The Minister of Science, Technology & Innovation-Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero (Centre Standing), flanked by the DVCAA-Prof. Umar Kakumba (Beind Right) Director DRGT-Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi (To her Left), Hon. Peace Regis Mutuuzo (Behind Left), President PF@Mak-Mr. Ahabwe Gerald (To her Right) in a group photo after orientation of PhD Fellows on 11th August 2022, CEDAT, Makerere University.
From the University’s annual budget allocation FY 2022/23, the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT) supports the outstanding doctoral candidates on the verge of finalizing their thesis/dissertation, who have no other source of funding for the requested period.
The Completion Grant program is intended to help candidates make significant progress towards the completion of their thesis/dissertation and/or substantial improvement in the quality of their dissertation. The program is designed to enable candidates to focus full time on the writing of their Theses, improving the quality of the dissertation and shortening the time required to complete the doctoral degree.
In effect, the grant is intended to decrease time to degree and to support higher quality outcomes among students nearing graduation where relatively modest resources will make a large difference. Applications from PhD candidates who demonstrate a clear ability to impact mainstream academia and whose projects reflect, and contribute to, the aims of the DRGT are welcomed to apply.
Applicants should review the eligibility criteria specified below as those not meeting these criteria will not be considered.
No grant will be awarded for a Thesis/dissertation which has already been submitted for preliminary examination.
Eligibility
This grant is for students in any field of study who have demonstrated difficulties in completing the theses/dissertation and would benefit from the intensive mentoring and the one year dedicated to Thesis writing that are provided by this program.
The grant is available to PhD candidates employed by Makerere University
To be eligible for a grant, students must have collected all major research activities, and be in their final year of Data Analysis aThesis writing and must have completed all course requirements, as well as preliminary research/academic obligations of the programme.
The applicant should not hold another outside employment during the grant award period.
Grant recipients should not simultaneously hold another Scholarship/Fellowship or be engaged in another major research grant
The PhD thesis has to be close to finalization. For those who have extended their studentship, detailed reasons have to be given, why the dissertation was not finished within the programme duration period.
Applicants should have a publishing track record, with a minimum of 1 publications in peer-reviewed journal or book chapter
Qualified Female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply (30% of the Grant will be awarded to female applicants)
Applicants should not hold another fellowship or major research grant that will still be tenable at the time of the results of this grant.
Application Requirements and Process
Each candidate may be nominated for only one grant period. Applicants are advised to submit the following documents:
An up-to-date resume/CV of the applicant including information about previous academic achievements (e.g. Talks at Graduate Seminar Series, publications from the PhD work, awards or participation in national & International conferences)
Evidence of Full Admission and Registration to a PhD program at Makerere University.
Evidence of Full-time/Contractual employment at Makerere University; Provide a copy of the Appointment letter issued by the Appointments Board of Makerere University
Letter of motivation including a project outline for the requested funding period and reasons for the application; a brief narrative explaining how the grant will enable you completes your PhD thesis/dissertation within One year and previous efforts to obtain a PhD grant (Max. 2 pages)
A statement of the expected contribution and impact of the completed work (Max. 10 pages, 1.5 Line Spacing, Font 12 Times New Roman)
A realistic activity –based budget and corresponding deliverables
Detailed work and time schedule for the remaining time until thesis completion (in tabular form) (if appropriate: date of Public defence/Viva Voce)
Table of contents of the Thesis that shows the current state of the working progress (finished parts, parts that need to be revised, parts that are missing)
Statement of your supervision, including information on the need and the priority of the Completion Grant. It also should in a realistic manner, provide information if and until when the Thesis/dissertation will be finished and give us an evaluation of how the PhD project would profit from this Grant.
A letter of support from the Head of Department, which indicates that the department will assist the candidate in reserving sufficient time for the remaining research activities.
In addition to this application form, a complete package should include a letter of current standing from your Principal Supervisor stating the expected submission date. Referee letter should email the letter directly to Director DRGT at the email address given below (NOTE: Information submitted to any other Email address will be disregarded).
Other Conditions of the Grant:
The candidate’s Supervisor(s) and Doctoral Committee must be prepared to participate fully in this program and do all that can expedite the student’s progress, including meeting with the student frequently and returning drafts in a timely manner.
