Business & Management
Makerere Presents Nepal’s Community Forest Management Model to Government Agencies
In 2023, the Ugandan team comprising Dr. Peter Babyenda of Makerere University EfD-Mak Centre, Christine Mugyenyi and Rukundo Tom from the National Forest Authority went to Nepal to study the Community Forest Management Model. The study tour was funded by EfD Global Hub and the National forestry Authority Uganda.
The study tour was one of the activities of EfD Forest Collaborative Peer Learning Project on Community Forestry aimed at deepening the understanding on community-based forestry management and sharing ideas and experiences regarding forestry among the participant countries.
This study was timely given the current efforts by Ugandan government to increase the forest cover to 24% by 2040. Through community forest management, the people of Nepal have been able to increase their forest cover to 45% from 29% in 1992.
As such, Nepal provides a practical example of how the community can be empowered to manage forests and significantly contribute to the general growth of forest cover in the county. The leadership of the forest user groups also act as training ground for the national leadership and as a result, the national leadership also participates in the sustainable utilization of forests.
Nepal presents an interesting scenario demystifying practices in many other countries where local people are seen as enemies of forests. Through Community Forest User Groups (CFUG), Nepal’s model demonstrates how local people, are at the forefront of protecting forests in Nepal.
The experiences from Nepal should act as the guide to successful forest management in other countries including Uganda. In addition, the study tour was informative with vast knowledge attained from different stakeholders on implementation of community forestry.
The study tour involved meetings with the different stakeholders, field visits in some of the community forests and experiencing the Nepalese culture through visiting religious and cultural sites. The 5 days program was under the guidance of the Forest Action – Nepal and coordinated by Professor Randy.
The tour started with the visit to Kalopani Community Forestry User Group (CFUG), which is in a mountainous site in Kavre District. The team visited a second CFUG on the way to our meeting with the Kavre Divisional Forestry Office, which has jurisdiction over Kalopani CFUG. The team also visited Kavre Divisional Forestry Office and held discussions with the Dean of the Tribhuvan University Institute of Forestry.
EfD-Mak centers disseminates study findings to government agencies
Research fellows from EfD-Mak centre from Makerere University on 27th February 2024, went to the Ministry of Water and Environment to disseminate information on lessons learnt from Nepal’s community forest management.
The workshop hosted by the ministry’s headquarters in Luzira, was attended by over 30 forestry officials from government ministries, departments and agencies including the National forest Authority, Uganda world life Authority and National Environmental Management Authority.
While officially opening the workshop on behalf of the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Water and Environment, The Commissioner, Environment Sector Support Services Stephen Mugabi hailed the EfD Mak center for the continued partnership that was initiated with the ministry.
Noting that the mandate of managing the environment lies within the ministry, Mugabi said it was the right decision that the centre decided to link up with the ministry.
“When you generate information and you don’t share it, and archive it, it will not be useful. Once information is disseminated and gets to the stakeholders, they get knowledge that is then transformed into action. And the moment knowledge is transformed into action, then we see the knowledge changing livelihoods of communities”, He explained adding that:
“Today you have been recruited as ambassadors of the EfD-Mak Centre. You are receiving information how people in Nepal manage their forests and we expect you to disseminate it further to the people whom you live with.” Mugabi emphasised
Mugabi expressed the need for participants to understand the definitions of a community forest away from the standard definition of a forest on grounds that the way the community understands the forest is far different and has many values attached.
The Director EfD-Mak centre who is also Director, Directorate of Makerere University Graduate Research and Training Prof. Edward Bbaale appreciated the EfD Global hub funded by Sida, for sponsoring the Peer Learning Project for Community Forestry for policy makers and researchers, with a visit to Nepal.
“Today marks a significant moment as our colleagues share insights from their visit to Nepal’s community forest model, a success story empowering communities to manage nearby forests sustainably.
Nepal’s model granting legal rights to use and manage forest resources, stand as an exemplary solution against deforestation – a lesson we find particularly relevant given Uganda’s challenges”, Bbaale said.
