Business & Management
CoBAMS Annual Report 2023
Published
12 months agoon

The overall objective of our operations and strategy is to position the College as a relevant and sustainable institution of international standing with high caliber staff, an active presence in public policy research and formulation, and contribution to the community. This report highlights the main activities that have taken place over the year 2023 in fulfillment of the College’s objective.
Strategic initiatives
The College continued to pursue plans to expand and remodel its infrastructure facilities. The Feasibility Study for the proposed infrastructure expansion and remodeling project got approval of the Development Committee of the Government of Uganda in March 2023. A budget code for the project was assigned to the project shortly afterwards. Engagements are underway to secure funding for the project starting the 2024/2025 financial year.
The College also continued to strengthen its Endowment Fund. Fifty million shillings was added to the Fund over the course of the year and an exercise to reconcile the amount of money held on the Main Endowment Fund of the University was embarked on. We still await an opportunity for the formal launch of the Fund to pave the way for a more structured capital campaign.
Teaching and learning
The College took steps to strengthen its quality assurance framework. The College established a Quality Assurance Committee to oversee the quality of its operations across the Board. It also embarked in automation of workflow processes in the administrative and support functions. The College also continued to support student led discussion groups and engaged Graduate Fellows at each of its Departments.
Three thousand new students took up programs at the College in the course of the year while the College presented one thousand six hundred sixty eight candidates for graduation.
The CoBAMS Library continued to subscribe to The Economist & Harvard Business Review magazines – both the print & electronic versions. The Library also acquired 366 Titles and 395 copies of textbooks purchased and delivered from the Book Bank; and 26 titles & 41 copies of textbooks purchased by the College.
Brand visibility
The quality of programmes and staff are ranked highly. Students on the Master of Arts Degree in Economics emerged the best performing of the seven premier universities on the continent at the Joint Facility for Electives (JFE). This program is run on a collaborative arrangement where students take core courses at their universities for one academic year after which the elective courses are taught jointly. Staff from the College served as visiting lecturers and external examiners at other institutions. Staff from the college produced over 200 new publications and facilitated at various panel discussions and policy dialogues.
Collaborations, partnerships and grants
The College concluded a Memorandum of understanding with the Human Resource Management Association of Uganda (HRMAU), which aims to train prospective HR practitioners on professional conduct to bridge the gap between theory and practice.
The School of Economics collaborated with the University of Oxford to host the 2023 workshop on Economic Development in Africa. The four-day workshop brought together scholars across Africa, Europe, and North America. Thirty one frontier papers on Economic Development in Africa were presented cutting across, Trade, Health, Natural Resources and Environment, Political Economy, Poverty, Productivity, Fiscal & Monetary Policy, and Agriculture among others. Staff and graduate students had parallel training sessions on Survey Design and Data Collection for Gender Analysis (Lead by Cheryl Doss, Tufts University), Introduction to Structural Transformation and Growth (Lead by Douglas Gollin, University of Oxford and Tufts University, and Joe Kaboski, University of Notre Dame), and Randomised Control Trials (Lead by Clare Hofmeyr, J-PAL Africa). Faculty from the University of Tufts and the University of Notre Dame are exploring the possibility of teaming up with faculty at MakSOE to support Macroeconomics at the PhD level. This could extend to supervising PhD research within the space of structural transformation. The funding is likely to be from Structural Transformation and Economic Growth (STEG) of which the two persons I met are the principals behind STEG. The CSAE committed to partnering with MakSOE to offer demand-driven policy advice to GoU and to continue mentoring young faculty and graduate students who are keen to climb the research radar.
The College also collaborated with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Uganda to undertake consultations for 2023 Human Development Report.
The College also got additional exemptions from ACCA Global for the Bachelor of Commerce students. Going forward, students graduating with the Bachelor of Commerce Accounting Option will get nine of the 13 courses required for full ACCA qualification.
