Research
Rt. Hon. PM to Amplify Mak Call for Govt. to Invest More in Graduate Training
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja represented by the Government Chief Whip, Hon. Denis Obua has reiterated Government’s readiness to continue supporting bankable research projects at Makerere University that are in line with national development priorities. Hon. Obua made the remarks as Chief Guest at the Annual Doctoral Convention organised by the PhD Fellows at Makerere (PF@Mak) together with the Directorate for Research and Graduate Training (DRGT) on 28th February 2023. He, in his personal capacity, further pledged to amplify the clarion calls by the Vice Chancellor, Director DRGT and President PhD Fellows for the Government to invest more in graduate training.
“Today I join you Vice Chancellor and your team as an Ambassador in carrying forward this message, and you can rely on that” reassured Hon. Obua.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe had in his remarks drawn parallels between China’s astronomical economic progress and the Nation’s heavy investment higher education, and appealed to Government to establish either a dedicated graduate student scholarship or loan scheme.
“The whole world is living in a knowledge economy and those who have the knowledge will prosper and leave behind those who do not have the knowledge” he explained.
On the knowledge front, the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister commended Makerere researchers for contributing immensely to National priorities of food security, governance and community welfare and mindset change.
“Go to National Agricultural Research Organisation and see the new crop varieties. Go to Uganda Coffee Development Authority and see the progress. Visit our Uganda Virus Research Institute, Makerere Infectious Diseases Institute” he rallied, before adding “We welcome more resource persons of your caliber with the appropriate skillset to carry on with the mantle.”
Turning to the Convention, Hon. Obua commended the PhD Fellows for undertaking research projects covering topics such as health, governance, technology, innovation, environment, food security and bio-safety, noting that their findings will help improve policy and practice. He reassured researchers of Government support for projects that address challenges such as environmental degradation, climate change effects as well as the need to improve tourism, education, rural development, transport and communication, which all require vigorous research.
The Vice Chancellor noted that the Leadership had taken a strategic decision to use UGX 1.5 Billion of the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) to support PhD students to conduct research. This move, he said, was aimed at creating a critical mass of researchers that provide solutions responsive to development challenges, such as the drought resistant cassava varieties produced by researchers that helped prevent the re-occurrence of severe famine in Eastern Uganda approximately fifteen years ago. “You cannot put a value to that.”
He therefore commended the PhD fellows for organizing the convention and making their contribution to the University’s goal to become research-led. Citing examples such as the Graduate Training Lounge at the Sir Albert Cook Library, College of Health Sciences (CHS), the Vice Chancellor applauded Colleges that had set aside designated spaces for PhD students.
“As Management, we are making every effort to establish a dedicated building for the School of Graduate Studies… and I hope that this will greatly improve the conditions of work for the PhD Students” he added.
The Director DRGT, Prof. Edward Bbaale thanked the Government of Uganda for funding research at Makerere through Mak-RIF, and appreciated the Vice Chancellor for his leadership that has identified graduate training and research as being instrumental for societal transformation and development. He added that in young, energetic and enthusiastic students that seek to undertake graduate studies as well as well qualified staff committed to their duty, Makerere is more than ready to double efforts in as far as graduate training is concerned.
“The Directorate of Graduate Training is committed to continuously building an environment that is conducive for research and graduate training to flourish at Makerere. We shall continue working with Colleges, Schools and Departments to ensure an improved research and graduate training environment” added Prof. Bbaale.
He noted that the 2023 doctoral convention is one of the platforms for Fellows to share expertise and experiences as well as challenge each other to produce outputs for societal transformation. “It is upon you, dear doctoral candidates, to undertake research with this theme [Positioning Research for National Development] in mind because all we are doing is trying to unlock the potential of graduate studies to respond to national and regional development challenges.”
The Deputy Director DRGT, Prof. Julius Kikooma who doubled as the Convention’s Co-emcee reiterated that the Directorate’s mandate to coordinate, monitor and provide an enabling environment for quality graduate training is at the heart of attaining Makerere’s research-led goal. Graduate training especially at Doctoral and Postdoctoral levels, it is envisaged, will play a cardinal role in achieving this goal, due to its identified potential for knowledge production that responds to national, regional and global development challenges.
PhD Fellows President, Mr. Gerald Ahabwe Zihembire appreciated the Government for the support received through Mak-RIF, noting that it was a positive trend in ongoing efforts to secure funding for doctoral training at Makerere University. He thanked the Vice Chancellor for championing a collaborative agenda that had benefited various Fellows through exchange visits to partner universities that Makerere had entered into MoUs with. He appreciated the Fellows for submitting abstracts to Convention, adding that it will provide visibility for their work.
Please click below to access the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister’s Keynote address.
Research
Makerere University Launches Knowledge-Sharing Platform to Drive Innovation and Economic Growth
Makerere University has launched a knowledge-sharing platform designed to bridge research, education, and community outreach, with the aim of accelerating innovation and economic development in Uganda.
The platform is the outcome of a project led by Prof. Edward Bbaale, which examined how universities can translate research, innovations, and institutional capabilities into tangible impact for communities, businesses, and national economic growth, in line with the government’s tenfold growth agenda. The project was funded by the Government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF).
The study also explored how university-based research and innovation can be better aligned with Uganda’s development priorities in agriculture, tourism, mineral-based industrialization, and science and technology, as outlined in the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV).
Speaking at the launch, the First Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Sarah Ssali, said the platform would strengthen the link between academic research and societal transformation. She also noted that knowledge production and utilization is a political matter and urged researchers to meaningfully engage and participate in such converstaions.
Dr. Stephen Wandera, representing the Chairperson of the Mak-RIF Grants Management Committee, described the platform as timely and relevant, noting that it comes at a period when Makerere University is positioning itself as a research-led institution with measurable impact on communities and systems.
“The knowledge-sharing platform will enable researchers to disseminate their work to relevant audiences,” Dr. Wandera said. He added that dissemination workshops are among several avenues available for sharing research findings and urged the project team to explore additional channels, including policy briefs, academic publications, and online dialogue platforms.
The Director of Research, Innovation, and Partnerships, Prof. Robert Wamala, said the dissemination workshop reflects Makerere University’s long-standing commitment to generating knowledge that responds to national priorities, advances innovation, and contributes to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.
He added that the Directorate supports initiatives that move research beyond academic boundaries into practical application, policy influence, enterprise development, and community impact.
Dr. Peter Babyenda, the project’s Co-Principal Investigator, said the initiative combined research, outreach, and capacity-building activities, drawing lessons from global models where universities play a direct role in community development by supporting agriculture, industry, and the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Dean of the School of Economics, Prof. Ibrahim Michael Okumu, observed that while Uganda’s universities have produced substantial research, its translation into practical outcomes has remained slow. He cautioned that Makerere University’s relevance will ultimately be measured by the extent to which its work contributes to national development.
Dr. Babyenda noted that the platform will support the development of sustainable research, education, and outreach systems, helping to bridge the gap between university research and real-world application.
“As we launch this platform, I encourage academics, students, industry players, policymakers, and communities to actively engage with it,” Prof. Wamala said. “Let it serve as a living space for dialogue, learning, co-creation, and innovation.”
The knowledge-sharing platform is accessible to the public at www.dissemination.ug. Its launch took place at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala and was attended by officials from Makerere University, Kyambogo University, Gulu University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Busitema University, and Soroti University.
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