Business & Management
Mak to Transform Refugee Communities through Entrepreneurship Training
A group of over 70 Somali refugees have today 25th October, 2021 started a three month-long training in entrepreneurship skills. The training, which took place at Lubiri High School is being conducted by Dr. Anthony Tibaingana, a Lecturer in the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS).
Dr. Tibaingana is a beneficiary of the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF). His research project is titled; Integrating refugees into Economic Activities through Mobile Entrepreneurship Skilling.
Speaking during the opening, Ms. Halima Muhammed, a refugee working with Norwegian Refugee Commission encouraged the participants to pursue their dreams of becoming successful at the businesses that they wish to start. She reminded them that they are the ones responsible for building Somalia and the skills they will get throughout the duration of the training will go a long way in helping them develop their communities. She hastened to add that customer care was key in running any business.
Dr. Tibaingana said the aim of the project is to skill refugees and aid their integration into the economy. It is hoped that this training will enable the refugees to contribute to the economic development of Uganda through paying taxes, increasing household incomes and creating employment for others.
The participants learnt that entrepreneurship in simple terms refers to seeing an opportunity and turning it into a business or enterprise. It is envisaged that at the end of the training, the refugees will know the different sources of business ideas, discuss different types of business, start a business, know where to get customers, run a successful business as well as know where to get capital investment. The participants learnt that for one to start a business, they need to identify a need. The training, was participatory in nature which allowed various people to share their ideas. The trainees shared their business ideas such as, having a sporting line, sale of Camel milk and Events Management among others.
The participants learnt that starting a business is taking a risk and therefore one needs to be ready as the bigger the risk, the bigger the return on investment and vice versa. “Do not promise your client what you can not provide because no customer likes being told a lie,” Dr. Tibaingana cautioned, adding that “the location of your business should be strategic.”
The trainees also learnt that there are three types of business ownership and therefore they need not do it alone. They can own businesses as individuals, partners and co-operatives. If a business is owned by partners or co-operatives, this allows for huge capital investments as well as spreads out the risk of the investment. The researcher also shared with them a checklist of the must-haves before starting a business, these included money/resources, Market and manpower among other things. One of the participants, Ali Muhammed hopes that he can start a successful business after this training.
This research is part of Makerere University’s core business of teaching, research and outreach. “This time we are taking the university to the vulnerable communities. These skills will enable them to make a life for themselves,” Dr. Tibaingana said. The researchers have worked with some community organizations such as Somalia Youth Action Organization (SOYA) in conducting the training. More trainings will be carried out in Kawempe, Makindye, Lungujja, Nakawa and Mengo.
Uganda is one of the largest refugee-hosting nations in the world, with over 1,400,000 refugees. The vast influx of refugees is due to several factors in Uganda’s neighboring countries, especially war and violence in South Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as associated economic crisis and political instability in the region. Uganda has relatively ‘friendly’ policies that provide rights to the refugees, such as rights to education, work, private property, healthcare and other basic social services. To this end, Makerere University, through her outreach programs is supporting government programs to offer the Somali refugee community an opportunity to be entrepreneurs, both here in Uganda and back home in Somalia.
The Research Team
- Dr. Anthony Tibaingana; Principal Investigator, Lecturer Department of Marketing and Management
- Dr. Faisal Buyinza; Senior Lecturer, Department of Economic Theory and Analysis
- Ms. Hanifa Nantale, Assistant Lecturer and PhD Student, CoBAMS
- Ms. Betty Tuhaise, Assistant Lecturer and PhD Student, CoBAMS
- Mr. Ronny Mulongo, Manager, Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU)
- Ms. Cathy Twongyeirwe; Business woman.
Betty Kyakuwa is the Principal Communication Officer, College of Business and Management Studies (CoBAMS)
The Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence has commenced a three-day refresher training for members of the Development Committee (DC) of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The training, which began today in Jinja, aims to enhance the analytical and technical skills of committee members who are tasked with reviewing government projects submitted by various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The training was today February 19, 2025, officially opened by Dr. Hennery Ssebukeera, who represented the Director of the Budget Directorate. In his opening remarks, Dr. Ssebukeera emphasized the importance of the refresher course in enabling the Development Committee to effectively conduct quality reviews and fulfill its mandate as a key gatekeeper of the Public Investment Plan. He noted that the training would improve the participants’ ability to appraise and implement public investments in line with the Public Investment Management System (PIMS) framework.
