Business & Management
Uganda’s Civil Servants retooled on Urban Water Observatories
Uganda’s senior public servants in the water sector and the academia from Makerere University have been skilled on Urban Water observatories.
The half day training held at Makerere University on 5th April, 2023 was facilitated by Dr. David Fuente from the University of South Carolina USA.
Dr. Fuente was at Makerere University to kick off the collaborative project with his colleagues Dr. Nicholas Kilimani and Prof. Edward Bbaale focusing on Urban Water Supply and the Challenge of Bill Payment and Affordability and, also to facilitate a workshop on Urban Water Observatories project within the EfD Network focused on Urban Water Scarcity and Equity.
The goal of the workshop was to have a dialogue with a variety of stakeholders from the water sector in Uganda to understand the challenges they perceive with respect to providing resilient and equitable water and sanitation services.
The other objectives were to understand the opportunities they perceive given the strength among the various stakeholders and how policy makers and stakeholders are thinking about priorities within the water sector, what actions they can take to promote access to resilient water and sanitation services, and which procedure has been difficult or easy.
Having facilitated these dialogues in four different countries, Dr. Fuente said perceived challenges from Uganda’s stake holders like sector coordination, insufficient resources to meet resilient and adequate water and sanitation services, the challenge of affordability, communication both within the governments, sector entities and across the Civil Society Organisations were not unique to Uganda’s context
“What I found particularly inspiring is the stakeholders sharing a number of strength that exist in Uganda including emerging and improved coordination among sector players, competent and committed staff and government agencies committed to improving service delivery.
Additional strengths highlighted were the strong institutional and legal framework to support development in the water sector and so the policies are in place and it is a matter of merging the policies and resources to leverage on the objectives that government has set which was so inspiring”. He explained.
Another insight from the meeting was that many of the policy instruments or policy actions that the government and policy makers partake were perceived as potentially of high impact but difficult to implement.
Much of the low hanging fruits according to Dr. Fuente have been taken care of and the steps that are needed to get forward are going to be challenging to implement.
“The positive side of this is that, it was interesting to see that many of the stakeholders perceived a wide range of policy actions and policy instruments that could be implemented to improve resilient water and sanitation services delivery being potentially impactful.
From EfD perspective, there is a real opportunity for the EfD-Mak and the EfD Network to help sector players martial evidence to help them understand which policy instrument is likely to be very effective given the institutional context here in Uganda”. Dr. Fuente commented adding that:
“I sense real optimism, commitment to improving the situation on the ground and high level of engagement and interest. I hope the stakeholders and EfD Mak continue with the conversation we started and identify which ways they can partner to develop high impact research opportunities and pursue together”.
The Director EfD-Mak Centre Prof. Edward Bbaale said this was just a start of the collaboration.
“The university cannot exist, if it does not impact society and if it does not solve problems that society is facing at that particularly time. And so, as EfD and Makerere University, our gates are open for you to come in but also our gates are open for us to get out and reach out to you and in many of the cases, we shall be calling on you wherever you are. And the main objective of our coming is how do we twin and join efforts to find a lasting solutions”.
Bbaale stressed that whereas donors are interested in supporting research, research that is impactful is that one that is a collaboration between stakeholders and the academia.
Participants commend the workshop
“The workshop brings in an interface for a dialogue so that we are able to look at how we translate the science into water supply service provision and ensure that there is sustainability. We were talking about how we ensure social equity, how do we ensure that there is water for all as a human right?
Yet again, translating the science will ensure that we are able to put in place policies, having the right science of how situations are happening, talking about climate change, degradation, high population growth rate and how all these inform policy”, David Cheptoi , Engineer from the Ministry of Water and Environment said.
“This workshop has been so helpful because it has been able to bring various policy makers and different NGOs to discuss issues concerning urban water tariffs, policies as well as what we need to know for our future when it comes to water. It has addressed how issues of scarcity, policies and coordination can pave way for how we can work together to solve water issues”, Kasimire Susan a lead engineer from Water Mission Uganda said.
