Business & Management

CoBAMS Holds Orientation for New Staff Members

Published

4 years ago

November 3, 2021

The DVCFA-Dr. Josephine Nabukenya (8th L-Red scarf) and Principal CoBAMS-Dr. Eria Hisali (9th L) with Deans and newly oriented staff after the induction exercise on 2nd November 2021, School of Business, Makerere University.

Staff of the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) have been called upon to play their part to ensure that the college’s strategic objectives are achieved. The call was made by the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration DVC (F&A), Assoc. Prof. Josephine Nabukenya, during the orientation of new members of staff on 2^nd November, 2021.

Assoc. Prof. Nabukenya commended the College management, led by the Principal, Assoc. Prof. Elia Hisali, on holding an orientation for new staff, saying other colleges needed to emulate this. “It is a good endeavor to familiarize the new members with the college plans, culture and work ethic. It also helps them feel welcome and secure. CoBAMS is moving to great heights,” she said.

The DVC (F&A) also trained staff on the use of the Electronic Human Resource Management System (e-HRMS), which the university is implementing. The system, the first of its kind will see the elimination of paper files. It allows for staff to request for promotions and leave online, enter their work plans for a week, as well as conduct staff appraisals. The platform is a bank for all staff biodata. It is a one-stop centre for all Human Resources needs. The Research and Development of the e-HRMS was fully funded by the Government of Uganda through Makerere University’s Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF).

Assoc. Prof. Nakukenya said the university was developing a student records system which will soon be rolled out. It is hoped that the system will address the challenges of issuance of transcripts.

Assoc. Prof. Hisali on his part shared with the members, some of whom recently joined university service while others were recently transferred to CoBAMS, the mission of the college; “Service to society through provision of effective practice-oriented learning and research”. The college, he said, aspires to be the best at the university and eventually on the continent. He encouraged all staff to play a role in contributing to the realization of the college’s ambitions. He warned the staff against cliques and called for hard work, saying, “Hard work will be incentivized while there will be sanctions for non-performers.”

He shared with the new members the college’s strategic direction which includes; strengthening quality assurance, enhancing staff capacity, establishing foundations for financial sustainability, getting new linkages, infrastructure expansion, improving the work and learning environment and strengthening the research and dissemination infrastructure system.

Assoc. Prof. Hisali informed the new members that decision making at the colleges is done by committees. The college has got the Administrative Board, Academic Board, Quality Assurance Committee, Establishments and Appointments Board. The committees are mainly comprised of Deans and Heads of Departments.

The staff were also trained on Managing time and work load. The Deputy Principal, Assoc. Prof. Bruno Lule Yawe, shared with the team that we cannot manage time but rather manage ourselves so that we utilize the time we have effectively. He shared some skills to help staff manage themselves, which include; being organized, prioritizing, setting goals, strong communication skills, effective planning, delegating and handling stress in a positive way.

The team was also privileged to hear from the Director of the Directorate of Human Resources, Dr. Davis Malowa, who oriented the staff on the employment policies and systems such as confirmation of employment, promotions, staff development and what benefits accrue from each of these steps. Members learnt that the new employment regulations require an employee who has worked for an organization for more than 10 years to give his employer 3-months’ notice of resignation, failure of which will lead to penalties.

The area of research and publications was handled by Prof. Bbaale Edward, the Dean of the School of Economics. He emphasized that for one to create new knowledge through research, they must know the existing knowledge. Research, he said, is used to create new knowledge, visibility for the university and academic growth. He encouraged the staff to create a balance between teaching, research and supervision.

The Dean of the School of Business, Dr. Akileng Godfrey, shared the work ethic and values staff should have.

Employees with a strong work ethic exhibit a particular set of values and behaviors, he said. These characteristics make them standout as highly coveted team members and praise-worthy employees. Some of these qualities include; Reliability, Dedication, Discipline, Productivity, Cooperation, Integrity, Responsibility and Professionalism. He called on staff to practice good customer care, saying “A person can forget the words you said and the help you offered to them but they will never forget how you made them feel.” While concluding his submission, Dr. Akileng emphasized that “customer care is not a department, it is the attitude.” He called on all staff to ensure they offer the best customer experiences to our clients the students.

