General
Vice Chancellor Rallies Staff on Efficiency & Compliance with Financial Guidelines & Timelines
By Ritah Namisango
Makerere University has received a total budget of UGX 369.3 billion shillings for the financial year 2022/2023 to be distributed among the 47 budgeting units of the University following the approved work plans and procurement plans.
Speaking during the Budget Execution meeting held on Tuesday 19th July 2022 at the Makerere University Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe applauded the leadership and staff involved in the budget process for the good performance realized last financial year (2021/2022).
“I thank you for doing a good job. I am here to encourage you to continue doing the good work. Let us continue to be transparent.”
As we commence the financial year 2022/2023, the Vice Chancellor rallied the meeting consisting of members of the University Management, Principals, Deputy Principals, Deans, Heads of Units, College Bursars and staff from the Finance Department to pay more attention to efficiency, timelines and compliance with the financial guidelines and policies.
“When you receive a requisition, study it and clear it immediately. If you need additional information regarding the requisition, write a note on the requisition form and send it immediately to the originating office or responsible officer,” said Professor Nawangwe.
Recalling an interaction he had with Mr. Ramathan Ggoobi, the Permanent Secretary-Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and the ongoing engagement with Accounting Officers, Professor Nawangwe highlighted that it is going to be very tough for the University and other government entities to request for supplementary funding/budgets.
“The Permanent Secretary has indicated that he will not tolerate requests for supplementary funding. So, as people responsible for ensuring that Makerere University’s financial resources are managed well, there is need to understand the new dispensation. The budget process should be accorded priority and everyone should pay attention to detail,” said Professor Nawangwe.
The Vice Chancellor commended the University Secretary, Mr. Yusuf Kiranda and the Acting University Bursar, Mr. Lubowa Ssebina Gyaviira for organizing the budget execution meeting aimed at bringing every member of staff involved in the budget process and execution on board.
The University Secretary, Mr. Kiranda who is also the Accounting Officer of the University stressed the need to effectively utilize financial resources with adherence to timelines, work plans and procurement plans. He emphasized the need for team work and the commitment of every member in the budget cycle and chain for the successful implementation of the budget as well as improved service delivery.
“I encourage each and every one of us to provide financial information and documents on time. If any staff member involved in the process delays a requisition or delays to provide the required information, the entire chain is affected. We should therefore uphold team work, efficiency and transparency,” said Mr. Kiranda.
He underscored the need to align the procurement of items to availability of funds. Mr. Kiranda cautioned staff against authorization of procurement of goods and services without making reference to the approved budget.
“Do not authorize procurement without money/budget. If you authorize procurement of items without a budget, you are committing an offence, and as such, the particular member of staff will be required to commit personal resources to pay,” he said.
The Acting University Bursar, Mr. Lubowa Ssebina Gyaviira reiterated the cardinal principle of engagement of stakeholders following a bottom-top approach during the development of the budget. He advised participants to prioritize activities that should not be delayed with reference to the mandate of the respective units.
Responding to the question from one of the College Bursars regarding refund of personal money used to fund university activities, Mr. Lubowa guided as follows: “Before you carry out any activity for which you hope to request for a refund, the first step should be ensuring that you receive authorization from the mandated office/officer.”
One of the participants, Mr. Paul Agaba who is the Manager of Procurement and Disposal Unit reminded members of staff about the on-going pre-qualification of firms/companies interested in providing services to Makerere University. Mr. Agaba pointed out that the pre-qualification exercise would run up to 5th August 2022, and requested members of staff to convey the information to reputable firms/companies especially service providers of items from Science based Colleges/Units to apply for pre-qualification. He assured the audience that firms that satisfy the requirements would be listed among the pre-qualified service providers.
Closing the budget execution meeting, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), Professor Henry Alinaitwe appealed to everyone to perform his or her role with strict adherence to financial guidelines, rules and procedures. Professor Alinaitwe re-echoed the need for transparency as well as accountability for resources received to execute university activities.
Professor Frank Mwiine, the Principal of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-Security (CoVAB) led the prayer calling upon God to bless the deliberations. The Principal Public Relations Officer, Ms Ritah Namisango moderated the budget execution meeting.
Makerere University, through the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) and the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), has signed an open Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). This MoU is one of several initiatives aimed at strengthening the university’s global collaborations and research partnerships.
In his remarks, Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe highlighted Makerere’s recent centenary celebrations as a testament to its long and influential history in Africa. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to serious, research-driven collaboration, noting Makerere’s aspiration to become a leading student-centered research university that develops solutions to regional challenges.
Prof. Nawangwe emphasized that Makerere’s research addresses critical issues such as widespread poverty, high youth unemployment, the devastating effects of climate change on agriculture, rapid population growth, and political interference in production. These challenges, he explained, call for climate-resilient agriculture, stronger health systems to address emerging diseases, and more inclusive governance. He further observed that Africa’s ambitious goal of producing one million PhDs in the next decade remains constrained by inadequate supervision capacity across the continent, stressing that collaborations like this MoU are key to bridging that gap.
EPRC Executive Director, Dr. Sarah Sewanyana, described the signing as particularly significant for EPRC and its Board of Directors as they embark on a new five-year strategic plan (2025/26–2029/30). She explained that the plan strongly emphasizes strategic collaborations, with this partnership serving as a prime example of leveraging collective strengths to deepen impact. She underscored EPRC’s role in advancing evidence-based policymaking for national development, aligning with Uganda’s National Development Plan IV.
