Business & Management
EfD-Mak Center Passes Evaluation for Re-Accreditation for the next 5 years
A panel of external evaluators from the EfD Global Hub at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, has consented to recommend the re-accreditation of the EfD-Mak Center Uganda for another five years.
Edwin Muchapondwa from the South African EfD centre at the University of Cape town, Precious Zikhali from Nairobi Kenya and Ted Horbulyk from Canada were in Uganda on a three-day evaluation exercise on 23rd – 25th October 2023.
Every five years, the EfD Global hub evaluates its over 15 centres across the world on various parameters including institutional development, capacity building, research, policy engagement and outreach, performance and also on publication as a research output.
The EfD Uganda was established in Honai in 2018 and launched at Makerere University August 2019 funded by Sida.
The panel heard testimonies from the administrative staff, students the research fellows that work with the center, the university administrators, right from the Head of Department to the Dean, the College Principal and the Academic Registrar, and the Office of the Vice Chancellor as the Chief Executive of the university.
The trio visited government ministries, departments and agencies including the National Planning Authority, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of Water and Environment, Wakiso district local government, and ACODE-a civil society organization to find out how collaborative engagements with the EfD-Mak center have shaped the policy environment and practice, as well as the plans and areas they felt the centre could serve better to make more impact.
In a closing meeting with the centre administrative staff and researchers, the Lead Evaluator Edwin Mchapondwa gave a glimpse of what the evaluation report will look like outlining some of the themes and pledged to produce the report within a month.
“But the headline is that the panel has agreed that we will make a recommendation that the center should be re-accredited for five more years. Okay, so with this, we have come to the end of the review process. So we thank the colleagues for tolerating all our hard questions, imposing on your time, not allowing you to attend some meetings you should have been attending. That way, it has been good for the center,” Mchapondwa announced.
Under the institutionalization, the team commended Makerere University for its plan to position the center between the two colleges as a good strategy for sustainability and encouraged the staff to maintain the team spirit and dedicate more time to serve the centre.
“With respect to engagement, I am very impressed with the people we spoke to as entry points into getting ongoing collaborations with people in government and civil society and local government and so on. I think the challenge I see is getting good traction with them” Canadian external evaluator Ted Horbulyk said.
The centre also scored highly in terms of its policy engagement with government ministries, departments and agencies, academia, civil society and local governments. The team advised on the need to formalise the collaborations to ensure they are institutionalised within the university.
“I see policy engagement as a great platform, which a lot of work has really been done, that there is a lot of dedication, I think everybody that we spoke to said they are very engaged, I think that presents a very great opportunity. But of course I think that there is also more that can still be done, just to build on the foundation that has been made. I’m really happy about the potential that you have and the links that you’ve established”, the Kenyan external evaluator Precious Zikhali added.
The evaluators also commended the centre for capacity development initiatves for students, researchers and policy makers in a range of aspects in Environment and Natural Resources Economics but advised on the need to narrow down its focus on areas of field.
“…You are doing well with your programs. And we heard the numbers of typical enrollments. And you seem to be inspiring students right from the undergraduate level. I think that is the right way to go. And we also appreciated hearing about this collaborative program you have in particular, the Masters in Environmental and Resource Economics, which is supported by both colleges.
“What you are doing with the policy makers, particularly IGE, and soon RAMP is also quite good. We saw some evidence that there is some impact that is coming across from there.” The team leader, Edwin Mchapondwa stated.
With respect to publications and papers, the evaluators tasked the centre to submit all publications to justify that there is an active body of scholars at the centre who are doing work.
Evaluators further observed the need for the centre researchers tap into each other’s expertise and narrow the scope of the fields into something that is of high impact when it comes to policy engagement.
On the gender side the centre was also advised to continue to think about initiative to expand the meaningful participation of women, both within EfD Uganda and EfD Global collaboratives.
EfD Uganda has created a mark in the country through policy engagements and outreach.
The Director Edward Bbaale said entering the EfD network is a prestigious issue that has contributed to the internationalization agenda as Makerere drives towards the research-led university status.
The center, he reported, was given notice more than a year ago that it was due for evaluation, and requested to conduct a self-evaluation and ranking on a number of parameters for which it is charged to deliver .
Bbaale said, the center has been preparing a document of self-evaluation which involved appending evidence of MoUs, outcomes of the engagements, and caused policy changes in government.
