Business & Management
CoBAMS Faculty to Support Uganda’s First Digital Census 2024
In a significant leap toward harnessing technology for national planning and development, Uganda is set to conduct a landmark digital census starting with 9th May 2024 as the Census reference night and the enumeration period scheduled for 10th-19th May 2024. As specified in the Plan for National Statistical Development (PNSD), the 2024 National Population and Housing Census (NPHC) is carried out by Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) led by the Census Commissioner (CC) who is the Executive Director (ED) Dr. Chris Mukiza. The digital census will be carried out using Computer Assisted Personal interview (CAPI) tablets and use of Global Positioning System (GPS). The census information can be used in leveraging government programs including Parish development model, youth livelihood program and also in the development of NDP IV, as we aim at becoming a middle income economy as stipulated in Vision 2040.
Distinguished staff members from Makerere University, School of Statistics and Planning (SSP), College of Business and Management Sciences (COBAMS) have played a pivotal role in supporting the census preparation phase and enumeration phases to ensure a successful digital census. This engagement aims to ensure the collection of accurate, timely, comprehensive data to guide the country’s policies, planning and vision.
The selected team comprises Dr. Odur Bernard, Dr. Nansubuga Elizabeth, Dr. Nankinga Olivia, Dr. Patricia Ndugga and Dr. Margaret Banga. The selected staff members bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, making them ideal contributors to the national census’s success. These were been deployed to different areas as District or City Census Commissioner’s Representative. Their role involves providing oversight, supervision and ensuring the smooth running of the census exercise in these districts in collaboration with UBOS.
Pivotal to this exercise, the faculty also trained district and sub-county officers of which information the officers would later use in training the enumerators and the parish/ward supervisors on the entire census process and data collection.
Makerere University through the school of statistics and planning has also been represented at the Census Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC) by Assoc. Prof. James Wokadala. The CTAC is composed of members of the Inter-Agency Committee of the Plan for National Statistics Development (PNSD) and other co-opted members from Academia, Media and Research institutions. Further, the involvement of Makerere University‘s staff brings a level of expertise and dedication that will undoubtedly contribute to the census’s success. With their support, Uganda is poised to set a new standard in data collection and analysis, paving the way for a more informed and progressive nation.
Bridging Academia and National Development
The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has a standing partnership with Makerere University, as represented by Dr. Allen Kabagenyi a staff member of SSP who was appointed by Cabinet as member of the UBOS Board of Directors as representative of all academic institutions in Uganda teaching statistics. The partnership between Makerere University and UBOS underscores the importance of collaboration between academia and government in achieving national development goals.
To support the 2024 Census, Makerere University adjusted the Semester and Examinations excluding 8th– 10th May 2024 to enable staff and students participate in the national exercise resuming on 11th May 2024. The university is applauded for revising the semester for this important 2024 digital census represents a significant step toward modernizing Uganda’s data collection practices, allowing for more efficient analysis, timely dissemination for better-informed decision-making.
Dr. Kabagenyi, mentioned that the overall aim of the National Population and Housing Census (NPHC) 2024 was to provide benchmark information on the spatial population distribution, age and sex structure, as well as other key socio-economic and demographic characteristics. She further said the Department of Population Studies, part of the School of Statistics and Planning, has over the years trained scholars in different methodologies of Collecting population Data and the national population Census being one of them. The Census provides information on the country’s population size, distribution, demographic and the socio economic characteristics of a county’s population.
Further by “leveraging on digital technologies, we can collect more accurate, detailed and timely data, which is crucial for national planning. Our team is excited to contribute to this historic event and support Uganda’s journey toward a more data-driven future.” She further applauds Makerere University Council and Management for adjusting Semester II 2023/2024 for a critical government national program.
Sharing some insight into the census process, Dr. Kabagenyi said if one is not at home, another person who is knowledgeable enough to respond to the census questionnaire can be interviewed.
