Hoima, Uganda – At the EfD-Uganda Annual General Meeting held at Glory Summit Hotel in Hoima District on July 18, 2024, Professors Edward Bbaale and Johnny Mugisha were re-elected unopposed as Director and Deputy Director of the EfD-Mak Centre, respectively.

The EfD-Mak Centre, established in 2018 and officially launched at Makerere University in October 2019, elected the duo during its inaugural AGM. The voting exercise, presided over by EfD Mak Advisory Board member Prof. Eria Hisali, included research fellows, advisory board members, and leadership from the collaborating colleges of CAES and CoBAMS.

“I congratulate colleagues who have offered themselves for the leadership and also congratulate you for winning the trust and support of the AGM. The task ahead of us is enormous, and I hope all colleagues will support you in steering this institution into the future,” Prof. Hisali stated.

Prof. Edward Bbaale, nominated in absentia by Dr. Alex Tatwangire and seconded by Dr. John Sseruyange and Dr. Ibrahim Okumu, was away on EfD-related activities in Perugia, Italy. Dr. Tatwangire praised the leadership team for their accomplishments, suggesting the continuation of their tenure.

“I wish to nominate Prof. Edward Bbaale for the position of Director,” Dr. Tatwangire said.

Prof. Bbaale’s agent, Dr. John Sseruyange, conveyed his acceptance of the nomination and the vote. “I wish to thank the voters on behalf of Prof. Edward Bbaale. He is ready to continue promoting the work of the centre, strengthen engagement with policymakers, and enhance institutional and capacity-building initiatives,” Dr. Sseruyange announced.

Prof. Johnny Mugisha, nominated by Dr. Florence Lwiza and seconded by Dr. Vincent Ssaajabi and Dr. John Sseruyange, was declared Deputy Director-elect. Prof. Mugisha expressed his gratitude, stating, “It is an honor to be given the responsibility to keep on the driving seat of the EfD Mak Centre. I derive my confidence from the existing structure, our focused advisory board, and the commitment of our research fellows and administrators at the centre.”

Prof. Mugisha emphasized his commitment to advancing the Centre’s goals. “The experience we have enjoyed in the last five years gives us confidence that we shall move the centre to higher levels. We have growing interest from our partners and collaborators within Makerere and beyond. I accept this responsibility as the Deputy Director,” he affirmed.

He also acknowledged the strategic direction outlined during the AGM, vowing to add value and present significant advancements in the next five years.

The EfD Mak Centre’s leadership structure is unique, with a Director and Deputy Director stemming from different colleges due to the collaborative nature of its founding between CoBAMS and CAES. This arrangement ensures that while the Centre is structurally hosted by CAES, the Director comes from CoBAMS and the Deputy Director from CAES, promoting balanced representation and collaboration.

Jane Anyango is the Communication Officer EfD Uganda

The Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence at the College of Business and Management Sciences, has successfully concluded a five-day training workshop for public officers from various government agencies and universities. The training, held in Jinja, was attended by 30 participants who received certificates of completion at a closing ceremony on July 5, 2024. The event was graced by the Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University, who delivered closing remarks and awarded the certificates.

In his closing address, the Principal expressed deep gratitude and pride, thanking the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development (MoFPED) for their generous financial support, which made the training possible. He highlighted the Ministry’s crucial role in identifying and nominating participants from various government bodies, emphasizing the importance of professional development in improving public investment efficiency and effectiveness.

The Principal also extended special thanks to the Permanent Secretaries, Vice Chancellors, and Executive Directors of the participating institutions for recognizing the significance of the training and nominating their staff to attend. He commended the dedication of the faculty members from Makerere University, MoFPED, and the National Planning Authority for their expertise and time, which ensured a fruitful learning experience for the participants.

Addressing the participants, the Principal lauded their commitment and resilience throughout the week-long training. He noted that the program equipped them with essential skills and knowledge in Public Investment Management (PIM), including project preparation, execution, procurement, Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), monitoring and evaluation, and integrating climate change, social, and environmental risk management in project preparation.

