General
Prof. Sachs Expresses Optimism about Africa’s Economic Growth, PDMs Success
The Government of Uganda has been called upon to put in place measures to ensure the effective implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM) programme. The call was made at a High-Level Policy Dialogue organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), National Planning Authority and Makerere University.
Hosted by Makerere University on Wednesday 28th February 2024 at the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium, the Dialogue was based on the theme “Accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals through leveraging Innovating Financing, the Parish Development Model, and Science and Technology”. During the dialogue, the government was urged to set up institutions that can track the usage of the program funds to ensure that the over Shs1 Trillion pumped into the program annually does not go to waste.
This call was made by Prof Ezra Suruma, the Chancellor Emeritus of Makerere University and Uganda’s former Minister of Finance, who was a panelist at the dialogue. Hon Suruma warned that currently, it is difficult to assess the achievements of PDM since there is no clear monitoring of the projects at the parish level where the money is being invested.
“In Uganda, we are investing Shs 1 Trillion in the 10,594 parishes, but if you ask where it is going, you can’t find it. The PDM money is capital that the government is attempting to invest in our country and that capital is supposed to accumulate over time. If we invest Shs1 Trillion this year, next year we should have more than that,” Prof. Suruma said.
The Chancellor Emeritus as such, called for the establishment of an institution that can trace where the PDM funds are being invested so that this money is treated as an investment and not consumption.
Minister for Local Government Hon Raphael Magyezi however, assured Prof Suruma and the audience that implementation of the PDM program is highly monitored and leakages are extremely minimal. This, he said, was because the government decided to digitalize payments of the PDM money directly from the Treasury to the parish-based SACCOs. Furthermore, he noted that Government has put in place the PDM Management Information System (MIS) in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasis on data for development.
“We have developed our own Management Information System so that we know which household is actually in subsistence, and we have parameters for that, and we are able to monitor and evaluate our programme based on a tracker system” Hon. Magyezi explained.
The Minister further noted that PDM targets 8.9 million households in Uganda, 39% (3.4 million) of which are still engaged in subsistence, with 1 million of these reached so far. He admitted although the PDM still has its work cut out, the Government is proud of the progress so far. Hon. Magyezi shared that Uganda has 145 establishments at the level of Local Council 5 consisting of 135 Districts and 10 Cities, 2,284 Sub-Counties to supervise the parishes and under the parishes, 70,626 villages.
The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja who was Chief Guest at the lecture shared that PDM is the Government of Uganda’s second key strategy for accelerating the SDGs and commended the Model as a “comprehensive strategy to uplift the incomes and welfare of all Ugandans.” The first key strategy is Leveraging Innovative Financing Mechanisms, while the third is putting more focus on Science, Technology and Innovation.
Rt. Hon. Nabbanja highlighted the government’s commitment to harnessing the power of research and innovation to provide a strong foundation to advance the digital agenda. She added that the PDM Laboratory at Makerere gives the University an opportunity to amplify and support efficiency and effectiveness of the programme’s implementation.
“Therefore, the PDM Laboratory should continue to be a platform for 1) Distilling and providing additional insights, 2) Commissioning further research and enquiry on the basis of information provided by the technical units and feedback and 3) Analyse feedback to test out policies and operational issues for Cabinet to take action” remarked the Prime Minister.
She informed the audience that Prof. Jeffrey Sachs is leading similar efforts with a lab at Columbia University and urged the leadership of Makerere University to establish a collaboration with Columbia University, “and I’m sure Prof. Sachs is much willing to support this”.
Professor Jeffrey Sachs, a world-renowned Economist, leader in sustainable development, and senior UN advisor delivered a keynote address in which he expressed optimism about development prospects on the African continent.
The prolific economist and author, projected that Africa would take off and become a global economic force in the next 40 years if it could find ways of uniting into a single economic block.
Citing China and India Prof. Sachs advised the government to set targets and also set instruments to help achieve these targets, if the country is to achieve the SDGs. The simple idea of “targets and instruments” was developed by Nobel Prize Laureate Jan Tinbergen. Tinbergen was awarded the first Nobel Prize in Economics in 1969 together with Ragnar Frisch.
Prof. Sachs defined Sustainable Development as the result of achieving four difficult objectives namely; Material wellbeing for everybody, Social inclusion, Environmental Sustainability, and Peace and Cooperation. He nevertheless shared that these can be achieved by Tinbergen’s “targets and instruments” idea.
He advised Uganda to copy China and invest in six major types of capital namely; Education, Infrastructure, Massive Interconnected Infrastructure, Protecting Natural Capital such as clean energy sources, Intellectual/Science and Technology Capital as well as Business Capital. On financing, he advised the government to find flexible and low interest financing with 40 year maturity if it is for sectors such as education.
