General
iCARTA Workshop Empowers 37 Makerere University Academics, Professionals & Administrators
A total of 37 staff drawn from the various units at Makerere University have successfully completed the Training of Trainers (ToT) Academic, Professional and Administrative staff -APAS course, thanks to the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA).
In line with CARTA’s mainstreaming initiatives, the weeklong workshop from July 17–21, 2023, aimed to improve institutional responsiveness to graduate training and research and equip trainees to efficiently lead APAS workshops for their units.
The Consortium initially applied for and was awarded a NORHED II grant for the institutionalization of Advanced Research Training in Project Africa in order to institutionalize the gained experiences and best practices for sustainability.
Dr. John Bosco Isunju, a Lecturer at MakSPH and CARTA Focal Person Makerere University remarked; “The APAS workshop is one of these innovations to enhance the capacity of institutional functionaries to create an enabling environment for high quality research and graduate training.”
Professor Anne Kisaka Nangulu, an economic historian and the Principal of Bomet, a Moi University constituent college in Kenya, challenged iCARTA trainees to demonstrate good academic citizenship and integrity.
She also gave advice to the trainees on how to lead ethically: “Leading in a manner that respects the rights and dignity of others, knowing your core values, and having the courage to live them in all of your life as well as parts of it in service of the common good are important.”
Prof. Nangulu observed, “Whenever we have new graduates, I just feel wonderful. I not only feel nice but I sleep well. CARTA philosophy is to stop brain drain and demonstrate to the rest of the world our independence. Just remember there’s is no institution without people as you go about your day. Please make a tiny adjustment where you are. I believed that we all have great potential. Although I’ve never believed in teamwork, I do believe in group work. Let this APAS be a community that exists. Change using this platform.
Dr. Daphney Nozizwe Conco, a Senior Lecturer at University of the Witwatersrand School of Public Health and CARTA facilitator urged the ToT graduands to; “Use this platform for connecting and enhancing the CARTA vision. What pays us is the impact. You can’t quantify it. Most of the time, such a training is a stepping stone. Such moments are overwhelming. Being in Makerere University is a moment of pride as South African. Historical moments.”
Dr. Rhoda Wanyenze, Professor and Dean, MakSPH hailed CARTA for the opportunity to train the staff citing that Makerere University cannot improve graduate training when its support system improve including the administrators is not improved.
Professor Wanyenze urged the trainees as strong support system of the university to work with diligence and ensure the university stakeholders good experience and services from the university for improved relations.
“How can we provide quality support system to our students so that they can come to us again? We like to create alumni networks and we want them to engage with us, contribute the money. Are we sure they want to see us or look in our eyes? You are supporting your future collaborators when you are supporting your students. There has to be quality, quality is more of perception. What people feel about what we do is the quality that lasts in their minds. Forget about the standards, people will always remember how they are treated whenever they interact with us,” said.
Professor Wanyenze thanked the organizers of the training under CARTA for supporting Makerere University towards realizing its ambitious target of becoming a “research-led” institution with a multi-faceted research agenda.
“We are talking instutionalisation. CARTA was helping us to do what we were supposed to do. It is excellent because it talks about training people locally. CARTA is a great program for me in many ways. I hope we can institutionalise some of those good practices,” she noted.
According to Professor Wanyenze, every time universities have policy shifts they tend to focus on professors but not both the professors and the support systems.
“The biggest challenge that we have in our graduate training in most of the universities in Africa that I know; is support systems. We are not going to improve graduate training in Makerere University unless we improve support systems. Everybody that comes in contact with or interfaces with graduate students has a role to play in graduate training. In terms of ensuring training quality and an enjoyable time at university. How do you handle the students when they come to you as finance officers, what about the administrators, who delays submission of the dissertation books when they have been submitted? We need to put the systems right and start looking at a student as a human being. We have to interface with the students and engage them as human beings,” observed Prof. Wanyenze.
Professor Edward Bbaale, Director of Research and Graduate Training at Makerere University, stressed the importance of providing students with excellent experiences during their time at the university. He highlighted that these students could become future leaders, and their experiences could have a significant impact, potentially holding consequences if mishandled.