Prof. Bbaale also noted that with 70% of the total forest cover under private land and the prevalent use of firewood and charcoal, Uganda faces alarming rates of forest losses.
“The presentation today is timely source of inspiration for policy makers and researchers, demonstrating the positive impact of involving local communities in decision making and forest management, addressing both environmental concerns and social inequalities,” Bbaale stressed.
He extended gratitude to the Ministry of Water and Environment for hosting the engagement at their headquarters and commended the enduring collaboration between EfD-Mak Centre and the Ministry.
Bbale also extended appreciation to the ministry and government for supporting the Inclusive Green Economy program for senior public servants. The Director, Stephen Mugabi represents the Ministry on the EfD-Mak Advisory Committee. The ministry appointed Commissioner Moreen Anino on the first cohort of the IGE fellows.
Uganda’s Inclusive Green Economy Engagement Specialist and research fellow Dr. Peter Babyenda said, in 2023, the team went for a study tour in Nepal to learn on the successful community forest management practices that Nepal had employed to increase their forest cover 29% in 1990 to 45% in 2013.
Contrary, Uganda’s forestry cover has decreased from 24% in 1990 to now 13% and, in 2010, the forest cover had further decreased to 9%.
He said, it was deemed appropriate to share the study findings with the ministry’s agencies who hold the country’s natural resources in trust of the people of Uganda.
“We learnt that that once you organise the people, tell them what to do and the importance and gains from the forest, they will take care of the forest, and if you do something detrimental to the forest, you are punished as a community member.
Communities that stay near forests have records of everyone including their photos and they will get to know who does what. They have a well organised inclusive leadership comprising 50% men and female, very transparent with books of accounts that are audited.
We even visited the university that trains leaders so they do capacity building of their leaders together with the department of forestry and wild life and ministry of forestry”, Babyenda explained.
Nepal has about 22,000 community forest user groups benefiting about 2.9million households. The community manages about 2.2million hectares of forest.
Babyenda reported that the community forest management model in Nepal has contributed to forest restoration and made it easy to mobilize the community to ensure that degraded forests are restored. This , he added was evidenced by the increase in the forest cover from 29% in 1992 to the current 45%.
The model according to Babyenda, has contributed to community infrastructure and livelihood benefits because CFUGs are used as a vehicle to community development evidenced by several community development projects seen.
Further, Babyenda explained that not only does Nepal’s model contribute to ecosystem functioning and protection, it has contributed to mitigation and adaptation to climate change largely, due to the maintenance of forests that absorb carbon but also regulates temperature.
“The model contributes to household income generation through the sale of forest products in a sustainable way. The households are aware of the consequences of mismanaging forests and thus utilize them in a sustainable way.
This is commendable and other countries like ours need to take lessons”. Babyenda noted and commended Nepal for the inclusive leadership with at least half of the leadership of the user groups being female.
Key Lessons from Nepal’s Community Forest Management Model for Uganda
The existence of a legal body, (FECOFUN- Federation for Community Forestry Users, Nepal) has enabled voicing the rights of community adjacent groups. The CSO has played a very important advocacy role on the rights of women, elders, and marginalized groups. It has also played an important role of influencing forest related polices in Nepal.
UNETCOFA a CSO was established in Uganda in 2006, to unite CFMs but lacked legal barking and has not done much work in relation to CFM networks. The lesson learnt is to involve the Ministry of Water and Environment to revive UNETCOFA.
FECOFUN has created a strong network with the CFUGs, and this enables the groups implement their roles and responsibilities which has minimized non-compliance to the operational plans of the community forests. Commitment by the CFUGs households to protect, restore and conserve forests has largely been informed by previous calamities like earthquakes and floods which is not the case for Uganda.
Value addition on forest products like timber, fodder and herbs has increased the income and created some jobs for the CFUGs.
Community Forestry in Nepal has thrived on many different models for instance knowledge production and knowledge use in forestry and the presence of homogenous society. Improving livelihoods where forest conservation meets the demands of local communities provides an overall incentive for sustainable conservation including safeguarding essential ecosystem services.
