General
Empower the Youth to take advantage of AfCFTA-H.E. Jallow-Tambajang
The Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC) Presidential Lecture Series (PLS) is an annual event that brings together prominent speakers, great leaders and thinkers to Makerere University to engage in thought-provoking conversations with stakeholders particularly students and the youth. Held from 6th to 8th June, the 2023 edition of the PLS was graced by Her Excellency Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, former Vice President of The Gambia. As such, Her Excellency held one-on-one discussions with Young Female Leaders at a Media Blitz Roundtable on 6th, steered a Cross-generational Fireside (Ekyooto) Conversation with Female University Student Leaders on 7th and crowned it all with a Keynote Address on 8th June on the theme “Celebrating Women, Pan-Africanism and Community”.
“Coming back to Uganda, Kampala, Entebbe makes me feel very proud and honoured and happy to see that Uganda is growing both in terms of economic and social development but also the friendliness, the fraternity that I have always known” H.E. Jallow-Tambajang cheerfully remarked as she commenced her address. Her joy was indeed tangible as she recalled with nostalgia the time she spent in Uganda as a newly-married sixteen (16) year old housewife, later returning as a UN Expert for Missions around 1993.
In the same breath, she paid tribute to her Ugandan “Father” Ambassador Matiya Lubega, with whom she worked for close to five years in The Gambia. Amb. Lubega served as Resident Representative and Co-coordinator of United Nations activities in The Gambia in the late 1980s and was commended by Her Excellency for being truly Pan-African in ensuring that UNDP programs were responsive to needs and realities of the Gambian people. In so doing, she noted, Amb. Lubega transcended the elitist attitude often exuded by international experts and used the opportunity to connect with and empower the people.
Empowerment, particularly of the youth, is important in the African context where only 5-10% of national resources are invested in their programmes. “What we need to do is knock at every door and see what opportunities are available” remarked H.E. Jallow-Tambajang. “The AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) provides billions of dollars for entrepreneurship; the African Development Bank also has a programme (The Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multi-Donor Trust Fund) which is giving so much money to the African Youth” she added, addressing political and other leaders.
Her Excellency’s remark was premised on the need for Africa to invest in her youth in order to sustain the continent’s aspirations to put people at the centre of development programmes, as envisioned by the “unify and uplift” principle of Pan-Africanism. She explained that the Pan-African spirit is rooted in the African culture of solidarity, sharing, leaving the comfort zone, and opting to serve mankind, aspects that she said have slowly been erased.
“The talent Africa has is a talent that has been underutilized, when we have everything. What we need is a sense of justice, really including the Pan-African spirit; rather than sitting in our corners and saying ‘I’m Gambian, I’m Ugandan,’ we say we are Pan-Africans” she remarked.
Turning to the area of Women, H.E. Jallow-Tambajang outlined misconceptions about Islam and the older more experienced women not communicating enough as some of challenges experienced in the quest to economically and politically empower women.
“People who do not understand religion will say that Islam suppresses women whereas when you look at the Holy Quran, God has confined two verses to women… the other challenge we have had is the fact that the elderly women have not been communicating enough with the young people to impart knowledge and pass the baton to prepare them for leadership” she noted.
To address the latter, Her Excellency demonstrated her commitment to pass the baton of leadership to the younger generation by introducing her granddaughter, Ms. Ejatou Barry, a personal assistant in her philanthropic work. In the same breath, she recognized Ms. Charlene Ruto, a Youth Champion and Advocate for Climate Change Action for her work, despite sections of the public linking it to State funding by virtue of her being a daughter to Kenyan President H.E. William Ruto.
H.E. Jallow-Tambajang saluted President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for embodying the Pan-African spirit by waiving her requirement for a visa in order to attend the Lecture Series. She equally recognized Dr. Nansozi K. Muwanga, Executive Director, JNLC for her role in ensuring that she made the trip to attend the PLS and pledged as a Senior Citizen, to establish twinning relationships between JNLC and institutions in The Gambia.