“The current Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance/Secretary to the Treasury was my student in economics through his undergraduate degree. Still, when he came back for his master’s degree, I taught him and also supervised his research, but I didn’t know that this young man would at one time be the one making decisions on how much money comes to Makerere University,” said Prof. Bbaale.
“I don’t know how I treated him as a student. Recently, the undersecretary in the ministry of finance, who is now a council member, was our PhD student in economics, and I don’t know how we treated him. Those two people combined, if they are to fail the university in terms of financing as a payback, can Both of them were our students in the same environment, but we really thank God that maybe they are working in our favor. One of them is a council member making critical decisions,” he added.
Huzaifah Mutyaba, an administrator at MakSPH, committed to implementing the APAS program after receiving facilitator training. “I have met a lot of new friends. We are going to meet soon, and we shall be discussing how to support our other colleagues to support graduate training and research at Makerere University,” Mutyaba said.
Jackie Norah Nanteza, an iCARTA trainer, emphasizes that quality goes beyond standards; it’s about how the recipients of your services perceive them. “This has been a very wonderful group to facilitate speaking sincerely. Continuously building on capacity and enthusiasm, you feel like there is power inside you. Get that energy and commit to doing better things.”
Alison Annet Kinengyere, a Library and Information Scientist at Sir Albert Cook Medical Library, commended the participants for their dedicated attendance throughout the five-day course. “I am impressed by the participants’ commitment. At Makerere University, for participants to be available for the five days is a great thing, and I congratulate all of you on your successful completion of this course.”
Twenty years ago, CARTA was formed to address a critical gap in research capacity in African public universities through a suite of interventions to enhance individuals’ and institutional capacities for high quality research at eight institutions.
The Consortium composed of African (Malawi, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, and South Africa) and non-African partner universities and institutions from Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK sought to produce high-quality early career researchers (ECRs) who will, in turn, become research leaders enhancing the engagement between the CARTA community (ERC’s, supervisors, graduates) and society to influence policy and programmatic change to improve long-term health outcomes.
Dr. Isunju observes that CARTA trains doctoral and post-doctoral students and other institutional functionaries that support research and graduate training. “So far 22 PhD fellows have graduated and another five in the pipeline to graduate soon. We are very grateful for what CARTA has done.”
CARTA not only trains doctoral students but also provides support to various university staff members, including administrative, professional, and academic roles. APAS was initially targeted at administrative and academic staff. It was later expanded to include crucial professional roles like communications, procurement, and registrars, recognizing their pivotal role in advancing graduate education and research within our institutions.
The first APAS ToT which was held at Makerere University where CARTA trained three people from each of the main institutions in Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Wits, Malawi, Nairobi -Moi and University Rwanda. who have since become our local trainers. In Makerere University, Jackie Nanteza, Dr. Andrew Tamale and Dr. Alison Kinengyere benefited from the initial training.
According to Prof. Bbaale, Makerere University’s strategic plan 2020-2030 aims at transforming a university into a research led institution and that one of the building blocks for this realization is to increase graduate enrolment and knowledge production that responds to national, regional and global developments and challenges.
He highlighted that Makerere University is determined to have the share of graduate students at 30% by 2030 many of which must be international students. “The School of Public Health and the entire College of Health Sciences has already gone over and above this target but definitely your performance is dampened by the rest of the units in the university taking us to around 12%,” Prof. Bbaale said.
He added that; “We want to internationalize as much as possible, out of the 30% target for graduate students, we want to have 10% international students but currently we are around 2%. The second building block of our strategic plan is establishing research entities that leverage largescale multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research activities. The third block is packing and marketing of research outputs for appropriate adoption to impact communities. Makerere University through UNDP has established an innovation hub in an effort to package the research outputs and innovations.”
Dr. Bbaale emphasizes DRGT’s commitment to graduate education and research. “Collaboration with various units continues to improve,” he says. The number of PhD students enrolled and graduating has steadily risen, and despite resource limitations, every department at Makerere can at present supervise doctoral students.
Prof. Bbaale is enthusiastic about participants becoming trainers since it is in line with Makerere University‘s ambition on being a research-led institution. The program boosts facilitators’ abilities, addressing PhD training capacity.
