Business & Management
EfD-Mak Launches two projects on Uganda’s National Water and Forest Authorities
The Environment for Development Initiative (EfD) Makerere Centre has launched two new collaborative projects – on improving water bill payments in the National water authority and a quasi experimental analysis of the Forest Authority Afforestation projects. The launch is a significant achievement for the year 2021/2022.
The projects were launched during the centres seminar series held on 13th October 2022 at the EfD Confrence room. The function was graced by the Principal College of Business and Management Scieces Prof. Eria Hisali as chief guest. It was also attended online by the EfD Global hub Manager for Research Dr. Amuakwa-Mensah, Franklin and project collaborators ,
While officially launching the projects, Prof. Hisali said as a developing country the university cannot afford to do research for the sake of doing research but research that is going to have an impact on policy, change people’s lives and have findings that are immediately useful.
“This does not mean that that it should not be rigorous. It should be as rigorous as possible but it should be immediately relevant to our environment and needs”, Hisali stressed.
To achieve that, the Principal expressed the need for policy makers and implementers, the researchers and the private sector to come in one room and discuss some broad thematic areas and agree on areas immediate relevancy and the biggest knowledge gaps.
The second phase according Hisali is to prepare some few background papers around the broad thematic areas that give the scope and insights of the advances of the methodological approaches and a few other things and then commission relevant studies.
“If we take that route, we are going to come with findings that are immediately useful. As researchers in this part of the world we cannot afford at all to do research for the sake of doing research. We should do rigorous research that links to the problems that we are facing as acountry and that speaks to providing solutions to the list of problems”, Hisali re – emphasized
As the leadership of the college, Hisali pledged to remain committed to working closely with patners and to continue permitting all processes required to support the colleagues doing research.
The new projects
Project one titled, “Improving Bill Payments for Water and Sanitation in Uganda” is spearheaded by Prof. Edward Bbaale as the Principal Investigator . Bbaale is also the Director EfD Mak Centre. He assisted by Co-Principal Investigators. Dr. Nicholas Kilimani (EfD-Mak & Makerere University) Dr. Rose Kaggwa (National Water and Sewerage Corporation), Dr. Nicholas Mwebaze (National Water and Sewerage Corporation) and Dr. David Fuente (EfD & University of South Carolina).
Prof Bbaale said the motivation behind the study was based on the global water and sanitation infrastructure challenge and the need to respond to the SDG 6 on the provision and attainment of “Safe and affordable water and sanitation for all by 2030” and Uganda’s NDPIII and Vision 2040- increasing access to safe water for all.
“Arrears undermine utilities financial sustainability. For Example in South Africa: households owed municipal governments 40 billion Rand (about 4 billion USD). In Nairobi, Kenya: ~60% of customers have arrears while in Kampala, Uganda (study location): 57% of residential customer accounts have arrears”, Bbaale said.
He said the study will be conducted in Kampala – National Water and Sewer Corporation (NWSC) aimed at reducing customer arrears and bill non-payment, improve financial sustainability of utilities, boost the agency’s financial position to cater for its investments and also increase the social welfare benefits from the agency’s investments
The project according to Bbaale will document pathways through which improved billing can result in better bill payment hence sustained revenue for the agency.
“Improving agency’s financial sustainability enhances its ability to improve the quality of services and the expansion of access to households who lack access to piped water and sanitation services.
There are welfare benefits associated with the improved quality and coverage of the agency’s services, i.e., improved health, increased time for productive work, increased school attendance”, He added.
Established in 1972, NWSC, is a public utility company 100% owned by the Government of Uganda and is mandated to supply water and sewerage services to 257 cities and towns across the country with a customer base standing at 711,556 accounts.
The Customer base of the NWSC currently stands at 711,556 accounts with total arrears level of Uganda Shillings 69,471,961,698 billion government arrears inclusive and 32,962,667,390 billion non-government arrears.