The College hosted a breakfast meeting with a section of government agencies to deliberate on areas of mutual interest. This has resulted in MoUs with the Uganda Manufacturer’s Association, the Uganda Revenue Authority and the Kampala Capital City Authority. These initiatives will create platforms through which the parties will among other things:
- pursue joint research, publishing research findings, write background policy papers, and promote outreach to the relevant state and non-state actors;
- collaborate on knowledge transfer & staff exchange programs to impart more practical skills on both parties;
- organize and participate in joint activities such as seminars, workshops and conferences aimed at imparting practical skills, knowledge transfer and re-tooling; and,
- collaborate on the review and development of the CoBAMS curriculum to reflect more practical/workplace content for students.
This was in addition to a number of outreach activities that were undertaken by various Centers housed at the College. The Entrepreneurship and Innovations Center for example equipped PDM beneficiaries in Makerere North and Katanga with a range of skills in the areas of bookkeeping, marketing, financial management, etc. The Public Investment Management Center has over the course of the year trained over 120 public officials in various aspects of public investment management ranging from ideation and conceptualization to the more advanced economic and financial analysis of public investment projects. The Environment for Development Center undertook seven outreach activities in different parts of the country and organized three policy dialogues on climate change and the environment. The School of Statistics and Planning also cohosted an international conference on “Aging and Health of Older Persons in Sub-Saharan Africa’ in February 2023.
Researchers at the College won six new institutional research grants, and one staff member developed a new academic concept, which is currently under the process of patenting and copyrighting at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau. The College is also leading the process of the PDM Policy Labs and there are ongoing discussions with the Office of the Prime Minister to convert recommendations of the studies into policy actions.
Human resources capacity development and strengthening
Seventeen Colleagues were promoted to various ranks in the University service in the course of the year 2023. The College provided seven (05) in-house capacity development programs for the support and administrative staff and an orientation of newly appointed staff. Fifteen academic staff members are currently pursing doctorate degrees. Seven staff members acquired PhD qualifications while ten were promoted to various ranks in the University Service. The College also received eight new staff in the course of the year.
Team building sessions were organized for the Schools of Economics and Business, but at which strategic direction of the schools was deliberated. The College leadership organized a retreat to deliberate on the strategic human resources and quality assurance issues as a basis for shaping the future of the College.
Financing
In as much as resources are insufficient and a number of facilities require improvement, all outstanding financial obligations were offset in a timely manner.
Conclusion
I want to thank all my colleagues at the College, and the Management and Council, and indeed all our stakeholders. These milestones have been only possible because of all of you. We look forward to maintaining an environment where we can continue to aim higher and do more together.
Eria Hisali (PhD)
PRINCIPAL
You may like
-
Makerere University embarks on developing e-Learning Digital Transformation Roadmap
-
Mak, ITC sign MoU to Strengthen Actuarial Science & Insurance Education
-
Inter-college Debate 2025 Seeks to Nurture Confident, Articulate, and Visionary Leaders
-
TUM SEED Center: PhD Scholarship in Sustainable Energy Entrepreneurship 2025/2026
-
Phase 1 of e-Learning initiative at Makerere University registers remarkable achievements
-
A Humble Petition from the Marabou Storks of Kampala to His Excellency, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
Business & Management
Mak, ITC sign MoU to Strengthen Actuarial Science & Insurance Education
Published
1 day agoon
May 8, 2025
Makerere University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Insurance Training College (ITC) aimed at enhancing professional training, research, and industry engagement in the fields of actuarial science and insurance.
The signing ceremony, held on May 6, 2025, at the University Main Building, was presided over by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, and attended by officials from both institutions. The MoU will be implemented through the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) and is expected to significantly benefit students, particularly those pursuing Actuarial Science.

