Computing & IS
Mak IP Office Visits CoCIS; Rallies Researchers to Register & Commercialise Innovations
Makerere University Intellectual Property (IP) Management Office has urged researchers to register their IP and commercialise their innovations.
The Office Manager Canon Goddy Muhumuza and Administrator Peter Eneru were on Friday 20th October, 2023 meeting staff and researchers in the College of Computing and Information Sciences. The blended meeting held physically and online attracted over 20 researchers and was moderated by the Deputy Principal, Dr. Peter Nabende.
Muhumuza explained that protection and exploitation of research, research outputs and innovations are increasingly becoming important activities for universities all over the world.
Makerere University according to Muhumuza established the Intellectual Property Management Office (IPMO) on 15th July 2020 to identify and protect intellectual property within Makerere University.
“Intellectual Property protection is critical to fostering innovation. Without the protection of ideas, researchers and individuals would not reap the full benefits of their inventions and would focus less on research and development. Inventors, designers, developers, students, staff and authors can protect the ideas.” The manager explained
Currently, the Makerere University Intellectual Property Management Office is visiting colleges with the aim of sensitizing and guiding researchers, staff and students on Intellectual Property including the identification of the IP, the registration and protection of the IP and how to benefit from IP in future.
“I am here for sensitisation on IP management and registration. Many researchers come up with many innovations which when not registered become useless. Books and innovations gone on shelves are gathering dust yet, if they are registered by Makerere University, researchers would benefit from them because Makerere University has an intensive policy of commercialising those projects”, Mr. Muhumuza said.
Benefits of IP and Ownership at Makerere University
Intellectual Property (IP) according to Canon Goddy Muhumuza, refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works; designs and symbols, names and images used in commerce. Intellectual Property rights grant the owner of the work exclusive rights to exploit and benefit from his or her work.
The manager explained that IP provides an incentive to the innovators to be able to benefit from the result of their endeavour. The legal protection of innovations encourages the commitment of additional resources for further innovation. In addition, the promotion and protection of IP spurs economic growth, creates jobs and enhances the quality and enjoyment of life.
Muhumuza highlighted that under the Intellectual Property Rights, the inventor can get copyright, patents, designs and, trademarks and trade secrets protection to shield an invention or creation from being duplicated or copied by another individual or business.
The manager highlighted that the creator or originator of the idea, work, or novel invention is presumed to own the IP to their creation. However, if the work was created as part of a work-made-for-hire agreement, or in an employer-employee agreement, a student, the IP belongs to the university.
Once an asset is registered, Muhumuza said, all parties agree on which pathway and benefits to be shared.
“According to the Intellectual Property Management Policy, innovators are getting 80% which is almost all and the university gets 20%, of this, 10% goes back to the innovators department, 5% to management and 5% goes to graduate school. So the university is encouraging as many innovations as possible”, Muhumuza stressed.
Process simplified, Mak Innovation Hub to support commercialisation
The manager said, what the researcher, student or any other individual needs is to declare the IP at the Intellectual Property Management office, and wait for the certificate to be delivered.
“The process is that once you get your IP, you come to the Intellectual Property Management Office, in Yusuf Lule building room 3.2 and you bring your innovation both physical and in writing. And you leave it with us. We submit to URSB, we pay submission, search and certificate fees, and for you, you will be notified that you have got the certificate. You do not need anything to pay. The university pays everything”. The manager asserted.
Muhumuza added that since its inception, the office has managed to register, protect and receive 20 certificates for various IP while 13 IPs have been filled but pending approval by URSB in 2023.
He said Makerere University Innovation hub was established on 1st August 2022 under the Vice Chancellor’s office to provide support mechanisms for commercialisation of innovations for sustainable industrialisation with several projects being implemented.