Having a dynamic, diverse, and respected leadership within community groups increases chances of success as is the case for some CFUGs in Nepal. Involvement of women in use of forest resources recognizes the importance of having women represented in decision- making and giving women a voice has allowed them to actively participate in conservation activities.
Benefit sharing through wealth ranking to target the poor for support is very key and can minimize elite capture. In addition, sharing of benefits/ income accrued from sale of forest products in percentages for instance 25% is invested in forest management was a key lesson to learn.
CFUGs coordination with local government to put up infrastructural development like schools or road construction from the income attained from the sale of forest resources was a key lesson learnt.
Community Forestry has contributed to ecosystem functioning through provision of fresh water supply to the households and for agricultural purposes. Most forest adjacent communities in Nepal access piped water from the forest for both domestic uses including watering animals and irrigation of crops. This has enabled conservation of water sources and regulation of waste discharge.
Alternative energy/ biomass source in Nepal is at 60%. People are increasingly using LPGs, electricity, petroleum gas etc. This has decreased fuelwood usage in Nepal. The lesson is that GoU need to reduce costs of gas and electricity to enable less dependency on fuelwood from forests.
Activities implemented during the study tour
Babyenda reported that, activities implemented during the Nepal study tour involved meeting the Federation of Community Forest Users Nepal (FECOFUN) executive members during which it was noted that FECOFUN was founded and legally recognized in July 1995 as a social movement organized which later became a civil society organization. It was formed after the legal recognition of Community Forestry in Nepal in 1992 and realization for the urgency to advocate for the rights of the people. It is established in all the 77 districts in the country with over 22,000 Community Forest User Groups are affiliated to FECOFUN and managing 2.2m ha that is; 25% of the forest cover which is contributed under community forestry of the overall forest cover of 45% with 2.9million H/Hs benefiting from community forestry.
The team also held a meeting with the departments of Forests and Soil Conservation-Nepal and Department of National Parks and Wildlife conservation. The forest management model indicated that Community Forests are part of the National Forests handed over to the traditional users for its conservation, utilization, and management guided by the Forest Act, 2076(2019AD), Forest Regulation 2079 (2023AD) and community guideline 2071.
The department guides the CFUG in facilitation done through formation of forest user groups and implementing biological diversity, conservation and climate change adaptation related activities and Legal support through identifying, developing, and managing potential forest areas in accordance with the prevailing laws, rules and policies, Community Forest user group registration and Community Forest handover.
Babyenda said the team made field visits to Kalapani community forest and in Shiba Community Forest and the CFUG members. The Community members mainly utilize forest resources like firewood, fodder, grass, timber, and medicinal plants and performs various roles.
In a meeting at the Institute of Forestry- Nepal with the Dean of forestry and the college staff. Babyenda explained that they shared information on Community forestry on how Community forestry has contributed to forest restoration, community infrastructure and livelihood benefits and ecosystem functioning among others.
Detailed report on study findings is attached.
Jane Anyango is the Communication Officer EfD Uganda
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.
Business & Management
Government Strengthens Public Investment Management Capacity Through Intensive Training at Makerere University
Makerere University’s Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence has commenced a three-day Essential Public Investment Management Training Programme aimed at strengthening the capacity of government officials in project preparation, appraisal, and implementation.
The training, supported by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, brings together participants from Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and Local Governments to enhance skills in designing and managing high-impact public investments that align with Uganda’s national development priorities.
Opening the programme on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Ms. Gertrude Basiima, Commissioner for Public Investment and Assets Management (PAP) at the Ministry of Finance, reflected on the evolution of Uganda’s Public Investment Management system and the establishment of the PIM Centre of Excellence.
She noted that the Centre is one of the key institutional innovations that emerged from the creation of the Public Investment Management Department in 2016.
“I was encouraged to learn that the PIM Centre of Excellence, which we started several years ago, is one of the products that emerged from the establishment of the Public Investment Management Department. We established the Centre to bridge the gap between practitioners and academia,” she said.
