General
MURBS Trustees Declare 12.34% Interest for FY 2022/2023
The Makerere University Retirements Benefits Scheme (MURBS) on 26th October 2023 declared an interest of 12.34% on members’ balances for the financial ended 30th June 2023. The declaration was made at the MURBS 13th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Thursday 26th October 2023 in the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium. The MURBS Fund value grew from UGX 299billion at the start of Financial Year 2022/2023 to UGX 352billion as at 30th June 2023. This growth resulted in a net return of UGX 42billion, which was distributed to members as interest.
The declaration was preceded by a presentation of the MURBS Performance for Financial Year 2022/2023 to members of the University Council and Management at a meeting held on Tuesday 24th October 2023 at the Telepresence Centre, Senate Building, Makerere University. The presentation was attended by the Chairperson of Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara represented by the Chairperson Finance, Planning, Administration and Investment Committee (FPAIC) of Council, Mr. Bruce Balaba Kabaasa, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe represented by the University Secretary, Mr. Yusuf Kiranda, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeeta, Director Quality Assurance, Dr. Cyprian Misinde, Acting Director Human Resources, Mr. Deus Tayari Mujuni and Acting Dean of Students, Mr. Peter Rivan Muhereza. The CEO Uganda Retirements Benefits Authority (URBRA), Mr. Martin A. Nsubuga was represented by his Head of Supervision, Mr. Lubega Rodgers.
During the Year, the Trustees operationalised the Trust Deed and Scheme Rules (TDSR) as amended on 30th May 2023. Overall, the amendments facilitated governance, policy, and operational changes and enhancements, further streamlining and strengthening the Scheme. Effective with the new TDSR, the Board composition changed from five (5) to seven (7) Trustees. As at 30 June 2023, the Board was composed of six (6) Trustees, pending appointment of the independent Trustee.
Changes in the Board of Trustees
During the year, the Board discharged one member and appointed three members. The changes involved the retirement of Mr. Wilber Grace Naigambi who completed his term on 31 March 2023 and he was replaced by Dr. Elizabeth Patricia Nansubuga as MUASA’s representative. In a special way, the Trustees recognise and appreciate the contribution of Mr. Wilber Grace Naigambi, who served on the Board of Trustees from 2016 to 2023. In addition, Dr. Deus Kamunyu Muhwezi and Mr. George Bamugemereire, who are Council representatives, joined the Board in May and June 2023 respectively.
Presentation of FY 2022/2023 Performance
Presenting the 2022/2023 performance on behalf of the Chairperson, Dr. Elizabeth Patricia Nansubuga, the Secretary Board of Trustees, Dr. Godwin Kakuba announced that on June 2021, MURBS became the first mandatory Employer-based Scheme in Uganda. Furthermore, he shared that the aforementioned TDSR amendment of 30th May 2023 that changed the Board of Trustees’ size from five to seven also introduced the “Midterm” access by members to 12% of their accrued benefits, provided they are at least 45 years old and have saved with the Scheme for at least ten years .
The Chairperson’s presentation nevertheless cautioned that whereas members were entitled to Midterm access of their funds, it had long-term effects on fund value and return on investment of their cummulative retirement benefits. For example, due to Midterm access in 2022/2023, sixteen Members’ savings shifted from the UGX 200-250million to the UGX 150-200million range, while five members shifted from the UGX 50-100million to the below UGX 50million range.
The shifts due to Midterm access notwithstanding, one members’ savings moved from the UGX 400-450million to the UGX 450-500million range, while three members joined the UGX 400-450million range. The largest number of members; 1,640 out of a total of 3,041 active accounts (53.9%) fall in the category of savings below UGX 50million, a slight improvement from 54.8% last year.
“In a period of five years the Scheme has moved from no one holding benefits above UGX 250million to having 270 members holding benefits above UGX 250million with five of them being above UGX 400million as of 30th June 2023… The Scheme strives to move more members from the lower bands to the upper bands by ensuring timely collection and prudent investment of their contributions” remarked Dr. Kakuba on behalf of the Chairperson.
Dr. Kakuba concluded the Chairperson’s presentation by thanking the University Council and Management for their cooperation and timely remittance of all members’ contributions to the fund. “We thank all the stakeholders who have worked with MURBS to ensure a successful Financial Year, in a special way, we thank you the sponsor for making time for this occasion.”