The objectives of the Innovation hub according to Muhumuza are; to create awareness and disseminate information on innovation, develop tailored demand driven programmes, mobilise resources to nature and support innovation; develop, commercialise and scale up innovations for industrialisation and, strengthen and coordinate the innovation ecosystem through partnerships and linkages.
Up to 2.7 bn grant from Mak-RIF earmarked for scaling and commercialising innovations
The manager told participants that up to 2.7bn shilling will fund innovation projects that have progressed beyond the proof of concept stage and are at the stage of transition to wide scale application or commercialisation.
To be eligible for funding, Muhumuza said, the innovation should be ready to transition to scale and where the Principal innovator is an academic or research staff of Makerere University on permanent or full time contract or senior staff member of the administrative unit linked to research.
Accessibility to the grant involves an online competitive application, project check for eligibility and completeness, pitch to Intellectual Property Management and receiving funds supported by the Mak Hub.
Mak IP Policy
The Makerere University IP policy as per section 3.2.3 provides guidelines for ownership, registration, patenting, commercialisation and disclosure.
The Manager explained that researchers shall seek the assistance of the IP unit in applying for registration of copyright, patents, designs or trademarks under the relevant laws or when trying to commercialise the innovation.
Any discovery or invention resulting from research carried or under the direction of any employee of the university, supported by the university or results arising from an employees’ duties with the university or has been developed in whole or part of this in the use of the university resources or facilities not available to the general public shall belong to the university.
Also, any IP created by a university employee having an honorary appointment at any other institution during that appointment shall lie with the employer who pays the salary of that employer.
Further, Honorary researchers who are not employed by the university are generally required to transfer any IP they create in the course of their honorary activities to the university subject to terms and conditions of their honorary appointment. Sharing proceeds from such IP shall follow university established guidelines.
While closing the meeting, the Deputy Principal CoCIS, Dr. Peter Nabende thanked Mr. Muhumuza for the presentation saying, it touched a number of aspects relating to IP.
“It is an exciting presentation that has raised awareness on what staff should know. It is encouraging and motivating to know that the innovator gets 80%. I thank the IP Office for being effective and managing to come here to present”, Dr. Nabende appreciated.
He encouraged college staff to take on the IP issue seriously imploring the IP office to provide another opportunity to sensitise students on the same matter.
For please click on the link below for the meeting proceedings
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Carol Kasujja Adii and Ritah Namisango
The excitement was palpable as hundreds of graduands and parents flocked Makerere University Freedom Square for the first session of the colourful graduation ceremony on Monday 13th January 2025.
The Chancellor, Hon. Dr. Crispus Kiyonga will confer degrees and present diplomas to a total of 13,658 graduands during the 75th graduation ceremony of Makerere University that runs until Friday 17th January 2025.
On each day, after the Chancellor has dissolved the congregation, the best researchers, best teachers and excelling students in the company of their parents or guardians proceed to Makerere University Convocation gardens for a luncheon.
The Makerere University Convocation Graduation luncheon brings on board invited staff and alumni as well as keynote speakers from the government, private and business sector to witness the presentation of the Vice Chancellor’s Research Excellence Awards to the best University researchers and students.
Some of the dignitaries present for the first luncheon included: The Chancellor-Hon. Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, the Chairperson of Council-Mrs. Lorna Magara, the commencement Speaker-Vice of the University of South Africa, Prof. LenkaBula Puleng, Secretary of the Education Service Commission-Dr. Asuman Lukwago, among others.
Welcoming the dignitaries, the Chairperson of the Convocation, Mr. George Turyamureeba congratulated the best students accompanied by their parents upon this academic milestone, and encouraged them to join the Convocation (the Alumni and Staff association) in order to tap into mentorship opportunities as well as professional networks.
The day one of the 75th Graduation Ceremony featured graduates from the College of Education and External Studies, College of Computing and Information Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, and the School of Law. The best 30 students per College are invited to the University Convocation with their parents to celebrate their academic success, and to listen to inspirational speeches from personalities who are acknowledged for utilizing their knowledge, skills, professions or talent to cause a positive difference in the lives of other people.