“When I go back, I will look at how I can influence to have more students come to Makerere University and vice-versa, I can try as much as possible to influence how Makerere University students can also go to other parts of Africa that I have visited, because that is the way we can develop the culture of Pan-Africanism, the culture of solidarity, and the culture of sharing knowledge” she added.
Her Excellency had some nuggets of wisdom to share with the youth too. “Young men usually think when they are educated and have their PhDs, they no longer need the elders” she observed, before emphasizing “this is the time you need elders. What the elders are going to give you in terms of wisdom, you cannot read from books… the elders have the experience; they have journeyed through life with little resources and are able to help you.”
She equally urged the youth to use social media as a tool to empower each other, reach out to peers in the Pan-African setting and learn from their good experiences. And whereas the Former Vice President respected the youth’s right to protest, she urged them to choose the path of dialogue instead. “Every time you go onto the streets, you are losing something. If you break infrastructure and want to become leaders, where will you find the resources to rebuild your countries?” she reasoned.
H.E. Jallow-Tambajang concluded by urging African political leaders, thinkers and policy makers to make the dream of a borderless Africa a reality so as to eliminate the barriers to free trade imposed on us by colonial boundaries. “Africa’s vision is shared prosperity and this can no longer hold without empowering the youth through entrepreneurship and different leadership fora they want.”
The Chairperson of Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara who graced the PLS thanked H.E. Jallow-Tambajang for making the trip to Makerere to deliver her keynote address. Quoting from Mwalimu Julius Nyerere’s famous book “Women’s Freedom: Women are Eagles, Not Chickens” she reiterated the University leadership’s commitment to ensuring that the youth, particularly women that go through the gates of Makerere University will be empowered to straighten their wings and fly like the eagles that they truly are.
She noted that Makerere has consistently been an advocate of women’s emancipation, right from the 1945 admission of the first six females and the 1990 enactment of 1.5 extra points for all female students to the 2019 policy providing for a 40 percent enrollment quota for female students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and the 2021 policy doubling the number of awards under the Female Scholarship Initiative (FSI) from 20 to 40.
“All these milestones notwithstanding, it is of utmost importance that our students enjoy an environment that is conducive to academic excellence and free of any form of abuse… with support of our partners, we have revised our Policy and Regulations Against Sexual Harassment and empowered our Gender Mainstreaming Directorate to receive and investigate any allegations of sexual harassment levelled against our staff and students” she added.
Mrs. Magara congratulated the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre on their efforts to groom and equip our young leaders with the moral campus for leadership and a willingness to serve through various courses, which have even been used to induct Student Leaders of the 88th Guild.
Elaborating further on the JNLC’s role in empowering students, Executive Director Dr. Suzie Nansozi Muwanga said that Centre’s youth leadership training programme is aimed at addressing skills gaps among young leaders through short courses in Financial Literacy, self-awareness as well as mental health and wellbeing. “One of the products we are particularly proud of; a tailored leadership course, will be made available on the Makerere University E-Learning Environment (MUELE) platform and accessible to all students starting this academic year.”
She added that in H.E. Jallow-Tambajang, the JNLC had found the perfect candidate to deliver the 2023 PLS. “Her Excellency’s track record as a mediator, human rights defender, political activist, and effective advocate for women’s rights, in addition to being a champion of basic education, maternal care, healthcare and women in entrepreneurship is nothing short of remarkable. Furthermore, her ability to do all this while fulfilling her obligations as a mother paints an amazing picture for our young women and aspiring female university student leaders to emulate.”
PLS 2023 also featured a panel discussion moderated by Ms. Charlene Ruto, with the 89th Guild President H.E. Maseruka Robert, Vice President Uganda Management Institute (UMI) Guild Union, Ms. Akatukunda Maureen, and former Makerere Guild Minister and Lawyer, Ms. Kirabo Marion as panelists.