Responses to Chairperson’s presentation
Responding to the presentation, Mr. Bruce Balaba Kabaasa appreciated the Board for successfully sustaining the Scheme’s operations for the last thirteen years. He nevertheless urged the Trustees to consider a long and detailed strategic plan to serve as the blueprint for the Scheme Funds’ management and investment, so as to safeguard member benefits from challenges that may arise as the value appreciates.
“I am particularly happy that those of you who have been at the forefront of agitating for staff welfare are now very close to the management of MURBS”, he added in reference to Dr. Deus Kamunyu, former Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) Chairperson.
Mr. Kabaasa nevertheless took difference with the MURBS opinion that Midterm access to funds before retirement should be discouraged. He noted that from the sustainable development perspective, “you don’t compromise today because you are planning for the future.
“My view therefore, is that man or woman should be given an opportunity closer to retirement to start putting one leg into the waters to test how deep they are in order to be able to put in both legs later, well knowing the depth of the river or lake” he remarked. This he justified by noting that it is better for one to lose 12% of their retirement benefits to poorly researched investment now, than lose 100% at retirement when they have no chance for reprieve.
On this note, Chairperson FPAIC urged MURBS to step up its member education programmes on what works or doesn’t work for various investment vehicles they are likely to engage in. “You should be involved in making sure that our people have the required skill, the required mindset and the required understanding of the opportunities available within our economies and beyond.”
Delivering the Vice Chancellor’s remarks, Mr. Kiranda noted “the story of MURBS is simply one of the many good stories that will continue to stream out of Makerere year after year.” He added that “The Chairperson’s presentation of MURBS’ good performance for the year 2022/2023 is very much appreciated by the University Management for it encourages the employees of Makerere University to remain focused on their core mandate, confident that their retirement benefits are secure.”
He lauded the MURBS Board of Trustees for upholding professionalism and integrity, noting that the University Management has not received complaints concerning retirement benefits from any former employee of Makerere University over the last five years. The Vice Chancellor equally acknowledged the tremendous contribution by the Government of Uganda to a thriving sector by paying salaries on time, contributing to retirement benefits and creating an enabling environment for Schemes and their service providers to invest member funds.
On the subject of Midterm access, Mr. Kiranda re-echoed the Chairperson Council’s call to invest more in training members on how best to invest their retirement benefits. “Chairperson (of MURBS Board of Trustees), Management committed to work with you to do further sensitization and that commitment is still open.”
On behalf of the CEO URBRA, Mr. Lubega commended the MURBS Board for always addressing matters raised by the regulator during onsite inspections. He noted that the retirement benefits sector growth over the last ten years has not been by coincidence, but rather due to strengthened supervision. According to the URBRA website, Uganda currently has UGX 20.56trillion worth of assets under management in the retirement benefits sector.
“I am happy to communicate that Makerere University Retirement Benefits Scheme is one of those schemes that have really implemented these regulations of retirement benefits… the controls put in place by this Scheme can actually show you that they are moving in the right direction so thank you so much Board” commended Mr. Lubega.
Delivering the closing remarks at the presentation, Mr. Bamugemereire thanked all members and service providers for attending the event, reminding all present that planning for retirement starts the day one is employed. As a Trustee, he appreciated the lengths that URBRA goes through to ensure that Trustees are well trained and equipped to perform their duties. “I want to inspire you with confidence that the Scheme is in safe hands.”
The Senior Program Director, Higher Education and Research in Africa, International Program, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Prof. Omotade Akin Aina on 23rd May 2025 visited Makerere University during his short trip to Kampala. Prof. Aina was received on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe by Prof. Tony Oyana, Principal of the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS).
During his visit, Prof. Aina met with the Project Implementation Committee, representatives from the Consolidating Early Career Academics Programme (CECAP) phase I Fellowship Cohort, and current Fellows of phase II. The meeting discussed the progress of CECAP II, which focuses on fostering academic development and research among early-career academics.
CECAP II is being implemented by Makerere University in collaboration with four other Ugandan public universities, including; Busitema University, Gulu University, Kyambogo University and Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza, the Project Principal Investigator was represented at the meeting by the Director of Graduate Training, Prof. Julius Kikooma.