Under the new agreement, Makerere University students will receive exemptions from selected certification courses offered by the Insurance Training College, easing their path toward professional accreditation. The partnership also paves the way for joint training programs, research collaborations, internship placements, external examination services, and other mutually beneficial initiatives.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Nawangwe emphasized the importance of such collaborations in preparing students for a dynamic and competitive job market.

“This MoU is both timely and strategic. Collaborations with professional bodies such as the Insurance Training College ensure that our students are not only academically grounded but also professionally prepared to meet industry demands,” said Prof. Nawangwe.
“The insurance sector is one of the fastest-growing industries in the region. It requires well-trained, ethical, and innovative professionals—and Makerere University is committed to producing exactly that.”
On behalf of the Insurance Training College, Mr. Saul Sseremba, Chief Executive Officer, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership and its long-term impact.

“We are excited to formalize our collaboration with Makerere University. Our goal is to build a critical mass of highly skilled insurance professionals who will drive the transformation of the sector in Uganda and beyond,” said Mr. Sseremba.
“We look forward to a fruitful relationship that blends academic excellence with industry relevance.”
Also speaking at the event, Prof. Bbaale Edward, Principal of CoBAMS, underscored the significance of the partnership in enhancing the college’s mission of bridging academic theory and professional practice.
“This MoU is aligned with our strategic goal of strengthening industry linkages and providing our students with hands-on exposure to the realities of the workplace,” said Prof. Bbaale said.
“Actuarial Science is a rigorous program, and these exemptions will ease our students’ progression into professional certification while motivating them to pursue excellence. We are grateful to ITC for this opportunity and look forward to implementing this partnership effectively.”

The MoU signifies Makerere University‘s continued commitment to strengthening university-industry linkages, expanding professional pathways for students, and fostering applied research that contributes to national development.
The signing was witnessed by the Head of Department, Statistical Methods and Actuarial Science, Dr. Felix Wamono, the Dean School of Planning and Statistics, Dr. Margaret Banga and Dr. Shaheen Memon – Assistant Lecturer.
The event concluded with a symbolic signing of the agreement and a commitment from both parties to begin implementation immediately.
Business & Management
Bank of Uganda holds career talk with students: Commits to Annual Monetary policy engagements
Published
3 weeks agoon
April 21, 2025
On 14th April 2025, the Bank of Uganda in partnership with the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) hosted a career talk targeting students studying economics at Makerere University.
The Bank of Uganda is one of the leading employers of students from Makerere University. It is therefore a key strategic partner of Makerere University.
In line with the theme of the career talk, ‘Beyond the Books-Positioning Economics Students for National and Global Relevance,’ the various Speakers shared their student experiences while at the University up to graduation, and their real-life experiences as they transitioned into the world of work. This approach enabled the Speakers to manage the expectations of the students, who in turn, listened attentively to the Speakers, actively participated in the plenary, responded to questions from the Speakers, asked questions after each presentation, and requested for more engagements, mentorship and networking sessions.
From the presentations and discussion, the world of work focused on fields such as economics, business, finance, accounting, entrepreneurship, farming, the academia, the teaching profession, and any other field that presented the Speakers with an opportunity to serve their respective communities.

Featuring Mr. Jonah Waiswa, the Head of Stakeholder Engagement at the Bank of Uganda, the career talk, presented a scenario of, “I have walked this journey. I have been successful. When you listen to my story, you could get some tips and valuable knowledge to guide you as a student who is scheduled to transition into the world of work.”
During the career talk, the students also listened to speeches loaded with words of wisdom and inspiration from the Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences-Prof. Edward Bbaale, the Dean of the School of Economics- Dr. Ibrahim Mike Okumu, and Lecturers from the School of Economics-Dr. Peter Babyenda and Mr. Fred Kasalirwe.
Welcoming the team from Bank of Uganda, Prof. Edward Bbaale pointed out that their presence signified a continued commitment to nurturing the next generation of economists- who are academically sound and industry-ready.
“The theme for the Career Talk was relevant and timely. As the College prepares students to thrive in a highly competitive and dynamic global economy, it is important that they are exposed to practical experiences and real world insights,” he stated.

According to the Principal, the collaboration between Makerere University and the Bank of Uganda is long-standing and deeply valued. “In the past years, the School of Economics has benefited greatly from this relationship-through teaching of specialized courses such as Monetary Economics and Banking by experts from the Central Bank. Many of our alumni fondly recall these interactions that bridged theory with practice,” he remarked.
To the students, he said, “I urge you to listen keenly, ask questions and make the most of today’s interaction.”
Challenging the students to always utilize opportunities when they arise, the Dean of the School of Economics, Dr. Mike Ibrahim Okumu reminded students that economics is not just about understanding the world, but about changing it.
Dr. Okumu reported that the School of Economics’ esteemed collaboration with the Central Bank has been instrumental in developing the curriculum. “This year, we are excited to launch a Master of Science in Economic and Investment Modelling, admitting a select group of ten students. This programme signifies our commitment to producing graduates who are deeply engaged in practical applications of economics,” he stated.