As grantees, the students must agree to:
Attend support group meetings and writing workshops with other program recipients;
Meet regularly with a designated Thesis/dissertation Supervisor or writing coach;
Actively support other grantees in meeting the shared goal of completing their Thesis/dissertations; and
Dedicate the grant period to finishing their Thesis/dissertations.
The Candidates’ progress towards completion of the Thesis/dissertation, as well as attendance at Progress Monitoring meetings, will be continually evaluated by the DRGT.
Awards:
A total of 20 grants will be awarded to Fully Admitted and Registered students for 2022/2023. Ten (10) awards will be made for the period July 1 to December 31st, 2022, and another Ten (10) awards made for the period January 1 to June 30, 2023.
The total budget support will depend on the strength of the application but in any case not exceeding Shillings Ten million (UGX 10,000,000/=), during their grant period, which will be disbursed upon submission of a realistic activity-based budget.
Application Procedure
Electronic submission of application with supporting documents saved under one file using the following format: last name_PhDgrant2022.doc
Submit to the Director, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, Makerere University; Email: conference.rgt@mak.ac.ug Copy to: director.rgt@mak.ac.ug
Three (3) Hard copies should be addressed to: The Director, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, Senate Building Level 4, Room 410, Makerere University; P.O.BOX 7062, Kampala.
Application Deadline: FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2022; 5:00PM East African Time
NB: Only Successful applicants will be contacted.
Applications submitted to any other Email address other than the one above will not be accepted.
Application Inquiries:
For further information, please contact Mr. Nestor Mugabe, DRGT Grants Office, via e-mail: nestor.mugabe@mak.ac.ug
The TUM SEED Center @ MAK hosted by the School of Engineering invites applications from suitable candidates from the Global South for a PhD Scholarship in Sustainable Energy Entrepreneurship for the 2025/2026 Academic Year at Makerere University. The scholarship is jointly coordinated by the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) and the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT).
This PhD scholarship is part of a partnership between Makerere University and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) under the TUM SEED Center that aims to shape the future leaders of academia. Tailored to foster cutting-edge research and inventive thinking in advancing sustainable energy and entrepreneurship, the TUM SEED Center offers higher education and conducts research at the intersection of Sustainable Energies, Entrepreneurship and Development (SEED). We advocate for interdisciplinary and global cooperation, transcending conventional limits to explore the fusion of sustainable energy and entrepreneurial practices.
About the TUM SEED Center @ MAK and PhD Scholarship
As part of the SEED network, the TUM SEED Center @ MAK has secured funding for the second phase for 2025-2029. The SEED network consists of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and ten universities across the Global South, including Makerere University (Uganda), Bahir Dar University (Ethiopia), Bandung Institute of Technology (Indonesia), Burkina Institute of Technology (Burkina Faso), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana), Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (India), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Kenya), Namibia University of Science and Technology (Namibia), Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (Peru), and Stellenbosch University (South Africa). The TUM SEED Center is funded by DAAD and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The TUM SEED Center focuses on building Living Labs in communities without electricity and initiating collaborative research and teaching in the areas of Sustainable energy and entrepreneurship by integrating communities in the co-creation, testing, validation, and further development of new or improved technologies that do not create discontinuities in their settings.
As such, the TUM-MAK SEED Living lab was developed in 2021. The lab is a life-scale mini grid set up in Kyampisi village in Luwero District, Uganda. It is situated in a community of about 1,000 residents living in a clustered agricultural community. The living lab provides a platform for students from Makerere and partner universities to interact with the communities to understand energy, entrepreneurship and development challenges, bringing forth actionable and impactful research that directly addresses the community needs in the hope of improving their livelihoods.
Another key component to the TUM SEED Center is the Student Initiatives activities that are geared to enhance decentralized governance structure by exemplifying a bottom-up approach. By creating initiatives, students influence decision-making at their universities and advance the TUM SEED Center’s agenda. This involvement ensures student perspectives are integrated into the governance process, driving entrepreneurial sustainable energy solutions forward.
