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.
Business & Management
PIM Centre Holds 9th Steering Committee Meeting, Set to Benefit from World Bank Support
The Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence at Makerere University today, October 10th, 2025, held its 9th Steering Committee Meeting to review progress made in the first quarter of the financial year and plan for the months ahead.
The meeting was chaired by Ms. Getrude Basiima, who represented Mr. Hannington Ashaba, Director Budget at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED). Ms. Basiima commended the Centre for its continued commitment to strengthening public investment management capacity across government institutions.
In her remarks, Ms. Basiima applauded the Centre for successfully hosting the Public Investment Management Conference held in August at Makerere University. The conference attracted key policymakers, development partners, and academics who deliberated on how to enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and impact of public investments in Uganda.
She further shared exciting news that the Government of Uganda has secured funding from the World Bank to support the public investment management function. The PIM Centre, she announced, will be among the key beneficiaries of these funds — receiving support for the construction and acquisition of a permanent home to enhance its institutional sustainability and training capacity.
Reviewing the Centre’s quarterly performance, Ms. Basiima congratulated the team for successfully conducting three specialized trainings in the first quarter, reaching officials from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. These trainings continue to strengthen the technical competencies required for effective project preparation, appraisal, and implementation in line with Uganda’s National Development Plan.
She encouraged the Centre to integrate climate change considerations into its future training programmes, noting that sustainable public investment must now account for environmental resilience and climate adaptation.
The centre team presented the proposed structure/ organogram, the financial performance of 2024/2025, research areas for 2025/2026 and the strategic plan for 2025 – 2030.
The Steering Committee reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the PIM Centre’s vision of becoming a regional leader in building capacity for efficient, transparent, and sustainable public investment management.
Business & Management
PIM Centre Awards Certificates to Over 35 Officials Trained in Essentials of Public Investment Management
The Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence at Makerere University has awarded certificates to more than 35 public officials who successfully completed a three-day training in the Essentials of Public Investment Management (PIM).
The training, held from September 23rd to 26th, 2025 at the College of Business and Management Sciences, aimed at strengthening the capacity of government officials to effectively identify, prepare, and implement public projects.
The closing ceremony was officiated by Ms. Belinda Bisamaza, who represented the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury (PS/ST). In her remarks, Ms. Bisamaza commended participants for their commitment, noting that the training had offered a solid foundation in the entire PIM cycle — from project conceptualization and profiling, through monitoring and evaluation (M&E), to the use of the Integrated Bank of Projects (IBP), Environmental and Social Risk Management, and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
“With these skills, you can contribute meaningfully to improving the quality of proposals submitted to the IBP, ensure better risk management, and enhance implementation through robust monitoring frameworks,” she said, adding that participants were now better prepared for advanced modules on financial appraisal, risk analysis, and stakeholder engagement.
Representing the PIM Centre, Prof. Eria Hisali highlighted the need for well-prepared projects that directly contribute to economic growth. “We must move away from the practice of developing projects only when funding is required. Instead, we should create a strong bank of quality projects from which government can easily draw,” he said.
The Manager of the PIM Centre, Dr. John Sseruyange, expressed gratitude to the participants and trainers for their dedication. He noted that the facilitators were drawn from Makerere University, the National Planning Authority (NPA), and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED). Dr. Sseruyange also revealed that the Centre would be rolling out further in-depth training modules and creating opportunities for alumni to engage in consultancy and research work. The PIM Centre hosts the training as part of broader efforts by Makerere University, MoFPED, and NPA to strengthen Uganda’s public investment management systems, ensuring value for money, improved service delivery, and sustainable economic development.
Business & Management
PIM Centre Makerere, Graduates Second Cohort of Certificate in Financial Implications – Integrated Regulatory Cost-Benefit Analysis
Jinja, September 5, 2025
Thirty-one government officers from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have successfully completed a two-week intensive training in the Certificate of Financial Implications (CFI) – Integrated Regulatory Cost-Benefit Analysis. The certification ceremony was held at the Pearl on the Nile Hotel, Jinja, marking another milestone in Uganda’s efforts to institutionalize evidence-based and fiscally responsible policymaking.
The training, delivered by the Makerere University Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), and National Planning Authority equipped participants with practical skills to evaluate policy and legislative proposals for their financial, economic, and social implications.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Mr. Paul Mwanja, Commissioner for Infrastructure & Social Services at MoFPED, who represented the Permanent Secretary, commended the officers for their commitment at a time when government institutions are finalizing the Auditor General’s audits, implementing the FY2025/26 budget, rolling out the National Development Plan IV’s tenfold growth strategy, and preparing for the 2026 General Elections.
“Your participation affirms a collective commitment across Government to strengthen the quality, transparency, and credibility of public policymaking in Uganda,” Mr. Mwanja said. He urged graduates to return to their institutions as champions of reform, share their knowledge with colleagues, and drive the change needed in Public Finance Management. He also announced that the next cohort of the training will take place in January 2026.
Prof. Ibrahim Mike Okumu, Dean of the School of Economics at Makerere University, delivered the graduation address, highlighting the certificate’s importance in addressing Uganda’s triple challenge of scale, scarcity, and speed.
“This program does something unique. It teaches you not only to ask whether a policy or project is beneficial, but also whether it is affordable and resilient under real fiscal constraints,” Prof. Okumu noted. He challenged graduates to apply their skills at project, portfolio, and policy levels—ensuring value for money and enhancing public trust in government spending.
He further emphasized that Uganda’s pioneering approach to integrated CFI-CBA positions the country as a leader in Africa and beyond: “You, Uganda’s first CFI-CBA graduates, are now part of a global brain trust. Your work will speak to investors, parliaments, development partners, and above all, the Ugandan people.”
Dr. John Sseruyange, Manager of the PIM Centre of Excellence, expressed appreciation to participants for their active engagement throughout the training and thanked MoFPED and the faculty drawn from Makerere University, the National Planning Authority, Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Energy for their technical support.
The Certificate of Financial Implications – Integrated Regulatory Cost-Benefit Analysis was introduced following the Revised Guidelines for Financial Clearance, effective July 1, 2025. The guidelines require MDAs to prepare their own financial implications statements, subject to rigorous cost-benefit analysis, thereby strengthening linkages between fiscal responsibility and regulatory impact assessments.
With the successful completion of the second cohort, Uganda is steadily building a critical mass of professionals capable of embedding cost-benefit thinking across government, ensuring every shilling delivers maximum impact for citizens.
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