“It is interesting to note that the ToT program seeks to enable trainees to effectively create a multiplier effect in their respective units. This model is quite unique. It will build a critical mass of trainers with a requisite capacity to manage doctoral studies in respective units. I would like to congratulate the MakSPH for taking lead in this front and for building synergies with DRGT as we strive to take graduate training and research at our university. I would like to appreciate the CARTA secretariat that combined effort with Makerere University that led to the grant that is enabling all these activities to take place. I would like to appreciate the vice chancellor for the able and visionary leadership that has identified,” he said.
General
From Campus to Career: Makerere Advancement Office, 91st Guild and the DFCU Foundation Equip Students with Financial and Employability Skills
On 4th December, 2025, over 200 final-year students gathered at the School of Pharmacy Auditorium for the highly engaging Career & Financial Literacy Symposium, hosted by the 91st Students’ Guild, in partnership with the Makerere Advancement Office and the DFCU Foundation.
The symposium centred on student advancement through strategic partnership, convening students, administrators and development partners for a practical conversation on career readiness, financial literacy, employability, and personal development.
Advancement Through Partnerships
Speaking on behalf of the Makerere Advancement Office, Mr Awel Uwihanganye, Chief Advancement Officer, underscored the importance of partnerships such as the one with DFCU Foundation. He highlighted their importance in equipping students with marketplace skills and opportunities vital for individual growth after University.
He reflected on the university journey as a formative period for ideas, innovation, and lifelong relationships, noting that:
“University is where impressions are made, and future networks are born. The friendships, character, and collaborations you develop here become foundations for careers, enterprises and leadership later in life.”
Mr. Uwihanganye encouraged students to embrace entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, arguing that the emerging workforce is driven by technology, multi-tasking ability and idea generation rather than traditional single-path employment. He challenged students to build businesses, use digital platforms productively, and regard employment as only one income stream, not the only one.
The Student Perspective — Discipline, Skills and Trust
Speaking on student growth and personal development, Dr. Rodney Rugyema, Deputy Dean of Students, highlighted the realities facing new graduates, especially those entering the job market for the first time. With humour and honesty, he urged students to approach growth intentionally and responsibly.
He called for delayed gratification, financial discipline and long-term decision-making, reminding students that wealth is built, not wished for. He emphasised the importance of skills beyond academic papers, stating that students must be equipped to create value, adapt, learn continuously, and gain competence relevant to modern work demands.
Dr. Rugyema underscored that trust, integrity and reliability remain the most non-negotiable pillars of professional advancement.
“Let people trust you enough to lend you an opportunity. Be a person who delivers. Your reputation is currency; it travels to rooms you are not in.” He noted
Financial Literacy for the Next Generation
The keynote training session was delivered by Mr. Simon Omara, Business Advisor representing the DFCU Foundation, who walked students through a highly practical presentation on financial planning, savings culture, credit management, record-keeping, career positioning and entrepreneurship.
With more than 10,000 graduates annually and less than 35% securing employment within the first year, Mr. Omara challenged students to practice financial and career ownership early. His presentation explored:
Key Competencies Students Must Build
- Financial management with a focus on budgeting, saving, and investing early
- Career readiness, CV development, interview skills, and personal branding
- Entrepreneurship and income diversification
- Record keeping and credit management
- Professional conduct and workplace preparation
He reminded students that the future belongs to those who are financially literate, skilled, trusted and entrepreneurial. Through relatable examples and actionable frameworks such as the 70–20–10 rule, the 7-second CV scan, and the 90-day post-graduation growth plan, Mr. Omara equipped participants with practical knowledge they could act upon immediately.
Why This Symposium Matters
This event stands as a testament to the power of partnership-driven student advancement, a core mandate of the Makerere Advancement Office. By convening industry partners like DFCU Foundation, the University continues to ensure that students graduate not only with knowledge, but with tools and readiness for opportunity.
The symposium strengthened linkages between academia and the labour market, expanded students’ perspective on financial independence, and emphasised the value of entrepreneurship, networks and character in shaping future leadership
The Makerere Advancement Office remains committed to facilitating opportunities that empower students to thrive beyond the gates of the University, through partnerships, mentorship, capacity-building, and exposure to real-world skillsets.