“And we prepared ourselves to receive this evaluation team. And in the three days of evaluation, we have endured a lot of questions, which, to the best of our ability, we responded to very well”, He said
Bbaale described the evaluation exercise and conversations as enjoyable, and one that gave him pride as he observed people give testimonies about the impact that EfD-Mak has made over the years.
“And as a result, we have not been shy at all to interface with this team. Our heads have been high up, confident, and we tried as much as possible to respond to each of those parameters the way we are supposed to deliver”.
“And then the D-Day, and the awaited hour was at 4 o’clock today 25th October 2023 where the evaluation team chose to give highlights of what they have observed. They highlighted a a number of strengths and gaps to be worked on.”
“But finally, what made us very proud this afternoon is that the EfD evaluation team, all the three panelists agreed that the EfD-Mak Center is worthy to be accredited for the next five years, which was a great thing we celebrated and are still celebrating,” the Professor remarked.
Lessons from the evaluation and way forward
Bbaale appreciated evaluators for pointing out different perspectives and great opportunities to engage more with line ministries.
“We should always be in the corridors of the Ministry of Water and Environment to show case of what we are and what we can do, to let them know that in the EfD-Mak Center resides great expertise that can give answers to a number of questions that the government workers may not have answers to.
“We are going to write a profile about what we are as EfD-Mak, our research team, what we have done over the years, and tell the ministry that we are ready to offer solutions to some of the things they have been grappling with”. He pledged.
The other lesson, he said, is interesting students to like environment and natural resource economics right from undergraduate and graduate students that come as freshers and creating a pool of fellows to offer supervision as well as participating in the EfD Global Hub competition for the best dissertation.
On international collaborations, the Director clarified that the center belongs to the Forestry collaborative where center researchers Peter Babyenda and Patrick Byakagaba are having a forest project. Babyenda and a representative from the National Forestry Authority under the same collaborative will be travelling to Nepal under the same arrangement for a study on how the country has succeeded in the forestry policy. The center is active in SETI collaborative, that deals with energy and the very first center’s project was on electricity, which was done by Dr. Nicholas Kiliman followed by Dr. Aisha Nanyiti.
In addition to providing a write-up on each of those collaboratives that exist and encouraging people to always be part, Bbaale promised to submit a detailed list of publications from the research fellows.
On the question of gender and ensuring women full participation in the centre activities, Bbaale said Makerere University has been deliberate and intentional to balance gender and to protect women in general including against sexual harassment.
“With government addition of 1.5 points to women, its fruits have been seen after very many years. Now we graduate 52% female. We are yet to see the fruits translate into graduate programmes and when that happens, we shall be sure that we are in the position to have more women researchers in the center.” He said.
Audit process as a reflection for improvement while re-accreditation offered confidence
Delivering the vote of thanks, the Dean, School of Economics Dr. Ibrahim Okumu described auditing as a way that allows institutions to reflect for purposes of improvement.
Okumu was happy that the evaluators engaged with a number of stakeholders,
“And the outcome tells me that it’s been a really positive engagement. And of course, the last strong point that I got out of this was the positive feedback we got from the policy arena that we are positively contributing to their area of work.
“And of course, the greatest thing today was the fact that we have an additional five years of contributing to the development of environment, economics, within our space and within the global space. All the areas of strengthening would indeed come through as positive as you suggested.” The Dean noted.
Jane Anyango is the Communication Officer EfD Uganda
Business & Management
Uganda Launches Policy Briefs on Natural Capital Accounts to position Nature at the Centre of Economic Planning
Uganda has launched five policy briefs on Natural Capital Accounts aimed at integrating the value of the country’s forests, wetlands, water resources, land, energy systems and ecosystems into national economic planning and decision making.
The Policy Briefs, developed by the Centre of Excellence for Africa Climate-Sensitive Macroeconomic Modelling (CEACM) under the College of Business and Management Sciences, were launched on Wednesday 15th July 2026 at Makerere University.
The initiative brings together government, academia and development partners to promote climate-informed economic policies as Uganda pursues sustainable development and its economic transformation targets.
The five policy briefs address Uganda’s energy transition, declining wood stocks, natural capital integration into development planning, sustainable land use, and national water accounting amid climate change.
The five policy briefs include:
- Uganda’s Wood Stock on a Declining Pathway to Extinction: A Call for Policy Review and Action
- Uganda’s Energy System at a Crossroads: The Unsustainable Reliance on Biomass and the Need for Energy Transition
- Integrating Natural Capital into Development Planning in Uganda: Insights from the Ecosystem Service and Asset Accounts (1990-2015)
- Leveraging Land Natural Capital to Drive Uganda’s Sustainable and Inclusive Growth
- National Water Accounts Development: Tracking Uganda’s Progress amidst Climate Change.
