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
CoBAMS, European Partners Launch Programme to Equip Students with Polycrisis Management Skills
By Hasifa Kabejja and Ritah Namisango
Makerere University, through the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), in collaboration with international partners, is implementing a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) aimed at equipping a new generation of professionals in Africa and Europe with the knowledge and practical skills needed to understand and respond to complex, interconnected global crises.
Held under the PolyCIVIS network, the programme, titled Enhancing Skills in Polycrisis Management: African and European Approaches, brings together participants from Makerere University, the University of Salzburg, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
It was competitively secured under the 6th Call for CIVIS Blended Intensive Programmes by the Makerere PolyCIVIS team, comprising Prof. Edward Bbaale from the School of Economics, CoBAMS; Dr. Anthony Tibaingana from the School of Business, CoBAMS; and Dr. Kamatara Kanifa from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES).
The European facilitators include Prof. Gudrun Zagel, Dr. Sabine Hennig, and Dr. Roman Puff, all from Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Austria.
Tackling the Growing Reality of Polycrises
Funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme under the Jean Monnet Networks, the initiative responds to the growing reality of polycrises – situations in which multiple crises, including climate change, pandemics, displacement, poverty, environmental degradation and economic instability, interact and compound one another, often resulting in consequences more severe than those of individual crises.
The BIP Workshop at Makerere University
The BIP combines virtual and physical learning to give participants both theoretical grounding and hands-on experience in polycrisis management.
During the virtual component conducted in May 2026, participants including students and academics from the participating institutions worked in interdisciplinary teams to analyze real-world scenarios, including climate disasters, refugee crises, pandemics and urban waste management. The students were required to develop and present polysolutions from the perspectives of different stakeholders, including governments, civil society and academic institutions.
The physical component, taking place in Kampala from 7th-11th September 2026, brings together students from across CIVIS consortium universities to complete the remaining course content, participate in practical activities, and develop solutions to real-world polycrisis challenges. It also provides participants with an opportunity to examine real-life Ugandan cases, including the Kitezi landfill disaster and the Bulambuli landslides. Through these case studies, students will explore how crises intersect with public health, environmental protection, poverty, security, and sustainable development, while gaining practical insights into integrated approaches to crisis management.
On the first day of the training, participants undertook an excursion to the Kiteezi Landfill. During the week, they will also engage with experts from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), civil society and academia, and work in thematic groups to explore the legal, economic, sociological, historical, communication and educational dimensions of Kampala’s waste management challenges.
The teams will subsequently develop a Kampala waste policy paper and accompanying presentations, proposing integrated approaches to addressing the city’s waste crisis.
The learning approach incorporates case studies, simulations, role-play, guest lectures, peer learning, interdisciplinary teamwork, and problem-based learning. Participants are encouraged to move beyond identifying problems to developing practical and sustainable solutions.
Call for Integrated Approaches to Complex Global Challenges
Officially opening the programme, Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), Prof. Henry Mwanaki Alinaitwe commended the team for securing the programme.
Addressing participants, he emphasized the need for universities to move beyond fragmented approaches to problem-solving and develop integrated responses to increasingly complex global challenges.
“Interconnected problems cannot be adequately addressed through fragmented solutions,” Prof. Nawangwe observed, stressing the importance of collaboration across disciplines, institutions, sectors and countries.
He noted that no single discipline or institution possesses all the knowledge required to address the challenges confronting societies today, calling for stronger integration of fields such as economics, public health, environmental science, engineering, governance, technology and the social sciences.
Embracing Innovative and Sustainable “Polysolutions”
Prof. Nawangwe further emphasized the importance of developing innovative and sustainable “polysolutions”- integrated responses that address multiple, interconnected crises while minimizing unintended consequences across other sectors.
He underscored the value of combining African and European perspectives, noting that while crises may manifest differently across regions because of differences in history, institutions and resources, challenges such as climate change, migration, pandemics, conflict and economic instability increasingly transcend national boundaries.
He described the partnership as an opportunity for mutual learning and co-creation of knowledge, rather than a one-way transfer of expertise.
“We must bring these experiences into conversation and determine what works, under what circumstances, and how solutions can be adapted to different social, economic and institutional contexts,” Prof. Nawangwe said.
Collaboration Beyond the Blended Intensive Programme
The Vice Chancellor expressed hope that the collaboration would extend beyond the BIP into joint research, publications, teaching, student supervision and other sustained academic initiatives.
He challenged the participants to make the most of the opportunity by learning across disciplinary boundaries, questioning established assumptions and focusing on solutions.
“The world you are preparing to lead will require people who can understand complexity, work across institutional and disciplinary boundaries, and convert knowledge into practical responses,” he said.
Ebola Outbreak Demonstrates the Interconnected Nature of Modern Crises
The Vice Chancellor further observed that the postponement of the physical component of the training following the outbreak of Ebola underscored the interconnected nature of modern crises. He noted that a health emergency can quickly disrupt education, international mobility, economic activity and institutional planning.
Appreciation by the Vice Chancellor
He commended the PolyCIVIS team and partner universities for bringing the initiative to fruition, expressing confidence that the programme would generate practical and innovative polysolutions to some of the challenges facing societies.