Delivering the closing remarks, Director General UMI, Dr. James Nkata clarified that Pan-Africanism is neither an agenda, nor an event, nor a political slogan but rather a supra philosophy that all other philosophies on the continent are supposed to fit within. He added that leaders are not made but grown through the process of socialization. “The social structures that bring up the human beings that live in those communities are the ones that grow the leaders.”
Consequently, Dr. Nkata clarified that Pan-Africanism cannot be promoted through legislative announcements but through societal socializations. He therefore urged JNLC to initiate research on how we can 1) re-socialize our societies to develop a new conscience of Pan-Africanism where everybody is accorded equal opportunity and 2) de-construct human constructs in Africa that demean women, “because it is through academia that knowledge is generated and value is created.”
The day would have been incomplete without a display of culture and creativity, and the Department of Performing Arts and Film was on hand to deliver a thrilling display of dance as well as an original composition by Dr. Milton Wabyona. To crown it all, the 89th Guild represented by President H.E. Maseruka Robert and Finance Minister Ms. Kiranda Sharifah presented a portrait by the School of Liberal and Performing Arts GRC, Mr. Ainamaani Brian to H.E. Jallow-Tambajang. PLS 2023 was moderated by the Acting Deputy Principal, School of Law, Dr. Zahara Nampewo and Principal Public Relations Officer, Ms. Ritah Namisango.
Following successful development of the Integrated Electronic Pre-Award Grants Management System for Sponsored Research, the Grants Administration and Management Support Unit (GAMSU) at Makerere University held a dissemination workshop, to onboard the University leadership, principal investigators, researchers, staff and partner institutions.
Held on Friday 6th March 2026, the dissemination workshop provided a platform to demonstrate the Integrated Electronic Pre-Award Grants Management System for sponsored research at Makerere University, and to receive instant feedback from physical and virtual participants.
Participants were drawn from the University leadership, including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Finance and Administration, the University Secretary, the Director-Graduate Training, Director-Research, Partnerships and Networking, Principals, Deputy Principals, Deans, Heads of Department, Principal Investigators, researchers, Heads of Administrative Units, representatives from international partner institutions, and members of the Grants Management Steering Committee (GMSC).
Welcoming the internal and external stakeholders to the dissemination workshop, the Head of GAMSU, Prof. Sylvia Antonia Nakimera Nannyonga-Tamusuza, emphasized that feedback from the participants was a vital step, that would not only enrich the grants management and administration processes, but also contribute to refining the system.
Expressing GAMSU’s commitment to the automation of the entire grants cycle, Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza credited the University leadership, the research project team members, and the different units within Makerere University, as well as, international partners, for the support rendered to GAMSU in developing the system.
The Integrated Electronic Pre-Award Grants Management System
Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza highlighted that the initiative responds to growing global competition for research funding and longstanding administrative challenges that researchers have faced when accessing and managing grants.
This digital initiative is designed to modernise how the institution handles research funding applications and administrative workflows before awards are granted. The system, aims to streamline the entire grant application lifecycle — from identifying funding opportunities to proposal preparation, compliance review, reporting, and closeout management.
Recognition of the Project team
Headed by Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza (Principal Investigator), the project team members include the following: Denis Michael Wamala (I.T Specialist), Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala (Senior researcher-GMSC), Prof. Charles Masembe (Senior researcher-GMSC), Ivan Mutyaba (Grants Administrator-IREX Alumnus), Mordecai Tayebwa (Grants Manager-IREX Alumnus, Esther Kabinga (Legal Affairs Advisor), Innocent Tumwebaze (Early-Career researcher), Caroline Nabwire (Grants Administrator-GAMSU), Harriet Nambooze (Senior Grants Administrator) , and Victor Chris Watasa (System’s Design Consultant).
Acknowledgment of funding partners
The development of the Integrated Pre-Award Grants Management System was supported by the International Research and Exchange Board (IREX) through funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, with additional contributions from Makerere University.
Institutional leadership welcomes system development
On behalf of the University Management, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, lauded the Principal Investigator, Prof.Sylvia Antonia Nakimera Nannyonga-Tamusuza and her project team, for the development of the system aimed at digitizing the pre-award grant processes at Makerere University.
