Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (Seated Centre) flanked by Chairperson Mak-RIF Grants Management Committee Prof. Fred Masagazi Masaazi (on his Right), Ag. Manager Mak Innovations Hub Dr. Cathy Mbidde (on his left) at the launch of Commercialization Grant Awards on Tuesday December 19th 2023 at Senate Conference Hall.
On Tuesday December 19th 2023, Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe launched the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) Commercialization Grant Cohort 1 Awards. Fifteen projects will benefit from these Commercialization Grant Awards Cohort 1 worth Uganda Shillings (UGX) 2,082,942,952 (Category 1: UGX 400,000,000, Category 2: UGX 699,302,952 and Category 3: UGX 983,640,000). These include; Hybrid Solar Drier, Senga-Edusave, PhytoFoodPlus, Accessibility of Science practicals, Harnessing Multimedia Technology: Digital Games and Animated stories, Phyto-Nutra Chicken Concentrate Feeds, Rice Husk Briquettes (Briqhusk), Multidisciplinary Mentoring Approach, E-health system-Mobile data collector, Digital land archival collection access, Smart Irrigation Control Kit, Ajon (local brew) Gold: Mechanizing processing and improving shelf life, Vitex Medical Tool: Curbing antimicrobial resistance and effection control, Redvers e-mobility bike and Mpaffu Wine.
Prof. Fred Masagazi Masaazi (L) and one of the Mak-RIF Grants Management Committee members Assoc. Prof. Hellen Nambalirwa Nkabala.
Owekitiibwa Prof. Fred Masagazi Masaazi, Mak-RIF GMC Chairperson at the onset of this engagement welcomed all participants. He later introduced each of the project Principal Investigators to the Vice Chancellor and other participants noting that these were part of the Cohort 1 Commercialization Grant Awards. Prof. Masagazi emphasized that what Makerere University requires from the awardees included; Timely Accountability and Reporting.
Prof. Edward Bbaale, Director Directorate of Research and Graduate Training at Makerere University noted that research commercialization is a crucial area to focus on because it not only empowers researchers to translate research output but also opens up several employment opportunities.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Makerere University’s Vice Chancellor congratulated all awardees saying; “What we are doing here today morning is important for the Globe, Africa, East Africa, Uganda, and specifically Makerere University, it is therefore Historical. I urge all of us not to spend more time in politics but rather production”, he added.
“Jobs must be created here at Makerere University and in Uganda, let us create companies, goods and or products which can be used in Uganda and can also be exported for us to earn some additional income” Prof. Nawangwe emphasized.
Prof. Nawangwe noted that it is possible for us to get out of poverty with more of our efforts and a little bit of foreign investment. “Today is the beginning of something which I think can become big if we all embrace and support it” he added. “If we at Makerere University do not work harder to change the situation of our people in the communities then they will die of poverty. The solutions are within us here at Makerere University, let us leverage each opportunity to positively disrupt the status quo” Prof. Nawangwe said.
Dr. Roy William Mayega, the Mak-RIF Coordinator then shared with the awardees, ‘Next Steps’. His submission highlighted the fact that;
These awardees were the first to receive the Commercialization Awards and thus they are Mak-RIF flag bearers.
All awardees should have received an award letter stipulating the award amount
He called upon all awardees to re work on their budgets as per guidance given.
Noted that an Induction session would follow and this will be organized by Mak-RIF working closely with the team at the Makerere University Innovation Hub. This team is lead by Dr. Cathy Ikiror Mbidde the Acting Manager, Mak Innovation Hub.
Awardees would then sign their contracts.
They would then be free to request for funds to embark on project activity implementation.
All funds must be appropriately accounted for.
He urged all to Implement project activities on time and request for more funds.
Assoc. Prof. Hellen Nambalirwa Nkabala, one of the Mak-RIF GMC Members and also a member on the Makerere University Intellectual Property Management Committee while closing the engagement congratulated the awardees upon these awards. She thanked the Government of the Republic of Uganda for funding research and innovations at Makerere University. She also noted that Makerere University researchers have remained open to closely working with stakeholders outside the University with positive spill over effects. She wished all a Merry Christmas reminding the researchers and innovators that the “Mak-RIF team awaits the beautiful success/impact stories”.
The Office of the Academic Registrar,Makerere University has released lists for the recommended for change of course/ programme for Degree/Diploma Scheme and Direct entry for Private/Government sponsored students for the Academic Year 2025/2026.
The lists released can be accessed by following the respective links below:
Makerere University, through the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) and the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), has signed an open Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). This MoU is one of several initiatives aimed at strengthening the university’s global collaborations and research partnerships.
In his remarks, Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe highlighted Makerere’s recent centenary celebrations as a testament to its long and influential history in Africa. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to serious, research-driven collaboration, noting Makerere’s aspiration to become a leading student-centered research university that develops solutions to regional challenges.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe makes his remarks ahead of the MoU signing.
Prof. Nawangwe emphasized that Makerere’s research addresses critical issues such as widespread poverty, high youth unemployment, the devastating effects of climate change on agriculture, rapid population growth, and political interference in production. These challenges, he explained, call for climate-resilient agriculture, stronger health systems to address emerging diseases, and more inclusive governance. He further observed that Africa’s ambitious goal of producing one million PhDs in the next decade remains constrained by inadequate supervision capacity across the continent, stressing that collaborations like this MoU are key to bridging that gap.
EPRC Executive Director, Dr. Sarah Sewanyana, described the signing as particularly significant for EPRC and its Board of Directors as they embark on a new five-year strategic plan (2025/26–2029/30). She explained that the plan strongly emphasizes strategic collaborations, with this partnership serving as a prime example of leveraging collective strengths to deepen impact. She underscored EPRC’s role in advancing evidence-based policymaking for national development, aligning with Uganda’s National Development Plan IV.
