General
EfD-Mak hosts the Annual Policy Day 2022 with a special call on Governments & donors to Finance Resilience & Adaptation
Uganda is among the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change in the world, being the 15th most vulnerable and 49th least prepared to adapt and recover from impacts of climate change.
Environmental economics from Makerere University and stakeholders from Environment and Natural Resources agencies have expressed the need for green financing for sustainable development, Optimum utilization of natural resource, Adaptation to climate change impacts, Increased climate change mitigation measure actions and Reduction in public expenditure on related natural disaster shocks.
The call was made was during the Annual Policy Day 2022 organized by the Environment for Development Initiative (EfD-Mak Centre) under the theme, “Green Financing and Capacity Gaps”.
The policy dialogue attracted over 100 participants from the academia, policy makers, experts and representatives from Uganda’s Ministries, departments and agencies, Civil Society Organisations, the private sector as well as members from the World Bank, the EfD network, and the EfD Global hub led by the EfD Global Director Prof. Gunnar Kohlin.
The Annual policy day was a wrap up of the EfD Annual conference 2022 hosted by Makerere University at the Speke resort Munyonyo on 22nd-26th September, 2022 where participants had fruitful engagements intended to find solutions to the most pressing environmental problems affecting the continent.
The annual policy day was officially opened by the EfD-Mak Advisory Board Chair, who is also the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs of Makerere University.
“The EfD-Mak Centre is proud to be part of the global network of environmental economics research centers working to solve the world’s most pressing environmental and development challenges through policy-relevant research, capacity development and policy engagement. Allow me, at this juncture, to sincerely thank our long term partner – Sida, as well as the EfD Global Hub for having established an EfD Centre at Makerere University”, Kakumba said.
Annual policy day and theme timely for centennial celebrations and climate change
Kakumba said, the Annual policy day is significant on two fronts in that it comes to fit in a series of activities and celebrations marking Makerere University’s 100 years of excellent services to humanity:-having opened its doors to only 14 students in 1922, Makerere University has grown to become one of the most prestigious Universities in Africa and the world over.
Secondly, Kakumba noted that the theme of the policy day, focusing on Green Financing and Capacity gaps, is quite timely especially during this time when climate change is seriously affecting different parts of the world, including Uganda as witnessed by the changed weather patterns.
“There is a great need for Government and development partners to finance resilience and adaptation activities or projects. However, I must note that resilience and adaptation are new areas. Hence, governments have not been deliberately allocating resources in their favor.
Therefore, as Makerere University, we have a great task of building the capacity of government officials in these new areas of resilience and adaptation to climate change”, he said.
Kakumba reported that the university held productive engagements with officials from the World Resources Institute (WRI) who are interested in supporting the university to kick-start the Resilience and Adaptation Mainstreaming Programme (RAMP). RAMP is proposed to be a long-term capacity building programme for MDAs to integrate climate risk considerations into their macroeconomics, fiscal, public financial management, procurement, and other processes and research.
In February 2022, Kakumba said, Makerere University signed a MoU with the University Network for Strengthening Macro financial Resilience to Climate and Environmental Change. The Network, whose Secretariat is hosted by SOAS, at the University of London, was established to build capacity in RAMP. This resilience and Adaptation Mainstreaming Programme will complement the inclusive Green Economy Programme for Senior Civil Servants and Policy Makers in Eastern Africa, which we are implementing in collaboration with the University of Gothenburg.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor thanked theEfD Global Hub for not only establishing an EfD-Mak Centre but also working very hard to ensure that all the aforementioned initiatives to the EfD-Mak Centre thrive.
“The EfD-Mak Centre has continuously received funding and equipment from EfD Global Hub to support its administrative and research activities. This has widely contributed towards strengthening the connection between the Centre’s researchers and academicians to policy makers and implementers.
We can now attest to a number of policy engagements that the Centre has conducted, some of which have already resulted in tangible policy reforms and good outcomes. I once again thank the Global Hub for its role towards changing this landscape where we can now collaborate effectively with government officials for research activities, policy discussions and uptake.” Kakumba commended.
Kakumba added that this Annual policy day was in line with a series of policy engagements that the EfD-Mak Centre has implemented since inception. He however, stressed that this wasvery special because the EfD Global Hub Director and the EfD Network members were here in person to contribute to the debate and discourse in the important area of Green Financing.
