Business & Management
Statisticians Urged to Digitalise Data Analysis
The School of Statistics and Planning has been urged to embrace digitalisation of data analysis as a way of modernising national statistical systems to support sociocultural development in Africa.
The call was made by Prof. Ben Kiregyera, a senior statistician and researcher, during a symposium to mark the Africa Statistics Day held 18th November 2021 at Makerere University.
The symposium was organised by the School of Statistics and Planning in partnership with Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBoS) and the Uganda Statistics Society (USS), under the theme “Modernizing National Statistical Systems to support sociocultural development in Africa.”
The keynote speaker, Prof. Kiregyera pointed that there is a lot of delay and laxity in collection and delivering real time data to the public by the responsible bodies which jeopardises the work of other bodies that use this same data e.g. the Central Bank and other institutions.
He believes this can be addressed in various ways like scaling up of Statistics advocacy, statistical literacy, extending frontiers to the traditional,national systems through embracing the new data sources that include telecom data, E_ commerce, Web crawling, Social Media and GIS.
Countries in the East Africa that have since migrated digitally in terms of data analysis include Rwanda that uses tabs which are assembled within the country by university students as well as Kenya.
The Professor pointed out that the demand for data analysts in America is higher than that of statisticians something that should push all the statisticians to embrace new skills to increase their competence in a very fast changing world that doesn’t need manual work but digital. This he said can be achieved through building new data sources,capacity building in data science as well as producing more data scientists.
Speaking at the opening the symposium, the Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences, Prof. Eria Hisali said the college intends to launch an initiative dabbed the “The policy Lab series.” Witch will attract dignitaries especially policy makers from Parliament,cabinet, senior civil servants and academia to meetings to address various issues affecting the economy of the country.
Prof. Hisali added that the college had created a unit specifically for data management, in it’s infancy as young as 3 years, intending to support agencies in data analysis.
“We have been able to run courses in computer management and impact evaluation that attracted over 60 students from various parts of the world,” he said.
Responding to the Principal, the Minister of State for Planning, Hon. Amos Lugoloobi, who was the guest of honor noted that over the years there has been a gap in dissemination of the service to the public and if such future plans are fulfilled then the college will have played a very big role in developing the economy of this country.
The Dean of the School of Statistics and Planning, Dr. James Wokadala, thanked his staff for their continued contribution to training statisticians in the country. Dr. Wokadala called upon statisticians to be aggressive,proactive and vigilant to fill any gap in the economy even when they are not called upon. The School of Statistics and Planning has been in existence since 1968 and has so far and trained over 2,200 undergraduate students with 5 programmes and 9 post graduate programmes with 3,030 students, the Dean noted.
Betty Kyakuwa is the Principal Communication Officer CoBAMS and CEES
The Africa Statistics Day Symposium recording:
Business & Management
PIM Centre Holds 9th Steering Committee Meeting, Set to Benefit from World Bank Support
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.
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.
Business & Management
PIM Centre Awards Certificates to Over 35 Officials Trained in Essentials of Public Investment Management
The Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence at Makerere University has awarded certificates to more than 35 public officials who successfully completed a three-day training in the Essentials of Public Investment Management (PIM).
The training, held from September 23rd to 26th, 2025 at the College of Business and Management Sciences, aimed at strengthening the capacity of government officials to effectively identify, prepare, and implement public projects.
The closing ceremony was officiated by Ms. Belinda Bisamaza, who represented the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury (PS/ST). In her remarks, Ms. Bisamaza commended participants for their commitment, noting that the training had offered a solid foundation in the entire PIM cycle — from project conceptualization and profiling, through monitoring and evaluation (M&E), to the use of the Integrated Bank of Projects (IBP), Environmental and Social Risk Management, and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
“With these skills, you can contribute meaningfully to improving the quality of proposals submitted to the IBP, ensure better risk management, and enhance implementation through robust monitoring frameworks,” she said, adding that participants were now better prepared for advanced modules on financial appraisal, risk analysis, and stakeholder engagement.
