Business & Management
Environmental Economists want a “Green Fund” Established
Environmental Economists from Makerere University and stakeholders in environment and natural resources sectors have expressed the need for Uganda to establish a Green Fund to finance green initiatives.
The dons have also proposed and re-echoed known initiatives that require mind-set change and government commitment to infrastructural developments that can reduce environmental pollution.
Environmentalists also want part of the Green Fund to come from greatest polluters in the country and the developed countries relative to the damage caused.
In addition, they want the African voice heard in the global discussion towards mitigation, commitment and transitioning to low carbon economies.
The call was made during the policy dialogue organised by the Environment for Development Initiative (EfD-Mak Centre) at the Kampala Sheraton Hotel as one of the mainstream activities. The dialogue held on December 20, 2023 brought together members of the academia, representatives of private sector, government ministries, departments and agencies, CSOs, manufacturers, and commercial banks on the theme, “Green Financing in Uganda: From Paper to Practice”.
The main aim of the workshop was to engage with the government to have a healthy debate how to finance green transitions and greening starting from the household level. The key message was that there is need to transit, but the transition is not cheap, it is expensive and requires deliberate effort.
While opening the workshop, the Principal, College of Business and Management Sciences Assoc. Prof. Eria Hisali said the engagement was hinged on twin objectives of attaining low carbon outcomes and high growth outcomes which are environmentally friendly.
As researchers and policy makers, Prof. Hisali interested participants to discuss and understand the current growth landscape, where growth is coming from, and main activities that drive growth and livelihoods.
Within that landscape, the professor advised participants to address the main concerns with regard to sustainability, the environmental concerns with regard to the current sources of growth and the status quo.
Hisali also told participants to pose a question of the disruptive effects that come along with the transitions to low carbon sources of growth; and closely related, the best options to make the transitions and finally, how the green financing strategies can be made attractive for the different actors to take them on.
Outside the green financing alone, Prof. Hisali challenged participants to debate on other options that policy makers can consider to enable the transition to low carbon sources of growth to start taking place.
The Professor also guided participants to have discussions on the framework for enforcement and auditing of the transition process itself, asking, what is it that they can do to ensure that they are tracking the progress made and whatever has been agreed upon at policy level, and ensure it is enforceable and that there are institutions and agencies to enforce that.
“The other issues we should be discussing is that what is our voice as Uganda and as the developing world in these discussions towards a low carbon economy. Do we have the voice as anyone else? Or is it that for us we should be making the transition while others are not, where is the equaliser. Are we in future for example going to talk about green imports or it is about us only ensuring that we go green and possibly some powerful nations look on and go to the extent of lip service”. Hisali asked.
In an interview, Prof. Hisali said, the discussion of the African voice in mitigation carbon emissions has picked traction at the global- level questioning whether all countries of the world have the same voice and commitment to addressing matters of environmental sustainability.
“This discussion is important because the transition to low carbon economies come with certain disruptions the way things are done and those disruptions are a cost. They disrupt livelihoods, slow growth and the only way we can be committed to that transition, is when we are sure that it is not only us but that everyone else has the same commitment. We all belong to the planet and we should have the same level of commitment,” Hisali stressed.
The Director EfD-Mak Centre Prof. Edward Bbaale noted that although there are more than one SDGs focused on the environment and green financing, many countries are not living up to the set aspiration of the SDG. Bbaale is also the Director, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training at Makerere University.
As a university, Prof. Bbaale said, they must undertake research and establish to what extent the country has achieved green energy transitions and inform government where the country is, and what should be done. Through research Bbaale said the university has done a lot to come up with innovations as solutions to the green transitions such as solar energy solutions and others.
Bbaale reported that the EfD-Mak Centre is focusing on environment and natural resources, on how to harness and manage the environment for sustainable development, satisfying the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs and the benefits of the future generation.
As the Environment for Development initiative, Bbaale said, the topic of green financing is based on the fact that the environment has been the most affected resources through deforestation, reclaiming of wetlands, and most of these have come partly through agriculture where forests have been cut unsustainably and for infrastructural developments.
Bbaale warned that most of these developments have taken place without minding about the environment adding that unlike human beings who forgive and forget, nature does not.
