General
Mak Leadership Commends MURBS Fund Value Growth ahead of 11th AGM
The University Council and Management have commended the Makerere University Retirement Benefits Scheme (MURBS) Board of Trustees (BoT), Service Providers and Secretariat on the Scheme’s fund value growth from UGX 209 Billion to UGX 255 Billion during the Financial Year 2020/21. The commendations were delivered on Tuesday 19th October 2021 in the Telepresence Centre, Senate Building at the presentation of MURBS’ performance for the aforementioned period ahead of the 11th Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled to take place on Thursday 21st October 2021.
“The Chairperson of MURBS has told us that the Scheme now has assets worth UGX 255 Billion and has shown a rising trend of members’ benefits over the last few years. It is quite remarkable that 200 University employees have crossed into the group having over UGX 200 million in a space of one year!” exclaimed the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe in his remarks.
Earlier, Dr. Godwin Kakuba the Chairperson MURBS BoT had in his communication shared that the Scheme recorded two (2) members whose benefits crossed into the UGX 350-400 Million range, while four (4) members’ benefits crossed into the UGX 300-350 Million range within the period 30th June 2021 to 30th June 2021. Furthermore, within the same period, members with benefits in the UGX 250-300 Million range grew from six (6) to seventy eight (78), while those in the UGX 200-250 Million range grew from seventy three (73) to two hundred seventy three (273).
“These are good performance indicators and I am sure members of MURBS are pleased about them. We too welcome these results and hope that they will result into something positive for the University” said Prof. Nawangwe.
On this note, the Vice Chancellor urged members of MURBS to serve the University with dedication and contribute generously towards the reconstruction of the Main Building. He equally appealed to staff to actively participate in celebrations to mark 100 years of Makerere University’s existence. The year-long celebrations were launched by the President H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on 9th October 2021 during the 59th Independence Day commemorations at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.
The Chairperson, Makerere University Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara who was represented by Council Member and Dean School of Women and Gender Studies, Assoc. Prof. Sarah Ssali in her remarks thanked God for MURBS’ notable achievement despite a Financial Year characterized by lockdowns and COVID-19 infection waves.
“These (performance indicators) are well above the objectives of the scheme and have added real growth to every individual member’s funds. I also congratulate the Trustees on this achievement” lauded Mrs. Magara.
At 77.79%, Treasury Bonds form the largest Asset Class in MURBS’ investment portfolio. This is followed by Investment property at 7.96%, Quoted shares (East Africa Equities) at 5.58%, Guaranteed Fund at 4.45%, Fixed Deposits at 2.15%, Treasury Bills at 2.01% and Corporate bonds at 0.07%.
The Chairperson congratulated MURBS upon winning an additional two accolades at the Financial Reporting (FiRe) Awards in November 2020. Earlier, the Chairperson Board of Trustees reported that MURBS had emerged winner in the retirement benefits category of the FiRe Awards for four consecutive years.
“That is something that brings me, and Makerere University Council as a whole, lots of joy. I am confident that those awards testify about the strength of the Scheme and the level of transparency that you put into this work. Please keep it up” complimented the Chairperson.
Mrs. Magara thanked the Government of Uganda for creating an investment climate that is conducive to good performance of retirement benefits schemes, as well as continuing to pay the salaries of Makerere University Staff from which the scheme receives monthly contributions to invest. She equally thanked the University administration for supporting MURBS by paying most of the staff benefits on time.
The Chairperson concluded by reiterating Council’s support to MURBS as a model scheme in the country and commitment to ensuring that the balance of the In-house debt is cleared.
“I am satisfied that the University Council is achieving the objectives of setting up MURBS. I would like to again advise the Trustees to continue exercising due diligence in all matters of the Scheme” she summed up.
Representing the CEO Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority (URBRA) Mr. Martin Nsubuga, the Director Legal-Mrs. Ritah Nansasi Wasswa commended the Board of Trustees on the timely submission of financial statements, application for Trustee licences, quick responses to queries raised by the regulator and general adherence to the legal framework that governs the sector.
“URBRA is working tirelessly to support all licensed schemes in the promotion of good governance and overall management of the schemes’” added Mrs. Wasswa.
The URBRA representative thanked MURBS Trustees for working with the regulator to facilitate the development the Trustee Training and Certification Programme. Launched by URBRA in 2021, the programme is aimed at improving and enhancing professionalism of trustees.
She commended MURBS on its new status as the mandatory retirement benefits scheme of Makerere University. “Given the new status of the scheme, we implore the Trustees to ensure strict compliance with the law, scheme trustee deed and the rules.”
The Chairperson Board of Trustees (BoT), Dr. Godwin Kakuba while presenting the Scheme’s performance reiterated MURBS’ commitment to ensuring that all practices of good governance are adhered to.
