General
Project Financial Management Workshop Underscores Value for Money in Grants Administration
Participants have at the close of the four-day project financial management workshop been urged to always ensure value for the money in the management of public funds. “All funds and resources belong to the University. All grants should be declared, monies received should be used for the intended purpose and must be accounted for” emphasised Mr. Gyaviira Lubowa, Manager Accounts and Reporting, in the Directorate of Finance, Makerere University.
The workshop was held from Wednesday 23rd to Friday 25th and Monday 28th March, 2022 at Makerere University. During this intense training, participants covered the following areas: Understanding the Grants and Administration Policy, Role of the Grants Administration and Management Support Unit (GAMSU), Project Management Planning, Execution and Reporting, Procurement and Contract management, Monitoring and Evaluation of Government Projects, Project Financial Management and developing of an efficient and effective database.
At the same workshop, participants commended the inclusion of Principal Investigators who are the focal persons in grants management and administration. They appealed for more sensitization workshops targeting Colleges and Research Units to ensure that everyone is brought on board.
The workshop facilitator BVL Consultants defined Project Financial Management as a process aimed at ensuring efficient and effective stewardship of resources for the intended purposes, with the ultimate goal of achieving the project’s development objectives in a sustainable manner. The consultant further emphasised that a project should have a clear date of commencement and conclusion, as well as clear deliverables.
In line with the definition of project financial management, the establishment of GAMSU is a clear demonstration by the University Council’s and Management’s commitment to ensuring that Makerere abides by the laws governing public finances, particularly section 44 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2015.
To help facilitate this process, GAMSU is in the process of developing a Project Database Management System. Addressing participants during the workshop’s closing ceremony, the GAMSU Head of Finance, Mr. George Turyamureeba noted that management of grants should strictly adhere to procurement rules, procedures and regulations. He stressed that disclosure of projects is very important going forward, to ensure that Makerere abides by the law and provides the environment conducive for research to thrive.
Prior to inviting the Acting (Ag.) Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration)-DVCFA, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe to deliver his remarks, the Head GAMSU, Prof. Grace Bantebya Kyomuhendo acknowledged that the Unit has been able to make strides in the two months of operation, thanks to the great support from the University leadership.
“We are moving very fast because we have the commitment of Council and the commitment of Management. The Government is also interested in us as the premier University” remarked Prof. Bantebya Kyomuhendo.
Earlier, the Head GAMSU had presented the proposed outline of GAMSU’s Project Database Management System. She encouraged Principal Investigators to always add their consortia and collaborating partners, as they are key incentives for attracting even more funders.
Prof. Henry Alinaitwe in his remarks thanked the Directorate of Finance and GAMSU for organizing the workshop, which comes at a time when the University Management is working on improvements to prudently support grants administration and management.
“This training in Financial Management for project staff is timely and in line with the provisions of the University Grants Administration and Management Policy which was approved by Council in 2020. Compliance with the Policy is not by choice but a yardstick by which all project activities shall be measured” he remarked.
The Ag. DVCFA thanked BVL Consultants for facilitating the training and pledged to continue supporting all efforts aimed at fully implementing the GAMSU policy, including workshops aimed at ensuring that the role of GAMSU is fully appreciated by all staff in the University.
Prof. Alinaitwe concluded by requesting all participants to put financial management systems in place, respond to user queries promptly with the reassurance that GAMSU isn’t coming to take away funding from units but rather, ensure that Makerere achieves her objective of being research-led.
Delivering the closing remarks, Mr. Gyaviira Lubowa congratulated participants upon successfully concluding the training noting that they would be awarded certificates. He thanked Prof. Bantebya Kyomuhendo for being extremely supportive of the four-day training through her active participation in the different sessions.
Contributions from the audience called for involvement of research project support functions namely Finance, Grants and Procurement at all stages of the application process to ensure that the grant writing teams incorporate all the mandatory costs and procedures.
Written by: Public Relations Office
In a vibrant celebration of youth leadership and African unity, Makerere University hosted the Second Annual Guild Leaders’ Summit, an event that brought together high-profile dignitaries, student leaders, and international partners for a powerful dialogue on the future of the continent. The summit, organized by the Guild Presidents Leadership Academy, served as a rallying point for East Africa’s young leaders to confront Africa’s most urgent challenges—on their own terms and with their own solutions.