By Moses Lutaaya
The Directorate of Graduate Training at Makerere University has equipped several Senior ranking lecturers with expert knowledge in a Training of Trainers’ workshop on “Philosophy of Methods”.
In his remarks at the opening of a 3-day training workshop at Level4 Conference Hall – Senate Building, the Director of Graduate Training Prof. Julius Kikooma said, “The teaching of Philosophy of Methods gives all participants the fundamentals to extend knowledge to other learners, hence its importance in upholding the Makerere University values.”
Kikooma urged and challenged the participants to also attend and actively participate in the follow up of learners’ training of students, stating that the PhD students need support as the directorate continues to coordinate the curriculum of PhD by-research that was approved by the senate recently.
“To holistically implement the senate approved PhD curriculum, we are coordinating capacity building trainings of all stake holders in a structured approach with the different units of the University. Many more trainings including Training of Trainers in advanced research methods course are on the way.”
He further urged the participants to be intentional in their teaching profession and in whatever they were doing, adding “Apart from focusing on practices as teachers and researchers, we can engage in wider philosophical debates in our research areas so that we are relevant in the society and in the empowerment of PhD research students.”
The participants for the Philosophy of Methods training were from College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Education and External Studies, Makerere University Business School among others.
During the same training, Dr. Dickson Kanakulya stressed the need to train senior lecturers in the Philosophy of Methods, saying, “The biggest connection is that societal problems require concrete research to find solutions. Our challenge in Africa is that we employ a short barrow approach to find solutions to problems. This cannot work. We need consistent researchers to solve problems. Lasting solutions to societal issues can only be got through training such as Philosophy of Methods, where researchers come up with new models for societal solutions.”
Dr. Kanakulya said that Makerere University remains the biggest research University in Africa and philosophy of Methods helps to come up with good research tools that produce good research outputs. “Research has shown that the higher the number of PhD researchers in any given country, the higher the levels of development of that country e.g. the USA, China etc., adding that research is not limited to only medicinal or agricultural related issues.”
He said philosophy of methods, encourages philosophical creativity in research, “It is meant to bring out philosophical generation of concepts, theories and ideas. It is meant to encourage students to question the existing philosophical assumptions and status quo in a given field of knowledge such that new philosophical concepts are created.”
For successful rollout of government programs like the National Development Plan 4, Dr. Kanakulya said that Philosophy of Methods training needs to be integrated into such systems. “Philosophy of Methods focuses on ethical thinking aspects. For example, for a better rollout of the Parish Development Model, we need implementers to be ethical.” He added.
Prof. Sulait Tumwiine, the associate Dean of Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research at MUBS said, “This is a discussion where new ideas are shared to guide and gauge applicability in the current knowledge diversity coupled with lots of technological development including Artificial Intelligence and Chat GPT.”
He added, “As professors of Universities, we need to understand how we leverage on what comes up so that it does not take our space, but also appreciate how we can support growth of knowledge. The Philosophy of Methods training is the answer.”
Dr. Jim Spire Ssentongo highlighted that Philosophy uses more of the critical mind than Science. He added that philosophy is more of speculation of the mind.
“Sustainability of philosophy Education encourages us to continue training. Philosophy being the oldest discipline retained special status in the academia as a pinnacle of pursuit of knowledge. All disciplines have major elements of philosophy citing examples in the philosophy of Mathematics and Physics.
Dr. Spire added, “If you do not understand philosophy, you cannot deeply investigate anything because philosophy is the reality of understanding everything. Philosophy is the basis of understanding what knowledge is and how it is arrived at.”
Also participating in the workshop was Prof. Joseph Ntaayi from MUBS, in his remarks he said PhD students need the philosophy of methods training to understand how to best to create knowledge. He added that ontological and epistemological questions that lead to good research design methods can only be answered by this training.
Dr. Robert Kakuru, a Lecturer in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences said that the Philosophy of Methods training is needed by every graduate student as well as supervisors to critically determine the choice of methods to use in academic research. For example, “If one wants to use a questionnaire as an interview approach, one should understand, why that approach and yet without this training, the why cannot be answered.” He added.
The Philosophy of Methods training was organized by Directorate of Graduate Training with funding support from the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA).
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