Connect with us

General

Mak Laptop Loan Scheme Launched

Published

on

The long-awaited Laptop Loan Scheme for Students and Staff at Makerere University finally got underway on Thursday 10th March 2022 at ceremony presided over by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and the Stanbic Bank Uganda (SBU) Chief Executive (CE), Ms. Anne Juuko. On hand to witness the ceremony was the Guild President H.E. Shamim Nambassa and Speaker Rt. Hon. Gatuya Mucyo.

The Scheme will enable students and staff to access an unsecured loan to the tune of UGX 5million payable over a period of three years or less, at an interest of 13% per annum. The monthly payments which start from as low as UGX 71,000 will also cover insurance for the laptops against theft and damage. The launch follows the signing of an MoU between Makerere and Stanbic on 15th February 2022.

“The documentation has been kept very simple” remarked Sam Mwogeza, Head, Consumer and High Net Worth, SBU. “We’ll have a very simple application form, a nomination form and detail of the parent’s account for where payments will be settled. Our team at the branch (Makerere) are fully available to walk you through these consultations” he added.

According to the vendor HGZ Technologies represented by Simon Nkuyahaga, the laptops will come in three categories based on processing power. The basic ones will have two (2) cores/processors, mid-range ones will have four (4) cores/processors and the high-end ones will have eight (8) cores/processors. Each laptop will also have a battery life of eight (8) to ten (10) hours, extendable to fourteen (14) hours using an extra backup battery.

“We’ll have Microsoft 356 for students for one year so that all your documents are automatically stored in the cloud… we also give a one year warranty meaning we will have a team here to support technical issues with the laptop, at the same time we will train some students from Computer Science through internship with us so that they can support you” added Simon Nkuyahaga.

Additionally, all laptops purchased through the scheme will be automatically connected to the Research and Education Network for Uganda (RENU) for WiFi access to educational websites. For students who live in areas with irregular access to electricity, add-ons such as solar bundles may be purchased to provide up to 24 hours of backup power.

“We are proud to be working with you to provide real solutions to real problems and I want to start by thanking you Professor (Nawangwe) for giving us a chance to work with you and your team. Through this partnership we say that ‘Impossible is nothing'” remarked Ms. Anne Juuko.

The Chief Executive shared that the Scheme has been structured with the students at the centre, so as to enable them achieve their academic and professional goals. She therefore urged the student body to give timely feedback that can SBU work with the vendor to further refine customer support and service delivery.

Ms. Juuko said that the scheme is an answer to SBU’s observation that brilliant young people all over Uganda lack the necessary tools such as computers to help them embrace opportunities in digital spaces. She nevertheless asked the students to take good care of their laptops so as to make the most of their parent’s investment, noting that the devices can serve them well for up to five years.

“So that long after you have paid pack the loan, you can still use this device. But beyond that, if you do it well, you enable us to continue to provide this service to other people out there. This is a volume game; the more of you subscribe, the lower the unit cost” explained Ms. Juuko.

Addressing himself to the students, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe concurred with the SBU CE’s assertion that Africa is on the move largely due to its young people.

“You are the cream of Africa because you are in the top University and this top university takes the cream. And so the future of Africa is in your hands; you either make Africa better or you break it” counselled the Vice Chancellor.

Prof. Nawangwe expressed his gratitude to Stanbic and the CE in particular for the vibrancy exhibited in addressing issues that affect Uganda’s development. “The initiative you took to ensure that the Education sector comes back to life is extremely important.”

Earlier, Ms. Juuko had shared that SBU, in a bid to revive the education sector follow the devastating effects of COVID-19, had forgiven schools a full year of interest for 2021 on all loan repayments.

The Vice Chancellor furthermore thanked SBU for, without hesitation, agreeing to fund the Laptop Loan Scheme with favourable terms that cover insurance and servicing. “Stanbic has made this so affordable.”

Prof. Nawangwe therefore called upon the Guild Leadership to sensitise the student body about the unique offer. “One thing you need to understand is that with a computer and with data, you are a truly global citizen; you can attend classes anywhere in the world, get notes from any university if you want to compare and broaden your knowledge, and apply for jobs after university anywhere in the world… Take up the opportunity and look boldly into the future.”

H.E. Shamim Nambassa on her part shared that closure of the University due to COVID-19 marked a particularly tough time for students, due to limited access to laptops. “We kept demanding and asking for where the laptop bank is, but little did we know that Stanbic Bank would bring us the laptop bank. Thank you so much.”