Green financing and capacity building huge tasks for the university
In his welcome remarks,the Principal Makerere University College of Business and Management Sciences Assoc. Professor Eria Hisali welcomed participants to the EfD-Mak policy day and in a special way welcomed the EfD Global Director Kohlin Gunnar to the EfD-Mak centre thanking him for choosing Uganda to host the EfD Annual meeting 2022 congratulating the network upon successful hosting.
Hisali thanked the board of the EfD-Mak Centre chaired by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs for the continued guidance on the strategic direction of the centre, noting that this was a manifestation that the centre was institutionalized in the university structures.
The Principal appreciated the EfD -Mak centre for its contribution of the visibility of the college and the university at large pledging continued support to the centre activities and urged the centre to take advantage of the infrastructure at the college to conduct activities;
Hisali reported that the college has established a number of facilities that the centre can take advantage of including working paper series, rolled out the policy laboratories at the college that bring together policy makers, implementers, the private sector development partners and researchers to regularly discuss policy related issues.
He expressed hope that the next annual policy day would be handled under the auspices of the policy laboratory noting that the advantage is that it brings together different actors in one place and they contribute to the discussion which increases uptake.
The policy laboratory he said,was also handling a special assignment on behalf of government on the Parish Development Model. He also said the college received notification from Uganda National Council for Science and Technology on the clearance of the college’s institutional review board for purposes of accreditation and going forward whoever wants to go for field activities is welcome to use the college research and ethics committee.
“We are all are alive to the dangers that changes in the environment affects sustainable growth and the future planning. I salute the center for holding the dialogue because the discussions held are not only important but also hybrid providing insights into the problems being faced and what needs to be done in the perspective of financing and capacity gaps that exist..
Green financing as we know, lies at the future of our growth, the future of our existence as human beings both for the current and future generations to come and therefore deserves all the attention;This is important n our context as developing countries because much of our activities in our setting directly depends on nature but also facing a lot of pressure from the ever increasing population”, Hisali stated.
Hisali challenged participants to look at a number of issues including the categorization of the target groups for green financing factions, the most appropriate instruments for the different target groups, the framework for auditing progress and impacts of these interventions and the need to discuss the optimal balance between what needs to be done by the private sector, governments, public sector and other actors.
“With regard to capacity building I also want to agree that we need to build capacity at all levels right from the capacity to domesticate what is enshrined in international conventions into our domestic plans and activities.
But we also need to think about capacity through which we can equip the grassroots actors, the green financing actions are not stopping at the macro national level. These actions have to go up to the grassroot”
Hisali stressed that the issues of capacity gaps was a huge task and asked participants to deliberate and focus on where to start from to create the impact being looking for, how the EfD-Mak Centre can partner with other actors in this space to speed up the capacity building efforts, how to take advantage of the location at the university and mainstream the capacity building initiatives into the curriculum of some of the academic programs and which programs would it be and where to start from.
Other insights according to Prof. Hisali were the need to ask how to take advantage of the internship and outreach activities of the university to build capacity at the grass root level, how to equip these interns to deliver the right message to the grass root actors and whether there is hope for increasing the frequency of the short course capacity building initiatives.
The EfD Global foot print
The Director Global Hub Prof. Gunnar Köhlin said the hub has international researchers and academic institutions involved in research projects with the EfD Centers in the Global South, Africa, Asia and the America and EfD Partners in the Global North. In Africa, it operates in Makerere University, university of Dar es salaam and university of Nigeria, Ghana and other countries
“EfD is based on the frustration that there is so much knowledge in universities and that it so hard to get traction of that research and there is so much gaps to make that happen.
In research and policy interaction the hub provides funds for tailor research results for target groups, creates platforms for interactions and co-production of knowledge.
Under Institutional development, funds are availed for infrastructure and staff investments, mutual learning within the network”, Gunnar explained.
Under research collaboration, Prof. Gunnar said the hub provides Research fund and collaborative research, organizes collaborative research and policy relevant topics and capacity building for different actors.