This announcement invites PhD Applicants from the Global South with excellent academic track records and strong motivation to apply for a doctoral scholarship in Sustainable Energy Entrepreneurship to be hosted at Makerere University. The doctoral scholarship will focus on scaling and impact of sustainable enterprises in the context of the mini-grid sector, contributing to SDG 7, Clean and Affordable Energy for All by 2030. The selected doctoral scholar will be supervised by faculty members from Makerere University, Dr. Kasimu Sendawula from the School of Business (CoBAMS) and Dr. Francis Mujjuni from the School of Engineering, and co supervised by Prof. Dr. Frank-Martin Belz, Director of the TUM SEED Center.
SEED doctoral scholars are expected to:
Demonstrate a strong commitment to the work as a doctoral student
Participate and contribute to the activities of the TUM-MAK SEED Center
Take on responsibilities of coordinating the Student Initiatives
Engage in academic exchange (i.e., visit and collaborate with partner universities)
Conduct research inline with the needs of the local energy Living-lab at Kyampisi
Submit progress reports as required by the TUM SEED Center and by Makerere University
Complete studies within stipulated scholarship period, otherwise failure to do so without sound reasons a refund may be demanded
Application Procedure
To apply, please upload your CV, a strong letter of motivation, two reference letters, national identity card, and academic certificates and transcripts through the online application form at https://wkf.ms/3XFUwhw by Thursday 12 June 2025 at 23:59 EAT. Based on the applications, some candidates will be invited for an online interview and submission of a research concept note.
Qualified women and individuals with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply. The Selection Commission of the TUM SEED Center will make the final decision in line with DAAD criteria.
Eligibility for the Scholarship
Following are the application requirements for this scholarship:
Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of an Upper Second Class or its equivalent in business management (with a focus on entrepreneurship) or related fields
Master’s degree with Merit (or above as may be applicable) in sustainable energies, business management (with a focus on entrepreneurship) or related fields. The master’s should have been obtained no more than six (6) years ago.
Research or work experience at the intersection of management and sustainable energies
Excellent academic track record
Proficiency in English language
Extracurricular skills, social engagement, and strong motivation
Nationality from one of the eligible countries in the Global South
Scholarship Coverage
The duration of the scholarship program is four (4) years, starting from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2029. The scholarship will cover university tuition and functional fees, research fees, a monthly stipend of EUR 500, local mobility to the Living Lab as well as international mobility to SEED Partner Universities and to leading international conferences.
Further information
If you have any questions regarding this call, contact the Dean, School of Engineering, CEDAT, or contact Dr. Francis Mujjuni via email at cedat.soe@mak.ac.ug.
Assoc. Prof. Dorothy Okello Dean, School of Engineering, CEDAT Makerere University
Welcome to this special edition of the Mak-RIF Monthly Newsletter. In April 2025, Makerere University hosted a three-day research and innovations week from 08th April 2025 to 10th April 2025 at the Makerere University Freedom Square and the Main Administration Building. The event showcased cutting-edge research and innovations funded by the Government of Uganda, alongside other notable research outputs that reflect the university’s commitment to being a research-led institution.
On 8th April 2025, His Excellency, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda, officiated at the grand opening of the exhibition and delivered a keynote address. The First Lady and Minister for Education and Sports, Hon. Janet K. Museveni, was represented by Hon. Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu. Additionally, Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero, the Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation was the Chief Guest on 9th and 10th April 2025.
I extend my sincere appreciation to participants from different entities including Government MDAs, the private sector, civil society, and the university community among others. Your presence and active participation contributed towards a successful research and innovations week. This newsletter provides some of the highlights from the event.
Nice reading!
Prof. Fred Masagazi-Masaazi Chairperson, Mak-RIF Grants Management Committee (GMC)
Kampala, April 28, 2025 — The Centre for United States Studies at Makerere University held its first research review workshop, marking the beginning of an ambitious academic project to publish a book examining the historical and contemporary relations between the United States and Uganda.
The workshop, held at the School of Social Sciences’ Smartroom, brought together six selected researchers to present and refine their proposals aligned with the centre’s newly launched research agenda. The agenda, supported by a startup grant from the United States Mission in Uganda, explores historical, cultural, political, and educational ties between the two nations from 1945 to the present.
Prof. Paul Omach advising the researchers.