Opening the dissemination workshop, Prof. Ireeta, who doubles as the Chairperson of the Grants Management Steering Committee (GMSC), highlighted that the Integrated Electronic Pre-Award Grants Management System, would significantly benefit Makerere University and the researchers.
Prof. Ireeta emphasized that as Makerere University continues to implement its research agenda, the funding question becomes paramount. Acknowledging that funding through grants significantly facilitates research undertakings at Makerere University, Prof. Ireeta underscored the value of the Integrated Electronic Pre-Award Grants Management System, as an excellent addition, to existing processes aimed at amplifying the research profile of the University, as well as, streamlining grants management and administration.
“If we maximally utilize the system, the University and its researchers will be better placed to apply, attract and win grants, which will definitely boost the grant and research profile of this institution,” he said.
He encouraged the participants to actively follow the proceedings, and provide constructive input during the feedback session, in order to contribute to the refinement of the system.
Format of the dissemination workshop
The dissemination workshop featured a series of presentations including: Makerere University’s Strategic Research Direction; the Context of Administration and Management of Grants at Makerere University; Project Overview; Purpose and Objectives of the workshop; Overview of the Pre-Award Grants System Development; Technical demonstration of the system; and the Discussion and Stakeholder Feedback session.
The benefits of the system and the challenges it seeks to address
Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza, Head of GAMSU and Principal Investigator of the project, explained that the electronic pre-award system addresses several structural challenges in research grant management.
She said Makerere University faces increasing global competition for research funding. “Grants have become highly competitive, and we need stronger institutional strategies to support our researchers,” she said.
According to Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza, the previous grant management environment was fragmented because different university units operated independent systems. The new platform seeks to streamline processes and support database-driven decision-making for capacity building and institutional planning.
She explained that the system is designed to support researchers even before they begin writing proposals. “Understanding the funder’s requirements is critical. If a researcher does not clearly understand what the funder is asking for, even a well-written proposal may fail to secure funding,” she said.
The Head of GAMSU stressed that transparency and accountability were central goals of the system. “With proper work logs and documentation, we can demonstrate accountability in grant administration,” she added.
She noted that principal investigators often require institutional documents such as audit reports and registration information when applying for grants. Centralised data storage, she said, would make such information more accessible.
Support for researchers, not replacement for individual applications
Prof. Nannyonga-Tamuzusa clarified that the system does not eliminate individual grant applications. “GAMSU is providing support to researchers. We want our staff to compete favourably within the global research community,” she said.
She explained that academic staff operate at different career levels. “Some staff are new to research grant applications and may need guidance. Others are experienced. Our role is to provide support whenever it is needed,” she stated
Addressing challenges in grant administration
The Head of GAMSU identified several challenges motivating the system’s development. These include: increasing international competition for research funding, fragmented awareness of funding opportunities across university units, limited coordination between researchers, colleges, and administrative structures, capacity gaps in grant proposal development, heavy reliance on manual administrative processes and limited institutional data for strategic planning.
She pointed out that GAMSU’s role is coordination, compliance, and institutional oversight rather than revenue collection.
Leaders and Researchers urged to adhere to university policies
Presenting the Context of Administration and Management of Grants at Makerere University, Mr. Yusuf Kiranda-University Secretary, articulated that the University Council, approved the Grants Administration and Management Policy in 2020, which provides governance guidance for research funding management. He appealed to participants to always read and make reference to the policy on matters pertaining to grants management and administration.
The University Secretary emphasized that research funds secured through grants are managed on behalf of Makerere University and the Government of Uganda. He therefore, urged researchers and principal investigators to uphold transparency and accountability when managing grant resources. “Funds acquired through grants must be accounted for within stipulated timelines and must demonstrate value for money,” said Mr. Kiranda.
In the same vein, he called upon research teams to follow the university’s human resource recruitment guidelines when appointing project staff.
Mr. Kiranda highlighted the importance of registering all grants managed across university units with GAMSU, noting that centralised oversight supports institutional accountability.