He encouraged the participants to view this training as the first step in their journey to becoming experts in PIM, emphasizing the importance of continuing education through advanced modules in Financial and Economic appraisal of projects. The advanced training, conducted in collaboration with Cambridge Resources International (CRI) and Queens University in Canada, offers a tripartite certificate from Makerere University, MoFPED, and Queens University.

In his remarks, the Principal highlighted the broader scope of the Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence, which extends beyond training to include research, outreach activities, and advisory services to the government. He announced the Centre’s ongoing efforts to revise the Development Committee guidelines for MoFPED and assess the performance of projects selected since the first National Development Plan (NDP I). Additionally, he proposed organizing a one-day Public Investment Management Conference in October 2024 to evaluate the current state of public investments in Uganda and develop future strategies.

The Principal concluded by congratulating the participants on their achievement and expressing confidence in their ability to effect positive change in the management of public investments in Uganda. He acknowledged the invaluable support of the faculty, mentors, and coaches, as well as the excellent work of the PIM CoE Secretariat, headed by Dr. Willy Kagarura.

As the training workshop came to a close, the participants left with a sense of accomplishment and a renewed commitment to enhancing public investment management practices in Uganda, contributing to the country’s economic development and prosperity.

Scholars from Makerere University, in partnership with researchers from Europe, have launched the Remaking of the Family in East Africa (FamiLEA) project, focusing on 2000 households in the Kampala Metropolitan Area. This 3-year research initiative, which began on July 1st, includes households in Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono Districts and will continue until mid-2027.

The FamiLEA project examines families and the factors influencing changes in family structures. This research responds to the rapid and significant changes in family dynamics across Africa, including innovative kinship practices.

Dr. Stephen Wandera, the Principal Investigator (PI) from Makerere University, stated that enumerators will conduct door-to-door data collection using structured questionnaires. “Our enumerators are students from Makerere University’s Population Studies program, both undergraduate and postgraduate. We expect them to gain valuable field experience and provide validated results,” Dr. Wandera explained during the training.

The study focuses on household changes such as marriage, divorce, intermediate relationships, and networks to understand the reasons behind family changes in East Africa. Following data analysis, dissemination meetings will be held with stakeholders, including government ministries, departments, and agencies.

Earlier this year, a stakeholders’ meeting in Kampala included representatives from the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development and the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. Researchers will submit reports to policymakers and prepare policy briefs to support informed policy-making and programming.

Yonatan N. Gez, Co-Principal Investigator from ISCTE University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal, highlighted that the FamiLEA project is being conducted in both Kenya and Uganda, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. This interdisciplinary project involves scholars from demography, anthropology, political science, geography, and history, collaborating with universities from Switzerland, France, Kenya, Canada, and Portugal, with Makerere University as the key collaborator.

Gez noted, “We will conduct extensive surveys using both qualitative and quantitative methods in Nairobi and Kampala. Given the project’s focus on family structures and their transformation, religious and cultural leaders will play a key role in the study.”

The survey will include parents and guardians from 2000 randomly selected households, targeting individuals aged 18 to 64. The questionnaires will cover topics such as intermediate networks, emotional connections, and the impact of these factors on family changes.

Prof. Edward Bbaale, Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), officiated the training. He emphasized the alignment of this research with Makerere University’s strategic direction of being a research-led institution. “This research is within our university’s strategic direction, and I congratulate all the principal investigators for securing the grant,” Prof. Bbaale said.

Prof. Bbaale also highlighted the importance of international collaboration in research, encouraging scholars to pursue similar research projects. He advised enumerators to exercise patience, intelligence, and care in the field to ensure high-quality research findings.

On behalf of the university, he thanked the African Population and Health Research Centre for their collaboration with Makerere University. “Engage with line ministries and the private sector to ensure the implementation of the research project’s recommendations,” Prof. Bbaale urged researchers.

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