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GAMSU Holds Sensitization Workshop on Grants Administration & Management at Mak Jinja Campus
By Elvis Lubanga
The Director for the Makerere University Jinja Campus, Assoc. Prof. Ronald Kakungulu Mayambala has emphasized the importance of research funding, as a pathway for academic success. This was during the Grants Administration and Management Support Unit (GAMSU) sensitisation workshop held at the Jinja Campus on Thursday 4th May 2023 aimed at empowering researchers with the skills and knowledge they need to secure and manage grants.
Kakungulu highlighted the role of Grants Administration and Management in this process and therefore encouraged everyone to take advantage of the resources and expertise available through GAMSU.
The workshop featured participants from Jinja Campus led by Kakungulu, Prof Ronald Balunya and facilitators led by the Head GAMSU, Professor Sylivia Antonia Nakimera Nannyonga – Tamusuza.
In her remarks, Prof. Sylvia A. N. Nannyonga-Tamusuza, the head of GAMSU, delivered an informative presentation on Grants Administration and Management support in Makerere University, where she covered a range of topics, from the basics of grant application to best practices for project management.
Mr. Yunus Musisi, the IT officer at GAMSU shared on how to navigate the GAMSU Database where he supported participants in creating accounts and demonstrated how to add, edit project data in the Database.
He further noted that “the GAMSU database is going to help organize project information in one place which will ease tracking of grants at Makerere University with Module one capturing project information and module two dealing with the financials.”
Ms Christine Ninsima (CPA) an accountant at GAMSU, discussed the Budgeting and Financial Management procedures and guidelines when handling grant resources. She spelt out the critical considerations in budgeting for grants and highlighted the steps in budgeting, and why we need budgeting.
She said “since we cannot meet every need, budgets help in guiding principal investigators on the way forward.”
Christine further explained one of GAMSU’s mandates, which includes receiving and consolidating quarterly reports from all ongoing projects at Makerere, which includes comprehensive income and expenditure reports, as well as physical reports. This is done to not only ensure successful handling of grants but also check for compliance.
Mr. Laban Lwasa, the Senior Administrative Assistant at GAMSU shared skills on navigating funder platforms accessible through GAMSU support which include Grant Forward, proposal central, Grants.gov, European Union Tender Platform among others. He illustrated how to search for relevant funding opportunities, create strong proposals, and increase the chances of securing funds.
He also advised members of faculty at Jinja campus not to shy away from applying for grants just because they are not professors but rather give it a try when they have impactful ideas and proposals.
“I know a colleague who is not a professor but is currently a principal investigator.” Lwasa noted.
The workshop ended with closing remarks from Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza, who thanked everyone for their participation and encouraged them to continue building their skills and knowledge in searching, application and management of grants.
Makerere University on 23rd January 2026 hosted the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) validation meeting of the draft minimum standards for implementing Competence-Based Education (CBE) in Higher Education Institutions. The meeting held in the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium brought together Vice Chancellors, Rectors, Principals and Academic Registrars from Higher Education Institutions in Uganda.
Hosted by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Sarah Ssali, the meeting followed institutional input into the draft minimum standards and was aimed at validating them prior to their formal adoption by the NCHE Council at their next meeting in February 2026. The minimum standards cover nine areas namely; 1) Curriculum Design, 2) Teaching and Learning Approaches, 3) Assessment, 4) Faculty Training and Support, 5) Student Support Services, 6) Quality Assurance Systems, 7) Industry and Community Linkages, 8) Monitoring and Evaluation, and 9) Gender and Equity Mainstreaming.
Following feedback into presentations by the various leaders present, a motion to adopt the draft minimum standards, with institutional input incorporated, was moved by Bugema University, seconded by UMCAT School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and unanimously supported by institutions present.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Prof. Sarah Ssali appreciated NCHE for choosing Makerere to host the landmark event, reiterating that the University greatly respects each and every Higher Education Institution and regards them as partners and collaborators in the quest to improve Uganda’s Higher Education sector.
The Executive Director NCHE, Prof. Mary Okwakol reassured leaders present that all the pertinent issues raised for input into the draft minimum standards would be incorporated, and urged those with pressing issues to submit them before month’s end. She reiterated NCHE’s readiness to continue lobbying Government for the resources required by Higher Education Institutions, particularly Public Universities, to implement Competence-Based Education (CBE).
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