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ICT-4MRPQ Project Team holds Stakeholders’ Engagement

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The Project led by Assoc. Prof. David Katamba from Makerere University Business School (MUBS) aims to address quality assurance problems/gaps encountered by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) during masters’ research processes. The project team has developed an E-Supervision Web Portal (https://mastersresearch.ug/) to track Masters Research supervision processes. It is funded by the EU under Erasmus projects for the period 2023-2026.  

Dr. John Mary Kiberu presenting an overview of the project during the stakeholders' engagement. He is the Coordinator of the project at Makerere University. Telepresence Centre, Senate Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.
Dr. John Mary Kiberu presenting an overview of the project during the stakeholders’ engagement. He is the Coordinator of the project at Makerere University.

Why the project

The outbreak of COVID19 and the subsequent measures taken to curb the spread of the pandemic, including prolonged lockdowns and limitations to physical contact, aggravated the already existing problems faced by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Uganda, specifically, the deteriorating quality of the masters’ research processes. Over 20,000 masters’ students who must undertake a supervised research project could not access their supervisors, a factor that greatly compromised the quality of their work.

Prof. Edward Bbaale, Director, DRGT at Makerere University commended the project as a great initiative that will strengthen research and graduate training at the University.
Prof. Edward Bbaale, Director, DRGT at Makerere University commended the project as a great initiative that will strengthen research and graduate training at the University.

Issues the project intends to address

Through a project titled, Strengthening Capacity for ICT Usage and Policy Reforms for Relevant and Quality Masters Research Process Management in Uganda’s HEIs (ICT-4MRPQ)”, Makerere University Business School (MUBS) in partnership with Makerere University and other HEIs intends to address quality assurance problems/gaps encountered by HEIs during masters’ research processes. These include; absence of student-supervisor interaction records management, increased redundancies in supervisor-student skills transfer, research turn-around time redundancy, decreased transparency in conducting viva-voce, and duplication of research outputs/plagiarism. This will specifically be achieved through several objectives including; 1) Updating the Research Process Quality Management Policies and Guidelines (at national level – NCHE; and at university level) in the context of master’s students’ research, 2) Increasing the capacity of Uganda’s NCHE and HEIs to participate in the definition, implementation and monitoring of master’s research policy reforms necessary for setting up a national common master’s student research agenda, 3) Documenting critical aspects of the master’s student research journey, and 4) Building capacity in the use of ICT as a digital skill inclusion mechanism which can reduce various forms of discrimination against women/girls.

Prof. Edward Bbaale addressing participants.
Prof. Edward Bbaale addressing participants.

The Project is led by Assoc. Prof. David Katamba from MUBS. At Makerere University, the project is coordinated by Dr John Mary Kiberu from the Department of Geology & Petroleum studies. Other project members at Makerere University are; Dr Karidewa Nyeinga from the Department of Physics; Dr Denis Okello, Head, Department of Physics; Dr Godfrey Mayende from the Institute of Open and Distance Learning; Dr Caroline Asiimwe, formerly at the Department of Languages, CHUSS; and Ms. Joan Nakajigo from the Department of Geology & Petroleum studies. Other partner institutions include; Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Stichting Vu, Kyazze, Kankaka & Co Advocates, Uganda Chapter for Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives (UCCSRI), Universidade De Lisboa, and Uganda National Council for Higher Education.

The Deputy Principal of CoNAS, Prof. Juma Kasozi made several recommendations for improving the E-supervision Web Portal. Telepresence Centre, Senate Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.
The Deputy Principal of CoNAS, Prof. Juma Kasozi made several recommendations for improving the E-supervision Web Portal.

Achievements

The project has registered several milestones including the development of an E-Supervision Web Portal (https://mastersresearch.ug/) to track Masters Research supervision processes in Higher Education Institutions in Uganda.  

Makerere University staff from CoNAS, Dr. Michael Owor, Dean School of Physical Sciences (R) and Dr. Denis Okello, Head, Department of Physics (L) during the workshop. Telepresence Centre, Senate Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.
Makerere University staff from CoNAS, Dr. Michael Owor, Dean School of Physical Sciences (R) and Dr. Denis Okello, Head, Department of Physics (L) during the workshop.