Ms. Basiima emphasized that effective public investment management requires a blend of practical experience and academic expertise, noting that many facilitators in the programme are active practitioners who also serve as trainers.
She expressed appreciation for returning to Makerere University, describing it as a place of personal significance and transformation, having once been a student at the institution.
Strengthening project discipline and accountability
Addressing participants, Ms. Basiima underscored the critical role of project preparation committees in ensuring quality public investments.
She urged participants to apply the knowledge gained from the training to improve the quality of projects reviewed within their institutions.
“As members of Project Preparation Committees, your role is central in ensuring that only well-prepared projects progress to Development Committees. I will be disappointed if I later encounter poorly prepared projects from officers who have undergone this training,” she cautioned.
She further emphasized that public investment management lies at the heart of Uganda’s development agenda, distinguishing between recurrent expenditure and development expenditure.
Recurrent expenditure, she explained, covers routine operational costs such as utilities, fuel, and supplies, while public investment focuses on long-term development interventions such as roads, hospitals, energy systems, irrigation schemes, and water infrastructure.
“Without adequate infrastructure and reliable energy, Uganda cannot industrialize or deliver quality services. Public investment is therefore central to our development transformation,” she said.
Emphasis on evolving systems and policy reforms
Ms. Basiima highlighted key reforms in Uganda’s Public Investment Management framework, including the integration of the concept note and project profile into a single streamlined stage, followed by pre-feasibility and feasibility studies.
She also pointed participants to the updated Development Committee Guidelines (2025) and the National Public Investment Management Policy (2025), both accessible through the Integrated Bank of Projects (IBP).
She noted that the IBP now serves as the central platform for project registration, management, and monitoring, and continues to evolve in line with national reform priorities.
The Commissioner encouraged participants to actively engage in the training, emphasizing its practical and participatory nature.
“This is not a traditional classroom. You will be asked questions, engage in discussions, and work through real-life scenarios. Active participation is essential,” she said.
She further encouraged participants to embrace continuous learning, including the ability to unlearn outdated practices and adopt improved approaches to public investment management.
Makerere’s role in national capacity building
Representing the Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences and Director of the PIM Centre of Excellence, Prof. Ibrahim Mike Okumu, Dean of the School of Economics, emphasized the centrality of the public sector in driving Uganda’s development agenda.
He noted that public investment management is fundamental to achieving economic growth, productivity, and job creation.
“The public sector is the enabler of development. Whether in health, education, or local government, every public officer contributes to national transformation through the quality of their decisions and investments,” Prof. Okumu said.
He warned that weak project preparation undermines access to government financing, even for well-conceived ideas, stressing the importance of technical capacity in project design and appraisal.
Prof. Okumu encouraged participants to view the training as the beginning of a broader professional journey in public investment management, adding that successful participants could eventually contribute as trainers and experts within the system.
Building a pipeline of skilled practitioners
In his remarks, Dr. John Sseruyange, Manager of the PIM Centre of Excellence, emphasized the importance of proper project conceptualization, noting that not all development challenges require new standalone projects.
“One of the key lessons is distinguishing between problems that require new projects and those that can be addressed through existing interventions or additional funding mechanisms,” he said.
He explained that the training forms part of a structured learning pathway that includes project preparation, financial appraisal, risk analysis, and economic appraisal.
Dr. Sseruyange also highlighted the Government’s integrated investment appraisal framework, which requires all projects to undergo rigorous assessment before approval for funding.
He encouraged participants to engage fully in both theoretical and practical sessions, noting that the programme includes group-based “lab sessions” where participants will develop real project concepts.
Toward stronger public investment outcomes
Across all speeches, a common message emerged: strengthening Uganda’s development outcomes depends on improving the quality of public investments through better skills, systems, and institutional coordination.
The PIM Centre of Excellence reaffirmed its commitment to capacity building, research, and policy advisory services aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of public investment management in Uganda.
Participants were urged to translate the knowledge gained into improved performance within their respective institutions, ensuring that public resources are directed toward high-impact, well-prepared, and sustainable development projects. The training is expected to contribute to a growing cadre of skilled public investment professionals who will support Uganda’s long-term development transformation.