“What I want to promise you, though I can’t give you the final answer for that part of innovative financing, we are going to get it done. Uganda is going to show a strong NDP IV, it is going to show a very robust plan to achieve rapid growth over the next 40 years, it is going to show that that rapid growth easily repays any long-term low-interest loans that have taken to achieve that, it is going to make the case that the Parish Development Model proves the last mile in an ingenious way, and that institutionally this country is poised for the breakthrough that we are talking about at the regional, national and local level” Prof. Sachs summed up.
In her remarks, Ms. Nwanneakolam Vwede-Obahor, the UNDP Resident Representative warned of Uganda’s widening development financing gap, standing currently at 33 trillion shillings (US$ 8.8 billion) annually.
“Traditional financing sources such as domestic taxes, Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), concessional loans from external partners, borrowing from the domestic market and foreign direct investment are not enough to finance the SDGs,” she said.
“Uganda must explore alternative avenues to secure affordable and flexible financing to drive the development phase in the next seven years. This will involve continuous alignment of the budget allocations and development plans with SDG priorities, diversifying funding sources, including public-private partnerships and unlocking new innovative financing models, and enhancing financial resilience.”
The dignitaries, accompanied by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, toured the state-of-the-art Innovation Pod, which is poised to drive innovation and research in the country. In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor said that Makerere remains focused on implementing strategies and programmes under SDG 4 which emphasizes Quality Education. “I am therefore pleased that today, as we continue the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals, Makerere University is on board hosting Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, the Office of the Prime Minister, National Planning Authority, UNDP, and a number of stakeholders to enhance the discussion on leveraging innovative financing, the parish development model and science and technology.”
Prof. Nawangwe shared with the audience, Makerere’s readiness to contribute to the success of the PDM, citing the role of the PDM Policy lab headed by Prof. Eria Hisali. The PDM Policy lab conducted capacity building to sensitise low-income earners about government programs and how they can utilize the funds to improve their standards of living. The lab continues to undertake research on how to effectively implement PDM. The Vice Chancellor equally shared Makerere University’s commitment to undertaking research and programmes aimed at ensuring that health becomes a priority on the global agenda through the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Health (CESH). Established in partnership with the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, CESH’s core activities include; Capacity development and Education, Tools and resources, Networks and partnerships, and Research.
General
Makerere University Leaders Call for Excellence in Research and Supervision as Academic Staff and PhD Students Receive Certificates
By Moses Lutaaya
Kampala, 15 December 2025 — Makerere University on Monday held a reflective and inspiring Certificate Award Ceremony at the CTF 2 Auditorium , Yusuf Lule to award academic staff who completed the Graduate Supervision and Mentorship Course and PhD Students who successfully undertook the University’s compulsory cross-cutting doctoral courses. The event was presided over by the Deputy Vice Chancellor – Academic Affairs, Prof. Sarah Ssali.
The ceremony honored the efforts and achievements of 58 academic staff members, 39 men and 19 women from various colleges including CEDAT, CAES, CEES, COVAB and COBAMS, who completed a rigorous three-week Graduate Supervision and Mentorship programme.
Additionally, PhD students were recognized for completing cross-cutting courses in Philosophy of Methods, Scholarly Writing and Communication, and Advanced Research Methods.
In her keynote remarks, Prof. Sarah Ssali, the Deputy Vice Chancellor–Academic Affairs, delivered a message of encouragement and renewed commitment to research excellence at Makerere University.
“It is both an honor and a privilege to be here today to celebrate a significant academic milestone, the completion of the PhD Cross-Cutting Courses by our students and the award of Supervision Certificates to our academic staff.”
“Your completion of this course is not just a personal achievement, but a critical contribution to strengthening the research and mentoring capacity of Makerere University.”
To the PhD students, Prof. Ssali offered warm congratulations and encouragement. “These courses have equipped you with essential tools to conduct high-quality, ethical research and to engage with complex academic questions. This achievement reflects your hard work, intellectual growth, and commitment to excellence.”
She reaffirmed Makerere University’s commitment to research advancement. “As a University, we remain deeply committed to fostering a culture of research excellence. We will continue to invest in both our students and our staff, ensuring that we uphold the highest standards in research and academic supervision.”
The Director of Graduate Training, Prof. Julius Kikooma, challenged the PhD students to approach research with urgency, intentionality, and a clear sense of purpose.
“Completing the crosscutting courses in Philosophy of Methods, Advanced Research Methods, and Scholarly Writing and Communication has not been an easy task. However, the certificate alone is not the end goal. Don’t simply compile these certificates. Make them meaningful.”
