General
Assoc. Prof. Ruth Nalumaga Receives Office of University Librarian
Assoc. Prof. Ruth Nalumaga on Friday 7th July, 2023 officially received the office of University Librarian from Assoc. Prof. Helen Byamugisha at a ceremony presided over by the Human Resources Directorate represented by Ms. Ikiriza Racheal. The ceremony was witnessed by the Directorate of Internal Audit represented by Mr. Aggrey Luwuliza, University Library Management and other officials.
Assoc. Prof. Byamugisha was appointed as Deputy University Librarian in 2013 and was the first PhD-holding appointee to the position. She was later appointed Acting University Librarian from 2015 until she was substantively appointed in 2018.
However, Assoc. Prof. Byamugisha’s long and illustrious career at Makerere University started close to 44 years ago in 1979 soon after completing her Bachelor of Science (Botany/Zoology), when she secured her first job as Assistant Manager of the University Bookshop. She held this position until 1994 when she was transferred to the University Library to manage the Book Bank that had been established in 1990. “My major task was to take charge of acquisition of print books for the University.”
Faced with new work demands, she enrolled for a Postgraduate Diploma in Librarianship, which she completed in 1996. She would later enroll as one of the pioneers of the Master of Science in Information Sciences in 1997, and later as one of the pioneers of the PhD in Information Sciences, which she completed in 2012.
Assoc. Prof. Byamugisha who admitted that she had never dreamt of ever becoming a professor let alone the University Librarian attributed all her achievements to God who gave her the gift of discovering her own potential, courage and determination; “I have faithfully worked for close to 44 years at Makerere without a break and I go away with rich experiences, feeling proud of the skills and knowledge I not only acquired but also passed on to the many I have mentored, thanks to the great support of my colleagues.”
Sharing achievements from her handover report, Assoc. Prof. Byamugisha noted that she has been able to implement two Library Strategic plans, established a more peaceful and harmonious working environment at the Library, as well as the other units it interfaces with.
On the infrastructure front, she took note of the successful reroofing of the Main Library’s old wing and installation of additional water storage capacity to support the huge volumes of readers that regularly use the Library washrooms. A fire detection system is also currently under installation in the Library’s old wing with the support from the Mastercard Foundation.
Assoc. Prof. Byamugisha also took pride in, with support from the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, successfully lobbying the Parliament to allocate UGX 1.5billion per annum to sustain purchase and subscriptions to electronic resources. This was particularly important after the two-decade support from the Swedish Government through Sida that hitherto annually funded electronic resources came to an end in 2020.
Following the fire that gutted the Main Building in 2020, the University Library in addition to installing fire detection systems in the old wing also intensified its efforts to digitize its rare historical archives. These efforts have been boosted by the Mastercard Foundation through the purchase of a specialized scanner which is due to be delivered within the next 30 days.
Capacity building for University Library staff at all levels was one of Assoc. Prof. Byamugisha’s priorities upon assuming office. She was therefore proud to report that nine (9) staff had enrolled for PhDs during her tenure with one having successfully completed, another one (1) defended, while seven (7) are still continuing. “Additionally, twelve staff completed their Masters degrees while nine are on course” she added. Her term has also witnessed an increase in the output of research publications especially by the Academic Librarians.
Furthermore, nineteen staff were promoted to various positions including the incoming University Librarian who was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor. “Twelve staff were either confirmed or recruited into Library service while several staff have taken up leadership positions in associations at international, regional and national levels” she supplemented. For example, Assoc. Prof. Ruth Nalumaga is the current Chairperson of the Consortium of Uganda University Libraries (CUUL) as well as a member of the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Division Committee of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).
At close to 150 staff, the University Library is home to one of the biggest unit workforce at Makerere University. Staff welfare and activities that promote socialization were therefore serious priorities to Assoc. Prof. Byamugisha during her term. “We mobilise financial contributions for library staff who have family functions such as weddings or burials in the event that we lose a loved one. We usually fuel the library welfare van which takes the staff to the functions. It is through such activities that we strengthen staff bonds and promote unity and socialization.”
Content as she might be to have successfully completed her service to the University Library and Makerere University in general, Assoc. Prof. Byamugisha nevertheless pointed out a few challenges that her successor ought to follow up. These include; inadequate staffing and library space especially at the College level, inadequate funds to meet the demand for print books, inadequate space for staff recreation, the need to secure a permanently stationed plumber, renovation of worn out infrastructure, among others.