Stakeholders’ Engagement

On 27th June 2023, the Project team held a Stakeholders’ engagement at Senate Building, Makerere University to introduce and receive feedback on the E-supervision platform. The Web Portal was developed by ICT specialists led by Dr Shakirah Nagujja, Head, E-Learning Centre at MUBS.

Staff from the Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS), Makerere University participated in the workshop. Telepresence Centre, Senate Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.
Staff from the Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS), Makerere University participated in the workshop.

Remarks by the Director DRGT, Makerere University

In his remarks, the Director, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT) at Makerere University, Prof. Edward Bbaale commended the project team for the initiative, explaining that it will contribute to strengthening graduate training at Makerere University as one of the cornerstones for achieving the research-led agenda. “As Makerere works towards becoming a research-led University, with over 30% graduate students by 2030, we need to ensure our research and training processes are made efficient, and this is one of the factors the project is trying to address. The project rhymes well with the mandate of DRGT and will greatly improve research administration at Makerere,” he noted, calling for interconnectedness of online systems and the involvement of DRGT in the different processes of the project.

 The Deputy Principal of CoNAS, Prof. Juma Kasozi equally appreciated the project team for the initiative and made a number of recommendations for improvement of the E-supervision platform. Similarly, participants including representatives from the Directorate of ICT at Makerere made several recommendations for improving the platform.

The Project Leader, Assoc. Prof. David Katamba participated virtually. Telepresence Centre, Senate Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.
The Project Leader, Assoc. Prof. David Katamba participated virtually.

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Hasifa Kabejja

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Revised Advertisement for Positions of Principal and Deputy Principal at Makerere University

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An aerial shot of the Main Building, as taken by a drone over the Freedom Square with Left to Right: CHUSS, St. Francis, St. Augustine and CAES Buildings and the Kikoni area (Background) in view. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Makerere University, Uganda’s premier institution of higher learning and one of Africa’s leading research universities, invites applications from suitably qualified and distinguished individuals for the positions of Principal and Deputy Principal in the Colleges listed below. The University seeks visionary leaders with demonstrated academic excellence, strategic leadership, and a commitment to institutional transformation. This advertisement is for the positions of:

  1. Principal and Deputy Principal, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES)
  2. Principal and Deputy Principal, College of Education and External Studies (CEES)
  3. Principal and Deputy Principal, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS)
  4. Principal and Deputy Principal, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB)
  5. Principal, College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS)
  6. Deputy Principal, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS).

Mode of application

Interested individuals for the positions of Principal and Deputy Principal should submit the following documents sealed in an envelope addressed to the University Secretary;

  1. A signed letter of application;
  2. Certified copies of academic certificates and transcripts;
  3. The curriculum vitae of the candidate;
  4. Three (3) letters of recommendation;
  5. Copies of the required minimum number of publications;
  6. Copies of letters of appointment to leadership positions at the level of Head of Department and/or its equivalent or higher in a recognised institution comparable to Makerere University;
  7. A copy of the applicant’s national ID or passport; and
  8. A copy of the last letter of clearance from the Inspectorate of Government or other equivalent national body.

The deadline for applications is 6th July 2026 at 5:00 p.m. East African Time.

Applications should be hand-delivered to:

The University Secretary
Makerere University
Main Administration Building,
Level 2, University Secretary’s Office

Or submitted via email at search.principal@mak.ac.ug

Makerere is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from suitably qualified individuals regardless of gender, disability, or other legally protected status. The University is committed to promoting diversity, inclusion and excellence in all its activities.

THIS ADVERT CANCELS THE EARLIER ISSUED ADVERT DATED 17TH JUNE 2026

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Makerere Launches Upgraded Financial Management System and Roadmap

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Prof. Tumps Ireeta - Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance & Administration) launch the roadmap for upgrading the Mak FMS in Council Room on 17th June2026.