Building on the goodwill between Makerere University and the Bank of Uganda, Mr. Waiswa was pleased to address the students-who are the prospective employees of the Central Bank as well as future economists.
Impressed by the level of attendance, the keynote Speaker-Mr. Jonah Waiswa commended the College Principal, the Dean and Staff in the School of Economics and the Makerere University Economics Students Society for the excellent mobilization.
He was delighted to address students studying economics at the University because he was once like them. “I was once an undergraduate student like you. I focused on my studies and performed well. I took advantage of the opportunities that came my way. I have spent a number of years working with the central bank,” shared Mr. Waiswa, an alumnus of Makerere University who on completion of his studies was privileged to join the world of work.
In his presentation, Mr. Waiswa highlighted the Bank of Uganda’s mission to foster price stability and a sound financial system, and its vision of being a centre of excellence in upholding macroeconomic stability. The Bank of Uganda is mandated under article 162(1) of the constitution to promote and maintain the stability of the value of the of the currency of Uganda; to regulate the currency system in the interest of the economic progress of Uganda; and to encourage and promote economic development and efficient utilization of resources.
He defined concepts such as monetary policy, macro-economic management policies, inflation and stability of the economy, which are taught in the classroom at Makerere University, and applicable at the Central Bank. He stressed that the cardinal principle of the Bank of Uganda is to control inflation. He made specific reference to some of the values of Bank of Uganda namely Integrity, Accountability, Transparency, professionalism, inclusivity and innovation. He informed students that these values are central to the day to day lives of students who wish to excel in life and at the world of work.
He requested the students to always log on to the central bank website to have a broader understanding of its roles, functions, opportunities that are available to students as well as careers at Bank of Uganda.

Mr. Waiswa highlighted that education is the ladder to socio-economic transformation. He called upon the economics students who have been presented with the golden opportunity to access education up to the level of the university, to reflect on the question. “How do I leverage my education to make myself better?”
With reference to the theme of the Career talk, Mr. Waiswa noted that the starting point is for each student to understand and appreciate the need to concentrate on his or her studies and excel academically. According to him, academic excellence presents an individual with a chance to tap into other opportunities.
In addition to academic excellence, students should prepare to transition into the world of work, which could be, in the form of being employed, or self-employed or an entrepreneur. Mr. Waiswa guided that whatever field in the world of work, an individual pursues, understanding aspects such as self-discipline, time-management, acquisition of additional skills relevant to your work, integrity, accountability, and among others are paramount.
He rallied students to value internship or industrial training, voluntary service, networking and mentorship. He advised them to always navigate the websites of different institutions/companies to understand their roles, the caliber of employees that they require, and to search for opportunities.
Sharing his journey of humble beginnings, completing his undergraduate degree and enrolling into the world of work based on hard-work and merit, Mr. Waiswa informed the students that it is possible to commit to breaking the chains and succeed in life. Emphasizing the importance of education, Mr. Waiswa reminded the students that the fact that they have been able to study at Makerere University, they should harness the power of education to transform their lives and the communities that they come from.
“My journey has been from humble beginnings to a position where I can influence change-it’s a testament to the power of education. Inspiration is critical, and I hope you take something valuable from today,” said Mr. Waiswa.
“For those of you in the second and third year of study, your studies in monetary economics and macroeconomics are foundational. They lead us to understand the practical implications of what we learn in the classroom. However, it’s imperative that we also focus on life experiences and the journey to transformation,” he added.
Education is the ladder that connects us, regardless of where we may find ourselves in Uganda. It is this a common ground that can propel us forward. Leveraging your education to improve your circumstances is key, but it requires a passion and a drive to succeed.
Mr. Waiswa advised the students that the world of work requires employees who read the signs and take off time to acquire additional skills in a particular field. These include: Enrolling to study professional courses, acquisition of ICT skills, adapting to trends such as AI, as well as attaining a Master’s degree in the relevant discipline.
Without mentioning the names of the affected individuals (as confidentiality is concerned), Mr. Waiswa shared a lived experience where he painful witnessed some employees who had served with dedication at a particular organisation missing out at the time for promotion to the managerial level because they lacked a Masters’ degree. He noted that such individuals did not take advantage of availability of funds provided by the same organization to its employees to enroll for further studies.
Reflecting on the world of work, he asked the students, “Who are you out of class? He challenged them to visualize their technical competence (qualification) which includes the technological expertise, productive competence, communication competence (interpersonal relations) and personal development.
On the fundamental aspect of personal growth and development, he used an illustration of the effort pyramid to explain the concepts of growth and development, Job/work, and academics.

