General
Mak & UNISA Discuss International Collaboration & Joint Academic Interests
On Thursday 2nd November 2023 the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Umar Kakumba hosted a delegation from the University of South Africa (UNISA) led by Prof. Tennyson Mgutshini, the Executive Dean, College of Graduate Studies and Prof. Thenjiwe Meyiwa, the Vice-Principal: Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation and Commercialisation. They were accompanied by Dr. Maxwell Otim Onapa, the Director Science Research and Innovation at the Science, Technology, and Innovation Secretariat-Office of the President (STI-OP).
Welcoming the delegation, Prof. Kakumba shared that Makerere had in 2022 completed year-long celebrations of 100 years of existence, during which the University renewed her commitment to serve community. He pointed out the large volume of research produced by Makerere that is slowly but progressively penetrating the community, with the aim of rallying behind Government programmes aimed at fostering transformation of society as evidence of this.
The Acting Vice Chancellor nevertheless emphasized that the University is earmarking a lot of knowledge translation initiatives with the aim of impacting policy and practice with well-researched evidence. This, he noted is undertaken through ten colleges, 30 Schools, 115 Departments, various research centres including African Centres of Excellence and various other research units.
On behalf of UNISA, the head of delegation Prof. Mgutshini noted that at 150 years of age his institution is the premier institution in South Africa with over 370,000 students, and graduating over 54,000 annually. In terms of diversity, UNISA students originate from 110 countries, with the majority belonging to Southern African Development Community (SADC) and other African countries, an attribute that contributes to the diversity of campus culture and research produced.
Additionally, more than 40% of the students study on part-time basis, with females constituting 70.7% of the population. UNISA’s strength as an open, distance and e-learning (ODeL) university accords students the flexibility to study as they pursue their careers, resulting in 62% of students being between twenty-five and thirty-nine years of age.
Prof. Mgutshini further shared UNISA’s ten catalytic niche areas, which act as research priorities and areas for scholarly collaborations. He particularly highlighted three; Aviation and Aeronautical Studies, Health Studies/Medicine, and Feminist, Womanist, Bosadi Theorizations as areas the institution is keen to address due to longstanding gender inequalities, racial divisions and the absence of communities of practice. The other seven catalytic niche areas are; Marine studies, Automotive, Energy, Space study and Square Kilometer Array, Fourth Industrial revolution and Digitalisation, Natural Sciences (Biotechnological studies), and Student Support and Co-Curricular activities.
Discussing international collaborative activities and academic areas of interest, the head of delegation expressed UNISA’s readiness and willingness to share best practices in ODeL, given the institutions substantive Learning Management System (LMS) and its rich collection of resources developed over the years. He further cited conducting collaborative multidisciplinary research projects, joint publications and joint academic meetings, joint conferences and symposia producing conference proceedings as some of the low-hanging fruits. Equally emphasized was the co-development and facilitation of research development and enhancement of programmes as a way of sharing best practices in building student entrepreneurship capacity and entrepreneurial activity in research.
Contributing to the discussion Prof. Thenjiwe Meyiwa explained that UNISA has been able to achieve high female enrolment thanks to comprehensive female student enablement programmes that start right from National Policies and trickle down to Colleges and individual performance plans. Programmes also support academic and administrative staff to undertake their Masters and PhD studies with annual awards for the best performing, youngest woman graduate, and other categories.
Discussing the way forward, Prof. Mgutshini proposed three members of delegation led by Makerere Alumnus, Prof. James Wabwire Oguttu to thresh out the finer areas of collaboration, and act as contact persons on the UNISA side. These were matched by nominations of six Makerere staff by the Acting Vice Chancellor.
The Makerere nominees will be led by Prof. Kikooma Julius and will include; Dr. Godfrey Mayende-Deputy Director IODeL, Prof. Bruno Yawe-Deputy Principal College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Prof. Pamela Khanakwa- Dean, School of Liberal and Performing Arts (SPLA), Mr. Hudson Musoke-Director Legal Affairs, and Dr. Julia Kigozi-Dean, School of Food Technology, Nutrition, and Bioengineering.
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.
A significant development unfolded at Makerere University during a strategic, hour-long meeting in the vice chancellor’s boardroom on 7th October 2025, marking a deepening bond with the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. The primary goal was to move beyond existing collaborations and formalize a new Double Doctorate (PhD) program. Prof. Sarah Saali, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, set the tone by emphasizing that institutional partnerships are crucial to Makerere University, which she proudly called the leading research and most collaborative university in the world.
The discussion promptly formed the core structure of the program: a four-year PhD (or three if the master’s was research-based), with supervision duties split 50-50% between the two institutions. A key feature is the mobility requirement, stipulating that PhD candidates would spend a total of six months in the Netherlands, potentially divided into two three-month periods. Crucially, the University of Groningen confirmed there would be no teaching requirement during this stay, allowing students full access to focus on their research. A major financial hurdle was overcome with the adoption of a fee-waiver policy; Makerere would waive tuition for incoming Groningen candidates, and Groningen would reciprocate for Makerere‘s students, significantly boosting the program’s financial viability.