“The first most fundamental is the need to build capacity of academics in universities but they should also provide the relevant information and build capacity for other actors in their respective societies for these people to work. Provision of information and capacity building is not enough but must work hard to influence policy by organizing collaborative programs,” Gunnar added
He said funds are provided for PhD specialization courses, PhD Program in Climate Economics At the University of Gothenburg and then PhD and MSc program support to the network centres
Prof Gunnar explained that they have implemented a program, Inclusive Green Economy for senior civil servants and policy makers, a capacity development program connecting societal needs with research capacity in five areas of transformation namely Sustainable energy transition, Low carbon transition, Biodiversity transition, Circularity transition, Financing and managing IGE transition
The network has had a number of publications categorized by SDG with highest number on SDG 17 (331) and SDG 15(291)Other programs sponsored include; Blue Resources for Development (BlueRforD), Emission Princing for Development (EPFD), Inclusive Green Economy, Natural Capital Collaboration (Natcap), Sustainable Energy Transition (SETI), Women in Environmental Economics
The Annual Policy Day 2022 very Special
The Director EfD-Mak Centre Prof. Edward Bbaale thanked the participants for honoring the invitation to attend this special policy day;
Bbaale recognised the Director EfD-Global network Prof. Gunnar Kohlin and other network members for coming to Makerere for the first time to engage in the discussion making it very special adding that the centre had previously held policy dialogues with national stakeholders.
Bbaale appreciated the local stakeholders from government ministries, departments and agencies,senior civil servants and policy makers from Uganda for reserving time amidst their tight schedules to attend.
“I also appreciate the panelists . You have started a discourse in the area of green financing which the center will follow up and came up with research projects to create evidence to guide government on policy changes.
There is need for capacity building in the area of green financing in terms of research and training. We need to pay attention to Climate parameters and macro-economic modelling issues and also pay attention in and outside the university on tailored short courses for government and other officials”.
Prof. Bbaale hailed Makerere University management for offering space for the dialogue and the local organising committee for the job well done.
Panelists speak on green financing
The Natural Resources officer Wakiso district Ms. Rebecca Sabaganzi,said Green financing seems to be very far and advocating for it seems far.
“The ENR sector has not been a priority in government programs and budget but this has been slowly and progressively having impact on us and we have been forced to act. There are several policy statements that push us to act but the actual implementation is the issue.
In local governments, however much you advocate for green financing, it’s the councilor’s allowance that come first. Because of the increasing number of policy makers amidst the limited budgeting, advocacy for green financing is not prioritized.
The facilitation to enable meaningful engagements and green financing are limited by budget as government priority is in other sectors such as roads, health and education,”. She said
World Bank representative Victoria Plutshack, Energy Access Project at Duke university observed that Climate Finance’s Adaptation is problematic and not meeting needs of the low and medium income countries.
Victoria noted that Climate investments targeting adaptation have been especially lacking because of, in part, a lack of data and clarity regarding the potential impact of these investments.
“Data-driven financial mechanisms that quantify and monetize adaptation impacts are needed to mobilize climate finance and prioritize development for greatest impact.
There is domestic financing available but is predominantly available in higher income countries and where the private sector play a significant role.
In sub-Saharan Africa, we see climate financing by private companies. Sub-Saharan Africa receives about 100 million dollars from multinational agencies and about 18million dollars from the private sector. In terms of progress it is abit slow but hope that with the proposals and problems faced today the situation will be better,”she said.
Dr. Sam Mugume Koojo from the Ministry of Finance highlighted major challenges facing green financing in Uganda.
“ Challenges of green financing include; Lack of expertise and knowledge in green financing by financial institutions in Uganda. Green financing is not clearly integrated in financial regulatory policies of the country while investments in the green financing areas are not very attractive to private sector. The central bank has not fully internalized the concept, emphasis is mostly on the risk side” He said.
He said the major areas for green financing include: Renewable energy and energy efficiency, Pollution prevention and control, Biodiversity conservation, Circular and blue economy initiatives and Sustainable use of natural resources and land.
He said government has come up with Toolkits for Greening the Financial Sector including the Green finance road map tool, the National task force, Climate and Environ Risk assessment, Disclosure and Reporting, Greening FIs and Corporate green bonds.
Dr. Ronald Kaggwa from the National Planning Authority Uganda reported that the authority develops indicators and NDPIII has a results framework based on three pillars namely;. environment and natural resource, industry and also based on governance.
To harmonise the indicators Kaggwa said they issue planning guidelines at the central level and local government showing results, measurements and what level and targets to achieve.
The authority he added has also the green growth indicators developed.Those guidelines give a good framework on which these indicators are anchored. MDAs are also requested to develop planning frameworks which must be aligned to the NDPIII and Vision 2040 while all sectors contribute to the attainment of the national vision.