Prof. Kikooma emphasized that the value of the courses lies in applying the knowledge gained. “These certificates give you the foundation knowledge. The question now is: Can we see the application of that knowledge in your different fields?”
He further urged doctoral students to begin producing serious academic work now, not at the end of their studies. “If you are becoming someone to be listened to, start now. It means the course is becoming useful. Write about issues that speak to societal challenges. Produce thinking pieces. Produce better outputs. “Look for low-lying fruits that can make your PhD journey more exciting and impactful.”
Prof. Kikooma also reminded students that while the PhD journey is shared by the academic community, its weight is uniquely felt by the candidates. “Your PhD journey is ours as a group. But you feel the heat. Speak to us so we understand your challenges. “You cannot be here for more than three years. Why are some of you still here? Is the journey heavy? How can we support you to complete it?” He asked.
He encouraged students to build thought leadership through the PhD Forum, adding that the forum is a strong voice for the students. A PhD is automatic leadership in the knowledge domain. Why doesn’t the PhD Forum come up with periodic writings that reflect what communities are experiencing? Start now so that by the time you finish the course, you hit the ground running.”
The Ag. Director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning Support (CTLS), Dr. Dorothy Ssebowa Kyagaba, gave a message to the academic staff who completed the Graduate Supervision and Mentorship Course, speaking with admiration for their dedication and high level of engagement.
“I congratulate all the academic staff who have completed the three-week Graduate Supervision and Mentorship Course. Your commitment, hard work, and enthusiasm have been evident throughout the training.”
She described the course as a cornerstone of Makerere’s commitment to strengthening graduate supervision. “This course is a key component in Makerere University’s drive to strengthen the quality of graduate training, research supervision, innovation, and strategic partnerships.”
She highlighted the thematic richness of the training; covering Knowledge Production Perspectives, Supervisory styles, Supervisory meetings and conversation skills, Research Ethics, Intercultural supervision and diversity, Scholarly writing and feedback as well as Examination processes and Doctoral Viva. She expressed gratitude to the Directorate of Graduate Training led by Prof. Kikooma, and to Prof. Ssali for providing leadership that advances graduate training across Makerere University.
General
Makerere University Hosts EU Delegation to Review Institutional Engagement in EU Cooperation Programmes
Makerere University today hosted a delegation of members from the European Union (EU) for a high-level engagement aimed at reviewing the University’s involvement in EU cooperation programmes. The meeting focused on the linkages between the Erasmus+ Programme, Makerere University’s internationalization strategy, and the related institutional management and coordination structures.
The delegation was received by Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Professor Sarah Ssali, provided an overview of how EU cooperation programmes are coordinated across different offices within the University. She highlighted Makerere’s integrated institutional approach to managing EU-funded initiatives, emphasizing collaboration among academic units, administrative offices, and support departments to ensure effective implementation and sustainability of projects.
Prof. Sylivia Antonia Nakimera Nanyonga-Tamusuza presented an overview of how grants are handled at Makerere University, with particular emphasis on the role of the Grants Management and Support (GAMSU) Office. She explained that the office provides end-to-end support for externally funded projects, including proposal development, grant negotiation, compliance, financial accountability, reporting, and capacity building for project teams. The GAMSU Office plays a critical role in ensuring transparency, efficiency, and compliance with donor requirements, including those of the European Union.
The University Secretary, Mr. Yusuf Kiranda, addressed the meeting and outlined how the University’s resources are managed to support academic programmes and international cooperation initiatives. He further explained the role of the Office of the University Secretary in supporting students, including policy oversight, governance, student welfare, administrative coordination, and ensuring that institutional systems effectively support teaching, research, and international partnerships.
Ms. Betty Nabisubi from the International Relations Office (IRO) provided a comprehensive overview of how Erasmus+ programmes are coordinated within her office. She explained that the IRO supports Erasmus students and staff from the time they arrive at Makerere University until their departure. This includes orientation, immigration support, accommodation guidance, academic coordination, cultural integration, and continuous student support. She also highlighted additional services offered by the office, such as partnership development, mobility coordination, and facilitation of international collaborations.
Following the institutional presentations, project representatives were allocated 30 minutes for structured discussions with EU project contact persons. The session began with short presentations focusing on project results, impact, and sustainability, followed by an interactive discussion and question-and-answer session. The representatives presented their projects clearly and confidently, demonstrating strong outcomes and long-term impact aligned with both Makerere University and EU cooperation objectives.
Overall, the engagement was highly productive and fruitful, providing a valuable platform for knowledge sharing, reflection on best practices, and strengthening collaboration between Makerere University and the European Union. The discussions reaffirmed Makerere University’s commitment to effective internationalization, accountable project management, and sustained partnerships under EU cooperation programmes.
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