutions partnered and were jointly granted funding for the Erasmus+ KA171 international credit mobility for students and staff, 2024-2027. At Mak, the Departmental Flow Coordinator is Felix Wamono (PhD) and the project Principal Investigator is Saint Kizito Omala (PhD), both of Department of Statistical Methods and Actuarial Science (DSMAS).
In this regard, the Department of Statistical Methods and Actuarial Science wishes to announce opportunities for students and staff credit mobility to the Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy for the Winter Semester, October 2025 – February 2026.
The selection process shall entail five-steps:
Step 1: Submission of documents by candidates for nomination, with an internal deadline of April 21st, 2025, 05.00 p.m. (EAT) to allow for time to process nomination applications; Step 2: Nomination of candidates who would have applied for nomination; Step 3: Submitting the list of nominated candidates, by April 28th, 2025, to the International Projects and Mobility Office of the University of Padua, Italy; Step 4: Eligibility check and communication to successful candidates by the International Projects and Mobility Office of the University of Padua, Italy; and Step 5: Application for the Mobility opportunity by successful candidates.
Inquiry
Reach out to Dr. F. Wamono on +256 772 467206 Dr. S.K. Omala via +256 772 491545 before April 21st, 2025.
A two-week intensive training in Financial Appraisal and Risk Analysis for government officers across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) concluded today April 11, 2025 at the Pearl on the Nile Hotel in Jinja. The training, delivered under the Programme on Financial Appraisal and Risk Analysis (PIAR) and spearheaded by the Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE) at Makerere University, sought to bridge long-standing capacity gaps in the preparation, appraisal, and review of public sector projects.
The event was officially closed by Dr. Hennery Ssebukeera, representing the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED). Dr. Ssebukeera highlighted that the training was designed in response to a comprehensive needs assessment, which revealed persistent gaps in government officers’ abilities to carry out cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses, and to prepare or assess pre-feasibility and feasibility studies.
One of the participants receives a certificate from Dr. Hennery Ssebukeera who represented the PSST, as Ms. Esther Ayebare, Assistant Commissioner PAP and Prof. Eria Hisali Look on.
“Many government projects have not been properly appraised due to limited internal capacity,” Dr. Ssebukeera stated. “Too often, we rely on external consultants to prepare feasibility studies, yet our officers are not adequately equipped to interrogate or validate those studies.” He expressed confidence that participants now possess practical skills to analyze topics such as risk analysis, financial modelling, discount rates, project finance, and consumer surplus. “You are now in a position to not only prepare but also critically evaluate complex project documentation,” he added.
Ms. Esther Ayebare, Acting Assistant Commissioner in the Public Investment Management Department at MoFPED, acknowledged the participants’ dedication and active engagement. “As the unit that hosts the Development Committee, we are pleased that this training has added critical skills to help you prepare and submit viable public projects,” she said, calling on the participants to be part of building a sustainable pipeline of investment-ready projects.
Participants attending the training.
In his remarks, Dr. John Sseruyange, Manager of the PIM CoE, emphasized that this training is only the beginning. “While we’ve now completed the financial appraisal component, the next step is Economic Appraisal and Stakeholder Analysis—where we evaluate a project’s broader impact on society and the economy,” he said. He also extended appreciation to the Government of Uganda, particularly MoFPED, for funding the training, as well as to Ms. Esther Ayebare and other facilitators for their unwavering commitment.
Prof. Eria Hisali, who represented the Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences, praised the participants for navigating what would typically be a semester-long course within just two weeks. “This is a practical, work-oriented training. The knowledge you’ve gained here should be applicable immediately,” he said. He further invited the graduates to attend the upcoming Public Investment Management Conference in August 2025 to share their experiences and provide feedback.
Participants attending the training.
Participants also expressed their gratitude. One quoted the Quran, saying, “Whoever gives you knowledge has given you everything,” in appreciation of the facilitators and the opportunity to learn.
The PIAR program, jointly implemented by Makerere University, MoFPED, the National Planning Authority (NPA), and Cambridge Resources International (CRI), includes two modules: the just-completed Financial Appraisal and Risk Analysis, and the upcoming Economic Appraisal and Stakeholder Analysis. As Uganda continues to push for better value from public investments, trainings like this are building a critical mass of experts who will ensure that every shilling invested delivers real impact.
The Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE) at Makerere University has resumed its in-depth training program for government officials in Financial Appraisal and Risk Analysis. The two-week training, held in Jinja, brings together public officers from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) across Uganda.
The training was officially opened by Ms. Esther Ayebare, who represented the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury (PSST) at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED). She emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening public sector capacity under the Public Investment Management System (PIMS) framework.
Ms. Ayebare underscored the importance of the training in building the technical capacity required for sound investment decision-making. “This training will empower you to make informed decisions, assess financial viability, and identify risks that could impact investment outcomes,” she noted.
Professor Edward Bbaale, Principal Investigator of the PIM CoE, he expressed appreciation to MoFPED for its financial support and strategic collaboration in organizing the training and nominating participants. “Your continued support is instrumental in enhancing the skills and capacity of government workers in Public Investment Management,” he said. He further acknowledged the role of Vice Chancellors, Permanent Secretaries, and CAOs in nominating participants and reaffirmed Makerere’s commitment to delivering transformative learning through a blend of theory and hands-on project appraisal.
Participants in the training will engage with real-world projects in sectors such as roads, health, energy, and education. Upon successful completion, they will receive a prestigious tripartite certificate from Makerere University, MoFPED, and Queen’s University in Canada. The training features facilitators from Cambridge Resources International, the International Growth Centre, the National Planning Authority, and MoFPED, offering a curriculum rooted in global best practices.
Participants were encouraged to not only apply the knowledge in their respective roles but also to mentor colleagues, thereby broadening the reach and impact of the program.
The PIM CoE continues to play a pivotal role in shaping Uganda’s public investment landscape through research, advisory services, and outreach. Recent milestones include the revision of the Development Committee guidelines and the convening of a national PIM conference in October 2024.
With the resumption of this training, Uganda takes yet another step toward fostering a skilled public sector capable of steering high-impact investments for sustainable national development.