“Nature does not forgive and nature does not forget. Actually, at one-time nature will hit back badly. You have seen in Kampala during this season, in the last three months, floods swallowing up people, our fellow human beings dying, cars being swallowed up in a place where you least expect that you are going to meet your death.
We have seen that one being caused by the environment hitting back. Maybe because that very area was a wetland, but during the construction of the house or the building or the road, this was not catered for.” The Director decried.
It is time to protect the environment through mindset change, best practices and investment in green initiatives
Prof. Edward bbaale
Prof. Bbaale stressed that it is now time to talk about protecting the environment against greenhouse gases and, one sure way, apart from mindset change and preaching to the population on the best ways of life, one other way, is through investment.
He observed that almost 85% of Uganda’s households depend on biomass for cooking, mainly firewood and charcoal. He said, it is dangerous and leads to deforestation, pollution and respiratory diseases. The alternatives he said, can come through, for example, using LPG and electricity which are very expensive and require subsidies to make sure that an average household can afford consistently.
Bbaale called for mindset change among the citizenry and re-orientation of the country’s infrastructure to allow citizens ride bicycles to short distance workplaces to reduce on use of vehicles and pollution.
“You do not need to board a vehicle if you are coming from 1.5 kilometers away. A bicycle can do that, even 20 kilometers away. But now we need to establish the infrastructure for that. Have lanes that are for bicycles alone. And when you’re riding your bicycle, you are very safe. You will not meet your death because of riding a bicycle.
I’ve interacted with the professors elsewhere in the developed world, and the head of the university, the president of the university rides a bicycle to work. But these people are safe. So the question is, are you safe when you ride a bicycle to go to your place of work? But now, for us to re-orient, we require financing. And also how would you ensure that most of us will be riding electric motorcycles which don’t emit any gases?”. Bbaale said.
The don also welcomed the move to the manufacture and use of electric vehicles.
“Okay, how can we, all of us, ensure that we shall at one time be driving electric cars which require that they are charged to make sure that you have enough current that will take you to Mbarara. This means that as you drive to Mbarara, somewhere, there must be a point where you go and refill your current as you drive an electric car.
But now, government investment requires that the planning, programming and the budgetary processes are in view or in perspective of the need to finance these green investments.”, He added
The Director explained that some of the issues might require doing adaptation, and so need adaptation finance while some of the issues would require to finance the disaster, because,for example, the floods bring disasters, landslides and all of these. And so it requires that there is a fund for disasters that happen because people suffer through climate shocks.
Part of the Green Fund should come from the greatest polluters in the country and the Developed countries
prof. edward bbaale
Prof. Bbaale also noted that Neither Uganda as a country, nor Africa as a continent of Africa, is not solely responsible for climate issues faced.
“…Because our colleagues in the north that are already developed, America, Europe and all that, during the industrial revolution released a lot of greenhouse gases into the environment. And that’s why actually negotiations are going on that the developed countries that actually polluted the environment in the first place should pay.
So, part of the fund that I’m talking about should come from the developed countries. Part of the fund should come from China, Europe and, part of the fund must come from the United States”, Bbaale asserted.
Bbaale added that greatest polluters in the country must pay correctly for what they have damaged.
“We must map and know globally who are the greatest contributors to the climate fund. The same applies to Uganda. We have had the debates. Who are the greatest polluters? If you are running an industry and you are releasing waste products into Lake Victoria, you must pay so that government can use the money you have paid to correct what you have damaged.
…even if you were just releasing, because of your industrial activity greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, government should be in a position to compute the extent of damage you are causing and therefore you, the private investor, be able to pay for that. And so, government requires to finance activities that constitute green transitions”, Bbaale advised.
He said transiting into a green environment has two phases. Number one, is mindset change that is, what we do as human beings, and it also has to do with the real costs which is not cheap.
EfD-Mak Policy Engagement Specialist for Inclusive Green Economy (IGE) Program Dr. Peter Babyenda said, as a country, continent and globe, there is a lot on paper, but practice is lacking.
Babyenda expressed the need to involve everybody starting from the public, the academia, media, manufacturers and commercial banks among others.
“We have realized that whenever we are coming up with these policies, more so, to do with banking, the commercial banks which deal with the person are not part of the negotiations yet there is no local person who goes directly to the central bank. So we need to involve banks right away from planning to implementation”, He said.
Babyenda also said, there is need to invest in mindset change and be able to raise funds locally as a country.