Betty Kyakuwa is the Principal Communication Officer, CoBAMS

Related Topics:appointment CoBAMS DVCFA eHRMS featured goals Mak-RIF Orientation planning quality assurance Research staff

Up Next

School of Business Staff undertake Capacity Building

Don't Miss

Dr. Allen Kabagenyi Inducted as a UNAS Fellow

Business & Management

Press Release: Uganda Entrepreneurship Congress and Youth Expo

Published

5 days ago

October 15, 2025

Ritah Namisango

Front View of the reconstructed Main Building, Makerere University. Date Taken 8th November 2024. Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Release date: October 15, 2025

PRESS RELEASE

RE: Uganda Entrepreneurship Congress and Youth Expo (October 16-17, 2025)

Showcasing over 300 innovations at Makerere University

Over 60% of Uganda’s population is categorized as youth. According to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Makerere University is one of the institutions in Uganda with the highest concentration of youth. Annually, over 10,000 youth graduate from Makerere University to join the labour market. As they plan to transition into the job market, some of them, are hit by the hard reality of unemployment. In Uganda, the youth unemployment rate (those aged 18 to 30) is 16.1% (Uganda Bureau of Statistics 2024).

To address this issue, Makerere University in partnership with the Government of Uganda, industry and the private sector, has been implementing programmes, to unlock the entrepreneurship potential of students and the youth in Uganda.

Through its College of Business and Management Sciences, the entity runs the Makerere University Entrepreneurship and Outreach Centre, committed to shaping Uganda’s next generation of entrepreneurs. The Center brings together members of the entrepreneurship ecosystem to discuss issues that are shaping entrepreneurial activities in the country.

This year, on the 16^th and 17^th of October, Makerere University Entrepreneurship and Outreach Centre, presents to you-The Uganda Entrepreneurship Congress and Youth Expo, themed, Brewing Prosperity: Youth Entrepreneurship in Uganda’s Coffee Value Chain.

The Entrepreneurship Congress and Youth Expo, spotlights one of Uganda’s most strategic Agricultural sectors-COFFEE. Over 600 students from the College of Business and Management Sciences at Makerere University, will showcase different innovations, with potential to be scaled into companies and business enterprises.

Focus on the Coffee Sector: By June 2024, Uganda had exported 667,037 kilograms of coffee worth US$162.36 million, underscoring its role as a cornerstone of the economy and a key foreign exchange earner. Despite this performance, the majority of Uganda’s youth remain excluded from the coffee value chain, often confined to low-income farm labor with limited participation in processing, branding, and export where the greatest value is captured (Uganda Coffee Development Authority).

With 78% of Uganda’s population under 30, this disconnect represents both a critical risk and an unprecedented opportunity.

Therefore, the Uganda Entrepreneurship Congress and Youth Expo at Makerere University, serves as a national convening platform for youth, entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and private sector leaders to unlock youth-driven innovation across the coffee value chain, from climate-smart farming and agritech to processing, branding, and global market access. By moving beyond subsistence farming towards ownership, innovation, and high value enterprises, the youth in Uganda can secure a greater share of the global coffee market while catalyzing job creation and sustainable development.

16^th October 2025-Uganda Entrepreneurship Congress (8:00am to 3:00pm) at Makerere University Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium.
17^th October 2025-The Innovation and Youth Expo (8:00am to 4:30pm) at Makerere University Freedom Square, featuring youth coffee brands, brewing demonstrations, agritech prototypes, and live cupping sessions.

Key milestone: Dr. Sarah Bimbona, a Lecturer at the College of Business and Management Sciences, and the Director of the Makerere University Entrepreneurship and Outreach Centre, states that during the Congress and Expo, over 600 youth will be equipped with new skills to join and innovate in the coffee industry.

Chief Guest: Mr. Odrek Rwabwogo, Chairperson, Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID).

Keynote Speaker: Mr. Moses Nyabila, Chief Executive Officer, aBi Development Ltd.

Panel 1: Market Readiness, Value Addition and Story Telling; and Panel 2-Financing the Future.

Some of the Partners: Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, National Coffee Research Initiative (NaCORI), BRAC Uganda, Tooke, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Vision Group, Mountain Harvest, Pepsi, Rainforest Alliance, Sumz, and the Banana Industrial Research & Development Centre.

CONTACT PERSON: For additional information, please contact: Ms. Ritah Namisango, Public Relations and Communication Specialist at Makerere University, College of Business and Management Sciences, Telephone contact: +256 702944224.

Makerere-PRESS-RELEASE-Uganda-Entrepreneurship-Congress-and-Youth-Expo-October-2025 Download

Business & Management

Over 35 Officials Begin Training in Financial Appraisal and Risk Analysis

Published

1 week ago

October 13, 2025

Betty Kyakuwa

Participants including over 35 public officials from various pose for a group photo at the commencement of the training on 13th October 2025 in Mbarara. 35 public officials from various MDAs commenced two-week intensive training in Financial Appraisal and Risk Analysis in Mbarara, 13th October 2025 organized by the Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence at Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), the National Planning Authority (NPA), and Cambridge Resources International (CRI).

