The Principal CoBAMS-Prof. Eria Hisali (5th R) and the PI PIM CoE at CoBAMS-Prof. Edward Bbaale with participants at the launch of the training on 21st February 2022 in Jinja.
The Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence at the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) has started a two-week training in Investment Appraisal and Risk Analysis. The trainees are drawn from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Works, Makerere University, Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Education among other MDAs. The training taking place in Jinja, was opened on February 21, 2022 by the Principal CoBAMS, Prof. Eria Hisali.
Prof. Hisali commended the PIM team for fostering knowledge transfer and also encouraged the participants to take keen interest in the course, saying the skills they will get during the duration of the training will help improve the way the country does public investment.
The Principal CoBAMS, Prof. Eria Hisali.
It is envisioned that the capacity building will ensure that projects that are financed can meet the expected outcomes, hence maximize their returns of these investments to the country.
He said CoBAMS was committed to rolling out capacity building with the intention of starting a Masters in Public Investment Management. He called on the trainees to participate in the intermediary level training so that they too can become trainers. “As we embark on developing capacity in PIM, we need to look at forming an umbrella body which will help self-regulate, set and manage standards,” Prof. Hisali said.
The Principal thanked the World Bank for funding the PIM project and the Cambridge Resources International and the Ministry of Finance for partnering with CoBAMS.
Prof. Eria Hisali (C) and Prof. Edward Bbaale (R) with the Commissioner for Projects and Public Investments (PIMs) in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hannington Ashaba (R).
The Principal Investigator of the project, Prof. Edward Bbaale also thanked the World Bank and all other partners for trusting the Centre with the training needs of the country.
Ms Rachel K. Sebudde a Senior Economist with the World Bank commended the government for its effort in improving management of public investments.
“As World Bank, representing Development partners, we do commend the various actions government is undertaking to improve the way public investments are managed in the country,” Ms Sebudde said.
Participants listen to Ms Rachel K. Sebudde (on screen).
The government has in recent years increased the amount of resources it allocates to capital investments. Despite the increase, the country still faces challenges of the quality of the infrastructure.
“If these constrained are removed, the country would no doubt accelerate economic growth and improve quality of life,” Ms Sebudde said.
She warned that it will be difficult to maximize returns from oil and gas investments if the quality of projects is poor.
A section of the participants attending the training.
According to the World Bank study, quality issues arise from the poor design of projects, delays in implementation, cost escalations, time-overruns, contract disputes, abandonment of projects, substandard quality of some completed projects, and rapid depreciation of public capital stock.
The World Bank Officer advised that to make the public resources yield higher returns, and increase and sustain higher rates of economic growth, the government must aggressively improve its investment management capacity, so that projects are well selected, well prepared, transparently tendered and delivered on time and within budget. It then also needs to maintain its existing and new assets, she added.
Participants listen keenly to proceedings.
She reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s development agenda. “As a Development Partner, we appreciate the commitment and zeal that the country continues to demonstrate in exploring alternative and more efficient models for development,” Ms Sebudde said.
According to Mr. Hannington Ashaba, a Commissioner in the Ministry of Finance, the government recognizes the need to improve public investment management and has been training its officers in this regard. A few were trained abroad but government sort to reduce the cost of training by establishing the Centre of Excellence for Public Investment Management at Makerere University. This he said will also allow for training of more public service officers.
Dr. Willy Kagarura, the Manager to the PIM Centre of Excellence said the University was committed to providing capacity building to the government. He applied to the World Bank to continue to support the Centre for at least 5 years as it strategizes on being self-sustaining and generating income.
Dr. Willy Kagarura, Manager of the PIM Centre of Excellence, CoBAMS.
The Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence
The centre was established following a study done by the World Bank. The diagnostic done in 2016 revealed that there was low return on investment. Some studies revealed that the country was losing 60% of the investments it made. To this end, the World Bank recommended the establishment of a PIM training centre. The centre offers capacity building in Public Investment management systems. The training offered by the Centre is at 3 levels.
Basic training: It was recommended that this training be massive. It targets people working on government projects. This involves identifying projects, concept writing, profile writing, feasibility studies and uploading the same on the Integrated Bank of projects (IBP)
Intermediary level: This brings in technics of appraising projects before they are selected to go into the public investment plan.
Advanced Level: Professional training- MSc and PhD.
The Centre got seed funding from the World Bank, having commissioned the study, which revealed the gaps.
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.