“ A degree alone is no longer enough. With partnership, preparation and purpose, our students can build futures anchored in knowledge, opportunity and resilience.” Mr Awel Uwihanganye noted during his remarks.
Caroline Kainomugisha is the Communications Officer, Makerere Advancement Office
Makerere University on 3rd December, 2025 hosted the Tumusiime Mutebile Annual Lecture, a tradition established to honour the life and legacy of the late Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, an outstanding alumnus and former Governor of the Bank of Uganda who passed away in 2022. The lecture not only reflects on his remarkable contribution to Uganda’s economic leadership, but also highlights how innovation, resilience, and intergenerational vision can shape Africa’s future.
This year’s edition was anchored on three key pillars—intergenerational leadership, economic resilience, and the power of innovation—themes that defined Prof. Mutebile’s career and continue to influence national development. Through this annual series, the University upholds his memory while also celebrating other African leaders whose work has left a lasting mark on the continent, using their legacies to inspire thoughtful dialogue, policy reflection, and the next generation of transformative thinkers.
Celebrating an Enduring Legacy
In her remarks, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sarah Ssali, reflected on Prof. Mutebile’s lifelong commitment to excellence, integrity, and the transformative power of education. She highlighted his journey from a student leader at Makerere to one of the country’s most influential economic thinkers, noting how his leadership in monetary policy, fiscal reform, and economic stabilization reshaped Uganda’s economic trajectory.
Prof. Ssali emphasized that this public lecture series not only honours Mutebile’s legacy but also bridges academia and practice—challenging students, scholars, and national leaders to pursue knowledge that serves the public good. She expressed gratitude to the Bank of Uganda under Dr. Michael Atingi-Ego, dfcu Bank, the GRO Foundation, the Mutebile family, and the Advancement Office for their continued support in sustaining a platform that nurtures economic thought leadership and inspires future generations.
Rt. Hon. Emeritus Amama Mbabazi, a lifelong friend and contemporary of the late Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, delivered a deeply personal reflection during the lecture. He recalled their shared beginnings as young student leaders at Makerere, their early political activism, and the historical moments that shaped both their lives and the nation. Speaking as both confidant and colleague, he emphasized Mutebile’s disciplined approach to economic policy, his unwavering belief in strong, accountable institutions, and his commitment to evidence-based, long-term decision making. Mbabazi outlined three pillars of Mutebile’s legacy—policy integrity, institutional strength, and leadership that prepares the next generation—values he affirmed are central to the work of the Tumusiime Foundation, which he now chairs.
He underscored the critical role of the private sector in Africa’s transformation, stressing the need for productivity-driven economies, skilled young people, and policy ecosystems that encourage innovation. He further called for intergenerational leadership that deliberately transfers knowledge, builds enduring institutions, and creates real opportunities for young Africans to lead. In closing, he urged academia, policymakers, and industry to work in partnership, noting that Africa’s progress depends on disciplined leadership, investment in human capital, and a shared commitment to building a future stronger than the present.
Fiscal Policies that have stood the test of time
The Governor of the Bank of Uganda, Dr. Michael Atingi-Ego, honored the late Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile with a heartfelt tribute, praising him as “a great tree whose roots ran deep beneath the soil of this nation, nourishing all who followed.” He noted that Uganda continues to benefit from the “shade” of the policies Mutebile planted during his 21-year tenure—policies that stabilized the economy, strengthened institutions, and protected the financial system through multiple crises. He highlighted Mutebile’s role in restoring price stability through cash budgeting, bringing inflation down from triple digits to single digits, guiding the country through the 2008 global financial crisis with disciplined monetary policy, and maintaining public trust during the 2011 inflation spike through clear and transparent communication.
Dr. Atingi-Ego also credited him for steering Uganda safely through the COVID-19 pandemic by introducing liquidity support for banks, credit relief for borrowers, and targeted foreign exchange interventions. Reflecting on Mutebile’s long-term impact, the Governor remarked, “These are the ideas he planted—he never lived to enjoy the shade of the tree, but today, the country rests under it.” He further celebrated Mutebile’s commitment to innovation, citing the 2016 amendments to the Financial Institutions Act that unlocked agency banking, bancassurance, and Islamic banking—reforms that today anchor Uganda’s impressive financial inclusion gains.
