Business & Management
School of Economics students donate trees to Kiboga District
Over 120 students under the School of Economics at the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) and the Environment for Development Project (EfD) have donated 800 umbrella tree seedlings to Kiboga District.
While handing over the tree seedlings to Kiboga District officials at the district headquarters on Thursday (September 21, 2013), Dr. John Sseruyange, the lecturer who led the students said they started this program last year and the intention is to increase Uganda’s forest cover.
“According to the statistics, in 1995, Uganda had only 25 percent of forest cover and this reduced to nine perfect in 2015 which is a big gap to bridge. We therefore encourage students to participate whole-hearted,” he said.
He revealed that the project is student-led and the college just comes in to top up on what students have contributed to buy these trees.
The participants are students of BA Economics and MA Economics who put what they study into practice as they strive for a greener Uganda.
Mr Hillary Ainebyoona, the student team leader who mobilized students towards this program said the trees are the lungs of the earth and much effort is needed to preserve and restore the eco-system.
“We need cleaner oxygen for breathing and the only way to achieve this, is to plant trees. If we all spread this to our families and friends, in a few years, there will be some change,” he noted.
He called upon other institutions to pick a leaf and work with Makerere University towards the same cause of restoring the environment.
He noted that each student contributed some money in addition to the college and EfD centre to purchase the umbrella trees.
Dr. John Sseruyange revealed that this is their second time giving out these tree seedlings and that the first donation was made last year to Mpigi District.
“If we teach the young generation about planting trees, we shall fully restore the formerly depleted forests. We donated over 700 tree seedlings last year, and now 800 tree seedlings and we hope to donate in parts of Western Uganda next year,” he noted.
With increasing encroachment on gazetted forests and wetlands, various nature loving organisations have risen to address the issue as they spread the gospel of conserving biodiversity.
Dr. Sseruyange said the charity started from the nearby districts due to insufficient funds. “Having just started the program, we first considered districts which are near due to transport costs.”
Canon Edward Musingye, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Kiboga district encouraged other institutions to emulate the gesture portrayed by Makerere University students.
“I want to thank you for picking the little upkeep you receive. Don’t stop on this, keep the spirit and the world will never be the same. Let’s keep working together and ensure that this world is a better place to live,” he remarked.
Mr Ivan Male, the Assistant Forest Officer in the district said they are going to distribute the seedlings to different government facilities including schools, public roads, and the health facilities.
“As Kiboga District, we are really facing challenges of global warming. There’s change in seasons. We find that drought extends into months we expect rainfall. If tree planting is continued with in other places, it will help us to bridge that gap and help us to restore and regain the forests we lost.” He said.
Mr Male noted that trees give people life on earth and urged everyone to plant at least one tree in their homes and societies they live.
Ms Gloria Chebet, a student at CoBAMS who was part of the team hopes to build up her career curriculum vitae and as well champion the restoration of the environment to mitigate climate change through this program.
She recalled that it was during class when the lecturer encouraged them to restore forest cover due to the increasing population.
The Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence has commenced a three-day refresher training for members of the Development Committee (DC) of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The training, which began today in Jinja, aims to enhance the analytical and technical skills of committee members who are tasked with reviewing government projects submitted by various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The training was today February 19, 2025, officially opened by Dr. Hennery Ssebukeera, who represented the Director of the Budget Directorate. In his opening remarks, Dr. Ssebukeera emphasized the importance of the refresher course in enabling the Development Committee to effectively conduct quality reviews and fulfill its mandate as a key gatekeeper of the Public Investment Plan. He noted that the training would improve the participants’ ability to appraise and implement public investments in line with the Public Investment Management System (PIMS) framework.
Speaking at the same event, Prof. Ibrahim Mike Okumu, representing the Centre Director, Prof. Edward Bbaale, expressed the Centre’s gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to Uganda’s PIM cycle. He highlighted the importance of the training in harmonizing the relationship between the MDAs that draft project proposals and the analysts who review them. Prof. Okumu reiterated the Centre’s commitment to building the capacity of government officials in Public Investment Management, thereby supporting the country’s development aspirations.