The project area of study that is, Kampala water area, has total customer base of 357,342 accounts. Out of these accounts 202,484 are domestic accounts with non-government arrears of Uganda shillings 10,584,626,646 billion (2.8 M USD) contributing 69% of the total non-government arrears.
Policy implications
Reduce customer arrears and bill non-payment and improve financial sustainability of utilities and ensure households maintain access to services
Documentation of the implications of an efficient revenue mobilization in harnessing resources for effective service delivery
Direct engagement of National Water in the project will increase potential for using the study’s results to inform policy and practice.
Knowledge co-production and policy engagement
The second projects titled, “ Quasi-Experimental Analysis of National Forestry Authority Afforestation Projects in Uganda”, is being led by Dr. Patrick Byakagaba of Makerere university . The Project Co-PIs are Professor Katrina Mullan (university of Montana), Professor Jeff Vincent (Duke university), Mr. John Diisi (National (Forestry Authority Uganda)and Mr. Mr. Peter Babyenda of Makerere University.
Dr. Byakagaba said Uganda continues to experience wood deficit and natural forest loss and this led to NFA and partners to invest afforestation projects
This study intends to evaluate these afforestation projects in terms of their contribution to well-being and landuse/landcover dynamics
The study sites according to Byakagaba will be villages adjacent to each reserve and control communities will be >5km from reserve within the same landscape. The selected study areas are Katugo (Nakasongola) – long history of planting (multiple harvests) and mostly planted by NFA; Kasagara (Nakasongola) – more recent planting, by many small private planters; Bujawe (Hoima)- more recent planting, small private planters and; Kachung (Dokolo) – more recent planting, single large private planter with FSC certification
“The aim is to evaluate the socio-economic and forest-cover impacts of the forest plantations but specifically to analyse the impacts of NFA afforestation programs on human well-being
and also to assess the impacts of NFA afforestation programs on land use/land cover dynamics
The proposed proxy indicators for household well-being that will be studied include; employment, income, food security, poverty” Byakaga explained adding that spatial land use/cover datasets from the National Forestry Authority will be used for assessing landuse/landcover dynamics, and, the Theory of change by SPGS will be applied in interrogating the impacts
Report by
Jane Anyango
Communication Officer
A delegation from the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) today paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University. The delegation was led by Prof. Victor Murinde, Executive Director of AERC.
The team was received by Prof. Tonny Oyana, who represented the Vice Chancellor at the meeting. Prof. Oyana expressed appreciation for AERC’s continued support to the School of Economics, and commended the longstanding partnership between Makerere University and AERC.
Drawing on his expertise in Information Systems, Prof. Oyana emphasized the importance of deep and strategic collaboration between institutions. He noted that, much like in Information Systems where components must be tightly coupled to function efficiently, partnerships in academia must be deeply integrated to yield meaningful impact.
The Dean of the School of Economics, Prof. Ibrahim Mike Okumu, who accompanied Prof. Murinde, also expressed his gratitude for AERC’s unwavering support. He highlighted several key areas of assistance including:
- Scholarships for Master’s and PhD fellows;
- Support for ICT infrastructure development; and
- Contributions toward the construction of the School of Economics building.
Prof. Okumu noted that these efforts have significantly enhanced the School’s academic and research capacity, and he looked forward to continued collaboration and deepened partnership between the two institutions.
During the meeting, Prof. Murinde shared AERC’s Strategic Plan 2025–2035, titled “Reinventing the AERC for Delivering Africa’s Economic Prosperity.” He explained that AERC is embarking on a comprehensive reform agenda designed to:
- Strengthen research excellence,
- Enhance policy impact, and
- Secure long-term institutional sustainability across Africa.
Following the meeting, the AERC delegation joined scholars, economists, and academics for a for and a meeting, further demonstrating AERC’s commitment to knowledge exchange and regional capacity building in economic research.
Business & Management
PIM Centre of Excellence Launches KCCA Training in Public Investment Management
May 19, 2025 |
The Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE) at the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Makerere University, has launched a five-day training in the Essentials of Public Investment Management (PIM) for officials from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).