“There is a section on monetary framework which has a targets of attaining the broader NDP targets and vision 2040. It is the private sector outside the planning horizon but are influenced through taxation and other financial instruments but are not captured in the planning matrix “ Kaggwa said.
The planning is based on government programs and sector programs are tuned towards attaining common results to allow harmonization of projects and institutional goals working together asa team.
NDPIII also addresses that through program based planning which have targets such as the human capital development and all sectors like health, education, gender contribute to it to harmonise the budgets.
Jane Anyango is the Communication Officer, EfD-Mak Centre Uganda.
Education
Makerere University Charts New Future with the unveiling of the Open, Distance and E‑Learning Building and Strategic Plan
By Harriet Musinguzi, CEDAT
Makerere University has embarked on a transformative journey in higher education with the official launch of its Open, Distance and E‑Learning (ODeL) Strategic Plan and the laying of the foundation stone for a new ODeL facility at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT). The event, attended by dignitaries, university leaders, and international partners, marked a milestone in Uganda’s quest to harness digital technology for accessible, innovative, and inclusive education.
Presiding over the ceremony, Ms. Jihee Ahn, Country Director of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), underscored the spirit of collaboration that has defined the project. She praised the collective efforts of Korean partners, Makerere’s project management team, and the construction and consulting teams.
Quoting an African proverb, she reminded the audience that “a single stick cannot make fire”, emphasizing that the success of the initiative lies in shared purpose and unity. Drawing from Korean wisdom, she added, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” noting that this launch is the first step toward positioning Makerere as a leader in open and distance education across Africa.
“This new building will not be just a physical structure but a driving force that advances our shared vision,” Ms. Ahn said. “KOICA looks forward to continued cooperation with Makerere University and all partners as we move forward together.” she added.
Representing the University Council Chairperson Dr. Lorna Magara, Dr. Silas Ngabirano highlighted the broader significance of the ODeL project. He described it as a turning point in bridging the gap between traditional teaching methods and modern learning needs. “This project is more than just providing technology,” he said. “It’s about enhancing capacity for our students, faculty, and staff. It’s about making education more accessible and affordable, fostering innovation, creativity, and lifelong learning.” He urged staff and students to embrace the opportunities offered by online distance learning, reaffirming the Council’s commitment to supporting initiatives that expand access to higher education.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Prof. Sarah Ssali, emphasized that e‑learning is a central pillar in Makerere’s Strategic Plan (2026–2030). She noted that the initiative aligns with Uganda’s National Development Plan IV, which prioritizes digital transformation by 2030.
“ODeL provides opportunities for students inside and outside Uganda to engage in learning, access cutting-edge research, and participate in innovation and entrepreneurship,” he said. “Now that ODeL is getting a home, there is no excuse for not delivering.”
Prof. Nawangwe expressed gratitude to KOICA and the people of Korea for the US$12.2 milliongrant, describing it as a testament to Makerere’s reputation as a center of academic excellence and innovation. He also acknowledged the support of Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
The Principal Investigator, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, outlined three core components of the project: the development of the ODeL Masterplan, the enhancement of e‑learning infrastructure through a state‑of‑the‑art facility and modern equipment, and capacity building to equip staff with the skills needed to create high‑quality digital content. He explained that the construction, valued at USD 3.7 million, is being undertaken by SMS Construction Ltd, with designs developed by ArchForum Consultants Ltd, and is scheduled for completion by September 29, 2027.
Prof. Henry Alinaitwe explained that the ODeL Masterplan was developed through a highly consultative process, engaging numerous Makerere University staff and working closely with project consultants to ensure inclusivity and relevance. He expressed deep appreciation to the implementing partners, the Korea National Open University (KNOU) and the Korea Institute ofDevelopment Strategy (KDS) for their invaluable support in making the initiative a success.
Prof. Alinaitwe also commended the Makerere University Council for approving the allocation of space and committing to maintain the building and systems once operational. He recognized the dedication of the project implementation team, which includes Dr. Venny Nakazibwe(Co‑PI), Prof. Paul Muyinda, Dr. Godfrey Mayende, Mr. Samuel Mugabi, Mr. Alex Mwebaze, Dr. Kenneth Ssemwogerere, and Dr. Lydia Mazzi Ndandiko, for their tireless efforts in managing the project. He further acknowledged KOICA Country Director Ms. Jihee Ahn for expanding the scope of the project beyond the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) to encompass
Written by Musinguzi Harriet, Principal Communication Officer, College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology.