Director of Research highlights strategic research direction
Prof. Robert Wamala, Director of Research, Innovation and Partnerships (DRIP), presented the university’s strategic research agenda. He observed that university partnerships have sometimes been underutilised due to the absence of supporting infrastructure, such as the pre-award system.
The university’s research mandate includes promoting research coordination, strengthening innovation capacity, supporting technology transfer, and mobilising research funding.
Prof. Wamala said the university’s research strategy is guided by a 10-year institutional development plan aligned with Uganda’s National Development Plans. “The vision is to build a sustainable, research-led university that produces a highly productive academic workforce and versatile graduates,” he said.
Priority research themes
In his presentation, Prof. Wamala outlined Makerere University’s nine (9) priority research areas for the next five years. These include: Health and health systems; Sustainable urbanisation and housing; Governance, social justice, and equity; Agricultural transformation and food security, Education systems development; Economic growth, business, and innovation; Climate change and natural resource management; Cultural heritage; and Science, engineering, and technology.
Prof. Wamala encouraged researchers to align proposals with these institutional priorities. He urged academic staff to access university policies available on the official website (https://policies.mak.ac.ug)
Graduate training and institutional coordination
Prof. Julius Kikooma, Director of Graduate Training, said the establishment of GAMSU represents a major cultural shift in research administration.
He explained that earlier academic practice required researchers to independently search for funding opportunities and manage grants. “While that approach sometimes produced successful researchers, it also resulted in inconsistencies in proposal preparation and accountability reporting,” he said.
Prof. Kikooma emphasized the importance of institutional systems in meeting changing donor compliance requirements. He stated that grant writing involves two equally important components. “Approximately 50 percent depends on scientific proposal quality, while the other 50 percent depends on institutional compliance and administrative coordination,” he said.
He encouraged researchers to integrate GAMSU early in proposal development rather than treating the unit as a final review office.
Strategic investment in research competitiveness
In a document presented by Ms. Ritah Namisango, Prof. Charles Masembe-a member of the research team outlined the project overview, purpose, and workshop objectives, including system dissemination, stakeholder engagement, and functionality demonstration.
He stated that the electronic pre-award grants system is a strategic investment in Makerere University’s future research competitiveness. The digital transformation in grant administration will improve efficiency, strengthen accountability, and enhance access to funding opportunities.
Deputy Principal of CoBAMS applauds GAMSU Contributing to the discussion and stakeholder feeback session, the Deputy Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Associate Professor James Wokadala, commended GAMSU for the development of the system aimed at increasing the chances of winning grants. He appealed to GAMSU to cascade the training to the various units within the University.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars have been encouraged to embrace mentorship programmes as a way of maximising opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Mentorship is a professional relationship in which an experienced person (the mentor) supports another (the mentee) in developing specific skills and knowledge that enhance both professional and personal growth.
While speaking at a Mentor–Mentee matching session held on Saturday at the Central Teaching Facility, Mr Steven Langa, a counsellor and director at Family Life Network, told scholars that mentorship plays a pivotal role in preparing the next generation of leaders capable of transforming Uganda and Africa.
“We live at a very challenging time in history, a time when Uganda and Africa have to rise up to the occasion to provide leadership, professional excellence and innovation,” Mr Langa, said.
In his presentation, Mr Langa explained that a mentor is not a parent, therapist, or romantic partner, but rather a coach who helps the mentee build essential skills.
“The mentoring relationship is built on mutual trust, respect and communication and involves both parties meeting regularly to exchange ideas, discuss progress and set goals for further development. A mentor does not need to know, or to provide all the answers; instead, the mentor encourages the mentee to use their available resources to identify solutions,” Mr Langa, noted.
Speaking at the same event, Ms Eva Nabasumba, the Principal Academics and Career Development Officer at the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, encouraged scholars to build strong relationships with their mentors, which could later provide credible referees for employment, scholarships and other opportunities.
