Government Chief Whip Hon. Hamson Obua (in a yellow tie) flanked by Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (on his left) and Prof. Edward Bbaale (on his right) join Members of Management and leadership the PhD Fellows after the opening ceremony of the Annual Doctoral Convention 2023 held at the Yusuf Lule Auditorium on 28th February 2023.
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.
Hon. Denis Hamson Obua (L) receives an assortment of Mak Souvenirs on behalf of the Right Honourable Prime Minister from Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (R) after delivering the Keynote address at the Makerere University Annual Doctoral Convention 2023.
“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 UniversityResearch 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.
Prof. Edward Bbaale addresses the Annual Doctoral Convention 2023.
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.”
PhD Fellows President, Mr. Gerald Ahabwe Zihembire.
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.
The Public Investment Management Center of Excellence (PIM CoE) was conceived as a result of the 2016 PIM Diagnostic study done by the World Bank and Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development with support from Makerere University School of Economics that discovered inefficiencies in PIM in Uganda.
This report highlights the work, achievements and prospects of the Center. The Center plans to start offering Advanced level training through Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in PIM and Master of Science in Economic and Investment Modelling (MEIM). I am pleased to introduce this report to the public for use by all stakeholders.
I would like to appreciate PIM CoE Secretariat, partners, staff and well-wishers for technical support, daily running of the Center and their role in the realization of these achievements.
Special thanks go to Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, National Planning Authority, Cambridge Resources International (CRI) and Makerere University for the overwhelming support rendered towards the development of the Center.
Prof. Edward Bbaale Principal & Principal Investigator, CoBAMS/PIM CoE
In our latest ‘Stories of Change’ feature, CARTA graduate, Kato Charles Drago, cohort 3, Makerere University shares his journey from an early-career scientist to a leading expert in infectious disease in Uganda. His work focuses on biomarkers for zoonotic diseases, securing over $5 million in research funding, and establishing a biosafety level 2 lab for high-impact research at Makerere. Beyond his research, Kato is mentoring the next generation of African scientists and strengthening regional collaborations.
Stephen Wandera, cohort 2, Makerere University, was nominated for the prestigious Vice Chancellor’s Research Excellence Award 2025. This nomination recognizes his outstanding contributions to research excellence. The award ceremony took place on January 14, 2025, during the Convocation luncheon, following the 75th graduation ceremony of Makerere. We congratulate Stephen on this significant achievement and commend his dedication to advancing research within his field.