“For the Financial Year 2020/21, and in accordance with the Board Charter, the BoT engaged Profiles International Uganda Limited to evaluate its performance. This is the fourth time such an evaluation is being done and the results show that on the whole, the Board was rated very highly with an overall performance rating of ‘Excellent’.
“The Trustees will continue to work towards the realization of MURBS’ medium to long-term targets, such as, individual member holding reaching the UGX 500 Million band by 2024 and achieving 100% income replacement ratio by 2027” remarked Dr. Kakuba.
The Chairperson concluded by thanking the Chairperson and members of the University Council as well as the Vice Chancellor and members of Management for supporting MURBS to become a fully-fledged Employer Mandatory Scheme.
The presentation was moderated by Mr. Wilber Grace Naigambi MURBS Secretary BoT and Principal Public Relations Officer Ms. Ritah Namisango.
In a landmark event symbolizing Uganda’s stride towards sustainable transportation, Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero Masanza, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, commissioned the first Electric Fast-Charging Station at Makerere University on Friday 13th March 2026. The ceremony, held at the Senate Building Parking Lot, marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s e-mobility journey, blending academic innovation with industrial application and governmental support.
The station, a DC Fast Charger C6-180 installed in collaboration with Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC), is designed to power electric vehicles efficiently, supporting Uganda’s shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. This setup ensures high-power DC charging ideal for fleet operations.
Hon. Dr. Musenero, in her keynote remarks, highlighted the profound significance of the occasion, tracing its roots back to 2011 when Makerere unveiled the Kiira EV – Uganda’s first electric vehicle prototype. “This infrastructure is the physical manifestation of a journey that began on this very hill nearly two decades ago,” she stated, emphasizing how the university’s initial proof-of-concept challenged skepticism about Africa’s role in automotive technology.
The event, she noted, completes a narrative full circle, with the birthplace of the Kiira EV now hosting the infrastructure to sustain a modern electric fleet. The commissioning aligns seamlessly with Uganda’s National E-Mobility Strategy, which aims to localize 65% of the e-mobility value chain by 2040 and create over 500,000 high-quality green jobs.
Hon. Dr. Musenero underscored the strategy’s focus on reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels while enhancing environmental well-being. “We are transforming Uganda into a net source of e-mobility solutions,” she declared, pointing to the potential for Ugandan intellect to produce vehicle parts and charging systems domestically.
In his remarks at the event, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe described the launch as a “multi-faceted achievement,” not only advancing the institution’s inclusive agenda but also setting an example for public institutions in adopting e-mobility. In so doing, Makerere University has positioned itself at the forefront of this transition.
On September 26, 2025, President Yoweri Museveni commissioned the Kiira Vehicle Plant in Jinja and handed over three Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) buses to Makerere University to enhance staff and student mobility. The fleet included two diesel-powered Kayoola Coaches and one electric Kayoola EVS 8.5m bus donated by KMC specifically to aid the movement of differently-abled staff and students. This move demonstrates academia’s capacity to integrate home-grown solutions into daily operations, impacting the economy through practical science.
The commissioning of the fast-charging station is rooted in a long history of collaboration. The Kiira Electric Vehicle Project, hatched in the former Faculty of Technology, has evolved into a national movement for automotive manufacturing. Hon. Dr. Musenero praised this progression: “We have moved beyond proving that an electric vehicle can be built in Uganda. We are now ensuring our electric vehicles are deployed across the continent, solving Africa’s mobility problems.”
Academia’s role remains central, as Hon. Dr. Musenero elaborated. While government provides policy frameworks and the private sector offers capital, universities supply the essential knowledge. The E-Mobility Skilling Programme at Makerere University‘s Innovation Pod (Mak-UniPod) is training the next generation of electric vehicle engineers, who are tackling “moonshot projects” to redefine urban transport. Research into optimizing local resources, such as Uganda’s lithium and cobalt deposits for battery production, is also underway.
A key environmental highlight of this development is Uganda’s renewable energy advantage. With over 95% of the national grid powered by hydroelectric dams, every charge at this station utilizes clean energy. “We are using our own water to power our own vehicles, keeping our wealth within our economy rather than exporting it to purchase foreign oil,” Hon. Dr. Musenero remarked, framing the launch as Uganda plugging into the global renewable shift. She pledged the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Secretariat’s continued collaboration with Makerere University, KMC, and partners to proliferate such stations across Kampala and beyond.
Addressing Makerere students, Hon. Dr. Musenero issued a challenge: “See this charging station as a symbol of your own potential. The engineers who built the first Kiira EV were once sitting exactly where you are. They did not wait for permission to be great.” She urged them to leverage available resources to innovate, building on a legacy that has shifted national conversations.
The event drew distinguished guests, including Members of Management, Eng. Paul Isaac Musasizi, KMC’s CEO and his management team, private sector partners, development agencies, and university faculty.
