Business & Management
1,819 CoBAMS Students awarded at 73rd Graduation Ceremony
It was merrymaking at the Freedom Square as 1,819 students of the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) received PhDs, masters and undergraduate degrees on the third day of the 73rd Graduation on February 15, 2023. Of these, 891 are male while 928 are female. The college graduated 3 PhDs, 376 Masters, 11 post graduate diplomas and 1,429 undergraduate students.
During the celebrations, one of our partners, Prudential Uganda, rewarded the best 5 performing students from the Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science with USD500 and a professional study scholarship. The students recognized and their respective CGPAs include; Nanfuka Rebecca Rosette with 4.55, Mukiibi Cyrus with 4.15, Angura Kupa Abraham with 4.02, Mwesigwa Mark Lewis with 4.00 and Akumu Gloria Agnes with 3.99.
One students of the college under the MasterCard Foundations scholarship received an award for exceptional performance. Nanyunja Fatumah got a first class degree in the Bachelor of Business Administration and was awarded a plaque in recognition of her excellent performance. Other high performing students rewarded by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) were Nassali Tendo with a CGPA of 4.7 in the Bachelor of Science in Business Statistics, Ariong Emmanuel with a CGPA of 4.62 in Bachelor of Statistics and Okiria Eric Junior who scored a CGPA of 4.62 in the Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Economics.
The Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) also rewarded the best Masters of Economics student Namuleme Hilda with a CGPA of 4.91. Namuleme is set to receive a yearlong young professionals program opportunity tenured at EPRC.
A total of 13,221 graduands will receive degrees and diplomas of Makerere University during the course of the 73rd graduation ceremony. Of these, a total of 102 graduands will graduate with PhDs, 1,378 with Masters, 11,598 with Bachelor’s degrees and 143 with undergraduate and post graduate diplomas. 52 per cent of the graduands are female while 48 % are male. 41 of the 102 PhD graduands and 563 of the 1,378 Masters graduands are female, representing 40% and 41% respectively.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, congratulated the students, parents and staff of the college. “I also congratulate the members of staff that are graduating today as well as children and spouses of members of staff and their parents or spouses,” the Vice Chancellor said.
Prof. Nawangwe congratulated the Chairperson of Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara and the Vice Chairperson of Council, Rt. Hon. Daniel Fred Kidega upon their re-appointment.
The Vice Chancellor congratulated CoBAMS staff upon the research being carried out in the college, saying Makerere strives to transform into a research-led University. “The Research and Innovations Fund, that was made possible through a Government grant of UGX 30 billion annually, has transformed Makerere tremendously, with very many innovations in agriculture and food security, health, engineering, education, veterinary medicine, artificial intelligence, economics and business management, and the social sciences that are already changing the lives of our people,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor informed the graduands that the university has developed measures to fast track the issuance of transcripts and certificates. Previously, for one to receive the academic documents, he or she was required to clear with more than 10 offices. “We have reviewed this and one is now required to clear with only two (2) offices,” the VC said. Prof. Nawangwe pledged that going ahead, the university would issue transcripts after one month. The VC called on the students to be good ambassadors, to trust in God and to remember that the gates of Makerere will always be open for those that seek more knowledge.
The Chancellor, Prof. Ezra Suruma, who presided over the ceremony congratulated the graduands and commended the PhD research undertaken by the awardees. He particularly commended the research on how we can improve educational attainment in UPE and USE where learning outcomes have continued to be below standard. The study also recommended improving internal financial controls in schools.
“Two other studies in the College of Business and Management Sciences attracted my attention; one was on the demand for healthcare and health insurance in Uganda and the other was about the impact of technical vocational training on employment. There is no doubt that both healthcare health insurance and employment are leading national concerns. I am therefore very pleased to see research coming from Makerere tackling issues that are at the heart of our country’s social and economic welfare,” Prof. Suruma said.
He commended the spirit of hard work, endurance, self-control and discipline among the students, adding that the degrees being awarded are testimony to the hardships, the discipline, the commitment, the pain and the tears the students have shed over decades of academic struggle.
He also appreciated the parents for the financial support to the students despite the economic hardships.
To the graduands, the chancellor said, “the hour has now come for you to go out to the field, to fight the good fight, to run the race for which you have been preparing. I appeal to you to remember love in the middle of the tough battles ahead. Remember love. Pray for the possibility of joy in a sad world. Ponder the possibility of godliness and contentment in a broken world. Remember love in an apparently loveless world.”
Highlights of the year 2022 as we celebrate
Government, through the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development accepted to take over support of the Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence at the College. The Centre supports government to provide advanced practical oriented training in Tools for Public Investment Analysis as well as research.
The Environment for Development Centre won funding to the tune of 400,000 USD from SIDA to support capacity building for senior government officials in the area of Inclusive Green Economy. This is part of the ongoing efforts globally to ensure inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The Center also successfully hosted the Joint Cross Country Workshop of the global network of EfD Centers at an event that took place in Kampala in July 2022.
The quality of Programmes at the College has continued to attract valuable partnerships. The ACCA Global accredited our Bachelor of Commerce Degree program and in so doing has given an exemption of eight of the possible thirteen papers to students graduating from our Bachelor of Commerce Degree Programme. The College also partnered with Prudential Assurance Uganda Limited to recognize outstanding students of Actuarial Science Programme. The leading five students graduating from the Programme will receive a full scholarship to pursue the Professional Actuarial qualification in addition to a cash prize of 500 USD.
The Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence has commenced a three-day refresher training for members of the Development Committee (DC) of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The training, which began today in Jinja, aims to enhance the analytical and technical skills of committee members who are tasked with reviewing government projects submitted by various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The training was today February 19, 2025, officially opened by Dr. Hennery Ssebukeera, who represented the Director of the Budget Directorate. In his opening remarks, Dr. Ssebukeera emphasized the importance of the refresher course in enabling the Development Committee to effectively conduct quality reviews and fulfill its mandate as a key gatekeeper of the Public Investment Plan. He noted that the training would improve the participants’ ability to appraise and implement public investments in line with the Public Investment Management System (PIMS) framework.
Speaking at the same event, Prof. Ibrahim Mike Okumu, representing the Centre Director, Prof. Edward Bbaale, expressed the Centre’s gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to Uganda’s PIM cycle. He highlighted the importance of the training in harmonizing the relationship between the MDAs that draft project proposals and the analysts who review them. Prof. Okumu reiterated the Centre’s commitment to building the capacity of government officials in Public Investment Management, thereby supporting the country’s development aspirations.
The need for this training was identified during the Development Committee retreat held in 2024, which revealed limited capacity among DC members in project appraisal, specifically in reviewing prefeasibility and feasibility reports, Dr Ssebukeera noted. In response, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, in collaboration with the PIM Centre of Excellence, organized this refresher course to strengthen the participants’ technical and analytical skills.
DC is a statutory committee of government that evaluates the viability of public investment projects. Its statutory composition includes: Office of the President, Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, National Planning Authority, Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), Office of the Solicitor General, Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development, National Environment Management Authority, Equal Opportunities Commission, Ministry or Work and Transport, Ministry of Water and Environment, Public Private Partnership Unit. The PIM Center of Excellence was recently admitted to the Development Committee as a non-voting member.
The training will cover a wide range of topics, including the role of PIMS in the country’s development goals, the logical flow of project profiles, costing, and the interpretation of interconnections between prefeasibility/feasibility reports and financial models. Additionally, participants will explore the role of public-private partnerships in national development.
Dr. Ssebukeera encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions, share their expertise, and apply the knowledge gained from the training. He noted that this engagement would empower the Development Committee to effectively perform its role in reviewing and approving public investment projects, ensuring they align with national priorities and deliver value for money.
The Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence, established by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in partnership with Makerere University School of Economics, continues to play a pivotal role in building the capacity of MDAs in managing public investments. To date, the Centre has trained over 300 officers and produced several research papers, reflecting its commitment to enhancing public investment management in Uganda.
The training in Jinja is expected to enhance the participants’ capacity to effectively review government projects, thus supporting the effective implementation of Uganda’s Public Investment Plan.
Business & Management
Somali Officials Complete Executive Training in Infrastructure Asset Management at CoBAMS
Six Somali government officials have successfully completed a three-day Executive Training in Infrastructure Asset Management, held at Makerere University’s Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE). The training, funded by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), took place from January 27 to 29, 2025, and aimed to enhance regional capacity in infrastructure planning and management.
The training brought together senior civil servants and policymakers from Somalia, equipping them with practical knowledge and strategies for sustainable infrastructure asset management. It also fostered valuable cross-border collaboration, facilitated by UNCDF Uganda, which played a crucial role in connecting Makerere University with the Government of Somalia.
The program was delivered by experienced faculty from Makerere University’s College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), alongside experts from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) and the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). A special session was also led by the Makerere University Bursar, offering practical insights into financial management in infrastructure projects.
Speaking at the opening of the training, Mr. Ncube Mkhululi, the Regional Technical Advisor for UNCDF emphasized the importance of infrastructure asset management in driving sustainable economic growth. He highlighted UNCDF’s commitment to supporting capacity-building initiatives in developing economies, noting that effective infrastructure planning and management are critical to national development. He also expressed confidence in Makerere University’s expertise in delivering high-impact executive training programs for government officials.
During the closing ceremony, Prof. Bbaale Edward, the Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences expressed gratitude to all partners, including UNCDF, Makerere University management, and the PIM CoE faculty, for their commitment to making the training a success. He emphasized Makerere University’s ongoing efforts to internationalize its research-led agenda, positioning itself as a hub for regional knowledge exchange.
UNCDF Program Manager, Mr. Joel Mundua, the commended the participants for their dedication and encouraged them to share the acquired knowledge with fellow officials in Somalia. This was reaffirmed by one of the participants, who pledged to apply and disseminate the learnings within their respective departments.
Mr. Sunday Denis Aliti, the Program Officer at UNCDF highlighted the importance of ensuring that infrastructure asset management strategies are practical, adaptable, and aligned with national development goals. He commended Makerere University for its leadership in knowledge transfer and regional training and encouraged continued collaboration between universities, governments, and international development partners to strengthen institutional capacity.
Dr. John Sseruyange, Manager of the PIM CoE, applauded both the participants and the expert trainers who contributed to the program. He reiterated the Centre’s commitment to advancing infrastructure asset management through continued training and collaboration with regional stakeholders.
As the training concluded, participants departed with valuable insights and practical tools to improve infrastructure management in Somalia and beyond. The success of this initiative highlights Makerere University’s role as a leading institution in public investment management, fostering capacity-building efforts that drive sustainable development across Africa.
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