Intergenerational Leadership blends agility and emotional intelligence
Eng. Dr. F. F. Tusubira delivered a compelling and deeply reflective keynote, grounding the theme “Intergenerational Leadership, Economic Resilience and the Power of Innovation” in both history and lived institutional experience. He expressed serious concern that although Africa is the world’s youngest continent—with over 65% of its population below 35—its systems continue to sideline young people from leadership and national decision-making, even as they are repeatedly called “leaders of tomorrow.” He argued that this generational exclusion is not merely unfair but dangerous, warning that nations cannot secure economic resilience while locking out the very demographic best equipped to navigate a rapidly evolving, technology-driven world.
Drawing on African proverbs, global case studies, and personal anecdotes from Makerere and national institutions, he demonstrated how younger generations bring idealism, agility, innovation, and risk-taking—qualities essential for competitiveness—while older generations contribute emotional intelligence, institutional memory and a heightened sense of danger. He emphasized that progress requires blending these strengths through deliberate structures: fair representation of youth in boards and executive spaces, shared decision-making, reverse mentorship, and an institutional culture that values every generational perspective.
Dr. Tusubira also highlighted the urgent need for education reform, criticizing the continent’s entrenched “learning to pass exams” culture and calling for systems that cultivate creativity, problem-solving, and technical capability. He cautioned that without investing in human capital, digital literacy, and inclusive innovation ecosystems, Africa risks losing the very foundation of future competitiveness. His message was clear and powerful: intergenerational leadership is not optional—it is a survival strategy for institutions, businesses, and nations, especially in an era where, as he quoted, “it is not the strongest who survive, but those most responsive to change.”
The lecture was further enriched by an engaging panel discussion, which was moderated by Prof. Edward Bbaale, the Principal, College of Business and Management Sciences. He opened the discussion by deliberately centering today’s students and emerging leaders, framing the session as an intellectual reflection on the life, values and legacy of the late Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile. He positioned the lecture’s theme — Shaping Africa’s Future: Intergenerational Leadership, Economic Resilience and the Power of Innovation — as urgent and practical, and introduced a cross-disciplinary panel whose expertise mirrors that urgency: Eng. Dr. F. F. Tusubira, Mr. Charles Mudiwa the Managing Director Dfcu Bank, and Prof. Faisal Buyinza the Ag. Dean, School of Economics.
Prof. Bbaale’s moderation enabled panelists to offer guidance on structural and cultural barriers to youth inclusion, the role of institutions in building resilience, and how academia, industry and policy can work together to turn innovation into jobs and scalable solutions — all the while reserving time for direct audience engagement and practical policy takeaways. Collectively, the panelists urged dismantling age-biased barriers and credential rigidities, creating new entry points and “tables” for youth leadership, scaling finance and training for startups and agribusiness, reforming pedagogy to prioritise skills and creativity, and deepening public-private-academic partnerships so innovation becomes inclusive growth rather than isolated experimentation.
The Family’s heartfelt appreciation
Mrs. Betty Tumusiime-Mutebile delivered heartfelt closing remarks, offering gratitude on behalf of the family and the Tumusiime-Mutebile Foundation. Speaking with deep emotion, she reflected on the late Professor’s character—his honesty, humility, hard work, and unwavering commitment to service above self. She thanked Makerere University, the Bank of Uganda, the Foundation’s leadership, and the many friends and colleagues who have continued to uphold his legacy, noting that although nearly four years have passed since his departure, his memory remains vivid and powerful for the family.
She recalled his devotion to both his public duty and his home, sharing personal stories of his leadership within the family and his steadfast faith that shaped their daily lives. Mrs. Tumusiime-Mutebile also highlighted the Foundation’s ongoing work in youth skilling, ethical governance, and private-sector development—initiatives rooted in his own vision. She concluded by inviting continued partnership to sustain the legacy he built, and led the gathering in singing his favourite chorus, a tender tribute to a man whose influence, she said, endures through the lives he touched.
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