Students from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences on Tuesday 17th March 2026 walked away with Shs 3million after emerging winners of the 2026 Annual Safeguarding Message Contest grand finale.
During the grand finale held in the Main Hall, five finalists from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), College of Education and External Studies (CEES) and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-security (CoVAB), captivated the audience with their powerful safety and inclusion messages. The show was filled with joy.
The finalists took part in a series of activities such as a collaborative video, written poems and arts works, among others.
Speaking on behalf of the winning team, Allan Mugisha, a third-year Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences student, explained that their video aimed to highlight everyday safeguarding issues that are often overlooked.
“Creating this video was both a collaborative effort and a challenge, especially since we used our phones to record. But our goal was to show the public that safeguarding is not just a policy or a University requirement, it is about protecting our dignity, safety, and wellbeing here at Makerere University. We depicted some of the risks and incidents students may face, and importantly, highlighted who to approach when encountering such challenges,” Mugisha, who also serves as a student safeguarding champion, said.
Mugisha thanked the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program for giving students like him and his colleagues an opportunity to actively engage, noting that it has made them feel empowered rather than dormant.
Khamala Elphas Makokha, a master’s student in Peace and Conflict Resolution, who produced a poster about safeguarding claimed the 1st runner-up position, earning Shs 2million and Mildred Aine Nicks, a first -year student pursuing Early Childhood Care and Education was 2nd runner-up with her spoken poem.
In the popular award, Khamala clinched the top spot with a prize of sh500,000.
Makerere University has an obligation and has committed to continue providing a Safe and Supportive learning and working environment for all Students, Staff and other Stakeholders. Therefore, the Annual Safeguarding message is a celebration that brings together students to come up with a message that will be identified as the Institutional main message.
The potential safeguarding risks in Institutions of higher learning include emotional distress, Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH); material loss, financial exploitation, discrimination and neglect, unfair and illegitimate response to civic engagements, cyber security/threats, psychological and emotional harm, substance abuse, and physical assault.
The guest of honour and the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, congratulated the winners and noted that the University is very intentional about ensuring that students are safe at all times because people achieve their full potential in any endeavor when they feel safe.
“Over the years, we have put in place various policies to safeguard our students. In addition to the Safeguarding policy, we have the Anti sexual harassment policy and the policy to support Students with Disabilities. Every student should know these policies so as to know the steps to take in case they feel threatened,” Prof Nawangwe, said.
In her welcoming remarks, the Dean of Students thanked the students who took time to participate when they saw the Safeguarding Awareness message call in September 2025, noting that their enthusiasm and commitment reflect a shared responsibility to promote safety, dignity, and wellbeing across the university community.
“Your creativity, commitment and passion for promoting safety and wellbeing are truly commendable,” Dr Winnie Kabumbuli, the Dean of students, said.
Addressing guests, Prof Justine Namaalwa, the Co-ordinator of the Mastercard Foundation Initiatives at Makerere University, explained to the audience why the Mastercard Foundation has supported the University to Improve the learning and working environment to make it safe for everyone.
Prof Namaalwa described the Safeguarding Annual contest as an inclusive and interactive platform that brings together students, to amplify voices, showcase creative messages, and strengthen commitment to a safe and supportive environment for all.
“The safeguarding initiative although student-led has not only student but also staff champions. Through the Office of the Vice Chancellor, we commit to continue supporting the Annual Safeguarding contest every year till 2032,” Prof Namaalwa, said.
On behalf of the 6 panel of judges, Dr Viola Karungi, a senior lecturer at the department of Performing Arts and Film, explained that they received 22 entries compromising of seven written poems, three posters, two songs, eight short videos, one slogan, and one comic book.
“We assessed submissions based on five key criteria, including originality and creativity. During the review, we found that some entries contained or replicated existing work, which was verified using digital tools by one of our panelists.” Dr Karungi, said.
Other winners included Job Diryo, a 5th year student of Veterinary Medicine who performed a poem and Abraham Tumwine who presented a poster.
The grounds of Makerere University came alive with energy and ambition as students, graduates, and industry leaders gathered for the 2026 Makerere Careers Fair, an engagement that continues to cement the University’s role as a bridge between academic training and the realities of the modern workplace.