In his earlier address to the congregation in the Freedom Square, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, stated that the meritorious award presented to researchers was in recognition of their prolific publication record and outstanding contribution to Makerere University’s scholarly excellence.
This being his maiden graduation ceremony as Chancellor of Makerere University, the Vice Chancellor congratulated Hon. Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, an alumnus of Makerere University upon his appointment and installation by H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Prof. Nawangwe reiterated the readiness of the University Council and Management to implement the good ideas and strategies aimed at scaling Makerere University to greater heights.
Making reference to the commencement speech delivered by Prof. LenkBula Puleng, Prof. Nawangwe emphasized the need for graduates to always remember the speaker’s focus on what should be done to emancipate Africa from poverty.
Prof. Nawangwe thus called upon all the researchers who were recognized to use the awards as an inspiration to carry out more research that addresses the needs of the African continent.
During the event, the Chancellor, Hon. Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, noted that Africa is still trapped in poverty and lags behind because the continent is not integrated.
According to Dr. Kiyonga, although Africa lags behind, African Universities have to collaborate to address continent-wide challenges, enhance research capacity, foster knowledge sharing, and ultimately contribute more effectively to the development of Africa by tackling issues such as poverty.
Chancellor Kiyonga rallied universities in Africa to intensify collaborations in order to spur research and development.
“Makerere University researchers need to know what is happening in the University of South Africa, check out how they teach and exchange staff and students. If we get together as Universities, we will move fast,” Hon. Dr. Kiyonga noted.
The Chancellor equally called upon the graduates to be innovative and find solutions to address societal challenges. He reminded the graduates that people would judge them by asking what they did during their time.
“Our children are going abroad for work; this is a curse. If most of them leave, who will develop the Nation? Let us come together because the future of Africa is embedded in integration,” Hon. Dr. Kiyonga said.
To ensure that the message on integration of Africa remains on the agenda, Hon. Dr. Kiyonga informed the University leadership, staff, alumni and invited guests, that when provided with platforms to speak, he will always advocate for the integration of Africa.
“As the Makerere University Convocation brings us together, we must uphold the slogan, ‘We build for the future’ not just for Makerere’s future, or Uganda’s future, but for Africa’s future,” Dr. Kiyonga said.
Inspired by the good initiatives of the Makerere University Convocation headed by Mr. George Turyamureeba, Hon. Dr. Kiyonga-a 1978 graduate of the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery of Makerere University pledged to pay all his convocation dues.
Presenting the keynote speech, Dr. Asuman Lukwago-Secretary of the Education Service Commission congratulated all the graduates on their academic achievements. Dr. Lukwago called upon all fresh graduates to live responsibly so as to achieve their full potential.
Sharing his personal experience on taking on unpaid employment after completing his studies at the Medical school, Dr. Lukwago urged the graduates who have accumulated knowledge, not to remain idle as they wait for employment.
“Many of you are focusing on looking for payment and it is true you need to be paid, but suppose you get a non-paid employment? My first assignment was on a volunteer basis, but my Professor encouraged me to take it on. He said: ‘Among the people whom you will be teaching will be sons and daughters of Ministers. If you teach them well, they will recommend you’ and that is how my name went into boardrooms,” Dr Lukwago narrated.
He encouraged the graduates to focus on their future noting that life feels long and hard when someone is suffering but is short and enjoyable when one achieves his or her target.
“You have been good students at the University level, but you have to be good citizens who can contribute to the growth of our Country’s economy. Analyze and unpack the four-acre model, a modern type of farming,” Dr Lukwago guided.
The Four-Acre Model advocates for diversified farming, where farmers allocate one acre to coffee, another to fruits, the third to pasture for dairy, and the fourth to food crops.