Business & Management
Driving Sustainable Growth: Eco-Efficiency and Cleaner Production are vital in shaping the future of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
By Ritah Namisango and Christopher Kaahwa
On Wednesday, 15th April 2026, the School of Business under the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) at Makerere University hosted a project dissemination workshop that brought together researchers, practitioners, policymakers and faculty members.
The workshop focused on the presentation of findings and policy recommendations from the research project titled: Promoting Eco-Efficiency (EE) and Cleaner Production (CP) for sustainable development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Uganda.
Opening the workshop, Associate Professor Godfrey Akileng, the Dean, School of Business represented by Dr. Anthony Tibaingana, the Head, Department of Marketing and Management welcomed participants and highlighted the role of research in connecting Makerere University to the wider community.
He noted that MSMEs form the backbone of Uganda’s economy making up the largest share of businesses across sectors and because of this, any meaningful research must speak directly to their realities.
The Dean of the School of Business commended the project team namely Dr. Marion Nanyanzi, Dr. Kasim Sendawula, and Associate Professor Peter K. Turyakira, for positively contributing to the university’s goal of being a research-led institution.
He explained that Eco-Efficiency (EE) is about using available resources wisely not just for today, but for tomorrow and generations to come. “In a country where most businesses operate on a small scale, understanding how to produce more with less is essential,” he said.
Dr. Tibaingana acknowledged the government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (MakRIF) for funding the research project titled, Promoting Eco-Efficiency (EE) and Cleaner Production (CP) for sustainable development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Uganda. He recognized Professor Fred Masagazi Masaazi, Chairperson of the Mak RIF Grants Management Committee (GMC) and thanked him, for gracing the dissemination workshop with his personal presence.
Achieving sustainable growth through eco-efficiency and cleaner production
The main presentation led by Dr. Marion Nanyanzi, the Principal Investigator (P.I.) unpacked the research project in a detailed and practical way. At its core, the study explored how MSMEs, particularly in the Food and Beverage (F&B) Service sector in Uganda can achieve sustainable growth by balancing three key areas: economic performance, environmental responsibility and social contribution.
From a social perspective, Dr. Nanyanzi stated that businesses were found to be playing an important role in creating jobs, supporting local suppliers, and contributing to community activities. She added that the study was also focused on reducing environmental harmful practices such as reliance on charcoal and firewood and adopting cleaner energy sources that would economically yield increased profits for enterprises.
The study revealed that while these enterprises significantly contribute to employment and government revenue, they face serious constraints pointing out that high operational costs especially electricity remain a major challenge. “ So, many businesses are forced to turn to cheaper alternatives that are harmful to both health and environment creating a difficult balance between survival and sustainability,” she said.
Amidst these challenges, the study highlighted the resilience and creativity of entrepreneurs. It was found out that many business owners have developed coping strategies to remain operational with some of them adjusting production depending on customer flow especially in areas such as Kampala where demand fluctuates with academic calendars. Dr. Nanyanzi noted that other entrepreneurs have found ways to manage resources more carefully for instance through switching on refrigerators at night when electricity tariffs are lower or re-using water to reduce costs.
Makerere University Guest House highlights its cleaner production strategy
Adding a practical perspective to the study, Mr. Patrick Ojiambo Lwande, the manager of Makerere University Guest House shared how cleaner production is being implemented by the facility in its everyday operations. He mentioned that the facility undertakes waste segregation, recycling and proper waste management as key practices. “Organic waste is separated and repurposed, recyclable materials are re-used and hazardous waste is carefully handled to avoid environmental pollution,” he stated.
Appreciation of eco-efficiency and cleaner production measures
These practices reflect an emerging understanding of eco-efficiency by business owners who are beginning to recognize that reducing waste and conserving resources can directly improve their production line.