She highlighted several benefits of mentorship for mentees, including gaining advice, knowledge and insights from experienced professionals; developing professional communication skills; building valuable industry networks; engaging in employment-related conversations; exploring career pathways; and learning strategies for job searches, résumé writing and interviews.
During the session, mentors introduced themselves to their new mentees, allowing scholars to identify and connect with suitable mentors. Some of the mentors are doctors, teachers, counsellors, engineer’s business people and Accountants.
Apollo Mulondo, one of the mentors, urged scholars to take the mentorship opportunity seriously and respect the time and commitment of their mentors.
“Some of us are who we are today because of our mentors. Our offices are always open to you, so feel free to visit anytime. It does not matter what your background is you can make it,” Mulondo said.
The mentor–mentee matching session enabled scholars to interact with professionals from different fields, giving them an opportunity to identify mentors whose experience aligns with their academic and career aspirations. The engagement also created a platform for scholars to begin building networks that will support their growth beyond the university.
General
Mak Cooperative Society holds AGM: Growth, Transparency and Member Welfare Take Centre Stage
“This is a perfectly managed Cooperative Society,” remarked CPA David Ssenoga, amidst applause from Members of the Makerere University Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society (MUMCS).
CPA Ssenoga made the remarks on 4th March 2026 as he presented the Auditor’s report from SDS and Company Certified Public Accountants at the MUMCS Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The Auditor’s report for the year ended 31st December 2025 highlighted adherence to the best corporate governance practices, confirmed proper allocation of funds, value for money, and steady progress.
“The Cooperative Society was found to be in excellent standing, with operations in compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards for SMEs, the Cooperative Societies Act, and relevant Ugandan regulations. The operations are efficient and transparent,” he reported.
Mandate of MUMCS
Chairing the AGM, the Vice Chairperson, Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu-Musoke, underscored that the MUMCS exists to promote the welfare of members. In pursuit of this mandate, MUMCS provides access to affordable credit at interest rates that are significantly lower than those offered by other financial institutions. Such support, he noted, empowers members to strengthen their financial stability, invest in personal and professional goals, and ultimately enhance their overall well-being.
Steady progress
Highlighting MUMCS’ steady progress, Dr. Kiggundu-Musoke commended members for the tremendous growth recorded over time. He noted that the cooperative society had grown from handling a few hundreds of thousands of shillings in its early years to managing a portfolio now standing at approximately UGX 3.25 billion, a milestone he described as a reflection of collective effort, prudent management, and sustained member confidence.
He encouraged members to actively promote and popularise the cooperative within their respective departments. He proposed a structured approach of engaging Heads of Department to sensitize staff on the MUMCS’ services and benefits.
AGM highlights
The hybrid AGM, with physical participants assembled in the Main Building Senior Common Room, and virtual participants who followed the proceedings via zoom, provided a platform to review performance, highlight operational successes and governance milestones, as well as, finding solutions to challenges.
Secretary’s report
Presenting the report, MUMCS’ Secretary, Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, highlighted the growth in membership to 160, including 27 new recruits – a testimony to the confidence in the quality of services provided.
Prof. Ireeta excited the members when he mentioned that the 2025 surplus of UGX 291 million was distributed to members, with administrative budgets executed as approved.
On the issue of financial discipline and meeting obligations, Prof. Ireeta notified the members that the Management Committee implemented strategies that ensured compliance. “Outstanding loan arrears were settled through deductions from dividends of the concerned members,” he stated.
The Secretary reported that as approved during the previous AGM, the Vetting Committee consisting of Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala (Chairperson), Prof. Lawrence Mugisha (Member) and Dr. Alex Okello (Member) had been constituted and has embarked on the tasks as per the terms of reference.
With reference to the Secretary’s report, the Members praised the MUMCS Management Committee headed by Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, for ensuring the successful implementation of key decisions agreed upon during the previous AGM.
Treasurer’s report
The Treasurer, Prof. Juma Kasozi, provided members with a detailed overview of operations, liquidity, investments, and returns.