Strengthening international academic collaboration
In his capacity as Principal of CoBAMS, Prof. Edward Bbaale described the programme as a significant reflection of the College’s commitment to fostering an integrated approach to teaching, research, policy engagement and international collaboration.
He noted that the increasingly complex challenges facing society require institutions and professionals to transcend geographical and disciplinary boundaries and collaborate across diverse fields of expertise.
Prof. Bbaale further highlighted the value of bringing Makerere students and faculty into direct engagement with colleagues and practitioners from partner universities.
“Such engagements enrich the learning experience while creating opportunities for sustained collaboration in research, teaching and student supervision. For Makerere University, the programme represents a practical expression of its internationalization agenda, creating opportunities for students and academics from different countries to exchange knowledge, share expertise and work together to address complex societal challenges.”
Preparing future leaders for complex challenges
The programme seeks to enable learners to identify, assess and manage polycrisis situations in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while building competencies in addressing the social, environmental and economic dimensions of crises.
It also aims to develop practical skills in designing and evaluating integrated policies and polysolutions, including effective communication and public awareness strategies.
Ultimately, the initiative seeks to strengthen participants’ critical thinking, digital, spatial and 21st-century skills while promoting interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration.
The BIP also serves as a pilot initiative for the planned Joint Master’s Programme on Managing Polycrises under the PolyCIVIS framework.
Business & Management
KCCA Officials Complete Two-Week Training in Economic Appraisal and Stakeholder Analysis
Jinja, September 4, 2026
Officials from Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) have completed a two-week training in Economic Appraisal and Stakeholder Analysis, strengthening their capacity to prepare, assess and make informed decisions on public investment projects.
The training, held in Jinja from August 24 to September 4, 2026, was conducted under the Public Investment Appraisal and Risk Analysis Module II (PIAR II) programme by the Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE). It brought together KCCA officials drawn from different professional backgrounds, including economic planning, engineering and other technical areas.
Speaking at the close of the training, Mr. Edison Masereka, Manager, Business Development and PPPs in the Strategy Management and Business Development Department at KCCA, commended the participants for their commitment throughout the programme and emphasised the importance of applying the knowledge gained to KCCA’s project preparation and implementation processes.
Mr. Masereka said the training comes at an important time for KCCA, given the range and complexity of projects undertaken by the Authority, which span infrastructure, transport and roads, as well as social sectors such as education, health and social protection.
He noted that weaknesses in project preparation can contribute to challenges during implementation, including delays, changes to project designs and cost overruns. He therefore encouraged the participants to use the skills acquired during the training to improve the quality of project preparation and appraisal.
“The training does not stop here. This is probably just the beginning,” Masereka said, stressing the need for the officials to continue practicing and strengthening the skills acquired.
He also expressed KCCA’s interest in continuing its partnership with the PIM Centre of Excellence through practical engagement on actual KCCA projects, noting that such collaboration would provide an opportunity for the trained officials to apply and further strengthen their skills.
Building a stronger public investment management capacity
Prof. Edward Bbaale, Director of the Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence, congratulated the participants on completing the two-week programme and commended KCCA for deliberately investing in the professional development of its staff.
He noted that the cohort had undertaken a progressive capacity-building programme, having previously completed training in the Essentials of Public Investment Management as well as Financial Appraisal and Risk Analysis before advancing to Economic Appraisal and Stakeholder Analysis.
According to Prof. Bbaale, this approach is helping KCCA build an internal pool of officers with increasingly strong competencies across the public investment management cycle.
He challenged the participants to move beyond simply acquiring certificates and apply the knowledge in their day-to-day work.
“Do not allow this training to remain in your notebooks or on your certificates. Apply it,” Prof. Bbaale urged the participants.
He emphasised that public projects should not be assessed solely on their ability to generate financial returns. Projects such as roads, drainage systems, public transport, street lighting, markets, water and sanitation may generate significant economic and social benefits even where direct financial revenues are limited.
For KCCA, he said, economic appraisal provides a broader basis for determining whether scarce public resources are being allocated to projects that generate the greatest benefits to society.
“Resources, however, will always be limited relative to our needs. We therefore cannot afford poorly conceived or inadequately appraised investments,” Prof. Bbaale said.
He encouraged KCCA to institutionalise the skills acquired through the training within its project preparation and decision-making processes and urged the participants to become champions of good Public Investment Management practice within the Authority.
Strengthening project preparation and decision-making
The training also highlighted the importance of stakeholder analysis in public investment. Prof. Bbaale observed that infrastructure and other public investments affect different groups—including residents, businesses, commuters, property owners and communities—in different ways.
He said understanding these interests early in the project cycle is essential for improving project design and implementation.
Masereka similarly highlighted the importance of strengthening the ability of KCCA officials to communicate and defend projects to different audiences. He noted that technical presentations to finance officials, senior management and political decision-makers require different approaches, while technical officers must have a strong understanding of the projects they are presenting.
He further proposed continued engagement between KCCA and the Centre, including possible executive-level sessions to help senior decision-makers appreciate the principles and processes underlying project appraisal and investment decisions.