Held in partnership with the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) as part of the wider NSSF Career Expo, and the US-Mission Uganda, the three-day event created a vibrant space where conversations about careers moved beyond theory into lived, practical experience. The Yusuf Lule, Central Teaching Facility, Auditorium, the Freedom Square and exhibition spaces transformed into arenas of exchange, where students interacted directly with employers, asked difficult questions about their futures, and began to map out their professional journeys with greater clarity.
At the heart of this year’s engagement on day one, 11th March, 2026, was a theme that resonated deeply with a generation stepping into uncertainty: “Man or Machine: Exploring AI’s Impact on Careers.” Across panel discussions and keynote sessions, speakers challenged students to confront the realities of a rapidly shifting job market. The message was consistent: technology is not simply displacing jobs; it is reshaping them, demanding a workforce that is adaptable, digitally fluent, and grounded in distinctly human skills such as creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence.
Day Two, 12th March, 2026, led by the United States Mission to Uganda, shifted the focus to global opportunities, equipping students with practical guidance on U.S. university applications, scholarships, and visa processes, as well as fully funded fellowships they can apply for. Through direct engagement with credible experts, students gained clarity on navigating international academic pathways and positioning themselves competitively beyond national borders, expanding the Careers Fair’s scope from local employability to global mobility.
The final day, 13th March 2026, under the theme “Connecting potential to purpose: Partnerships for sustainable impact,” brought together Makerere University and key partners, including Stanbic Bank, Absa Bank Uganda, TotalEnergies Uganda, the Uganda Police, Pslams Food Industries, among others, to emphasise collaboration as the cornerstone of career readiness. The conversations underscored a shared commitment to aligning education with industry needs, demonstrating that sustainable career pathways are built through strong partnerships that connect talent to opportunity in a rapidly evolving world.
What stood out most was not just the content of these conversations, but the way students engaged with them. There was a palpable sense of curiosity and urgency, as young people sought to understand where they fit in a future increasingly defined by automation and innovation. For many, the Careers Fair became more than an event; it was a bridge to internship and graduate trainee opportunities, and to careers whose balls were set rolling. It was a moment of reckoning and possibility.
This transformation was made possible through a strong network of partners whose presence underscored the importance of collaboration in shaping career pathways. NSSF Uganda anchored the engagement with insights into financial planning and long-term security, reframing how young professionals think about work beyond immediate income. Stanbic Bank Uganda brought industry perspective, offering students a clearer understanding of the competencies required to thrive in the financial sector. The United States Mission to Uganda contributed to broadening horizons through knowledge exchange and exposure to global opportunities, while TotalEnergies Uganda highlighted the evolving energy sector landscape and the role of innovation in driving sustainability, among other players.
Together, these partners did more than exhibit; they participated in shaping a narrative about the future of work that is inclusive, dynamic, and grounded in real-world demands.
For Makerere University, the Careers Fair represents more than an annual engagement; it is a reflection of its enduring commitment to preparing students for life beyond the lecture room. By convening diverse actors from academia, industry, and development spaces, the University continues to position itself as a national hub for talent development and thought leadership. It is within these spaces that education becomes truly transformative, where knowledge meets opportunity, and where ambition is matched with access.
Advancing Partnerships for Sustainable Impact
The Careers Fair also speaks directly to Makerere University’s Advancement agenda, which is increasingly focused on building purposeful, long-term partnerships that extend the University’s impact beyond its campus.
Through such engagements, Makerere is intentionally cultivating relationships that create shared value. The presence of industry leaders and development partners is not incidental; it is part of a deliberate strategy to align academic training with market realities while opening up pathways for mentorship, internships, and employment. These collaborations are gradually shaping an ecosystem in which students are not only educated but also actively supported in their transition into the workforce.
What emerges is a model of engagement that moves beyond transactional interactions to something far more meaningful. Partners are not just sponsors or participants; they are co-creators in preparing the next generation of professionals. In turn, Makerere strengthens its position as a trusted partner, one capable of convening, connecting, and contributing to national and global development priorities.
As conversations from the Careers Fair continue to echo across campus, one thing remains clear: the future of work will belong to those prepared to evolve with it. Makerere University, through platforms such as this, is ensuring that its students are not merely observers of change but active participants in shaping it.
Caroline Kainomugisha is the Communications Officer, Advancement Office, Makerere University.
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