The need for this training was identified during the Development Committee retreat held in 2024, which revealed limited capacity among DC members in project appraisal, specifically in reviewing prefeasibility and feasibility reports, Dr Ssebukeera noted. In response, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, in collaboration with the PIM Centre of Excellence, organized this refresher course to strengthen the participants’ technical and analytical skills.
DC is a statutory committee of government that evaluates the viability of public investment projects. Its statutory composition includes: Office of the President, Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, National Planning Authority, Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), Office of the Solicitor General, Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development, National Environment Management Authority, Equal Opportunities Commission, Ministry or Work and Transport, Ministry of Water and Environment, Public Private Partnership Unit. The PIM Center of Excellence was recently admitted to the Development Committee as a non-voting member.
The training will cover a wide range of topics, including the role of PIMS in the country’s development goals, the logical flow of project profiles, costing, and the interpretation of interconnections between prefeasibility/feasibility reports and financial models. Additionally, participants will explore the role of public-private partnerships in national development.
Dr. Ssebukeera encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions, share their expertise, and apply the knowledge gained from the training. He noted that this engagement would empower the Development Committee to effectively perform its role in reviewing and approving public investment projects, ensuring they align with national priorities and deliver value for money.
The Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence, established by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in partnership with Makerere University School of Economics, continues to play a pivotal role in building the capacity of MDAs in managing public investments. To date, the Centre has trained over 300 officers and produced several research papers, reflecting its commitment to enhancing public investment management in Uganda.
The training in Jinja is expected to enhance the participants’ capacity to effectively review government projects, thus supporting the effective implementation of Uganda’s Public Investment Plan.
Business & Management
Somali Officials Complete Executive Training in Infrastructure Asset Management at CoBAMS
Six Somali government officials have successfully completed a three-day Executive Training in Infrastructure Asset Management, held at Makerere University’s Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE). The training, funded by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), took place from January 27 to 29, 2025, and aimed to enhance regional capacity in infrastructure planning and management.
The training brought together senior civil servants and policymakers from Somalia, equipping them with practical knowledge and strategies for sustainable infrastructure asset management. It also fostered valuable cross-border collaboration, facilitated by UNCDF Uganda, which played a crucial role in connecting Makerere University with the Government of Somalia.
The program was delivered by experienced faculty from Makerere University’s College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), alongside experts from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) and the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). A special session was also led by the Makerere University Bursar, offering practical insights into financial management in infrastructure projects.
Speaking at the opening of the training, Mr. Ncube Mkhululi, the Regional Technical Advisor for UNCDF emphasized the importance of infrastructure asset management in driving sustainable economic growth. He highlighted UNCDF’s commitment to supporting capacity-building initiatives in developing economies, noting that effective infrastructure planning and management are critical to national development. He also expressed confidence in Makerere University’s expertise in delivering high-impact executive training programs for government officials.
During the closing ceremony, Prof. Bbaale Edward, the Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences expressed gratitude to all partners, including UNCDF, Makerere University management, and the PIM CoE faculty, for their commitment to making the training a success. He emphasized Makerere University’s ongoing efforts to internationalize its research-led agenda, positioning itself as a hub for regional knowledge exchange.
UNCDF Program Manager, Mr. Joel Mundua, the commended the participants for their dedication and encouraged them to share the acquired knowledge with fellow officials in Somalia. This was reaffirmed by one of the participants, who pledged to apply and disseminate the learnings within their respective departments.
Mr. Sunday Denis Aliti, the Program Officer at UNCDF highlighted the importance of ensuring that infrastructure asset management strategies are practical, adaptable, and aligned with national development goals. He commended Makerere University for its leadership in knowledge transfer and regional training and encouraged continued collaboration between universities, governments, and international development partners to strengthen institutional capacity.
Dr. John Sseruyange, Manager of the PIM CoE, applauded both the participants and the expert trainers who contributed to the program. He reiterated the Centre’s commitment to advancing infrastructure asset management through continued training and collaboration with regional stakeholders.
As the training concluded, participants departed with valuable insights and practical tools to improve infrastructure management in Somalia and beyond. The success of this initiative highlights Makerere University’s role as a leading institution in public investment management, fostering capacity-building efforts that drive sustainable development across Africa.
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