The proposal is intended to ensure that project appraisal competencies are understood not only by technical officers but are also appreciated at the institutional decision-making level.
From training to better projects for Kampala
The closing ceremony marked the completion of the second module of PIAR II for the participating KCCA officials, but both KCCA and the PIM Centre of Excellence emphasised that the partnership should extend beyond the classroom.
Dr. John Sseruyange, the Manager of the Centre said the ultimate measure of the training would not be the certificates awarded to participants, but whether the acquired competencies translate into better-prepared projects, stronger appraisal reports, better investment choices and improved services for the people of Kampala.
He also reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to continuing to work with KCCA through training, research, technical support and policy engagement.
Business & Management
Makerere University Hands Over CoBAMS Expansion Project Site to ROKO Construction
By Ritah Namisango and Monica Meeme
September 04, 2026: The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe has officially handed over the construction site for the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) Infrastructure Expansion Project to ROKO Construction Limited, marking the commencement of works on a landmark development aimed at strengthening the University’s academic and research infrastructure.
Funded by the Government of Uganda, with a commitment of UGX 96.6 billion, the project is expected to be completed within five years, with the first phase scheduled for completion within eighteen months. The 15,000 square metres facility will house the CoBAMS headquarters, the School of Economics, the School of Business, the School of Statistics and Planning, research centres, and other facilities designed to enhance teaching, learning and student welfare.
Modern Infrastructure to Drive CoBAMS’ Growth
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor lauded the President, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, and the Government of Uganda for their continued investment in Makerere University’s infrastructural developments.
“The development project/facility will expand capacity for teaching, graduate training and research, while advancing Makerere University’s vision of becoming a globally competitive, research-led institution,” he said.
He congratulated the College leadership for securing funding for the project, noting that CoBAMS has grown into one of Makerere University’s largest and fastest-expanding colleges, with increasing demand for modern teaching, research and learning facilities,” he said.
Prof. Nawangwe commended ROKO Construction Limited for its professionalism and quality work. He acknowledged the Symbion Consulting Group for delivering a modern design that will enhance the University’s physical infrastructure and learning environment.
Underscoring Quality and Accountability
The University Secretary, Mr. Yusuf Kiranda, underscored the University’s commitment to ensuring the successful delivery of the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) Infrastructure Expansion Project.
“The project represents a significant public investment by the Government of Uganda, emphasizing the University’s responsibility to ensure value for money through strict adherence to quality standards and timely implementation,” he stated.
He implored the contractor to execute the project with the highest level of professionalism, stressing that the University will closely monitor progress throughout the construction period.
CoBAMS Positions itself as a Global Hub for Research and Digital Learning
In an interview with the College Communications Office, the Principal, College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Prof. Edward Bbaale, said the College is leveraging modern digital infrastructure to expand access to high-quality education through virtual learning and international academic collaboration.
He said the investment will strengthen CoBAMS’ global competitiveness in teaching, research and knowledge generation, positioning the College among leading institutions in business, economics and statistics.
“We have positioned ourselves to take our rightful place as one of the top schools of economics, business and statistics in the world,” Prof. Bbaale affirmed.
ROKO Commits to Quality, Safety and Timely Delivery
Speaking on behalf of ROKO Construction Limited, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mark Koehler, appreciated Makerere University and CoBAMS for entrusting the company with the project, describing it as a privilege to contribute to the University’s continued growth and transformation.
“As we take possession of the site today, we fully understand the responsibility that comes with a project of this importance,” he said. “We commit ourselves to executing the building safely, to the highest quality standards and within the agreed timeframe.”
Mr. Koehler called for close collaboration among Makerere University, Symbion Consulting Group and other stakeholders, reaffirming the company’s commitment to delivering a modern facility that will support teaching, research and innovation at CoBAMS.
Pledges for Sustainable and High-Quality Design
In his address, the Managing Director of Symbion Consulting Group, Mr. Pius Muli, Congratulated ROKO Construction Limited on being awarded the construction contract.
He pledged that Symbion, in collaboration with the University’s Contracts Committee chaired by Prof. Fred Bateganya, would provide rigorous supervision to ensure the facility is completed on schedule, within budget and in accordance with the approved design and specifications.
“The proposed project provides a vibrant and welcoming environment that supports excellence in teaching, learning and research,” he added.
His brief on the proposed project
He described the proposed development as a 15,000-square-metre facility that will integrate academic spaces, administrative offices and collaborative learning environments to provide an inclusive and conducive setting for teaching, research and student engagement.
Mr. Muli noted that sustainability was a key consideration in the design process, with emphasis on developing a durable, people-centred facility that is efficient, environmentally responsible and cost-effective to maintain over its lifespan.
The site handover event concluded with the signing of the artistic impression of the proposed project by the Vice Chancellor-Makerere University-Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration)-Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, the Principal CoBAMS- Prof. Edward Bbaale, Deputy Principal-Assoc. Prof. James Wokadala, representatives of ROKO Construction Limited and Symbion Consulting Group, Makerere University Contracts Committee, among other stakeholders.
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