Prof. James Wokadala, Acting Principal of CoBAMS, emphasized that the collaboration seeks to preserve and expand vital human knowledge while strengthening partnerships between academic institutions and global research networks. He noted that these networks are instrumental in advising legal and policy professionals, as well as aligning research agendas with both national and corporate priorities. He expressed pride in the extensive efforts of the School of Economics that have expanded these activities in recent years. He pointed to significant accomplishments that have been achieved in collaboration with IGC, including hosting a 2025 high-level international conference on mobile money payment systems, which positioned Makerere University as a thought leader on critical African economic issues. He also celebrated the successful bid by the School of Economics to host the ‘Africa Meeting of the Econometric Society’ in 2027, further demonstrating its contribution to impactful scholarship and policy influence.
The Acting Principal further emphasized that the new partnership with LSE will build on these achievements, offering immense benefits such as expanding capacity-building opportunities for faculty and students, especially in research and Public Infrastructure Management (PIM). The collaboration will also provide platforms for knowledge dissemination and policy dialogue, while addressing pressing socio-economic and health challenges. Ultimately, he said, formalisation of the partnership amplifies CoBAMS’ commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and innovation.
Speaking on behalf of LSE’s International Growth Centre (IGC), Executive Director Dr. Jonathan Leape expressed delight at formalizing the long-standing collaboration with Makerere and EPRC. He highlighted current joint projects, including research on the impact of the 2020 gender-based vaccine program on women’s skills and learning, studies on reforms in STEM education, and investigations into barriers limiting business growth for entrepreneurs. He stressed that the core mission is to bring researchers and policymakers together to address pressing policy challenges with robust, reliable evidence and innovative solutions.
The event, held on 27th August 2025, was attended by several dignitaries including Dr. Richard Newfarmer, Country Director for Uganda and Rwanda (IGC); Dr. Nhial Kuch, Senior Country Economist (IGC); and Mary Teddy Nakyejwe, IGC Programme Officer. Also present were the Director of Research, Dr. Ibrahim Kasirye and other members of EPRC leadership.
Makerere University has hosted a delegation from the Ghent University Association, led by Prof. Mieke Van Herreweghe, Vice Rector of Ghent University. The delegation included representatives from Howest University and Hogent University of Applied Sciences.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe welcomed the team and highlighted Makerere University’s commitment to addressing the pressing challenges in the region. These include climate change, which continues to hinder investment, and Uganda’s rapidly growing population that has surged from 5 million in the late 1940s to nearly 50 million currently, creating socio-economic challenges such as high youth unemployment.
He emphasized that Makerere’s research agenda focuses on understanding the fast-growing population, tackling health challenges, advancing governance and human rights, and fostering peace through initiatives such as the Rotary Peace Center—the only one of its kind on the African continent. Research at Makerere also seeks to provide solutions to youth unemployment in one of the world’s youngest nations.
The Vice Chancellor further noted that Makerere University teaches and conducts research across a wide spectrum of disciplines, organized into colleges including Agriculture, Business and Management, Computing, Education and External Studies, Engineering and Technology, Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine. The university also hosts over 60 specialized research centers, among them Centers of Excellence such as the Regional Centre for Crop Improvement, which works to enhance food security, manage pests and diseases, and improve agricultural productivity. Another key institution is the Infectious Diseases Institute, which leads research on HIV/AIDS. With these initiatives, he added, Makerere continues to expand its research footprint while strengthening global partnerships.
Prof. Van Herreweghe provided an overview of Ghent University, founded in 1817 and ranked among the top 100 universities globally for decades. With its motto “Dare to think,” Ghent University has built a strong international reputation. It also holds the distinction of being the only Belgian, and currently the only European, university with a campus in South Korea. Established in 2014, the campus offers bachelor’s programs in applied biotechnology.
She highlighted Ghent’s joint PhD programs, which are structured as sandwich programs to support African universities. Under this arrangement, PhD candidates spend two years funded at Ghent University and another two years at their home university (such as Makerere), with joint supervision from both institutions. These programs, she noted, are a strategic way of fostering international collaboration.
During the visit, Ghent University signed a Student Exchange Agreement with Makerere University to complement the existing Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement will pave the way for more joint initiatives and strengthen collaboration in the years ahead.
The delegation also included Mr. Lieven Theys, International Coordinator for Business Management at Howest University, who explained that Howest clusters its programs into three key domains: Design and Technology, Human Well-being and Health, and Business and Organization. Dr. Robin Stevens represented Hogent University of Applied Sciences, which runs programs across nine schools including Business and Management, Computer Sciences, Biosciences, Industrial Technology, Teacher Training, and Healthcare.
The visit, held on 27th August 2025, was attended by Makerere University officials and members of various colleges, among them Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) and Principal of the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Prof. Tonny Oyana-Principal College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Prof. Moses Musinguzi-Principal College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Prof. Julius Kikooma-Director Graduate Training, Assoc. Prof. Yazidhi Bamutaze-Deputy Principal College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Assoc. Prof. James Wokadala-Deputy Principal College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Assoc. Prof. Richard Idro-Deputy Principal College of Health Sciences, and Dr. Cathy Mbidde, Manager of the Makerere University Innovation Pod (Mak UniPod).
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