Link to the Policy Briefs: https://bams.mak.ac.ug/policy-briefs/
Speaking at the Launch of the policy briefs, the Minister of State for Environment, Hon. Beatrice Atim Anywar who represented the Minister of Water and Environment, said natural capital accounting provides Uganda with a new approach to valuing its environmental resources.
“Today, we are launching a new way of seeing, planning and managing Uganda’s development,” Hon. Anywar said.
She noted that for years, Uganda’s economic progress has largely been measured through indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which do not capture the decline or improvement of natural resources.
“But GDP does not tell us if our forests, water sources and wetlands are shrinking. It does not tell us if our forests can still hold our waters or whether our soils will still feed the next generation,” she said.
Hon. Anywar said Uganda’s natural capital, including forests, wetlands, water resources, biodiversity, minerals and fertile soils, supports livelihoods, tourism, energy generation and climate resilience. “This natural capital supports over 70 percent of our population and powers our hydropower. It feeds into tourism and buffers us against droughts and threatening floods,” she said.
She warned that degradation of these resources represents a loss of national wealth. “When natural capital is degraded, we are not just losing trees, wetlands, water or soils. We are losing wealth. We are losing jobs for our children and future generations,” she said.
The Minister said natural capital accounting allows Uganda to place nature on its economic balance sheet. “This is what natural capital accounting does. It puts nature on the balance sheet. I studied basic accounting, but I never imagined that natural resources could also be reflected on a balance sheet. Today, that is becoming a reality,” she said.
She challenged all stakeholders to ensure that every future development decision considers its impact on Uganda’s natural capital, stressing that informed choices today will secure sustainable prosperity for generations to come.
Hon. Anywar also called for recognition of the role communities play in protecting natural resources, saying traditional knowledge must complement modern science.
“Our ancestors protected the environment without maps, technology or scientific reports. They knew which areas were sacred, where water sources were protected and where forests should not be disturbed,” she said. “When communities understand that protecting a wetland or forest protects their own livelihoods, we will not need constant enforcement. People themselves will become protectors of nature,” she added.
Research Must Drive Policy Decisions
Delivering the opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe highlighted the event as a significant milestone in strengthening climate-sensitive economic planning.
He noted that the theme of the launch and dissemination workshop, “Advancing Climate-Informed Economic Policy for Sustainable Development in Africa,” aligns with the research-led agenda of Makerere University.
Prof. Nawangwe said the launch demonstrates the role of universities in generating evidence to support national development. “Today’s event demonstrates the power of collaboration between academia, government and development partners in generating knowledge that informs public policy and advances Uganda’s sustainable development agenda,” he said.
Prof. Nawangwe said the policy briefs provide evidence needed for integrating natural capital into national planning, budgeting and investment decisions. He said the University will continue strengthening research capacity to support Uganda and Africa.
Emphasizing the urgency of informed decision-making, he observed that Africa remains one of the regions most affected by climate change while experiencing rapid population growth, placing increasing pressure on natural resources. He stressed that research-driven policies are essential for achieving climate resilience and sustainable economic growth.
The Vice Chancellor commended the Government of Uganda, particularly the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, on the country’s historic appointment as the first Co-Chair of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action.
He recognised the Centre of Excellence for Africa Climate-Sensitive Macroeconomic Modelling (CEACM) for advancing interdisciplinary research and strengthening Uganda’s position as a regional leader in climate-sensitive macroeconomic modelling and evidence-informed policymaking.
“The Centre continues to build the capacity of African researchers and policymakers while fostering partnerships with government institutions, development partners, regional organisations, and the private sector,” he said.
Strengthening Africa’s Climate Policy Research Agenda
Prof. Edward Bbaale, the Director of CEACM and the Principal, College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), reported on Makerere University’s investment in establishing specialised centres that address critical policy challenges facing Uganda and the African continent.
He stated that CEACM was established to respond to growing global demands for climate considerations to become part of national planning, budgeting and macroeconomic decision-making.
“The Centre is committed to producing high-quality policy-oriented research while strengthening the capacity of policymakers and practitioners to respond effectively to climate and economic challenges,” he said.
He explained that CEACM was established because climate change can no longer be separated from economic planning. “It is very important that national planning, budgeting, macroeconomic frameworks and fiscal policies are not oblivious to climate change, but instead fully integrate climate-related considerations,” he said.