Speaking at the same event, Prof. Ibrahim Mike Okumu, representing the Centre Director, Prof. Edward Bbaale, expressed the Centre’s gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to Uganda’s PIM cycle. He highlighted the importance of the training in harmonizing the relationship between the MDAs that draft project proposals and the analysts who review them. Prof. Okumu reiterated the Centre’s commitment to building the capacity of government officials in Public Investment Management, thereby supporting the country’s development aspirations.
The need for this training was identified during the Development Committee retreat held in 2024, which revealed limited capacity among DC members in project appraisal, specifically in reviewing prefeasibility and feasibility reports, Dr Ssebukeera noted. In response, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, in collaboration with the PIM Centre of Excellence, organized this refresher course to strengthen the participants’ technical and analytical skills.
DC is a statutory committee of government that evaluates the viability of public investment projects. Its statutory composition includes: Office of the President, Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, National Planning Authority, Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), Office of the Solicitor General, Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development, National Environment Management Authority, Equal Opportunities Commission, Ministry or Work and Transport, Ministry of Water and Environment, Public Private Partnership Unit. The PIM Center of Excellence was recently admitted to the Development Committee as a non-voting member.
The training will cover a wide range of topics, including the role of PIMS in the country’s development goals, the logical flow of project profiles, costing, and the interpretation of interconnections between prefeasibility/feasibility reports and financial models. Additionally, participants will explore the role of public-private partnerships in national development.
Dr. Ssebukeera encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions, share their expertise, and apply the knowledge gained from the training. He noted that this engagement would empower the Development Committee to effectively perform its role in reviewing and approving public investment projects, ensuring they align with national priorities and deliver value for money.
The Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence, established by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in partnership with Makerere University School of Economics, continues to play a pivotal role in building the capacity of MDAs in managing public investments. To date, the Centre has trained over 300 officers and produced several research papers, reflecting its commitment to enhancing public investment management in Uganda.
The training in Jinja is expected to enhance the participants’ capacity to effectively review government projects, thus supporting the effective implementation of Uganda’s Public Investment Plan.
Business & Management
Somali Officials Complete Executive Training in Infrastructure Asset Management at CoBAMS
Six Somali government officials have successfully completed a three-day Executive Training in Infrastructure Asset Management, held at Makerere University’s Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE). The training, funded by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), took place from January 27 to 29, 2025, and aimed to enhance regional capacity in infrastructure planning and management.
The training brought together senior civil servants and policymakers from Somalia, equipping them with practical knowledge and strategies for sustainable infrastructure asset management. It also fostered valuable cross-border collaboration, facilitated by UNCDF Uganda, which played a crucial role in connecting Makerere University with the Government of Somalia.
The program was delivered by experienced faculty from Makerere University’s College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), alongside experts from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) and the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). A special session was also led by the Makerere University Bursar, offering practical insights into financial management in infrastructure projects.
Speaking at the opening of the training, Mr. Ncube Mkhululi, the Regional Technical Advisor for UNCDF emphasized the importance of infrastructure asset management in driving sustainable economic growth. He highlighted UNCDF’s commitment to supporting capacity-building initiatives in developing economies, noting that effective infrastructure planning and management are critical to national development. He also expressed confidence in Makerere University’s expertise in delivering high-impact executive training programs for government officials.
During the closing ceremony, Prof. Bbaale Edward, the Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences expressed gratitude to all partners, including UNCDF, Makerere University management, and the PIM CoE faculty, for their commitment to making the training a success. He emphasized Makerere University’s ongoing efforts to internationalize its research-led agenda, positioning itself as a hub for regional knowledge exchange.
UNCDF Program Manager, Mr. Joel Mundua, the commended the participants for their dedication and encouraged them to share the acquired knowledge with fellow officials in Somalia. This was reaffirmed by one of the participants, who pledged to apply and disseminate the learnings within their respective departments.
Mr. Sunday Denis Aliti, the Program Officer at UNCDF highlighted the importance of ensuring that infrastructure asset management strategies are practical, adaptable, and aligned with national development goals. He commended Makerere University for its leadership in knowledge transfer and regional training and encouraged continued collaboration between universities, governments, and international development partners to strengthen institutional capacity.
Dr. John Sseruyange, Manager of the PIM CoE, applauded both the participants and the expert trainers who contributed to the program. He reiterated the Centre’s commitment to advancing infrastructure asset management through continued training and collaboration with regional stakeholders.
As the training concluded, participants departed with valuable insights and practical tools to improve infrastructure management in Somalia and beyond. The success of this initiative highlights Makerere University’s role as a leading institution in public investment management, fostering capacity-building efforts that drive sustainable development across Africa.
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