She concluded by wishing her successor a fruitful term and God’s blessing.
Delivering her acceptance remarks, Assoc. Prof. Ruth Nalumaga congratulated Assoc. Prof. Helen Byamugisha upon successfully completing her term and restoring a more peaceful and harmonious working environment among staff at the University Library. She equally thanked her predecessor for being intent on mentoring and showing her the way as a senior colleague.
“We have been able to work together, write grants together, write papers together and above all to discover each other’s talent and expertise… so as I take on the mantle, I will endeavour at all times to create an environment where staff members are able to do their work productively… the Library staff would like to be known by how distinct their outputs and contributions are to the University’s strategic priorities” shared Assoc. Prof. Nalumaga.
She added that as University Librarian, she will continuously look out for opportunities of academic excellence. “I thank you Prof. Helen for mentoring me and wish you the best in your future endeavours.”
The Chair of the handover ceremony Ms. Ikiriza Racheal thanked Assoc. Prof. Helen Byamugisha for her long and dedicated service to Makerere University and the Library in particular, noting that it was increasingly rare to encounter individuals who had served the same institution throughout their career. In the same breath, she congratulated Assoc. Prof. Ruth Nalumaga upon her appointment to the position of University Librarian. She wished both the outgoing and incoming University Librarians God’s blessings as they embark on the next phase of their careers.
Following the formalities where the outgoing and incoming officials exchanged the report and toured the office, the handover ceremony was crowned by staff from the University Library presenting a gift to Assoc. Prof. Helen Byamugisha and cutting cake in honour of their former boss.
The two-week training programme aims to equip government officers with practical skills to assess project viability, manage investment risks and ensure public resources deliver value for money.
The Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE) is strengthening the capacity of government officers to undertake financial appraisal and risk analysis of public investment projects through a two-week training programme designed to improve the quality of project preparation, appraisal and decision-making in Uganda.
The training, which started in Fort Portal on October 19, 2026, brought together participants from various government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), alongside facilitators from Makerere University, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Cambridge Resources International (CRI), the National Planning Authority and the Uganda Development Bank.
Officially opening the training on behalf of the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury, Ms Esther Ayebare, Acting Assistant Commissioner in the Project Analysis and Public Investment Department of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, emphasised the importance of rigorous project appraisal in strengthening Uganda’s public investment management system.
She noted that projects admitted into the public investment plan must be aligned with national priorities, technically sound, financially viable and capable of delivering value for money.
“Government must be able to compare investment alternatives and ensure that only viable projects proceed through the public investment process,” she emphasised.
Ms Ayebare explained that sound appraisal enables government to make informed investment decisions, maximise returns on public expenditure and ensure that limited public resources are directed towards projects with the greatest potential to deliver development outcomes.
Building practical skills for better investment decisions
The training builds on the Public Investment Management course conducted in June, which introduced participants to Uganda’s public investment management framework, including project conceptualisation, stakeholder analysis, project costing, implementation action plans, the Integrated Bank of Projects, and monitoring and evaluation of public investment reforms.
The current programme advances this foundation by equipping participants with technical competencies in financial appraisal, financial modelling and risk analysis.
Participants will explore integrated investment appraisal, alternative investment criteria, cash-flow statements, inflation and exchange-rate movements, asset valuation, project financing, project scale and timing, risk-sharing arrangements and cost-effectiveness analysis.
Through practical exercises and case studies, participants will apply these concepts to investment scenarios in sectors such as roads, health, education and water. The programme will also examine how climate change, social considerations and other risks can be integrated into project preparation and appraisal.
Ms Ayebare encouraged participants to engage actively with the facilitators, question the practical application of the tools and consider how the skills acquired could improve investment decisions within their respective institutions.
She also reminded participants that the programme includes an examination and that certification requires more than attendance. Participants are expected to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and acquire practical skills that they can apply in their work.
Reducing dependence on externally prepared studies
A key objective of the training is to strengthen the ability of government institutions to undertake high-quality project appraisal studies using their own technical teams.
Ms Ayebare observed that many studies submitted to the Development Committee have traditionally been prepared by external consultants, often at considerable cost. Building the capacity of public officers to conduct these studies independently can help institutions strengthen their technical expertise and improve the quality of project proposals presented for consideration.