This specialized training marks a significant milestone—not only in advancing professional capacity within KCCA, but also in reinforcing strategic collaboration between academia, local government, and national planning institutions. The training was officially opened by Ms. Esther Ayebare, Assistant Commissioner of the Project Analysis and Public Investment Department (PAP), Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED).
A Commitment to Professionalization
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ms. Ayebare emphasized the importance of investing in PIM capacity as a cornerstone of Uganda’s development agenda. “The government is committed to building a pool of skilled professionals who can design, appraise, and manage viable public projects. This training is part of a broader strategy to ensure that public investments deliver real value for money,” she said.
She encouraged the participants to actively engage with the course content, especially the hands-on and practical components that simulate real-world project scenarios.
Strategic Investment by KCCA
In his remarks, Mr. Edson Masereka, Manager for Research and Business Development at KCCA, expressed gratitude to the PIM Centre of Excellence and MoFPED for facilitating the training. He noted that KCCA has over 30 projects currently in the pipeline and stressed the need to equip staff with the right skills to manage them effectively.
“This training is timely. It will strengthen our internal capacity to design, prepare, and execute public investments. We hope the quality and impact of our projects will improve significantly as a result,” he said.
A Unique Cohort with a Strong Message
Prof. Edward Bbaale, the Principal Investigator of the PIM Centre of Excellence, praised the training as both unique and transformative. “This is the first cohort fully sponsored by KCCA itself—a testament to the authority’s commitment to internal capacity building and professional excellence,” he said.
He also recognized the visionary partnership between Makerere University and MoFPED, which has made it possible to establish the PIM Centre of Excellence as a leading hub for training, research, and policy advisory in Uganda’s public investment space.
“Beyond training, we are also working on revising the Development Committee Guidelines, assessing public investment performance since NDP I, and producing knowledge to inform decision-making,” Prof. Bbaale noted.
The trainees will undertake three core PIM modules during the five-day session:
- Project Identification and Preparation
- Integrated Bank of Projects (IBP) and Execution
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Impact Assessment, with a strong emphasis on climate, environmental, and social safeguards.
In the coming months, participants will have the opportunity to enroll in advanced modules on financial and economic appraisal, delivered in collaboration with Cambridge Resources International and Queen’s University (Canada), leading to a prestigious international certification.
Building a National Cadre of PIM Experts
The training reflects broader national efforts to build a robust and professional cadre of PIM practitioners capable of driving Uganda’s development goals through effective project management. Participants will receive joint certification from Makerere University and MoFPED, underscoring the academic and policy rigor of the programme.
Prof. Bbaale encouraged the participants to be active contributors in this journey:
“This workshop is just the beginning. You are the future champions of effective public investment. Engage fully, learn deeply, and take these skills back to your institutions to make a difference.”
The PIM CoE at Makerere University remains committed to providing high-quality capacity building, evidence-based research, and technical support that enhances Uganda’s ability to implement impactful public investment projects.
Business & Management
EfD Launches $30,000 Carnegie CECAP-funded Research Project on Household and SME Energy Efficiency in Uganda
Kampala, Uganda – May 15, 2025
The Environment for Development (EfD) initiative at Makerere University has launched a two-year research project aimed at studying energy demand and efficiency among Ugandan households and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The project, supported by a $30,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation under the CECAP program, officially kicked off with an inception workshop held at the EfD Mak conference room on Wednesday.
Dr. Peter Babyenda, a postdoctoral researcher and lead investigator on the project, said the study will focus on identifying the key drivers of energy consumption at the household and SME level, particularly within the manufacturing sector. “We are investigating what factors determine energy use—whether it’s charcoal, LPG, or electricity—and how that use can be made more efficient,” he said.
The research is being conducted under the mentorship of Prof. Edward Bbaale, Director of EfD-Mak, and is part of a larger initiative under the Makerere University Directorate of Research and Graduate Training led by Principal Investigator Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi who also serves as Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs)
The project aims to provide evidence-based policy and awareness messages to improve energy efficiency in Uganda, amid rising electricity costs and population growth. “The only sustainable way to address rising energy costs is through improved efficiency,” Dr. Babyenda emphasized.