“We cannot plan for green financing where 80% of the budget is from the donors So, we need to mobilise the funds locally through contributions from emitting manufacturers, people in Agriculture and fossil fuels,” He said
Babyenda also said there is need to define the products clearly starting where the green financing will go for instance investments in tree planting, subsidizing environmentally friendly technologies including the cooking among others.
Jane Anyango is the Communication Officer EfD Uganda
Business & Management
PIM Centre of Excellence, Ministry of Finance Launch 4th Cohort Training on Certificate of Financial Implications
Makerere University‘s Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), has commenced the fourth cohort of the Capacity Enhancement and Hands-on Training on the Guidelines for Financial Clearance and the Certificate of Financial Implications (CFI) – Integrated Regulatory Cost-Benefit Analysis.
The two-week training, held in Jinja, brings together economists, policy analysts, and technical officers from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to strengthen their capacity in conducting financial and economic assessments of government policies and legislation.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Assistant Commissioner Mohammed Kabaale, who represented the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury (PSST) emphasized the critical role of the Certificate of Financial Implications in promoting sound fiscal governance and evidence-based policymaking.
“The Certificate of Financial Implications is not merely a procedural requirement. It is a critical safeguard within our public finance management framework,” Mr. Kabaale noted. “It ensures that all policy and legislative proposals submitted to Cabinet or Parliament are fiscally sustainable, consistent with Government’s macroeconomic objectives, and aligned with our national development priorities.”
Mr Kabaale explained that the revised Guidelines for Financial Clearance, which became effective at the start of the current financial year, provide a strengthened institutional and analytical framework for assessing policy proposals. The guidelines require Regulatory Impact Assessments, Statements of Financial Implications from respective MDAs, evidence of stakeholder consultations, and Integrated Regulatory Cost-Benefit Analysis conducted by the Ministry of Finance.
According to the PSST, these requirements are intended to strengthen inter-agency coordination, improve the quality of the financial clearance process, and ensure that public resources are allocated in a manner that delivers maximum value for money to citizens.
The training is being delivered in partnership with Makerere University‘s Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence, established in 2023 to build national capacity in public investment management and policy analysis.
Representing Makerere University, the Dean of the School of Economics, Prof. Ibrahim Mike Okumu, commended the Ministry of Finance for its foresight in establishing the PIM Centre of Excellence and investing in capacity development for public servants.
“Uganda faces a triple challenge of scale, scarcity and speed,” Prof. Okumu said. “As our population grows, financing becomes more constrained, and citizens demand faster service delivery, every shilling must deliver greater value. Cost-Benefit Analysis and Financial Implications assessments help government make decisions that are beneficial, affordable and resilient under real fiscal constraints.”
Prof. Okumu noted that while Cost-Benefit Analysis helps determine whether a policy or project is worthwhile, integrating Financial Implications assessments ensures that proposed interventions are fiscally sustainable and implementable.
He challenged participants to apply the skills acquired during the training at project, portfolio and policy levels by improving project selection, prioritizing investments that generate the highest economic returns, and institutionalizing evidence-based decision-making across government.
“Analysis must translate into transformation,” he said. “The ultimate measure of success will be the decisions that change because of your work, the value you unlock for Uganda, and the lives that are transformed because you asked the right questions.”
The Dean further observed that integrated financial and economic analysis is increasingly important globally as countries seek to mobilize resources for climate action, digital transformation and sustainable development. He described the participants as part of a growing community of professionals capable of strengthening investor confidence and enhancing public trust through credible policy analysis.
Both speakers underscored the importance of professional integrity, continuous learning and institutional collaboration in advancing Uganda’s public finance reform agenda.
The PSST encouraged participants to engage actively throughout the training and to champion the implementation of the revised guidelines within their respective institutions. The Ministry, he added, will continue investing in systems automation, capacity development and stakeholder engagement to strengthen evidence-based financial clearance processes across government.
The training marks another milestone in the partnership between Makerere University and the Ministry of Finance aimed at building a critical mass of public sector professionals equipped to support fiscally responsible, socially inclusive and economically sound policy decisions. The fourth cohort follows the successful completion of three earlier cohorts conducted during the current financial year and forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Uganda’s public investment management and policy formulation systems.