He stated that CEACM’s work aligns with emerging global and continental initiatives, including the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action and the Pan-African Forum of Finance Ministers on Climate Action, underscoring the increasing role of finance ministries in integrating climate priorities into economic planning and fiscal decision-making.
Prof. Bbaale added that Makerere University had positioned itself as a partner to government through research, evidence generation and capacity building. “We could not stand aside. We have to be part of this global effort and contribute the much-needed evidence, research and capacity building to support the Ministry of Finance in executing this important responsibility,” he said.
He noted that Uganda’s role as the first African country to co-chair the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action had created an opportunity for local institutions to strengthen climate-sensitive economic modelling.
Uganda’s Progress in Integrating Natural Capital into Economic Planning
Representing the GGGI Country Representative, the Manager of Climate Finance, Mr. Arthur Ssebbugga-Kimeze commended Uganda’s efforts to integrate natural capital accounting into national economic planning. “This is a critical step towards climate-resilient and sustainable development,” he acknowledged.
The Manager of Climate Finance applauded the collaboration between Makerere University, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, and development partners in generating evidence that supports informed policymaking.
He also recognised the Government of Denmark for its continued support in advancing climate-smart economic policies through the Denmark-EGP partnership.
Emphasizing the significance of natural capital as a key pillar of economic prosperity, Mr. Ssebbugga-Kimeze called for sustained investment in protecting these assets. “Uganda’s experience is increasingly informing climate finance and policy discussions across Africa through the Pan-African Finance Ministers’ Forum on Climate Action,” he added.
He called for strong partnerships among government, academia, and development partners to ensure that research continues to drive evidence-based policymaking and sustainable economic growth, reaffirming GGGI’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s green growth agenda.
Policy Briefs Must Move from Shelves to Decisions
Representing the Embassy of Denmark in Uganda, Ms. Nina Guldbæk van Leeuwen, Counsellor and Team Leader for Politics, Regional Affairs and Refugee Support, said natural capital accounting is critical for building climate-resilient economies.
She commended Uganda’s leadership as co-chair of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action. “These policy briefs are crucial in enhancing the role of economic, fiscal and financial policies in addressing climate change in Uganda and Africa as a whole,” she said.
Ms. Van Leeuwen said reliable natural capital accounts enable finance ministries to integrate climate considerations into economic planning. “Ministries of Finance require these accounts to support macroeconomic modelling, which can only be developed through a strengthened and collaborative national statistical system,” she said.
She urged stakeholders to ensure the research informs actual decisions. “Let us ensure that these policy briefs do not remain on institutional shelves but are actively used to inform decisions and policies going forward,” she said.
Natural Capital Data will improve Economic Decision
The Acting Commissioner for Macroeconomic Policy at Uganda’s Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mr. Davis Vuningoma, called for climate change to be treated as a macroeconomic and fiscal challenge rather than solely an environmental issue.
“Climate risks pose significant threats to agricultural productivity, energy generation, infrastructure, government revenues, and fiscal stability,” he noted.
Mr. Vuningoma said natural capital accounting will strengthen Uganda’s ability to make informed economic decisions.
He warned that climate change poses economic risks that could affect Uganda’s fiscal space. “If we do not address these challenges, our fiscal space could shrink, and our ability to provide public services could be affected,” Mr. Vuningoma said.
He said Uganda’s natural resources have historically not been fully reflected in traditional economic measurements. “Uganda is richly endowed with natural capital, including forests, wetlands and water resources. However, traditional measures of economic performance have often failed to fully capture the value of these assets,” he said.
Mr. Vuningoma said the policy briefs provide practical options for government as Uganda seeks to expand its economy. “This is particularly important at a time when Uganda is pursuing ambitious economic transformation targets, including the goal of growing the economy tenfold and achieving a USD 500 billion economy,” he said.
Key Findings Highlight Pressure on Uganda’s Natural Resources
Presenting the highlights, Dr. Peter Babyenda, the Coordinator of CEACM, disclosed that the policy briefs highlight growing pressure on Uganda’s natural resources.
The Energy System at Crossroads brief found that traditional biomass accounts for about 87 percent of Uganda’s final energy consumption, highlighting continued dependence on firewood and charcoal.
The Wood Stock Declining Pathway brief found that Uganda’s national wood resources declined by 45 percent between 1990 and 2015, with projections warning of possible exhaustion of available wood supply between 2032 and 2040 under current trends.