Why the convocation is important:
The Chairperson of Makerere University Convocation, Mr. George Turyamureeba explained that the association brings on board alumni and staff of Makerere University.
The mission of the convocation is to mobilise members and well-wishers to support the welfare and progress of Makerere University and to participate in the enhancement and improvement of intellectual and material wellbeing of the university community.
Mr. Turyamureeba pointed out that for one to qualify as a Member of Makerere University convocation, he or she pays an annual subscription of UGX 50,000/=. A member of the Makerere University Convocation benefits in form of: Career Development and Job opportunities, Alumni networking and social capital, Career guidance and mentorship programs, Financial support and scholarships.
Makerere University has been directed to integrate the teaching of political economy across all courses to enhance students’ understanding of the country’s socioeconomic conditions. The directive, welcomed by the university’s top management, will be incorporated into the curriculum to align education with the needs of the people and the nation.
The government has also pledged to bolster Makerere’s research funding and strengthen partnerships with the private sector to commercialize innovations developed at the institution.
The call was made by Makerere University’s new Chancellor, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, during the first session of the 75th graduation ceremony held on January 13, 2025, at the university’s Freedom Square. Dr. Kiyonga also urged the government and the university to establish an agro-industrial park on its land.
“This park would serve three purposes: teaching, generating income, and acting as a demonstration site for communities across the country,” Dr. Kiyonga noted.
The Chancellor emphasized the urgency of addressing Uganda’s food insecurity, highlighting that 40% of children in the Rwenzori region are stunted, with malnutrition affecting all regions of the country.
“Uganda must develop a robust food security system to ensure we do not starve amidst abundance,” he said.
Dr. Kiyonga also pointed out Africa’s underperformance despite its vast resources, describing it as a contradiction. “It is our responsibility to change the conditions of our people and ensure Africa rises to its potential,” he urged.
The ceremony was graced by Hon. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, Minister of State for Primary Education, who represented the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni. Other dignitaries included members of Parliament, the judiciary, the diplomatic corps, and academics.
Education Minister Praises Makerere for Excellence
Hon. Joyce Moriku Kaducu lauded Makerere University for its dedication to academic excellence and innovation.
“Today reflects the resilience, hard work, and commitment of our graduates, supported by the university staff, management, and parents,” she said.
The Minister commended the Vice Chancellor and management for fostering research and innovation while urging them to maintain robust quality control systems to uphold the institution’s integrity.
She also reflected on Makerere’s recent milestones, including the commissioning of a new School of Law building and the launch of the School of Graduate Studies and Research.
“Your achievements stem from hard work, transparency, and accountability. They set Makerere apart as a leader in higher education,” she noted.
Addressing the graduates, Hon. Kaducu encouraged them to apply their skills to solve societal challenges.
“Makerere has equipped you with critical thinking and creativity. Use this to seize opportunities, make a difference, and shine wherever you go,” she concluded.
Vice Chancellor Highlights Makerere’s Impact
Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe congratulated the 13,658 graduates, including 143 PhD recipients and 53% female graduates. He commended the efforts of staff, parents, and sponsors in supporting the students’ journeys.
The College of Computing and Information Sciences presented a total of 681 Graduands. Of theses12 were Doctoral candidates (7 Females and 5 males), 73 Masters candidates( 26 Female and 47 Male) and 596 Bachelors (251 Females and 345 Males)
Prof. Nawangwe praised the achievements of Makerere’s colleges, including the College of the College of Computing and Information Sciences. The College celebrated notable achievements, including three students who received the Africa 2024 Marketplace Simulation Award during the AFRICA2024 Conference in Egypt.
The college also secured a $1.5 million grant from Google for the Ocular project, which leverages artificial intelligence to improve the diagnosis of malaria, tuberculosis, and cervical cancer. The AI Health Lab, led by Dr. Rose Nakasi, continues to produce innovative diagnostic tools, including a phone-to-microscope adaptor, supported by partners like Google and the National Institutes of Health. Additionally, the AirQo Project launched the CLEAN-Air Africa Network, focusing on air quality management using low-cost sensors.