Professor Paul Omach, Head of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration and Director of the Centre, officially opened the workshop. In his address, he urged researchers to stay focused on the core theme of the project and adhere strictly to research timelines to ensure timely publication of the book.
“Your work must speak to each other. The book must reflect a coherent theme, and delays in submission will only undermine its relevance,” Prof. Omach emphasized.
Prof. Omach urged researchers to remain disciplined with deadlines and cautioned against delays. “We started this workshop late today, and that’s not a good sign,” he said. “If we don’t follow timelines, the entire publication risks becoming outdated before it even goes to print.”
The centre, established in March 2025, is housed within the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, School of Social Sciences in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS). The centre aims to promote scholarship on U.S. foreign policy, cultural influence, and international relations, while fostering academic exchanges between Ugandan and American institutions.
Dr. Sylvestre Kaweesi during the workshop.
Dr. Sylvester Kaweesi, the Principal Investigator and lead of the research agenda, emphasized the strategic importance of the workshop.
“The objectives were to clarify what is expected from the researchers, to deepen their understanding of the theme of relationality—especially its conceptual and emotional dimensions and to help researchers refine their proposals,” Dr. Kaweesi explained.
Dr. Kaweesi described the workshop as a success. “The presentations were spot-on. The researchers are well mobilized and clearly up to the task. What remains is sharpening their arguments and guiding them to collect data that supports their focus,” he said.
Dr. Ssempijja Nicholas presenting on Jazz Music.
Presenters included Dr. Nicholas Sempijja, who is exploring how American jazz has influenced Ugandan popular music. “I want to show that cultural influence isn’t just about politics—it’s embedded in everyday life,” he said.
Itah Mbethki presenting on US education and cultural influence.
Ms. Patience Mbeki, a PhD student at the Makerere Institute of Social Research, presented her study on the impact of American education models on Uganda’s system. “I am particularly interested in how values are transmitted through curricula,” she said.
Dr. Charlotte Mafumbo presenting on counter-terrorism.
Other topics included counter-terrorism cooperation (Dr. Mafumbo Charlotte and Dr. Kibirige Nakaiza), the Peace Corps’ role in local development (Dr. Bernard Luwererkera), democracy promotion (Mr. Bwire Lumumba), and constitutionalism and the rule of law (Dr. George Okiror).
Dr. Luwerekera Bernard presenting on Peace Corps initiatives.
As part of the roadmap, researchers will engage in secondary literature reviews before progressing to primary data collection. A second research seminar will be held to assess their progress.
Mr. Lumumba Bwire presenting on Politics of Democracy.Dr. George Okiror presenting on Constitutionalism and the rule of law.
The workshop also featured a session on academic writing and scholarly publishing, led by Prof. Fred Muyodi and Dr. Godwin Anywar, who emphasized the need for greater visibility of African scholarship.
Prof. Fredrick Muyodi presenting on academic writing and publishing.
They addressed the challenges African researchers face in publishing and encouraged scholars to leverage tools like social media and other digital platforms.“You may know how to write,” said Prof. Muyodi, “but it’s critical to be reminded of scientific writing standards, target journals, and how to reach your audience effectively.”
Researchers were trained in identifying appropriate journals, managing references, and using social media to disseminate their work.
Dr. Godwin Anywar guiding researchers on tools for identfying the right journals.
Dr. Kaweesi underscored the broader value of the centre’s initiative. “This research agenda aligns perfectly with Makerere University’s vision to become a research-led institution and contributes to our internationalization strategy by fostering U.S.-Uganda academic partnerships,” he noted.
Prof. Kasaija Apuuli during the discussion session.
The centre plans to publish the final output—a peer-reviewed edited volume with an international academic press, possibly Routledge or another U.S.-based publisher. In addition to the book, the centre will host public dialogues and academic seminars to further disseminate findings and engage wider audiences.
Prof. Kasaija Apuuli, Dr. Sylvestre Kaweesi and Prof Paul Omach reviewed the researchers’ work.
The Centre for United States Studies at Makerere University is set to become a vital hub for dialogue, scholarship, and academic exchange, offering fresh perspectives on the dynamic and often complex relationship between Uganda and the United States.
Jane Anyango is the Principal Communication Officer, CHUSS