She urged participants to take full advantage of the facilitators’ expertise and return to their institutions equipped to undertake sound financial appraisals and provide evidence-based advice to decision-makers.
She further emphasised that project approval requires thorough preparation, analysis and justification, rather than simply identifying available funding and proposing a project to utilise it.
Strengthening public investment management through capacity development
In his remarks, Prof. Edward Bbaale, Director of the PIM CoE, thanked the Ministry of Finance for its financial support and for identifying participants from government institutions. He also recognised the contributions of the facilitators and partner institutions in delivering the programme.
Prof. Bbaale noted that the Centre’s work extends beyond training to include research and advisory services aimed at improving public investment management practices. He encouraged continued collaboration with government institutions and other partners to advance research, knowledge sharing and capacity development.
Speaking during the training, Dr John Sseruyange, Manager of the PIM CoE, highlighted the importance of commitment, active participation and punctuality throughout the programme. He encouraged participants to engage with the facilitators, ask questions and apply the knowledge gained to the projects they support.
Dr Sseruyange also acknowledged the Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, for financing the training, and appreciated Cambridge Resources International for its continued support towards improving public investment preparation and analysis in Uganda.
The training reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen Uganda’s public investment management system by equipping public officers with the knowledge and practical competencies needed to assess projects rigorously, identify potential risks and make informed investment decisions.
By developing in-house expertise across government institutions, the programme seeks to contribute to better-prepared projects, more efficient use of public resources and improved delivery of Uganda’s development priorities.
President Yoweri K. Museveni while officiating as Chief Guest at the Julius Nyerere Annual Symposium 2026: Nyerere-Museveni Dialogue at Makerere University called upon the audience not to merely hold Nyerere’s Legacy as a historical footprint but as a masterplan for the future that remains unfinished. Organised by the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC), the symposium was a two day event that started with “ekyooto” on 13th October at the JNLC gardens and climaxed on 14th October in Freedom Square. The second day hinged on the theme: Borrowing from the Past, Building the Future.
In the President’s message delivered by Rt. Hon. Dr. Crispus Walter Kiyonga the Second Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of Makerere University, the president spotlighted, “Mwalimu Nyerere as the greatest African that ever lived in terms of contribution to the African people’s efforts for freedom, human rights, and dignity.”
This greatness, he notes, spilled not just to political ideals but also to economics and security. The President agreed with him and warned that “freedom without economic transformation and economic prosperity, without a robust strategic security, remains incomplete.”
Reaching out to the younger generation of scholars and leaders, the President issued a strong warning to move beyond simply remembering Nyerere to action. He said, “you must carry forward the torch of pan-Africanism, reject sectarianism and tribalism, build our regional markets, and champion the total political integration of our motherland.”
He appreciated Mwalimu for his; unwavering support for the struggle of the East African Federation, courageous backing of the armed anti-colonial struggles in the southern half of Africa, principled and decisive support for the anti-Idi Amin struggle, pro-people and pro-unity policies that kept Tanzania peaceful for decades, and ensuring that Tanzania remained a strategic rear base for the entire African resistance.
As a believer in Nyerere’s ideals, the President urged the audience to honor Mwalimu “not merely through commemorative speeches, but through completing the historical task of uniting, defending, and prospering our motherland,” for the motive is to ensure that the independence wars won by our predecessors were not in vain.
To this note, he reiterated the case for Uganda, saying “we shall never forget his profound contribution” to Africa.
Professor Nyamsenda’s Keynote Unparked Pan-Africanism
During the Nyerere-Museveni Dialogue symposium at Makerere University, Professor Sabatho Nyamsenda, a lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam delivered the Keynote Address titled “The Unfinished African Project: From Liberation Legacies to a New Generation of Transformation” during the symposium”.
He started on a lighter noticing “Nyerere is being Ugandanised.” This he said looking at the annual Public Lectures dedicated to his name and felt like challenging his home institutions to follow suit.
At the calm of the room, he presented a critique of the current state of Pan-Africanism, arguing that it has been grabbed by the ruling elites, a challenge Professor Nyamsenda identifies to have started in the period of 1960 -1980.
He explained that it was around this time period that Pan-Africanism was snatched away from the masses and it became a state project. Currently, he said the ideology exists in two forms: Boardroom and Street Pan-Africanism.