The Guild President particularly thanked Stanbic Bank for redefining the education sector by ushering students into the digital era at an affordable cost. This, she noted, would help them become true agents of the transformative society that Makerere University seeks to build as she celebrates 100 years of existence this year.

“I want to thank the University Administration for bringing this forward for us as a student fraternity, and I want to call upon each and every student in Makerere University and let you know that the cry is over” H.E. Nambassa summed up.

Addressing guests at the launch, Guild Speaker, Rt. Hon. Gatuya Mucyo reiterated the Students’ appreciation to Prof. Nawangwe and the University Management for initiating the partnership, as well as Ms. Anne Juuko for thinking about and giving back to her alma mater. He equally thanked the Student Leadership for embracing the idea and the student body for exhibiting great willingness to participate in the scheme since the MoU was signed in February.

He nevertheless requested SBU to avail more opportunities to students in form of internships beyond the proposed on-campus laptop service centres. He reassured the gathering of the Student Guild’s readiness to mobilise and sensitise the student body about the Laptop Loan Scheme.

To secure your laptop, visit Stanbic Bank Makerere or any other branch with your parent/guardian and fill out the required forms.

For further enquiries call +256 312 224600 or 0800 250250 (Toll Free)

Mark Wamai

General

Undergraduate Admission Lists 2026/2027

Published

on

Students in discussion groups at Freedom Square.

The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released admission lists of candidates admitted under the Talented Sports Men & Women, Disability and District Quota Schemes with Government sponsorship 2026/27 Academic Year including appeals and remarked cases.

Other admission lists released include A-Level Applicants with Ugandan and those with Foreign Qualifications, Diploma in Performing Arts, Mature-Age Entry and Bachelor of Education (EXTERNAL Batch 2) for the Academic Year 2026/2027 under self sponsorship.

The cut-off points points can be accessed by following the link: https://mak.ac.ug/study-mak/cut-points

Kindly follow the links below to access the lists:-

Update 3rd July 2026

International & East African Applicants

Mop-up Lists

Mak Editor

Continue Reading

General

Makerere Launches Strategic Plan 2030, Aligns with Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Agenda

Published

on

Official launch of the Makerere University Strategic Plan 2025-2030 by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi, marking a major milestone in its commitment to strengthening research, innovation, and human capital development in line with Uganda’s national development priorities, 2nd July 2026, Main Hall, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Makerere University has officially launched its Strategic Plan 2025-2030, marking a major milestone in its commitment to strengthening research, innovation, and human capital development in line with Uganda’s national development priorities.

The launch brought together senior government officials, university leadership, and development planners, including the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi, and a representative from the National Planning Authority (NPA), alongside the University Vice Chancellor.

Hon. Henry Musasizi unveils the Makerere University Strategic Plan (2025-2030). Official launch of the Makerere University Strategic Plan 2025-2030 by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi, marking a major milestone in its commitment to strengthening research, innovation, and human capital development in line with Uganda’s national development priorities, 2nd July 2026, Main Hall, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Hon. Henry Musasizi unveils the Makerere University Strategic Plan (2025-2030).

A Vision Anchored in National Transformation

Speaking at the launch, the Vice Chancellor underscored the University’s ambition to significantly expand graduate training and strengthen its contribution to national development. He noted that the institution is targeting a return to pre-COVID enrolment levels and a substantial increase in postgraduate numbers by 2030, with a focus on producing highly skilled graduates, innovators, and researchers.

He emphasized that the Strategic Plan positions the University as a key driver of Uganda’s transformation through knowledge generation, innovation, and entrepreneurship, aligned with national priorities.

“The staffing distribution is shown here. Under the approved establishment, we intended to have 419 Professors, but we currently have only 75. We planned for 473 Associate Professors, but currently have only 144. This clearly demonstrates that we still have considerable room for growth in strengthening our academic staff profile,” the VC said.

Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe. Official launch of the Makerere University Strategic Plan 2025-2030 by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi, marking a major milestone in its commitment to strengthening research, innovation, and human capital development in line with Uganda’s national development priorities, 2nd July 2026, Main Hall, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.

The VC appreciated researchers and research centres, that continue to attract substantial research funding. He highlighted the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) and the Makerere University Walter Reed Project which attracted approximately US$70 million in international research funding into Uganda.

