The Minister of State for Higher Education, Hon. Dr. John C. Muyingo on Thursday 25^th April 2024 officially launched the inaugural Annual Forum for Graduate Research and Policy Dialogue as well as the Research Information Management System (RIMS). Organised under the theme “Regional Integration and Development”, the two-day event being held in the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility will witness over 70 paper presentations by PhD fellows, Research and Publication opportunities by the Makerere University Press as well as presentations on Mental Health and Wellness.

“I am here because I am coming back home and you are talking a language I love and enjoy. I am also here to confirm Government’s commitment to support Makerere’s efforts to become a research-led University,” reassured Hon. Dr. Muyingo as he commenced his remarks.

Addressing the event theme, Hon. Dr. Muyingo underscored the importance of regional integration as a cornerstone of Uganda’s aspirations for a brighter future, noting that it is through cohesive efforts and shared endeavours that the region can overcome numerous challenges and unlock its full potential for growth and development.

He pointed out that higher education and research play a pivotal role in driving regional integration and development, and called upon scholars and researchers to play their respective roles. “Your pursuit of knowledge and academic excellence holds the promise of transformative change, serving as a catalyst for innovation, progress, and inclusive growth.”

Hon. Dr. Muyingo expressed the Government of Uganda’s appreciation of the strides made by Makerere University in as far as conducting research that informs national development priorities. He therefore applauded the two-day Annual Forum for Graduate Research and Policy Dialogue and launch of RIMS not only as milestones in graduate training but also platforms that will make the institution’s research more visible to government, funding agencies, research partners and other stakeholders.

He nevertheless reiterated the need for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) such as Makerere “to play a more practical role in engaging the policy space and contribute to nurturing a policy environment receptive to evidence-based solutions.”

Delivering the first keynote of the two-day event, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe expressly thanked Hon. Dr. Muyingo for presiding over a second event at Makerere in less than a week. On 19^th April 2024, he represented the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Hon. Janet Museveni, at the launch of the Digitalisation of Academic Records and Processes (DARP) project.

In the same measure, Prof. Nawangwe thanked the Government of Uganda substantially tackling the chronic shortage of funds for research by instituting the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF). “With the money that Government is giving us, we have changed the research landscape of Makerere tremendously.

“Additionally, we have with the help of UNDP established a state-of-the-art Innovation Pod. We have put in place an office specializing in Intellectual Property and they are doing a great job; they have already registered several copyrights and applied for several patents” he added.

The Vice Chancellor nevertheless regretted the timing of ongoing budget cuts which are likely to affect funding for research. Noting that we are in the era of the knowledge economy where those in the know get ahead of those who are not, he reiterated that it is Nations such as China that have prioritised knowledge production through funding of Higher Education and research that are making leaps economically.

“If Africa is going to industrialise, we must produce more PhDs because no amount of foreign direct investment is going to industrialise Africa. Africa will be industrialised by the small and medium enterprises, which will come mostly out of research by PhD and Masters students, and a few undergraduate students – the Kiira Motors came from undergraduate students” explained Prof. Nawangwe.

Citing the presentations made during the opening ceremony by Mr. Erick Jacob Okek on Immunological and parasitological impact of co-deployment of Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) and bed nets for malarial mosquito vector control in Uganda and Ms. Adella Grace Migisha on Environmental influences on electricity reliability in Uganda’s grid system, Prof. Nawangwe emphasised that PhD students are addressing pertinent issues and ought to be supported by the Government.

“Let us put our heads together and see how best to unlock the potential of Makerere University. There is so much potential here that we are not utilising as a country, and we need to unlock it to the letter” summed up the Vice Chancellor.

In line with contributing to unlocking Makerere’s potential, the Director, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT), Prof. Edward Bbaale said that the Annual Forum provides a platform to showcase the potential of graduate research as a driver for socioeconomic transformation. “Additionally, it serves to enhance the capacity of graduate students to engage effectively in policy dialogues and debates.”

Prof. Bbaale reiterated DRGT’s commitment to augmenting the skills of graduate scholars in policy engagement and communication as part of their doctoral research and education toolkit, owing to the impact these graduates have. “There is now evidence that return on investment in Higher Education is higher than the return on investment in lower education and hence Government is encouraged to support graduate training through scholarships and loan schemes.”

Citing the Makerere University Policy on Establishment of Research Institutes and Institutions, Prof. Bbaale said that DRGT is encouraging the growth of research groups into dynamic hubs such as research units, centres, institutes and centres of excellence. Furthermore, and in respect of packaging and marketing of research output as enshrined in the Makerere University Strategic Plan, he added that the multidisciplinary Makerere Innovation Pod is poised to foster creativity, innovation and collaboration among students, researchers and entrepreneurs.

On the need for scholars and researchers to publish works in books and journals, Prof. Bbaale put forth the Makerere University Press as an avenue for disseminating new knowledge across the various disciplines. “I would like to implore all faculty and students to use the press as a publishing house and promote our works.”

Developed by the Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS) with funding from Mak-RIF, the Research Information Management System (RIMS) was unveiled at the Forum as digital solution to track the graduate student journey, report every stage of progress, centrally manage research produced by students, and streamline the graduation process. Addressing the Forum, the Academic Registrar and Principal Investigator RIMS, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi noted that the system is going to Makerere enhance its visibility as a research-led university.

“The architecture of RIMS has seven modules that include: Masters and PhD research; Postdoctoral research; Dissemination, Conferences and Seminars; Research Innovations; Inventory of Senior Researchers; International Collaborations; and e-Supervision” shared Prof. Buyinza.

He added that the system will not only enhance student tracking but also e-Supervision and thesis management through a simple easy-to-use dashboard. “It is a moment of joy that we are transiting from the manual system to an online digital platform. This will enhance efficiency, and completion rates will be assured.”

Providing a background to RIMS, the Director DICTS, Mr. Samuel Paul Mugabi noted that the ongoing development and launch of various Information Systems at Makerere University is as a result of a strategic shift by the leadership from outsourcing to solving challenges related to business processes digitalisation through in-house development.

RIMS was developed by a team made up of Mr. Juma Katongole, Mr. Joshua Muhumuza and Mr. Denis Wamala. The latter who presented on behalf of his colleagues demonstrated how the e-Supervision module can be used to track a scholar’s progress right from the conceptual stage right to the dissertation and defence. He added that the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) will pilot the RIMS rollout.

The President PhD Fellows at Makerere University (Pf@Mak), Ms. Clare Cheromoi in her opening remarks said that the lineup of paper presentations would at the end of the two-day Forum clearly demonstrate to the public that PhDs remain highly relevant to addressing the challenges in the country. She observed that Makerere has created the supportive environment through avenues such as the Annual Forum for PhD fellows to collectively address national development priorities.

She thanked the University Management and Annual Forum organisers led by the Chairperson Prof. Julius Kikooma for their support in making the event a success. In particular, the President Pf@Mak thanked the Vice Chancellor for maintaining an open-door policy that has enabled Student Leaders to share their ideas. In appreciation the Pf@Mak Leadership presented a book How to Lead Smart People: Leadership for Professionals to Prof. Nawangwe.

The Forum was moderated by the Principal Public Relations Officer, Ms. Ritah Namisango, while the Department of Performing Arts and Film (PAF) kept guests entertained.

Book of Abstracts

Presentations from the Opening Ceremony