“I am glad to have participated in this workshop because it has opened my brain to see how the academia is fully involved in championing cause towards impactful research to help society. My main take home message is how we can build partnerships with the academia, private sector and government and conduct innovative policy research that can be impactful to the communities that we serve. This is a step in the right direction because it will improve coordination among all actors”, James Mumbere from Uganda Water and Sanitation Network said.
Kizza Denis Benkya is a student of the Master of Science in Agriculture and Applied Economics. He said:
“It has given me insight on how government and the private sector can amend policies to do with water and environmental conservation. For us to have safe water supply in our country, we need a synergy of efforts with government taking lead and joined by non-governmental organizations and individuals who use water.”
Business & Management
PIM Centre Awards Certificates to Over 35 Officials Trained in Essentials of Public Investment Management
The Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence at Makerere University has awarded certificates to more than 35 public officials who successfully completed a three-day training in the Essentials of Public Investment Management (PIM).
The training, held from September 23rd to 26th, 2025 at the College of Business and Management Sciences, aimed at strengthening the capacity of government officials to effectively identify, prepare, and implement public projects.
The closing ceremony was officiated by Ms. Belinda Bisamaza, who represented the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury (PS/ST). In her remarks, Ms. Bisamaza commended participants for their commitment, noting that the training had offered a solid foundation in the entire PIM cycle — from project conceptualization and profiling, through monitoring and evaluation (M&E), to the use of the Integrated Bank of Projects (IBP), Environmental and Social Risk Management, and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
“With these skills, you can contribute meaningfully to improving the quality of proposals submitted to the IBP, ensure better risk management, and enhance implementation through robust monitoring frameworks,” she said, adding that participants were now better prepared for advanced modules on financial appraisal, risk analysis, and stakeholder engagement.
Representing the PIM Centre, Prof. Eria Hisali highlighted the need for well-prepared projects that directly contribute to economic growth. “We must move away from the practice of developing projects only when funding is required. Instead, we should create a strong bank of quality projects from which government can easily draw,” he said.
The Manager of the PIM Centre, Dr. John Sseruyange, expressed gratitude to the participants and trainers for their dedication. He noted that the facilitators were drawn from Makerere University, the National Planning Authority (NPA), and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED). Dr. Sseruyange also revealed that the Centre would be rolling out further in-depth training modules and creating opportunities for alumni to engage in consultancy and research work. The PIM Centre hosts the training as part of broader efforts by Makerere University, MoFPED, and NPA to strengthen Uganda’s public investment management systems, ensuring value for money, improved service delivery, and sustainable economic development.
Business & Management
PIM Centre Makerere, Graduates Second Cohort of Certificate in Financial Implications – Integrated Regulatory Cost-Benefit Analysis
Jinja, September 5, 2025
Thirty-one government officers from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have successfully completed a two-week intensive training in the Certificate of Financial Implications (CFI) – Integrated Regulatory Cost-Benefit Analysis. The certification ceremony was held at the Pearl on the Nile Hotel, Jinja, marking another milestone in Uganda’s efforts to institutionalize evidence-based and fiscally responsible policymaking.
The training, delivered by the Makerere University Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), and National Planning Authority equipped participants with practical skills to evaluate policy and legislative proposals for their financial, economic, and social implications.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Mr. Paul Mwanja, Commissioner for Infrastructure & Social Services at MoFPED, who represented the Permanent Secretary, commended the officers for their commitment at a time when government institutions are finalizing the Auditor General’s audits, implementing the FY2025/26 budget, rolling out the National Development Plan IV’s tenfold growth strategy, and preparing for the 2026 General Elections.
“Your participation affirms a collective commitment across Government to strengthen the quality, transparency, and credibility of public policymaking in Uganda,” Mr. Mwanja said. He urged graduates to return to their institutions as champions of reform, share their knowledge with colleagues, and drive the change needed in Public Finance Management. He also announced that the next cohort of the training will take place in January 2026.
Prof. Ibrahim Mike Okumu, Dean of the School of Economics at Makerere University, delivered the graduation address, highlighting the certificate’s importance in addressing Uganda’s triple challenge of scale, scarcity, and speed.