Prof. Nawangwe reiterated Makerere’s transformation into a research-led institution supported by the government’s Research and Innovation Fund. “We are addressing national priorities, such as improving the Parish Development Model and advancing e-governance,” he stated.
The Vice Chancellor congratulated Dr. Chrispus Kiyonga on his appointment as Chancellor and urged graduates to leverage their education to create solutions for societal challenges.
“Let your Makerere education be a beacon of hope for the world,” he concluded.
Prof. LenkaBula’s Call for Resilience and Redefining African Women’s Mission
In a keynote address by Professor Puleng LenkaBula, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Africa (UNISA) titled “The Power of Resilience – African Woman, Find Your Generational Mission and Redefine Your Worth”, Prof. LenkaBula highlighted the critical role of African women in shaping the continent’s destiny.
Prof. LenkaBula expressed gratitude for being invited to such a significant occasion and extended greetings from South Africa, including from UNISA’s Chancellor, former South African President Dr. Thabo Mbeki. She praised Makerere University for its legacy of academic excellence and contributions to the African continent, emphasizing its role in anti-colonial struggles, post-colonial development, and its steadfast commitment to African unity.
“Makerere University stands as a beacon of academic excellence and innovation, a vital part of Africa’s intellectual and developmental heritage,” she remarked, reflecting on the institution’s shared history with UNISA and other centers of higher learning in Africa.
The Vice-Chancellor acknowledged the many prominent figures associated with Makerere, including freedom fighters and leading intellectuals. She also paid tribute to African women who have played pivotal roles throughout history, including Queen Amina of Zazzau, Njinga of Angola, Empress Tayetu Betul of Ethiopia, and modern figures such as Wangari Maathai and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
“These women embodied resilience and vision, redefining leadership in ways that transformed societies,” Prof. LenkaBula said. “It is now up to you, graduates, especially women, to take up the mantle, redefine your worth, and reclaim your generational mission.”
Drawing on the wisdom of influential thinkers like Frantz Fanon and Chinua Achebe, she urged graduates to embrace their responsibility as leaders and problem-solvers in Africa’s quest for prosperity. Prof. LenkaBula warned against complacency, emphasizing that each generation must confront its unique challenges and opportunities to secure a brighter future for the continent.
She also called for a renewed focus on gender equity in academia and leadership, noting the disproportionate burdens faced by women in society. Citing the achievements of Makerere University in gender mainstreaming, she expressed optimism about the role of young leaders in dismantling patriarchal systems and fostering inclusive development.
“As you step into the world, remain grounded in your communities while adopting a global outlook. Africa’s intellectual and social resilience has always been its greatest asset,” Prof. LenkaBula urged.
Prof. LenkaBula concluded her address to Graduands with a powerful call to action: “Your graduation is not merely a personal achievement but a contribution to Africa’s collective progress. History has thrust upon you the task of creating a future defined by resilience, innovation, and equality.”
Graduation Statistics of the 75th graduation ceremony
During the course of the 75th graduation ceremony, a total of 13,658 graduands will receive degrees and diplomas of Makerere University. Of these, a total of 143 graduands will graduate with PhDs, 1,813 with Masters degrees, 11,454 with Bachelor’s degrees and 243 with postgraduate diplomas. 53 % of the graduands are female and 47% are male. 44% of the PhD graduands are female. A total of 491 graduands will receive first class degrees. The best graduand from the sciences, graduating with a CGPA of 4.91 and a Bachelor of Science is Mr. Mubiru Enock Joel. The best graduand from the humanities, graduating with a Bachelor of Leisure and Hospitality Management, with a CGPA of 4.07 is Mr. Bagoole Abdul Latif Umar. 16% of the graduands are graduating with post-graduate degrees and diplomas.
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