Professor, characterised Boardroom Pan-Africanism as a State Project. He said “boardroom Pan-Africanism sits comfortably with imperialism and elite-centered accumulation.” While Street Pan-Africanism to which Professor advocates, he emphasised that historically, this approach “united the African liberation movement and liberated the African continent from the most barbaric colonial powers.”
As he concluded, Professor Nyamsenda joined Mwalimu and the President of Uganda in urging youth to consider joining and leading the struggle for a better Africa.
Role of JNLC in Realising Nyerere’s Ideas
Professor Saturninus Kasozi Mulindwa, the JNLC Board Chair highlighted the primary objective of the center as “imparting knowledge and sharing experiences from the old generations to the new generations.” Therefore, JNLC contributes to the actualisation of Nyerere’s ideas by focusing on the development of the next generation of African leaders.
To supplement this, Dr. Nansozi K. Mwanga the Executive Director at JNLC said that the center is committed to “nurturing ethical, conscious, and transformative leaders inspired by Mwalimu’s ideas of service, human dignity, self-reliance, and Pan-African solidarity.”
She explained their focus is on several key areas with training as core. They have “trained over 1,500 young people and young leaders from across Uganda.”, and developed leadership programs “grounded in ethical decision-making, civic responsibility, public service, and action.”
In her remarks, it was observed that training alone is not enough; they are also doing mentorship, to provide opportunities for networking and learning from experienced leaders. There are already testimonies when you visit the Centre wall of fame. To which Dr. Nansozi revealed “leadership development matters when learning becomes service and meaningful action.”
The Centre remains proud of those they have touched and are eager to support as many cohorts.
Julius Nyerere Family Pour their Heart out
Mama Maria Nyerere, addressed the Symposium virtually and commended the Centre for keeping Mwalimu’s values alive.
As a memory of her husband, she reminded the audience that his greatest legacy was anchored on the values by which he lived: service, humility, integrity, unity and love for Africa and its people. She also urged the young people to take up leadership responsibilities and lead with humility, integrity and always remember the people they serve.
Mama Nyerere also advised the youth to learn from those who came before them like her husband with courage to build a better Africa for their generation and those who will come after them.
Joining Mama Nyerere, on behalf of the Nyerere family was Ms. Julia Nyerere, a granddaughter, who attended physically and thanked H.E. Kaguta Museveni for supporting the establishment of the Julius Nyerere Centre at Makerere University and also commended the Keynote Speaker Professor Nyamsenda for Critiquing Nyerere’s ideas.
Julia further shared an understanding of her grand-father’s interest in preserving humanity as a moral.
As a family they are happy that his (Nyerere) values and legacies continue to inspire Africa and beyond.
Appreciation for All who Made the Symposium Possible
Addressing the symposium, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, represented by Professor Henry Alinaitwe the Deputy Vice Chancellor in Charge of Finance and Administration expressed the University’s appreciation and commitment.
He thanked “the government of Uganda for the support they are giving to the Julius Nyerere Leadership Center,” and requested Dr. Kiyonga to “convey the message to the fountain of honour for this initiative that Makerere University is happy for, and is going on well.”
To the leadership of the Center, he specifically thanked the Director Dr. Nansozi for her focused leadership. He stated, “I commend my friend, Dr. Nansozi, for the work that you are doing.”
Professor Alinaitwe also emphasized “we” value these symposiums, saying, “as a university, we acknowledge that such activities create great visibility.”
Dr. Kiyonga was also thanked for delivering the President’s message, together with veterans like Professor Kabwegyere, among other distinguished guests and partners that attended.
Professor Tarsis Bazana Kabwegyere as well appreciated all and emphasised the collective duty of the youth in building the next generation.
He advised “your responsibility is to identify and build Africa forward, building on the legacies and foundations of our forefathers,”.
The Professor also argued that “being young on its own is not a virtue. It is what you are when you are young.” He challenges the audience to avoid being ignorant and claim that you are young.
Background of the Nyerere Symposium
The Julius Nyerere Annual Symposium is an intergenerational gathering hosted at Makerere University. For more than six years now, it has been connecting past leadership legacies of Nyerere and other revolutionaries with current regional and continental priorities under the (JNLC) centre.
The Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC) serves as a training ground and research hub designed to mentor the next generation of African leaders. Co-hosted by Makerere University and the Uganda Management Institute (UMI), the Centre bridges the gap between older statesmen and youth by focusing on Pan-African ideals, ethical governance, and social transformation.
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