He emphasized the need for diversification by investing in more than one asset class. He mentioned stocks, bonds, real estate and cash as some of the asset allocations that could be considered.
Tackling the area of investing, Mr. Waiswa revealed that fundamental wealth creation is about managing risk. “During investment decisions, we are presented with profits and losses, but the most important factor is managing risk,” he guided.
Underscoring the value of being accountable, Mr. Waiswa explained that when an individual secures a job, it is imperative that he or she works for the number of hours agreed upon, and delivers to the best of his or her ability. “After you have accorded your employer the hours agreed upon, it is important to use the rest of the hours or weekends to take on activities that advance your personal growth, networks and additional sources of income,” he said. In this regard, he informed the students, that after his working hours at the Bank of Uganda, he ventures into real-estate, farming, entrepreneurship and building valuable networks.
On the issue of prioritizing work and valuing networks, he said: “Despite my busy weekends dedicated to farming, I prioritized being here today because I am committed to my personal growth and that of my future generations. Remember that what you expect of life is often what you have to work tirelessly to achieve.”
He believes that after graduation and getting into the world of work, one should be able to marry or get married, produce children and balance work with family when he or she is still energetic. He encouraged the would be husbands to trust their partners, to be specific-by involving their wives in businesses and decision making processes.
Wrapping up, Mr. Waiswa disclosed that officials from the Bank of Uganda will be scheduled to come to Makerere University every year to discuss monetary policy and career prospects at the Bank. “Effective July 2025, we will implement a deliberate plan to come and engage with students at the College of Business and Management Sciences,” he said.
On behalf of the students, Mr. Swaibuh Damulira, the President of the Makerere University Economics Students Society applauded the Bank of Uganda team for creating time to enlighten students about the world of work. He testified that the career talk had enabled him to learn new things and very important ideas about the life style cycle. He called for continuity of career guidance initiatives for the benefit of the students.

On behalf of the Organising Committee, Dr. Peter Babyenda thanked Mr. Jonah Waiswa for dedicating time to share his rich and wide real life experiences with students. “As economists, it is vital to understand current challenges and devise solutions. Networking is essential for it presents us with the ability to collaborate effectively,” he explained.
“Together, we aim to link the University with policy makers, reducing the distance between the academia and the real world. I thank Fred Kasalirwe and the Class coordinators for their unwavering support in organizing this career talk,” he remarked.
Dr. Babyenda underscored the importance of students’ participation, when he stated, “Remember, the university experience is incomplete without you, our students, who are our greatest resource. Let us continue fostering these important connections.”
The career talk climaxed with a specialized session scheduled for student leaders to visit the Central Bank next month for an in-depth discussion.
Business & Management
ERASMUS+ KA171 International Credit Mobility 2024-2027
Published
3 weeks agoon
April 17, 2025By
Mak Editor
Arising from an existing Memorandum of Understanding (September 2021) between University of Padova, Italy (UniPd) and Makerere University (Mak), the two institutions partnered and were jointly granted funding for the Erasmus+ KA171 international credit mobility for students and staff, 2024-2027. At Mak, the Departmental Flow Coordinator is Felix Wamono (PhD) and the project Principal Investigator is Saint Kizito Omala (PhD), both of Department of Statistical Methods and Actuarial Science (DSMAS).
In this regard, the Department of Statistical Methods and Actuarial Science wishes to announce opportunities for students and staff credit mobility to the Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy for the Winter Semester, October 2025 – February 2026.
The selection process shall entail five-steps:
Step 1: Submission of documents by candidates for nomination, with an internal deadline of April 21st, 2025, 05.00 p.m. (EAT) to allow for time to process nomination applications;
Step 2: Nomination of candidates who would have applied for nomination;
Step 3: Submitting the list of nominated candidates, by April 28th, 2025, to the International Projects and Mobility Office of the University of Padua, Italy;
Step 4: Eligibility check and communication to successful candidates by the International Projects and Mobility Office of the University of Padua, Italy; and
Step 5: Application for the Mobility opportunity by successful candidates.
Inquiry
Reach out to Dr. F. Wamono on +256 772 467206 Dr. S.K. Omala via +256 772 491545 before April 21st, 2025.
See below for detailed advert.
Trending
-
General1 week ago
Call for Applications: Admission to Postgraduate Programmes 2025/2026
-
Humanities & Social Sciences1 week ago
Over 2,000 Attend Makerere’s Dialogue on Traditional Spirituality, Herbal Medicine, Witchcraft and Questions of Truth
-
General4 days ago
Accommodation during the Recess Term: 2024/2025
-
General2 weeks ago
Phase 1 of e-Learning initiative at Makerere University registers remarkable achievements
-
General2 weeks ago
ARIPO, URSB Visit Mak, Discuss IP & Patenting