Over 35 public officials from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have commenced a two-week intensive training in Financial Appraisal and Risk Analysis in Mbarara. The training is organized by the Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence at Makerere University, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), the National Planning Authority (NPA), and Cambridge Resources International (CRI).

Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Ms. Esther Ayebare commended the ongoing efforts to strengthen Uganda’s public investment management systems. She highlighted the recent launch of the National Public Investment Management Policy, describing it as a robust and unified framework guiding the entire investment cycle—from planning and appraisal through to implementation and post-evaluation.

Ms. Esther Ayebare. 35 public officials from various MDAs commenced two-week intensive training in Financial Appraisal and Risk Analysis in Mbarara, 13th October 2025 organized by the Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence at Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), the National Planning Authority (NPA), and Cambridge Resources International (CRI). — ***Ms. Esther Ayebare.***

Ms. Ayebare further noted other key reforms including the Framework for Tracking Implementation and Performance of Public Investments, the revised Development Committee Guidelines, and the Integrated Bank of Projects, all of which are designed to improve efficiency, accountability, and value-for-money in public investments.

“Each of these reforms plays a key role in enhancing public investment management. I urge you to familiarize yourselves with them and integrate these frameworks into your daily work,” she added.

Prof. Eria Hisali. 35 public officials from various MDAs commenced two-week intensive training in Financial Appraisal and Risk Analysis in Mbarara, 13th October 2025 organized by the Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence at Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), the National Planning Authority (NPA), and Cambridge Resources International (CRI). — ***Prof. Eria Hisali.***

The Deputy Director of the PIM Centre of Excellence, Prof. Eria Hisali, encouraged participants to actively engage throughout the training and make the most of the opportunity to build their analytical and decision-making capacity. He commended the Ministry of Finance for its continued financial support to the Centre and reaffirmed Makerere University’s commitment to providing high-quality training and research to strengthen public investment governance.

The Manager of the PIM Centre, Dr. John Sseruyange, underscored the importance of the training, emphasizing that the PIM Centre was established to build national capacity in the appraisal, management, and evaluation of public investments. He called on participants to apply the knowledge gained to improve project preparation and implementation within their respective institutions.

Dr. John Sseruyange. 35 public officials from various MDAs commenced two-week intensive training in Financial Appraisal and Risk Analysis in Mbarara, 13th October 2025 organized by the Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence at Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), the National Planning Authority (NPA), and Cambridge Resources International (CRI). — ***Dr. John Sseruyange.***

Dr. Sseruyange also expressed appreciation to the team of facilitators drawn from Makerere University, MoFPED, NPA, and CRI for their expertise and continued dedication to building Uganda’s human capital for effective public investment management.

The Financial Appraisal and Risk Analysis course is part of a broader capacity-building programme implemented by the PIM Centre aimed at enhancing the skills of public officials in the design, evaluation, and monitoring of development projects to ensure that public investments deliver optimal socio-economic returns for the country.

Business & Management

PIM Centre Holds 9th Steering Committee Meeting, Set to Benefit from World Bank Support

Published

1 week ago

October 10, 2025

Betty Kyakuwa

The Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence at Makerere University today, October 10th, 2025, held its 9th Steering Committee Meeting to review progress made in the first quarter of the financial year and plan for the months ahead.

The meeting was chaired by Ms. Getrude Basiima, who represented Mr. Hannington Ashaba, Director Budget at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED). Ms. Basiima commended the Centre for its continued commitment to strengthening public investment management capacity across government institutions.

In her remarks, Ms. Basiima applauded the Centre for successfully hosting the Public Investment Management Conference held in August at Makerere University. The conference attracted key policymakers, development partners, and academics who deliberated on how to enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and impact of public investments in Uganda.

She further shared exciting news that the Government of Uganda has secured funding from the World Bank to support the public investment management function. The PIM Centre, she announced, will be among the key beneficiaries of these funds — receiving support for the construction and acquisition of a permanent home to enhance its institutional sustainability and training capacity.

Reviewing the Centre’s quarterly performance, Ms. Basiima congratulated the team for successfully conducting three specialized trainings in the first quarter, reaching officials from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. These trainings continue to strengthen the technical competencies required for effective project preparation, appraisal, and implementation in line with Uganda’s National Development Plan.

The PIM Steering Committee in a meeting held at Emin Pasha Hotel

She encouraged the Centre to integrate climate change considerations into its future training programmes, noting that sustainable public investment must now account for environmental resilience and climate adaptation.

The centre team presented the proposed structure/ organogram, the financial performance of 2024/2025, research areas for 2025/2026 and the strategic plan for 2025 – 2030.

The Steering Committee reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the PIM Centre’s vision of becoming a regional leader in building capacity for efficient, transparent, and sustainable public investment management.