The study also found out that many enterprises are making efforts towards cleaner production. Hygiene standards are being improved, waste is better managed and emissions are controlled through simple measures such as chimneys and ventilation system. In some cases, food waste is used as animal feed while other organic materials are re-used in farming. However, the progress to transition towards more sustainable practices is slowed down by various obstacles including limited financial capacity, lack of technical skills and low awareness among business owners.
Key recommendations
To address these gaps, the project team proposed the following practical recommendations:
- Increasing access to affordable financing by government and financial institutions through introducing subsidies, grants, or low-interest green financing schemes to support investment in cleaner production technologies,
- Promoting public-private partnerships to lower the cost of eco-efficient equipment and infrastructure,
- Undertaking capacity building and training programmes, awareness and sensitization campaigns,
- Strengthening institutional and regulatory frameworks, research and innovation support,
- Providing support for small and informal businesses by designing tailored interventions for micro and small enterprises, and
- Encouraging business clustering and cooperative models to enable shared access to eco-efficient technologies and resources.
MakRIF supports research that addresses national priorities
Professor Fred Masagazi Masaazi, Chairperson of Mak-RIF Grants Management Committee (GMC) emphasized the importance of research that addresses national priorities, noting that government support for research is meant to generate practical solutions.
Professor Masagazi Masaazi highlighted the critical role of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Uganda’s economy, describing the research presented as both timely and relevant. “This is exactly the kind of research Uganda needs — research that directly impacts society and supports economic transformation,” he said.
He encouraged researchers to explore collaborations across disciplines. “Bringing together expertise from different fields can lead to stronger and more impact-oriented solutions that respond to the country’s development needs,” he added. He also called for greater engagement with policymakers and industry players during dissemination.
Research and Industry pathways
The Dean, School of Business, Associate Professor Godfrey Akileng urged researchers, faculty and participants at the dissemination workshop to rethink how research translates into real economic value, emphasizing stronger research to industry pathways at Makerere University and beyond.
Promoting environmental compliance
Mr. Peter Ssekajja, Senior Environmental Officer (Cleaner Production), National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) informed participants about the ongoing efforts to promote environmental compliance, referencing the establishment of a Compliance Assistance Unit and the introduction of the National Environment Sustainability Awards as some of the supporting measures.
He stated that these initiatives aim to support businesses in adopting sustainable practices while recognizing those that are leading the way. “Environment is no longer just about enforcement, but also about guidance, innovation and collaboration,” he emphasized.
Mr. Ssekajja reflected on the changing nature of environmental challenges as populations grow and resources becoming more strained. He appealed for efficient and responsible use of resources by business owners. He implored the business owners to consider sustainability not as a burden, but as an opportunity.
Participants enlightened on eco-efficiency and cleaner production
Dr. Jude Mugarura, the Head, Department of Marketing and Management, appreciated the dissemination workshop which presented them with an opportunity to listen to both the research project team and two practitioners namely Makerere University Guest House, and the National Management Environment Authority (NEMA). “We are therefore able to bridge the academia and the field of practice,” said Dr. Mugarura.
Dr. Seperia Bwadene Wanyama, from the School of Business, thanked Mr. Peter Ssekajja from NEMA for his presentation on cleaner production and eco-efficiency, which demonstrated to the participants some of the day-to-day wasteful practices with respect to resources, that they were engaged in, without knowing the implications. A key highlight focused on the usage of water in toilets which indicates the button to press after a short call, and the one to press after a long call, which would greatly save water consumption. “Learning is a continuous process. I have learned from the presentations of the findings by the research project team, as well as, Mr. Peter Ssekajja, who provided an informative presentation on real life practices on eco-efficiency and cleaner production.”
Conclusion: Toward a Clean and Resilient Economy
The workshop concluded with a strong call for collective action to support MSMEs in adopting eco-efficient practices. With the right support, small businesses can become engines of sustainable development. “This study provides practical insights that, if implemented, can transform MSMEs into drivers of sustainable development,” Dr. Sendawula emphasized.
Overall, the research outlines a clear pathway toward a greener, more resilient Ugandan economy—where MSMEs thrive while contributing to environmental sustainability and social well-being.
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