“This program does something unique. It teaches you not only to ask whether a policy or project is beneficial, but also whether it is affordable and resilient under real fiscal constraints,” Prof. Okumu noted. He challenged graduates to apply their skills at project, portfolio, and policy levels—ensuring value for money and enhancing public trust in government spending.
He further emphasized that Uganda’s pioneering approach to integrated CFI-CBA positions the country as a leader in Africa and beyond: “You, Uganda’s first CFI-CBA graduates, are now part of a global brain trust. Your work will speak to investors, parliaments, development partners, and above all, the Ugandan people.”
Dr. John Sseruyange, Manager of the PIM Centre of Excellence, expressed appreciation to participants for their active engagement throughout the training and thanked MoFPED and the faculty drawn from Makerere University, the National Planning Authority, Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Energy for their technical support.
The Certificate of Financial Implications – Integrated Regulatory Cost-Benefit Analysis was introduced following the Revised Guidelines for Financial Clearance, effective July 1, 2025. The guidelines require MDAs to prepare their own financial implications statements, subject to rigorous cost-benefit analysis, thereby strengthening linkages between fiscal responsibility and regulatory impact assessments.
With the successful completion of the second cohort, Uganda is steadily building a critical mass of professionals capable of embedding cost-benefit thinking across government, ensuring every shilling delivers maximum impact for citizens.
The Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE) at Makerere University held its Steering Committee meeting on 4th September 2025 at Mestil Hotel in Kampala. The session, attended by all members, focused on reviewing progress, reflecting on achievements from the past financial year, and charting the way forward for the Centre.
About the PIM Centre of Excellence
The PIM CoE was established in March 2022 at Makerere University’s College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED). Its purpose is to strengthen Uganda’s public investment management system through training, research, and advisory services.
The Steering Committee plays a critical role in oversight, review, coordination, and advisory functions, guiding the Centre’s work and ensuring that public investment processes align with national development priorities.
Highlights from the Meeting
Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Joseph Muvawala, the Executive Director of the National Planning Authority, praised the October 2024 Annual PIM Conference for expanding perspectives on project design and delivery. He emphasized the importance of shifting from theory to practice in training, advocating for students and officials to engage with real-world projects. He also underscored the Centre’s new autonomy—transitioning from a subvention to a vote—which gives it greater independence but also demands stronger financial accountability. Dr. Muvawala further called for a permanent physical home for the Centre, noting that sufficient resources are available to make this possible and that negotiations with government are underway.
Mr. Ashaba Hannington, Director Budget at MoFPED, shared key achievements from the 2024/25 financial year. He noted that the Annual PIM Conference, organised jointly by MoFPED and the Centre, provided a vital platform for stakeholders to reflect on progress in public investment management.
Mr. Ashaba reaffirmed MoFPED’s commitment to working closely with the Centre to strengthen Uganda’s public investment capacity.
Prof. Eria Hisali, Co–Principal Investigator of the PIM CoE, outlined strategies to increase the Centre’s vibrancy and impact. He emphasized direct project engagement, advisory services, and peer reviews as ways to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Looking ahead, he revealed plans for a Master’s program in Economic and Investment Modelling, a Training of Trainers (ToT) initiative, and deeper practical capacity-building efforts.
Prof. Hisali also noted several successful trainings from the past year, including:
- 46 staff from MDAs trained in Essentials of PIM.
- 59 participants across two cohorts trained in Financial Appraisal and Risk Analysis.
- 25 participants trained in Economic Appraisal and Stakeholder Analysis.
He proposed the introduction of a “trailer feasibility test” to evaluate whether completed projects deliver benefits as projected and to address optimism bias in project planning.
Dr. John Seruyange, Manager of the PIM CoE, highlighted the Centre’s growing regional footprint. Beyond Uganda, six central government officers from Somalia have been trained in Infrastructure Asset Management, generating further interest in advanced training from Somalia, Zimbabwe, and Somaliland. To position itself as a regional hub, the Centre is preparing a prospectus to market its courses across Africa and beyond.
Why It Matters
The Steering Committee reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the PIM CoE remains a leading think tank and capacity-building hub for government and regional partners. By improving the appraisal, financing, and implementation of public projects, the Centre is strengthening accountability, enhancing service delivery, and contributing to Uganda’s broader development goals.
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