“When you combine the grants won by all our researchers through competitive international funding, the total exceeds US$200 million,” he said.

In her remarks, the Chairperson of the University Council, Dr. Lorna Magara, described the Strategic Plan as more than an institutional roadmap, calling it “a public covenant with the people of Uganda.”

She noted that the Plan marks “the launch of Makerere University’s next chapter,” adding that decisions taken over the next five years will shape not only the future of the institution, but also Uganda’s development trajectory through graduates, research, innovations, and leadership.

Dr. Lorna Magara. Official launch of the Makerere University Strategic Plan 2025-2030 by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi, marking a major milestone in its commitment to strengthening research, innovation, and human capital development in line with Uganda’s national development priorities, 2nd July 2026, Main Hall, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Dr. Lorna Magara.

Dr. Magara emphasized Makerere’s unique national role as Uganda’s premier public university, entrusted with public resources and public confidence.

“Every investment made in Makerere must produce measurable value for the people of Uganda,” she said, underscoring the need for accountability, integrity, and impact.

Ambitious Targets for Transformation

The Council Chairperson and the Vice chancellor outlined bold performance targets under the Strategic Plan, including doubling postgraduate enrolment, increasing STEM enrolment from 30% to 55%, improving PhD completion rates from 10% to 35%, and more than doubling peer-reviewed research output, alongside a significant rise in patents and innovations.

Dr. Magara stressed that these targets are not aspirations alone but binding commitments against which institutional performance will be measured.

Hon. Henry Musasizi (3rd R) and Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (2rd L) display an autographed dummy of the signed Strategic Plan as L-R: Hon. Kadondi Gracious, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, Rt. Hon. Daniel Kidega, Dr. Lorna Magara, H.E. Mubiru John Bosco and Prof. Sarah Ssali witness. Official launch of the Makerere University Strategic Plan 2025-2030 by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi, marking a major milestone in its commitment to strengthening research, innovation, and human capital development in line with Uganda’s national development priorities, 2nd July 2026, Main Hall, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Hon. Henry Musasizi (3rd R) and Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (2rd L) display an autographed dummy of the signed Strategic Plan as L-R: Hon. Kadondi Gracious, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, Rt. Hon. Daniel Kidega, Dr. Lorna Magara, H.E. Mubiru John Bosco and Prof. Sarah Ssali witness.

“Ambition is precisely what this moment demands. A strategic plan is not measured by the elegance of its language, but by the lives it transforms,” she said.

Call for Stronger Governance and Legal Reform

Dr. Magara also highlighted the need for reform of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, Cap. 262, noting that the current legal framework has not kept pace with the evolving realities of university governance and innovation.

She called on Government and Parliament to support a timely review of the Act to enable universities to better optimise knowledge systems, productive assets, and innovation capacity in support of national development.

Government Endorsement and Strategic Alignment

Hon. Henry Musasizi commended the University for developing a forward-looking Strategic Plan aligned with Uganda’s Vision 2040 and the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which serves as the foundation for the country’s Tenfold Growth Strategy.

He explained that Uganda’s ambition to grow its economy from about USD 50 billion to USD 500 billion requires accelerated growth driven by productivity gains, innovation, and strong human capital development.

Hon. Henry Musasizi. Official launch of the Makerere University Strategic Plan 2025-2030 by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi, marking a major milestone in its commitment to strengthening research, innovation, and human capital development in line with Uganda’s national development priorities, 2nd July 2026, Main Hall, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Hon. Henry Musasizi.

“Universities are central actors in national transformation. They are engines of knowledge creation, innovation, and human capital development,” he said.

The Minister stressed that government priorities include strengthening research, promoting industrialization, and ensuring that knowledge generated in universities is translated into practical solutions that support economic growth. He further highlighted the importance of accountability, efficiency, and value for money in public investments in higher education.

Universities as Drivers of the Tenfold Growth Strategy

In his presentation, the Senior Planner at the National Planning Authority, Samuel Kasule, emphasized that the Strategic Plan is firmly anchored in Uganda’s comprehensive development framework under Vision 2040 and NDP IV.

He noted that the Tenfold Growth Strategy seeks to accelerate Uganda’s economic growth into double-digit territory, enabling the country to achieve structural transformation and reach upper middle-income status.

Mr. Samuel Kasule. Official launch of the Makerere University Strategic Plan 2025-2030 by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi, marking a major milestone in its commitment to strengthening research, innovation, and human capital development in line with Uganda’s national development priorities, 2nd July 2026, Main Hall, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Mr. Samuel Kasule.