Representing the PIM Centre, Prof. Eria Hisali highlighted the need for well-prepared projects that directly contribute to economic growth. “We must move away from the practice of developing projects only when funding is required. Instead, we should create a strong bank of quality projects from which government can easily draw,” he said.
The Manager of the PIM Centre, Dr. John Sseruyange, expressed gratitude to the participants and trainers for their dedication. He noted that the facilitators were drawn from Makerere University, the National Planning Authority (NPA), and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED). Dr. Sseruyange also revealed that the Centre would be rolling out further in-depth training modules and creating opportunities for alumni to engage in consultancy and research work. The PIM Centre hosts the training as part of broader efforts by Makerere University, MoFPED, and NPA to strengthen Uganda’s public investment management systems, ensuring value for money, improved service delivery, and sustainable economic development.
Business & Management
PIM Centre Makerere, Graduates Second Cohort of Certificate in Financial Implications – Integrated Regulatory Cost-Benefit Analysis
Jinja, September 5, 2025
Thirty-one government officers from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have successfully completed a two-week intensive training in the Certificate of Financial Implications (CFI) – Integrated Regulatory Cost-Benefit Analysis. The certification ceremony was held at the Pearl on the Nile Hotel, Jinja, marking another milestone in Uganda’s efforts to institutionalize evidence-based and fiscally responsible policymaking.
The training, delivered by the Makerere University Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), and National Planning Authority equipped participants with practical skills to evaluate policy and legislative proposals for their financial, economic, and social implications.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Mr. Paul Mwanja, Commissioner for Infrastructure & Social Services at MoFPED, who represented the Permanent Secretary, commended the officers for their commitment at a time when government institutions are finalizing the Auditor General’s audits, implementing the FY2025/26 budget, rolling out the National Development Plan IV’s tenfold growth strategy, and preparing for the 2026 General Elections.
“Your participation affirms a collective commitment across Government to strengthen the quality, transparency, and credibility of public policymaking in Uganda,” Mr. Mwanja said. He urged graduates to return to their institutions as champions of reform, share their knowledge with colleagues, and drive the change needed in Public Finance Management. He also announced that the next cohort of the training will take place in January 2026.
Prof. Ibrahim Mike Okumu, Dean of the School of Economics at Makerere University, delivered the graduation address, highlighting the certificate’s importance in addressing Uganda’s triple challenge of scale, scarcity, and speed.
“This program does something unique. It teaches you not only to ask whether a policy or project is beneficial, but also whether it is affordable and resilient under real fiscal constraints,” Prof. Okumu noted. He challenged graduates to apply their skills at project, portfolio, and policy levels—ensuring value for money and enhancing public trust in government spending.
He further emphasized that Uganda’s pioneering approach to integrated CFI-CBA positions the country as a leader in Africa and beyond: “You, Uganda’s first CFI-CBA graduates, are now part of a global brain trust. Your work will speak to investors, parliaments, development partners, and above all, the Ugandan people.”
Dr. John Sseruyange, Manager of the PIM Centre of Excellence, expressed appreciation to participants for their active engagement throughout the training and thanked MoFPED and the faculty drawn from Makerere University, the National Planning Authority, Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Energy for their technical support.
The Certificate of Financial Implications – Integrated Regulatory Cost-Benefit Analysis was introduced following the Revised Guidelines for Financial Clearance, effective July 1, 2025. The guidelines require MDAs to prepare their own financial implications statements, subject to rigorous cost-benefit analysis, thereby strengthening linkages between fiscal responsibility and regulatory impact assessments.
With the successful completion of the second cohort, Uganda is steadily building a critical mass of professionals capable of embedding cost-benefit thinking across government, ensuring every shilling delivers maximum impact for citizens.
-
General2 weeks agoADVERT: Mature Age Entry Scheme Examinations – 2026/2027
-
General1 week agoDFCU Bank Uganda Supports the Mastercard Foundation Scholars’ Giveback Initiatives
-
General4 days agoVice Chancellor Updates Media on DVC AA Appointment, Acquisitions, Research & Various Issues
-
Computing & IS6 days agoICT Bootcamp for Vacists (P7, S4 & S6), Students & Professionals
-
General1 week agoMakerere University and Goucher College Explore Strategic Collaboration