The workshop brought together stakeholders from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, energy engineers, economists, and researchers from institutions such as the Economic Policy Research Centre. Their input is expected to help refine the study tools and shape data collection strategies.
Dr. Babyenda noted that the team will now revise its research instruments based on feedback from the workshop, and submit the tools for ethical review by the CoBAMS Research Ethics Committee. Field data collection is slated to begin in early June.
The study, selected through a highly competitive process that saw only 25 projects funded, is expected to culminate in two peer-reviewed publications and a comprehensive report. Dissemination efforts will target both policymakers and end users, including the Ministry of Energy and relevant community stakeholders.
“This project is a milestone for us at EfD-Mak. We are excited to contribute research that has the potential to influence national energy policy,” Dr. Babyenda said.
Dean Calls for Deeper Stakeholder Engagement and Practical Insight
The Dean of the School of Economics at Makerere University, Assoc. Prof. Mike Ibrahim Okumu, called for greater alignment between academic research and practical stakeholder perspectives in energy studies.
Congratulating Dr. Peter Babyenda and his team for securing the $30,000 research grant, Prof. Ibrahim praised the initiative as a reflection of both academic rigor and practical relevance.
“My understanding of inception workshops is that they are meant to test whether your conceptualization aligns with stakeholder perspectives,” he said. “The quality of feedback you receive depends on the quality of stakeholders you engage.”
Prof. Ibrahim emphasized the importance of engaging engineers in the electricity sector, arguing that understanding operational mechanisms is essential for any discussion on energy efficiency. “Efficiency is not just an economic concept—it’s grounded in how energy systems work, and that’s an engineering issue,” he noted.
He encouraged the research team to use the stakeholder feedback to refine their research tools and conceptual framework. Drawing from personal experience, he recounted how a paper he published in the Policy Review Journal originated directly from stakeholder insights gained during a previous inception workshop.
The Dean also stressed the need for inclusive dissemination strategies. “For any research to have real impact, it must involve the end users not just at the point of output but from inception through to delivery,” he said. “If you don’t speak to the people who use the energy, you lose the entire purpose of the research.”
Prof. Ibrahim closed by extending gratitude to all participants and reaffirming the School of Economics’ support for the EfD center. “What we’ve earned today are not just discussions, but deep mental insights that will shape this project going forward,” he concluded.
Participants Urge Deeper Energy Awareness and Policy Integration
Key stakeholders from government and academia called for enhanced public awareness and integrated energy policies
Esther Fiona Atek, an Energy Officer from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, underscored the ministry’s interest in the project findings. “While we know how much residences consume, we’re particularly interested in how that breaks down between rural and urban areas, and within specific uses like cooking and lighting,” Atek said. “The research will inform future policies to promote energy-efficient technologies both in households and SMEs.”
Atek emphasized the study’s potential to support the ministry’s mandate to drive energy efficiency in the residential, commercial, and agricultural sectors. She highlighted the need for disaggregated data that can guide technology promotion and tailor interventions to actual consumption patterns.
Meanwhile, Dr. Abubaker Matovu Wasswa, Head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Makerere University, called for broader public education on energy types and uses. “People often limit solar energy to lighting, yet it can do so much more. We must understand the different forms of energy—biomass, petroleum, LPG, solar—and how each can be used efficiently,” he said.
Dr. Wasswa stressed that energy sustainability requires a cultural shift in how Ugandans perceive and utilize various energy sources. “If we don’t educate users on energy efficiency across all forms, we risk wasting valuable resources and missing out on long-term sustainability,” he warned.
The EfD-led research project aims to provide actionable data and recommendations to improve energy efficiency across Uganda. Fieldwork is expected to begin in June 2025, with findings set to influence national policy discussions and promote smarter energy use in households and manufacturing enterprises.
Jane Anyango is the Communication Officer EfD Uganda
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