A Warm Welcome and Reflections on Makerere’s Legacy
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, welcomed the distinguished guests, who included Former President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo, former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, Justice Simon Byabakama, Hon. Mathew Rukikaire, and European Union Deputy Ambassador Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, among others.
In his address, Prof. Nawangwe reflected on Makerere’s deep historical ties to East Africa’s liberation and development movements. He reminded the audience that Makerere University has been a crucible for the continent’s leadership, stating:
“Jomo Kenyatta was the first person to receive a degree from Makerere when, in 1963, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by then Chancellor Julius Nyerere. All freedom fighters in East Africa studied at Makerere.”
Building on this rich history, Prof. Nawangwe affirmed the university’s current mission to tackle pressing continental issues. “Today,” he said, “Makerere is committed to addressing Africa’s challenges—climate change, disease, poverty, food security, conflict resolution, and economic development. But we cannot do this alone.”
He echoed sentiments later shared by the keynote speaker, stressing that Africa must no longer depend on external interventions:
“Foreign agencies will not solve all Africa’s problems. It is our young people who must step forward and lead the change.”
Uhuru Kenyatta: “You Are the Last Line of Defence”
In a keynote address that resonated deeply with the students and delegates in attendance, Former President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a bold and urgent call to action for Africa’s youth.
“No one is coming to save us,” Kenyatta declared. “You are the last line of defence in the battle to rescue the heart and soul of Africa.”
Positioning today’s youth as the heirs of the continent’s freedom fighters, Kenyatta described the current moment as a new “independence era”—not of political liberation, but of economic and intellectual sovereignty. He urged students to think critically about intra-African trade, which currently accounts for less than 2.5% of global commerce, and to advocate for the removal of internal barriers to trade, innovation, and mobility.
“You are the freedom fighters of this generation,” he said. “Universities must be incubators of change, and students must be the trustees of tomorrow’s Africa.”
Pan-Africanism, Leadership, and Action
Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo encouraged students to take up the mantle of Pan-Africanism with unwavering commitment. She acknowledged that while the rhetoric of African unity is inspiring, real progress demands more than words:
“You must embrace the spirit of Pan-Africanism. But it is easy to say these words—the challenge lies in collective implementation.”
She emphasized the importance of action-oriented leadership and urged the youth to harness their creativity, energy, and education for the benefit of the continent.
European Union’s Message: Leadership with Integrity
Representing Team Europe, the EU Deputy Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, gave a passionate speech on the values of authentic leadership, integrity, and inclusive development. He praised Makerere University as a space where “intellectual ambition meets civic responsibility” and emphasized that leadership is not about prestige, but purpose:
“Be a leader because of what you want to be—not because of what you want to have,” he said.
Citing former Makerere alumni such as Julius Nyerere and Wangari Maathai, Chartrain called on students to model courage, resilience, and humility:
“True leadership emerges in moments of loss—when resilience, not triumph, becomes the measure of one’s character.”
The EU, he said, remains committed to supporting youth through programs like Erasmus+, the EU Youth Sounding Board, and partnerships with organizations like Faraja Africa Foundation and Restless Development. These initiatives empower youth not as symbols, but as active participants in shaping policy and governance.
The Legacy Continues
Throughout the summit, speakers highlighted the importance of legacy and long-term impact. They challenged young leaders to think not just about the present, but about the systems and institutions they will leave behind. In the words of Former President Kenyatta:
“Leadership is not about the next election. It’s about the next generation.”
The summit ended on a high note, with students invigorated and inspired to lead with purpose. As global support grows less predictable and Africa stands at a crossroads, the message from Makerere was clear: the future of the continent is in the hands of its youth. And as the Guild Leaders’ Summit demonstrated, they are ready.
-
General2 weeks agoGovernment Sponsorship Undergraduate Admission Lists 2025/26
-
General1 week agoApplications for Admission to Undergraduate Programmes 2025/26 AY
-
General3 days agoMakerere Alumnus Named 2025–2026 Schwarzman Scholar
-
Research1 week agoARUA Early-Career Research Fellowships 2025
-
General2 days agoAdmission Lists for Diploma Holders under Government Sponsorship for 2025/2026 AY