General
CEBL phase 2 launched
Researchers at the College of Education and External Studies on January 13, 2024, launched a study on the Comprehensive Evaluation of Blended Learning (CEBL) among graduate students.
The study, funded by the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF), will this time take into consideration graduate teaching at Makerere University. While Makerere had had online teaching and learning since 1991, it was only rolled out to the entire university in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers argue that while emergency online and distance e-learning (ODEL) enabled continuity of teaching and learning, it is important to evaluate its performance by getting the voices of learners who are the primary beneficiaries. The first phase of the evaluation took into account only undergraduate students. The second phase will cover graduate training. Dr. Harriet Najjemba, one of the researchers, said the objectives of this phase of research are to establish the current postgraduate learners’ blended learning status at Makerere University, document challenges from a graduate learner’s perspective about blended learning, and modify the phase one blended learning framework.
It is envisioned that the results of the study will influence policy on BL. Speaking during the launch of the research project, the Principal of CEES, Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga, congratulated the research team, saying ICT is very pivotal in this new age. He emphasized the importance of incorporating blended learning into higher education institutions to enhance the quality of education and prepare students for the digital era. Prof. Mugagga also expressed his hope that the findings of this research project will contribute to the development of effective strategies for implementing blended learning at Makerere University and beyond.
He called on projects like Love Binti to also explore incorporating ICT into their program so that the participants can benefit from the advantages of being tech-savvy. By doing so, they can enhance their educational experiences and improve their skills in a more efficient and comprehensive manner.
The guest of honour, Dr. Eddy J. Walakira, who represented the Chair of MakRIF, emphasized the importance of embracing technology in the program.
He congratulated the research team led by the principal investigator, Mr. Arthur Mugisha, and said he was happy to be among those scholars working with colleagues at CEES and tapping into the wealth of knowledge available at the college. He expressed his confidence in the program’s ability to drive innovation and make significant contributions to the field. He expressed his confidence in the program’s ability to drive innovation and make significant contributions to the field. He thanked the government of Uganda and the funding agency of the MakRIF for their continued support of research and innovations intended to drive the development of the country.
He said MakRIF is committed to providing value for money and ensuring that every research and innovation project funded yields fruitful results for the country’s development. He called on the project team to implement the project within the project parameters and ensure timely accountability. He informed the staff that the call for RIF 5 was out, and he encouraged them to apply, as it was a great opportunity for professional growth.
The Director of IoDEL, Prof. Paul Muyinda Birevu, said Makerere University is embracing blended learning and smart education to enhance the student experience and address the needs of distance education programs in Africa. He said the university is developing online pedagogy, facilitating skills for teaching staff, and supporting other universities in Africa. The importance of quality assurance in blended learning programs was also highlighted to ensure their value to employers. The university aims to provide accessible and high-quality education to students in Africa through its distance education programs. “We have the Master of Instructional Design and Technology in the School of Distance and Lifelong Learning, and the purpose of this program is to indeed grow the discipline of open distance and eLearning,” Dr Birevu said. The said IoDEL was working with people outside the university, such as Boda Boda riders, on using mobile phones for eLearning purposes.
The research team
- Mr. Arthur Mugisha – PI
- Dr. Harriet Najjemba
- Prof. Paul Muyinda Birevu
- Ms. Rose Akanya
- Prof. Jessica Aguti
- Mr. J Bateeze
- Dr. R Aine
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. 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.
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.
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 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.
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).
-
General2 weeks agoMary Stuart Hall Reborn: Makerere Celebrates Reopening of Historic Female Residence
-
Computing & IS1 week agoCoCIS CIPSD Physical & Online Short Courses Aug-Oct 2025 Intakes
-
General1 week agoE-Mobility Skilling Programme: Cohort 2 Applications Now Open!
-
Research2 weeks agoMakerere Scientists Document Climate-Smart Innovation in Sentema, Applaud Farmer’s Odor-Control Breakthrough
-
General2 weeks agoBid Notice: Refugee Law Project Mid-Term Review