The partners show off the signed MoU.
Prof. James Wokadala, Acting Principal of CoBAMS, emphasized that the collaboration seeks to preserve and expand vital human knowledge while strengthening partnerships between academic institutions and global research networks. He noted that these networks are instrumental in advising legal and policy professionals, as well as aligning research agendas with both national and corporate priorities. He expressed pride in the extensive efforts of the School of Economics that have expanded these activities in recent years. He pointed to significant accomplishments that have been achieved in collaboration with IGC, including hosting a 2025 high-level international conference on mobile money payment systems, which positioned Makerere University as a thought leader on critical African economic issues. He also celebrated the successful bid by the School of Economics to host the ‘Africa Meeting of the Econometric Society’ in 2027, further demonstrating its contribution to impactful scholarship and policy influence.
The Acting Principal further emphasized that the new partnership with LSE will build on these achievements, offering immense benefits such as expanding capacity-building opportunities for faculty and students, especially in research and Public Infrastructure Management (PIM). The collaboration will also provide platforms for knowledge dissemination and policy dialogue, while addressing pressing socio-economic and health challenges. Ultimately, he said, formalisation of the partnership amplifies CoBAMS’ commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and innovation.
Speaking on behalf of LSE’s International Growth Centre (IGC), Executive Director Dr. Jonathan Leape expressed delight at formalizing the long-standing collaboration with Makerere and EPRC. He highlighted current joint projects, including research on the impact of the 2020 gender-based vaccine program on women’s skills and learning, studies on reforms in STEM education, and investigations into barriers limiting business growth for entrepreneurs. He stressed that the core mission is to bring researchers and policymakers together to address pressing policy challenges with robust, reliable evidence and innovative solutions.
Prof. Nawangwe presents a souvenir Mak Necktie to Dr. Jonathan Leape.
The event, held on 27th August 2025, was attended by several dignitaries including Dr. Richard Newfarmer, Country Director for Uganda and Rwanda (IGC); Dr. Nhial Kuch, Senior Country Economist (IGC); and Mary Teddy Nakyejwe, IGC Programme Officer. Also present were the Director of Research, Dr. Ibrahim Kasirye and other members of EPRC leadership.
Makerere University has hosted a delegation from the Ghent University Association, led by Prof. Mieke Van Herreweghe, Vice Rector of Ghent University. The delegation included representatives from Howest University and Hogent University of Applied Sciences.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe welcomed the team and highlighted Makerere University’s commitment to addressing the pressing challenges in the region. These include climate change, which continues to hinder investment, and Uganda’s rapidly growing population that has surged from 5 million in the late 1940s to nearly 50 million currently, creating socio-economic challenges such as high youth unemployment.
He emphasized that Makerere’s research agenda focuses on understanding the fast-growing population, tackling health challenges, advancing governance and human rights, and fostering peace through initiatives such as the Rotary Peace Center—the only one of its kind on the African continent. Research at Makerere also seeks to provide solutions to youth unemployment in one of the world’s youngest nations.
The meeting of Members of Management and the visiting delegation in session in the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom.
The Vice Chancellor further noted that Makerere University teaches and conducts research across a wide spectrum of disciplines, organized into colleges including Agriculture, Business and Management, Computing, Education and External Studies, Engineering and Technology, Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine. The university also hosts over 60 specialized research centers, among them Centers of Excellence such as the Regional Centre for Crop Improvement, which works to enhance food security, manage pests and diseases, and improve agricultural productivity. Another key institution is the Infectious Diseases Institute, which leads research on HIV/AIDS. With these initiatives, he added, Makerere continues to expand its research footprint while strengthening global partnerships.
Prof. Van Herreweghe provided an overview of Ghent University, founded in 1817 and ranked among the top 100 universities globally for decades. With its motto “Dare to think,” Ghent University has built a strong international reputation. It also holds the distinction of being the only Belgian, and currently the only European, university with a campus in South Korea. Established in 2014, the campus offers bachelor’s programs in applied biotechnology.
She highlighted Ghent’s joint PhD programs, which are structured as sandwich programs to support African universities. Under this arrangement, PhD candidates spend two years funded at Ghent University and another two years at their home university (such as Makerere), with joint supervision from both institutions. These programs, she noted, are a strategic way of fostering international collaboration.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and Prof. Mieke Van Herreweghe pose for a group photo with members of their respective teams at the Main Building entrance.
During the visit, Ghent University signed a Student Exchange Agreement with Makerere University to complement the existing Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement will pave the way for more joint initiatives and strengthen collaboration in the years ahead.
The delegation also included Mr. Lieven Theys, International Coordinator for Business Management at Howest University, who explained that Howest clusters its programs into three key domains: Design and Technology, Human Well-being and Health, and Business and Organization. Dr. Robin Stevens represented Hogent University of Applied Sciences, which runs programs across nine schools including Business and Management, Computer Sciences, Biosciences, Industrial Technology, Teacher Training, and Healthcare.
The visit, held on 27th August 2025, was attended by Makerere University officials and members of various colleges, among them Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) and Principal of the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Prof. Tonny Oyana-Principal College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Prof. Moses Musinguzi-Principal College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Prof. Julius Kikooma-Director Graduate Training, Assoc. Prof. Yazidhi Bamutaze-Deputy Principal College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Assoc. Prof. James Wokadala-Deputy Principal College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Assoc. Prof. Richard Idro-Deputy Principal College of Health Sciences, and Dr. Cathy Mbidde, Manager of the Makerere University Innovation Pod (Mak UniPod).