However, the critical issue of the stipend remained. Dr. Anita Veltmaat explained that to meet the required living standard of approximately €1,875 per month in Groningen, the incoming candidate must secure a partial external scholarship of around €250 per month. The positive news is that if the candidate secures this minimum scholarship, the University of Groningen is prepared to top up the amount to the full living standard for the six months the student spends in the Netherlands. It was noted that this initial financial hurdle might be simplified for Makerere students, as many are already staff members receiving a salary, which could help cover the required €250.
The path forward was clear: it was to complete the agreement template guided by the setup committee from both institutions. The plan culminated in scheduling an online follow-up meeting for Tuesday, November 11th, to review the first revision of the agreement, capping a highly constructive discussion that solidified the two universities’ shared future in graduate education.
Makerere University was represented by Prof. Sarah Ssali, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academics Affairs; Dr. Ruth Nsibirano, Head of the Department of Gender Studies; Dr. Patricia Ndugga, School of Statistics; Dr. Stella Achen and Dr. Joseph Watuleke, School of Distance and Lifelong Learning; Agatha Ainemukama, School of Engineering; Racheal Nuwagaba, School of Psychology; Awel Uwihanganye, Martine Rugamba, and Hawa Ndagire from the Advancement Office; and Muhammad Kiggundu from the Institute of Gender and Development Studies.
The University of Groningen was represented by Dr. Dinie Bouwman, Senior Policy Advisor, Internationalization and Quality Assurance; Dr. Anita Veltmaat, Faculty of Social Behavior and Social Sciences, Department of International Studies, involved in mentorship programs for women; and Dr. Alette Arendshorst, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, working on graduation/collaboration for students/staff.
Makerere University on Tuesday, 7th October 2025 hosted a delegation from Nelson Mandela University (NMU), South Africa in the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom in a bid to strengthen academic partnerships and operationalize their existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The delegation, led by Prof. Azwinndini Muronga, Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Internationalisation, NMU, aimed to turn earlier agreements into actionable collaborations and build sustainable partnerships with various colleges.
The Acting (Ag.) Deputy Vice Chancellor; Finance and Administration, Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, provided an overview of the institution’s structure—nine colleges, two schools, and two institutes—while acknowledging the challenges of maintaining excellence amid resource limitations and post-pandemic recovery. He emphasized that collaboration must serve the broader goal of research-driven development, calling for teamwork and resilience among African universities. “We have to work together to sustain high academic standards and contribute to the continent’s progress,” he noted.
Prof. Muronga spoke passionately about the NMU’s “African footprint agenda.” He urged both institutions to start with small, practical projects that can build confidence and momentum for larger initiatives. “We must grow partnerships within Africa first,” he stated, “before we expand globally. True collaboration begins when both sides contribute equally, share capacity, and build self-reliance.”
Prof. Muronga also expressed interest in joint research projects, doctoral supervision, and shared grant applications, noting that NMU and Makerere are strategically positioned to lead regional academic innovation.
In her remarks, Prof. Judy Peter, Senior Director in the International Office at NMU emphasized the University’s commitment to African-centered collaboration and the importance of internationalizing the curriculum and expanding research capacity.
Prof. Peter underscored the importance of student mobility, joint supervision of postgraduate students, and the recruitment of talented African scholars, noting that such exchanges enrich both institutions’ academic communities. She also emphasized the need to internationalize the curriculum, particularly through virtual learning platforms and co-teaching models, to ensure broader accessibility and shared expertise.
Contributions also came from Prof. James Wokadala, Deputy Principal, College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), further amplified the need to “start small and build on existing collaborations.” He proposed developing a clear roadmap that defines short-term goals and identifies areas for mutual growth.
From the College of Health Sciences, Dr. Richard Idro, the Deputy Principal highlighted opportunities for fellowship, training and collaboration in clinical subjects, emphasizing the need for practical exchanges that benefit students and staff alike. He also addressed logistical challenges such as transportation and coordination, urging for targeted partnerships that can yield tangible results.
The meeting reaffirmed the universities’ commitment to collaboration in areas including faculty exchange for guest lectures, seminars, and sabbaticals; joint research and grant applications for regional and international funding; co-supervision of postgraduate students; virtual classroom exchanges; curriculum internationalization and exchange of academic materials; and capacity development for academic and administrative staff.
The teams also identified “quick-win” projects that could be implemented in the short term and agreed to establish a joint implementation team to monitor progress. Further discussions will explore funding mechanisms, including the possibility of leveraging programs like Erasmus+, to support student exchange and joint research initiatives.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Muronga reaffirmed Nelson Mandela University’s commitment to ensuring that the partnership yields visible outcomes. Both universities agreed that future engagements will be structured around mutual respect, accountability, and measurable results.
The meeting concluded on a note of optimism, with both institutions expressing confidence that their partnership will not only advance academic excellence but also contribute to Africa’s broader vision of educational and research self-reliance.
The meeting was attended by several officials from Makerere including; Prof. Eric Awich Ochen-Deputy Principal, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), Prof. Yazidhi Bamutaze-Deputy Principal, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Prof. Godfrey Akileng-Dean School of Business, Dr. Geoffrey Nuwagaba-CoBAMS, Mr. Martine Rugamba-Ag. Chief Advancement Office, and Ms. Hawa Kajumba-Advancement Office.
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