Emphasizing MUMCS’ commitment to transparency, Prof. Kasozi noted that the Management Committee ensures that the balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and trial balances are shared monthly with members, which enables them to monitor performance throughout the year.
Prof. Kasozi explained that the Cooperative Society maintains strong liquidity, with approximately UGX 1.6 billion invested with fund managers and insurance companies. These liquid investments he said, provide a solid foundation to support loans, withdrawals, and operational needs. He encouraged members to increase their savings and shareholdings, in order to strengthen MUMCS’s financial base and enhance lending capacity.
The Treasurer highlighted the Society’s loan products, including instant loans; which provide same-day disbursement and long-term term loans. He reported that in 2025, UGX 479 million was disbursed in instant loans, and UGX 913 million as long-term loans.
He informed the AGM that the major challenge faced during the year 2025, was premised on disruptions in payroll deductions. “Before this setback, payroll deductions generated over UGX 50 million per month. Due to temporary disruptions, the amount generated reduced to UGX 20 million,” he explained.
The Treasurer briefed the members that discussions with the payroll management team had been successful, and full deductions were expected to resume, a step that would restore the expected income stream of the Cooperative Society.
He re-assured members that despite challenges with payroll deductions, MUMCS remains financially stable, with strong liquidity, robust investments, sound loan recovery mechanisms, and a commitment to member welfare.
He encouraged members to recruit colleagues, increase shareholding, and actively participate in strengthening the Cooperative Society’s growth and impact.
Members applaud the Management Committee
Impressed by the reports presented by the Secretary and Treasurer, the Members praised the MUMCS Management Committee headed by Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, for the successful implementation of key decisions agreed upon during the previous AGM.
Presentation from the Welfare Committee
On behalf of the Welfare Committee, Ms. Ritah Namisango, commended the Management Committee for effectively implementing the Society’s Welfare Policy. Ms. Namisango noted that the policy stipulates the contribution to weddings, loss of a member, and/or when a member loses a parent, spouse and a biological child. She encouraged the members to read the Welfare Policy in order to tap into the benefits that accrue to them.
“We invite all members to read the Welfare Policy and inform the Management Committee early enough whenever a situation arises. I am glad that, because of transparency and communication through the WhatsApp group, most of you have been notifying the Executive Committee promptly. Most of the Members who have received contributions from MUMCS during such situations, have acknowledged receipt, and gone an extra mile, to send messages of gratitude via MUMCS’ WhatsApp group,” she said.
She welcomed the AGM’s approval of an additional UGX 2.5 million allocation to the Welfare Fund, to boost the Cooperative Society’s ability to extend support as well as standing in solidarity with the Members.
The Welfare Committee consists of Ms. Ritah Namisango, Dr. Oscar Mugula and Mr. Michael Kasusse.
Supervisory Committee report
The Chairperson, Prof. Fredrick Jones Muyodi, congratulated the Management Committee and the Members, upon the positive financial performance of MUMCS with a gross surplus of UGX 351,533,935/=, and a net surplus of UGX 49,510,181/= after deduction of all expenses.
Concerned that some members have faced challenges with payroll deductions, the Supervisory committee welcomed the progress reported by the Secretary toward resolving the issue.
He stated that the Committee reviewed the financial proposals presented by the management committee and endorsed the recommended dividend payment of UGX 38,630,000 to shareholders, noting that dividends cannot exceed 10 percent under the law.
In addition, the Committee supported payments to service providers, the purchase of a second laptop to enhance data security, the use of cloud and external storage for safeguarding records, the proposed welfare and AGM budgets, and the allocation of 65% of the gross surplus as return on savings.
The Supervisory Committee consists of Prof. Fredrick Jones Muyodi (Chairperson), Prof. Edgar Nabutanyi (Member) and Dr. Jamidah Nakato (Member).
Closing remarks
Closing the AGM, Dr. Kiggundu-Musoke thanked members for their active participation and challenged them to actively support the growth of the cooperative society. He emphasized that membership growth would not only strengthen the Makerere University Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society’s financial standing, but also enhance dividend returns for all members.
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