Looking ahead, this launch propels Uganda towards a “Qualitative Leap” in its economy, as Hon. Dr. Musenero described. By fostering innovation and investing in young minds, the nation aims to lead in technological advancement. The station not only powers vehicles but ignites progress, ensuring Uganda remains at the forefront of Africa’s e-mobility revolution.
As the ceremony which was intermittently “blessed” by drizzles drew to a close, the feeling of hope for a cleaner, self-reliant future – one charged by Ugandan ingenuity, was unmistakable.
General
Makerere University and International Partners Sign MoU for the 9th Kampala Geopolitics Conference
Makerere University, on 10th March, 2026, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Embassy of France in Uganda, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), and Alliance Française de Kampala to organize the 9th edition of the Kampala Geopolitics Conference (KGC), scheduled to take place on 15–16 April 2026 at Makerere University.
The signing formalizes the continued partnership that has established the Kampala Geopolitics Conference as one of the region’s leading platforms for dialogue on global affairs, bringing together scholars, policymakers, civil society leaders, and students to debate the major geopolitical and socio-economic transformations shaping the world.
The conference, inspired by the Nantes Geopolitics Conference in France, was first launched in Kampala in 2018 and has since grown into a unique intellectual space for cross-continental exchange between Africa and Europe.
A Platform for Ideas, Dialogue, and Youth Engagement
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, emphasized the importance of the Kampala Geopolitics Conference as a platform that connects academic discourse with global policy conversations while empowering students to engage with the complex challenges shaping the international system.
The Vice Chancellor noted that hosting the conference reflects Makerere University’s long-standing commitment to fostering intellectual exchange and positioning the institution as a hub for regional and global dialogue.
“Makerere University is proud to host the Kampala Geopolitics Conference because it creates an important platform for debate and exchange on the global issues shaping our world, while giving our students the opportunity to engage directly with leading thinkers and policymakers,” said Prof. Nawangwe.
Prof. Nawangwe further commended the Embassy of France in Uganda, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and Alliance Française de Kampala for their continued collaboration with Makerere University in organizing the conference over the years. He expressed confidence that the 2026 edition will once again provide a dynamic platform for dialogue, bringing together scholars, policymakers, and students to examine the geopolitical trends shaping Africa and the wider world.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, H.E. Virginie Leroy, Ambassador of France to Uganda, highlighted the significance of the conference as a platform that encourages dialogue on global issues while empowering young people to participate in shaping the future.
Since its inception, the Kampala Geopolitics Conference has created opportunities for students, researchers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to engage with some of the most pressing global debates. The Ambassador noted that the curiosity and engagement of Ugandan students have become one of the defining features of the conference.
“This conference has become a unique space where students, researchers, policymakers and civil society exchange ideas on the major transformations shaping our world,” Ambassador Leroy said, adding that the event demonstrates the intellectual vitality of Uganda’s youth and the strength of the partnerships that sustain it.
Strengthening Partnerships for Global Dialogue
The Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a long-standing partner in the initiative, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting platforms that foster meaningful discussions on international affairs and regional dynamics.
Speaking during the ceremony, Anna Reismann, Director of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Uganda, emphasized the importance of the conference in connecting local perspectives with global debates.
She noted that Africa has increasingly become a focal point in global geopolitics, attracting engagement from a wide range of international actors through investments, trade, security cooperation, and diplomatic partnerships. While these engagements create new opportunities for economic growth and technological advancement, they also raise important questions about sustainability, governance, and the terms of international cooperation.
According to Reismann, the conference provides an important forum to examine these issues and to encourage dialogue that bridges academic perspectives with practical policy considerations.
The 2026 edition of the Kampala Geopolitics Conference will focus on key global and regional issues shaping international relations and development.
Among the themes to be explored are the future of development cooperation, particularly as global aid dynamics evolve and countries explore more sustainable and balanced partnerships. Another panel will examine youth and public policy in Africa, recognizing the critical role that young people play in shaping governance, innovation, and development across the continent.
With Africa home to the youngest population in the world, discussions will highlight the importance of ensuring that young people are not only beneficiaries of public policies but also active contributors to their design and implementation.
Makerere University at the Centre of Global Conversations
Hosting the conference reflects Makerere University’s continued commitment to fostering intellectual exchange and positioning the institution as a hub for regional and international dialogue.
Through its partnerships with global institutions such as the Embassy of France, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and Alliance Française de Kampala, Makerere continues to create platforms that connect academic knowledge with policy discussions and real-world challenges.
The Kampala Geopolitics Conference is expected to once again bring together leading experts, scholars, and practitioners from across Africa and Europe, while providing students with a rare opportunity to engage directly with global debates.
As preparations for the 2026 edition gather momentum, the partners expressed confidence that the conference will continue to inspire critical thinking, encourage dialogue across disciplines and generations, and strengthen cooperation between Africa and its international partners.
Caroline Kainomugisha is the Communications Officer, Advancement Office, Makerere University.
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