Business & Management
Makerere University Students Set to Benefit from Soft Skills and Professional Competency Trainings
Business & Management
Makerere Vice Chancellor tasks CoBAMS to Change Africa’s research trajectory through graduate training
June 15, 2026: The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe has called upon members of faculty and researchers at the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) to harness the power of graduate training to change Africa’s research trajectory. The call aligns with the research-led agenda of Makerere University – a strategic direction aimed at positioning the institution at the forefront of producing the requisite human resources and innovations for Uganda’s and Africa’s transformation.
To reinforce his line of argument, the Vice Chancellor cited statistics that place Africa, which is home to about 16% of the global population, at a rate of only 3% of the world’s total research output.
Strongly convinced that Makerere University through its Colleges, Schools, members of faculty, researchers and graduate students, has the potential to undertake research to change Africa’s research trajectory, the Vice Chancellor challenged the College of Business and Management Sciences to optimize graduate training to channel out research, innovations and publications.
“The future belongs to research. Graduate training presents us with a critical mass of students, to be nurtured, trained and mentored in research, to produce research outputs and innovations. I am therefore here to discuss with you, and hear your views on maximizing the graduate research potential,” he said.
A case for the research-led agenda and graduate training
Established in 1922, Makerere University celebrated 100 years of excellence in 2022. The commencement of its second century, presented the institution with a greater call to be a thought leader of impact-driven research and innovations.
Consequently, in the Strategic Plan, the leadership, staff and stakeholders, committed to the transformation of Makerere University into a research-led institution.
Graduate training was highlighted as a central pillar in the realization of the research-led agenda. Several strides have been registered including a record of 213 PhD graduates during the 76th graduation ceremony held in February 2026.
Driven by the prospects, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, on Monday 15th June 2026, held a strategic meeting with the leadership and staff at the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) aimed at harnessing the power of graduate training to build a robust knowledge economy. He underscored the need to align graduate training, research and publications to with the overall research-led agenda of the University.
The meeting brought onboard university officials central to graduate training namely Prof. Julius Kikooma-Director of Graduate Training, Associate Professor William Tayeebwa-Managing Editor of Makerere University Press, the publishing arm of the institution, Prof. Fredrick Jones Muyodi-Head of the Makerere University Writing Centre, Prof. Edward Bbaale-the Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences, Associate Professor James Wokadala- the Deputy Principal, Associate Professor Ibrahim Mike Okumu-Dean, School of Economics, Associate Professor Godfrey Akileng-Dean, School of Business, Dr. Margaret Banga-Dean, School of Statistics and Planning, Heads of Departments, Coordinators of Graduate Training, members of faculty and researchers.
Strategies for increasing graduate student numbers
The Vice Chancellor stated that Colleges should work with the Directorate of Graduate Training and key stakeholders to increase the number of graduate students (Masters and PhD levels). To facilitate this strategic direction, the Vice Chancellor emphasized the need to adhere to the policy guidelines, supervision procedures, and coming up with innovative systems aimed at improving the completion rates at the graduate levels.
In his presentation, the Director of Graduate Training, Prof. Julius Kikooma focused on the area of PhD training, policy changes to spur graduate training, and the strategic targets of Makerere University.
Specific to the PhD by Research, Prof. Kikooma appealed to the Colleges to popularize this PhD track, and encouraged Schools and Departments to actively contribute to its successful delivery.
Responding to the challenge of workload cognizant of the low staffing levels in some academic disciplines, Prof. Kikooma guided that when filling in the template, the members of faculty should indicate both the teaching load (hours taught) and the supervision load.
Centres of Excellence and Research at CoBAMS
Presenting the research and graduate training strategy, the Principal, Prof. Edward Bbaale provided a brief profile of the five (5) Centres of Excellence, through which, the College champions research, innovations, entrepreneurship, policy engagement, community impact.
Prof. Bbaale expounded that the Centres of Excellence and Research provide a practical training ground and mentorship for graduate students (Masters and PhD levels).
The Centres of Excellence and Research include: Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE), Environment for Development (EfD-Mak Centre), Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre, Tumusiime Mutebile Centre of Excellence, Centre for Population and Applied Statistics, the African Centre for Climate-Sensitive Macroeconomic Modelling.
Vice Chancellor tasks CoBAMS to host more Centres of Excellence and Research
Reflecting on the significant contribution of Centres of Excellence to research productivity and visibility, as well as mentorship for graduate students, the Vice Chancellor tasked the College leadership to establish more centres.