Kasule underscored that universities play a critical role in this transformation through labour productivity, research, and innovation. He pointed out that priority sectors such as agriculture, tourism, minerals, oil and gas, and ICT depend heavily on skilled graduates and strong research ecosystems.

He also highlighted the importance of competency-based education, alignment of academic programmes with national human resource needs, and strengthening postgraduate training and research outputs.

A Shared Commitment to Transformation

Across all speeches, a strong message emerged: universities are central to Uganda’s development agenda and must evolve into research-intensive institutions that directly contribute to economic transformation.

The Strategic Plan 2025-2030 was widely commended for its focus on innovation, industry collaboration, digital transformation, and the commercialization of research outputs.

Government leaders reaffirmed continued support for higher education institutions through research funding, innovation ecosystems, and strengthened university–industry partnerships.

Conclusion

The launch of the Strategic Plan 2030 signals a renewed commitment to positioning the University as a key partner in Uganda’s development journey. With strong alignment to national priorities, the Plan is expected to accelerate research, innovation, and skills development necessary for achieving Uganda’s long-term economic ambitions. The Strategic Plan may be accessed at: https://mak.ac.ug/about/strategic-plan

Betty Kyakuwa
Betty Kyakuwa

Continue Reading

General

Press Statement: Makerere University Launches Ambitious Strategic Plan 2026–2030

Published

on

Launch of the Makerere University Strategic Plan (2025-2030), 2nd July 2026. Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Visionary Blueprint to Drive Excellence, Innovation, and National Development.

Kampala, Uganda – July 2, 2026. — Makerere University today officially launched its Strategic Plan 2026–2030, outlining a bold roadmap for academic excellence, research innovation, and transformative impact on Uganda and the region. The high-profile launch event, held at Makerere University Main Campus, brought together government leaders, university stakeholders, development partners, and academia.

The Chief Guest, Hon. Henry Musasizi, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, presided over the official launch. In his presentation, Vice Chancellor Prof. Nawangwe Barnabas highlighted the University’s past achievements and the new Plan’s strategic vision. “This Strategic Plan builds on our rich legacy while positioning Makerere University as a leader in addressing contemporary challenges through cutting-edge research, quality education, and innovation,” he stated.

The Plan was developed through an inclusive process led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, with input from across the University community. It aligns closely with national development priorities, as affirmed by Dr. Joseph Muvawala, Executive Director of the National Planning Authority.

University Council Chairperson Dr Lorna Magara emphasised the Council’s oversight role and commitment: “The University Council is fully committed to providing the strategic leadership and oversight necessary for the successful implementation of this Plan. It will strengthen Makerere’s role as a driver of Uganda’s socio-economic transformation and ensure we remain a beacon of excellence in higher education across Africa.”

Development partners, Vice Chancellors from other public universities, college principals, deans, professors, and student representatives attended the event, underscoring broad stakeholder support.

Key Pillars of the Strategic Plan 2026–2030 include enhancing excellence in teaching and learning, advancing research and innovation, strengthening infrastructure and sustainability, promoting inclusivity, and deepening engagement with industry and government. Following the formal proceedings, guests participated in a networking breakfast and media engagement session.

Additional Quotes:

Makerere University remains Uganda’s flagship institution. This Strategic Plan will further harness our intellectual capital to contribute meaningfully to the National Development Plan and Vision 2040.” — Hon. Henry Musasizi, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

We are excited to embark on this new strategic journey. With the support of our dedicated staff, students, alumni, and partners, we will achieve even greater heights in the next five years.” — Prof. Nawangwe Barnabas, Vice Chancellor, Makerere University

About Makerere University

Makerere University is Uganda’s oldest and largest public university, established in 1922. It is a world-class institution recognised for academic excellence, groundbreaking research, and cross-disciplinary innovation. With over 35,000 students and a strong alumni network, Makerere continues to shape leaders and solutions for Africa and beyond.

For more information, contact:

Ms. Eunice Rukundo, Deputy Chief, Public Relations

Makerere University

Email: inquiries@mak.ac.ug | Tel: +256-414-531202

Website: www.mak.ac.ug

The full Strategic Plan document may be accessed at the link below.
https://mak.ac.ug/about/strategic-plan

END

Mak Editor

Continue Reading

Trending