The research findings of the project titled “Embracing Social Entrepreneurship as a catalyst to sustainable business growth in Uganda” were disseminated on Wednesday 8th December 2021 at the CoBAMS Conference Room at the School of Business. The purpose of the study was to examine social entrepreneurship as a strategy that could promote sustainable business growth in Uganda.
Assoc. Prof. Peter Turyakira, the Principal Investigator of the project shared findings which revealed that social entrepreneurship is perceived as a business strategy that is intended to solve community-based problems while making some profits to sustain business activities. He also noted that according to their study, women are more likely to get involved in voluntary activities than men; while men and women differ in the nature of social enterprises that they initiate.
Assoc. Prof. Peter Turyakira presenting the research findings
While presenting his research, Assoc. Prof. Turyakira shared that social entrepreneurship significantly affects sustainable business growth. However, the high cost of operating a business significantly constrainssustainable social enterprises’ growth in Uganda.
The study recommended that the government of Uganda build a financial spectrum that could enable social entrepreneurs access grants for incubation. The study also recommended the provision of preferential funding to social enterprises as well as the provision of tax exemptions, incentives and an enabling legal and regulatory framework to further encourage the establishment and growth of MSMEs.
Ms. Geraldine Ssali, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Cooperatives addresses the guests at the workshop
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Cooperatives, Ms. Geraldine Ssali, commended the team upon bringing to light findings that show the importance of social entrepreneurship to our country. She further stressed the importance of having courses and curriculums that focus on skills that are relevant for use in the workplace with entrepreneurship and business being at the forefront of all. Ms. Ssali discouraged members present from cocooning themselves to employment only, because there are no jobs. Rather, she encouraged them to start their own businesses and to use their jobs to get capital to invest into their businesses.
CoBAMS Principal, Prof. Eria Hisali addresses the guests at the dissemination workshop
In his remarks at the dissemination workshop, the Principal of CoBAMS, Assoc. Prof. Eria Hisali congratulated the study team upon their achievement and encouraged them to publish their findings in an international journal and integrate them into the teaching curriculum.
Dr. Eric Nzibonera, speaking on behalf of Assoc. Prof. Godfrey Akileng, the Dean School of Business, CoBAMS, congratulated the principal investigator and research team for the good work done. “As a school we are happy that the team has managed to attract funding for this research and also do the work” he said, “These research findings are very critical because they address issues of job creation and issues of sustainable growth of SMEs, because there is no country that can grow without small and medium businesses.”
The “Embracing Social Entrepreneurship as a catalyst to sustainable business growth in Uganda” project was funded by the Government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (Mak-RIF).
Speaking on behalf of Prof. William Bazeyo, the chairperson of Mak-RIF, Dr. John Mutenyo (representative of the research grant management committee) expressed his gratitude to the Government of Uganda for providing the funding to this research and other projects in the University that fall in line with the National Development Plan (NDP) III. Dr. Mutenyo commended the Government for the continued funding to research despite the challenges brought about by the COVID pandemic.
The Public Investment Management Center of Excellence (PIM CoE) was conceived as a result of the 2016 PIM Diagnostic study done by the World Bank and Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development with support from Makerere University School of Economics that discovered inefficiencies in PIM in Uganda.
This report highlights the work, achievements and prospects of the Center. The Center plans to start offering Advanced level training through Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in PIM and Master of Science in Economic and Investment Modelling (MEIM). I am pleased to introduce this report to the public for use by all stakeholders.
I would like to appreciate PIM CoE Secretariat, partners, staff and well-wishers for technical support, daily running of the Center and their role in the realization of these achievements.
Special thanks go to Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, National Planning Authority, Cambridge Resources International (CRI) and Makerere University for the overwhelming support rendered towards the development of the Center.
Prof. Edward Bbaale Principal & Principal Investigator, CoBAMS/PIM CoE
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.
The Statistics and Data Science (SDS) Working Group training kicked off on Monday, 20th January 2025, and will run until 24th January 2025. This training, an initiative by the college, aims to build capacity in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) among its members.
Participants are being equipped with a wide range of skills, covering topics such as text mining, unsupervised learning, neural networks, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and more. The training is facilitated by expert data scientists from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Housing Finance Bank, and the School of Statistics and Planning (SSP).
The SDS Working Group comprises academic staff at the School of Statistics and Planning (SSP) whose research interests focus on statistical learning and AI.
On January 21, 2025, Mr. Kiyingi Simon Peter and Mr. Tusubira Brian from URA led an engaging session on the practical applications of machine learning algorithms in day-to-day activities. They demonstrated how components fed into ML models are used to classify taxpayers into high-risk and low-risk categories, showcasing the transformative potential of AI in optimizing operations.
Dr. Margaret Banga, the Dean of the School of Statistics and Planning (SSP), emphasized the transformative impact of the training on both the academic and professional development of the participants. She commended the expert trainers from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and other partnering institutions for their practical and insightful contributions to the sessions. Dr. Banga noted that the training is a significant step toward enhancing the teaching methodologies and research capabilities of the faculty. “By equipping our staff with advanced skills in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, we are empowering them to deliver cutting-edge knowledge to our students and conduct impactful research that addresses real-world challenges,” she remarked.
The training is a testament to the SSP’s forward-thinking approach to education and research in statistics and data science. The integration of topics such as neural networks, text mining, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) underscores the need for multidisciplinary expertise in an increasingly data-driven world. Dr. Banga highlighted that this capacity-building effort aligns with the college’s strategic objectives of fostering innovation and staying ahead in the rapidly evolving fields of data science and statistical learning.
The Dean further stressed the importance of partnerships with organizations like the Uganda Revenue Authority and Housing Finance Bank, which provide invaluable industry perspectives. These collaborations ensure that academic training is not only theoretical but also applicable to practical challenges in sectors such as taxation, finance, and public administration.
In conclusion, Dr. Banga reaffirmed her commitment to continuous learning and development within the School of Statistics and Planning. She expressed confidence that the knowledge gained through the training would translate into improved academic delivery, enriched research output, and a stronger contribution to societal and economic transformation through the application of advanced data science methodologies.