“Centres of Excellence help to redirect research. I therefore task you, to engage the Schools and Departments so that the College hosts over ten (10) Centres,” he guided.
According to the Vice Chancellor, each department at the CoBAMS should host at least two (2) Centres of Excellence and Research.
Publishing with Makererere University Press
In addition to publishing in internationally recognized journals, the Vice Chancellor encouraged the College to come up with home-grown journals, and publish their work in Makerere University journals. He called upon staff to utilize the Makerere University Press, which is the publishing arm of the institution.
The Managing Editor of the Makerere University Press, Associate Professor William Tayeebwa outlined that Makerere University journals are strategic instruments for: global visibility of Makerere University research, academic reputation and institutional ranking, knowledge dissemination and policy influence, strengthening postgraduate supervision and research culture, and attracting international scholarly collaboration.
The Managing Editor explained that the Makerere University Press was implementing a structured, standards-driven journal ecosystem where all journals meet the minimum international publishing standards. He added that the journals are developed intentionally for indexing readiness, and colleges take ownership of journal performance and sustainability, while the Makerere University Press provides the centralized technical and quality assurance support.
Specifically, Associate Professor Tayeebwa informed the audience that the Press had worked with the College of Business and Management Sciences to produce the 2025 working paper series consisting of over 60 research outputs. He added that both entities were in advanced staged of producing the 2026 CoBAMS Working Paper Series, targeting over 80 research outputs.
With reference to the College by College Indexing Roadmap matrix, the Managing Editor highlighted that the College of Business and Management Sciences will feature the following disciplines: Economics, Finance, Accounting, Marketing, and Management. The Primary Indexing Ecosystem includes: EBSCO Information Services, ProQuest, SSRN, RePEc, and the Prestige Layer including Scopus and the Web of Science.
The Strategic Role of Graduate Training
Presenting the College’s position on graduate training, the Principal-Prof. Edward Bbaale reaffirmed that graduate training is the cornerstone of a research-intensive and innovation-driven university.
“Graduate training drives research productivity, publication output, grant competitiveness, and internal visibility,” he said. He noted that graduate training strengthens policy engagement, national development impact, and the University’s contribution to knowledge generation.
“Through our graduate programmes, the College of Business and Management Sciences contributes significantly to the University research-led agenda. The College hosts market-responsive and policy-relevant graduate programmes, which attract working professionals and practitioners,” he elaborated.
To illustrate that the demand for CoBAMS graduate programmes is very high, Prof. Bbaale shared an infographic message, with the Master of Business Administration attracting over 700 applicants.
Doctoral Training and Research Coordination
The Principal stressed that graduate coordinators are essential for programme management and quality assurance.
He pointed out that the College had appointed faculty and/or researchers to take on the following roles: Dr. Kasimu Sendawula-Coordinator for the College Doctoral Forum, Dr. Patricia Ndugga-Research and Grants Coordinator, and Dr. Peter Babyenda as the Policy Engagement Coordinator.
He implored the University leadership on the need for institutional recognition and support for graduate coordinators.
Research Productivity and Visibility
Prof. Bbaale reported that the College produced 60 working papers last financial year, and targets to roll out over 80 working papers this financial year.
He highlighted that the College and the Makerere University Press were in the process of developing discipline-based journals, a strategic approach aimed at institutionalizing a strong publication culture.
Recommendations
Building on the strides so far, the Principal advocated for strengthening the graduate infrastructure and ICT, provision of resources and incentives to facilitate graduate teaching, supervision and examinations, institutionalized support for doctoral fora, journals, and research dissemination, and approval to run the Executive Master of Business Administration in a project mode.
Calls to utilize the Makerere University Writing Centre
Prof. Fredrick Jones Muyodi, explained that the Makerere University Writing Centre constitutes a multi-disciplinary team, an attribute that positions the entity as a university-wide unit with ability to handle all disciplines within the University.
Prof. Muyodi explained that the Makerere University Writing Centre has various programmes targeting early-career researchers, discipline-specific demands, and researchers in general.
He called upon the staff at the College of Business and Management Sciences to utilize the services offered by the Makerere University Writing Centre such as trainings and mentorship, grant writing sessions, and capacity building in policy brief writing techniques.
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