The Land Natural Capital brief identified unsustainable agricultural expansion, deforestation and urbanisation as major drivers of land degradation.
The Ecosystem Services and Asset Accounts brief noted that although the monetary value of ecosystem assets increased between 1990 and 2015, natural capital value per person declined by 17.7 percent due to population growth.
The National Water Accounts brief highlighted agriculture as the largest water user, accounting for 55.4 percent of total water abstraction in 2024, while warning of increasing climate risks.
Panel Discussion: Advancing Climate-Informed Economic Policy for Sustainable Development in Africa
Moderated by Prof. Edward Bbaale, the session featured the following panellists: Dr. Ronald Kaggwa-National Planning Authority, Mr. Wilson Asiimwe-Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mr. Nathan Mununuzi-Ministry of Water and Environment, Mr. Godwin Kamugisha-National Environment Management Authority, and Dr. Peter Babyenda-CEACM Coordinator and member of faculty at Makerere University College of Business and Management Sciences (MakCoBAMS).
The Panelists argued that assigning monetary value to forests, wetlands, water resources, and other ecosystems would enable evidence-based budgeting, investment decisions, and environmental protection while capturing costs ignored by traditional GDP measures.
They stressed the need for stronger institutions, increased funding, enhanced research and capacity building, and closer collaboration between government, academia, and development partners.
The event, organized by CEACM, brought on board distinguished stakeholders including the Minister of State for Environment, Hon. Beatrice Atim Anywar who represented the Minister of Water and Environment, Hon. Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Kahinda Otafiire, Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Principal, College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), and Director CEACM, Prof. Edward Bbaale and representatives from different Ministries and Agencies such as, the Embassy of Denmark in Uganda, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of Water and Environment, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, and among others.
CEACM is a research and policy centre that supports African countries in integrating climate change and natural capital into economic planning through research, capacity building, and evidence-based policymaking. CEACM is one of the centres within the School of Economics at the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) at Makerere University.
The Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE) at Makerere University is set to benefit from a grant under the World Bank-supported PIM-Plus Project, an initiative aimed at strengthening Public Investment Management Systems and enhancing the capacity for effective project planning, appraisal, implementation, and monitoring in Uganda.
Through the project, the Centre is expected to receive funding of approximately USD 8 million to support the construction of a modern teaching and residential facility. The proposed infrastructure is intended to enhance the Centre’s capacity to deliver high-quality training, research and technical advisory services in Public Investment Management (PIM) to government institutions and other stakeholders across the region and beyond.
The project’s construction activities are anticipated to commence in the next financial year following the completion of the necessary preparatory processes, including feasibility studies and project design.
As part of the ongoing project preparation activities, the PIM CoE today hosted a delegation of officials from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), who visited the Centre to assess progress made towards the implementation of the PIM-Plus Project. The visit provided an opportunity for the Ministry team to review the Centre’s readiness, discuss key project milestones, and identify areas requiring further attention to ensure timely project execution.
The Ministry delegation was led by Ms. Esther Ayebare, Ag. Assistant Commissioner, Public Investments and Project Analysis Department who commended the Centre for the progress registered thus far. She emphasized the importance of adhering to the project preparation timelines and urged the PIM CoE team to expedite the completion of the feasibility studies and other prerequisite activities necessary for project approval and commencement.
Ms. Ayebare noted that the successful implementation of the project will significantly strengthen the Centre’s role as a national and regional hub for capacity building, research and knowledge dissemination in Public Investment Management. She further underscored the Government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that enhance the quality of public investments and contribute to improved service delivery and sustainable economic development.
The Director of the PIM Centre, Prof. Edward Bbaale reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to ensuring that all project preparation requirements are completed within the stipulated timelines. He noted that the planned facility will provide a conducive environment for training, accommodation and collaborative learning thereby strengthening the Centre’s ability to support the Country in developing and managing high-quality investment projects.
Dr. John Sseruyange, the Manager of the PIM Centre of Excellence emphasized that the Centre remains committed to delivering high-quality, demand-driven training courses that respond to the evolving needs of Public Investment Management practitioners and contribute to the successful implementation of Uganda’s Public Investment Management reform agenda. He further noted that the project will enable the Centre to effectively fulfil its mandate and contribute more meaningfully to addressing PIM capacity constraints in the region. The PIM-Plus Project forms part of broader efforts by the Government of Uganda and its development partners to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and impact of public investments, ensuring that public resources are directed towards projects that deliver maximum socio-economic benefits for citizens.
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