Makerere University on 17th June 2026 launched the upgraded Financial Management System (Mak-FMS) and Implementation Roadmap aimed at ensuring paperless end-to-end transactions right from requisition to sign-off. Mak-FMS was initially launched on 10th July 2024 to automate requisition initiation and approval. The upgraded system will ensure that the hitherto paper-based payment voucher generation, examination, digital clearance, and sign off are completed digitally.

Presiding over the launch on behalf of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, the Principal, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta commended the Directorate of Finance and the Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS) on the strides made in digitalisation of financial processes at Makerere. He nevertheless called for the need to make approvals time bound at each stage of the process to ensure that requisitions are sanctioned or deferred for additional input promptly.

The University Bursar, Mr. Evarist Bainomugisha informed attendees at the launch that the objective of the Mak-FMS upgrade was to ensure paperless transactions by 1st July 2026. He added that Champions had been appointed from colleges and administrative units, and will together with ICT Support Staff be trained by DICTS to support users during the transition.

Mr. Bainomugisha nevertheless noted that incorporation of Mak-FMS into Uganda’s Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) remains undone. He therefore called upon Finance Officers and Accountants to prudently ensure that the money committed on the Makerere system is charged to the appropriate Government code.

DICTS Chief, Mr. Samuel Mugabi reiterated that the upgraded system is not entirely new but is only aimed at further enhancing accountability and transparency of financial management for efficiency of Makerere’s business operations. He added that the upgraded Mak-FMS will be integrated with the recently rolled out Procurement System in a phased approach, especially as users increasingly get acquainted with the paperless working environment. He equally reiterated DICTS readiness to support the Directorate of Finance to ensure a holistic training of users.

Highlighting the ten-day Implementation Roadmap, DICTS Deputy Chief, Mr. Juma Katongole noted that launch of the upgraded Mak-FMS marked Day 1, while Day 2 will be dedicated to training Finance Officers, Accountants and ICT Support Staff and Day 3 to training Champions and more ICT Support Staff. Days 4 and 5 will be dedicated to Hands-on Training Sessions for College Bursars, Accountants and Champions, while Day 6 will feature University-wide pilot implementation of the upgraded Mak-FMS.

Day 7 of the roadmap will handle user support clinics and help desk sessions, while Day 8 will feature refresher training and a workshop on frequently encountered issues. A University-wide simulation exercise covering the end-to-end payment lifecycle will be held on Day 9 and Day 10 will host the readiness assessment meeting and go-live sign-off.

In order to ensure a smooth transition to a digital Mak-FMS, a help desk will remain operational throughout the period and user manuals as well as quick-reference videos will be developed and distributed on the University Knowledge Base and DICTS Social Media platforms.

Mark Wamai

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CHS Quality Assurance Guide Book

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An aerial photo of the College of Health Sciences (CHS), Makerere University showing Left to Right: The Sir Albert Cook Memorial Library, School of Biomedical Sciences, Davies Lecture Theatre, School of Public Health, Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital (MSWNH)-Background Left and Nakasero Hill-Background Right, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The College of Health Sciences (CHS) QA Guidebook streamlines academic excellence, outlining essential quality processes, committee structures, and regulations aligned with Makerere University Policy and the 2004 Graduate Guidebook. It details roles for staff and students, including examination management, committee terms of reference, and highlights staff/student achievements.

Key Components of the QA Guidebook

  • Committees & Structure: Defines roles for the Quality Assurance, Gender Mainstreaming, and ICT Committee, ensuring alignment with SDGs and university policies and NCHE
  • Examination QA Processes: Outlines procedures for setting, moderating, and marking exams, ensuring standards and ethical compliance.
  • Regulations & Guidelines: Based on the Makerere University Quality Assurance Policy Framework (2007) and Graduate Guidebook 2004 ensuring consistency across all programmes.
  • Roles & Responsibilities: Clearly defines the responsibilities of Deans, Heads of Departments, and Students in Internal Quality Assurance.
  • Key student information in academic processes.
  • Commitment to support graduate training.
  • Recognition & Faculty Development: Recognizes outstanding female professors and acknowledges staff who completed PhDs in 2024–2026

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