“It Matters to be counted”
The Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence has commenced a three-day refresher training for members of the Development Committee (DC) of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The training, which began today in Jinja, aims to enhance the analytical and technical skills of committee members who are tasked with reviewing government projects submitted by various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The training was today February 19, 2025, officially opened by Dr. Hennery Ssebukeera, who represented the Director of the Budget Directorate. In his opening remarks, Dr. Ssebukeera emphasized the importance of the refresher course in enabling the Development Committee to effectively conduct quality reviews and fulfill its mandate as a key gatekeeper of the Public Investment Plan. He noted that the training would improve the participants’ ability to appraise and implement public investments in line with the Public Investment Management System (PIMS) framework.
Speaking at the same event, Prof. Ibrahim Mike Okumu, representing the Centre Director, Prof. Edward Bbaale, expressed the Centre’s gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to Uganda’s PIM cycle. He highlighted the importance of the training in harmonizing the relationship between the MDAs that draft project proposals and the analysts who review them. Prof. Okumu reiterated the Centre’s commitment to building the capacity of government officials in Public Investment Management, thereby supporting the country’s development aspirations.
The need for this training was identified during the Development Committee retreat held in 2024, which revealed limited capacity among DC members in project appraisal, specifically in reviewing prefeasibility and feasibility reports, Dr Ssebukeera noted. In response, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, in collaboration with the PIM Centre of Excellence, organized this refresher course to strengthen the participants’ technical and analytical skills.
DC is a statutory committee of government that evaluates the viability of public investment projects. Its statutory composition includes: Office of the President, Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, National Planning Authority, Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), Office of the Solicitor General, Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development, National Environment Management Authority, Equal Opportunities Commission, Ministry or Work and Transport, Ministry of Water and Environment, Public Private Partnership Unit. The PIM Center of Excellence was recently admitted to the Development Committee as a non-voting member.
The training will cover a wide range of topics, including the role of PIMS in the country’s development goals, the logical flow of project profiles, costing, and the interpretation of interconnections between prefeasibility/feasibility reports and financial models. Additionally, participants will explore the role of public-private partnerships in national development.
Dr. Ssebukeera encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions, share their expertise, and apply the knowledge gained from the training. He noted that this engagement would empower the Development Committee to effectively perform its role in reviewing and approving public investment projects, ensuring they align with national priorities and deliver value for money.
The Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence, established by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in partnership with Makerere University School of Economics, continues to play a pivotal role in building the capacity of MDAs in managing public investments. To date, the Centre has trained over 300 officers and produced several research papers, reflecting its commitment to enhancing public investment management in Uganda.
The training in Jinja is expected to enhance the participants’ capacity to effectively review government projects, thus supporting the effective implementation of Uganda’s Public Investment Plan.
Business & Management
Somali Officials Complete Executive Training in Infrastructure Asset Management at CoBAMS
Six Somali government officials have successfully completed a three-day Executive Training in Infrastructure Asset Management, held at Makerere University’s Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE). The training, funded by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), took place from January 27 to 29, 2025, and aimed to enhance regional capacity in infrastructure planning and management.
The training brought together senior civil servants and policymakers from Somalia, equipping them with practical knowledge and strategies for sustainable infrastructure asset management. It also fostered valuable cross-border collaboration, facilitated by UNCDF Uganda, which played a crucial role in connecting Makerere University with the Government of Somalia.
The program was delivered by experienced faculty from Makerere University’s College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), alongside experts from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) and the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). A special session was also led by the Makerere University Bursar, offering practical insights into financial management in infrastructure projects.
Speaking at the opening of the training, Mr. Ncube Mkhululi, the Regional Technical Advisor for UNCDF emphasized the importance of infrastructure asset management in driving sustainable economic growth. He highlighted UNCDF’s commitment to supporting capacity-building initiatives in developing economies, noting that effective infrastructure planning and management are critical to national development. He also expressed confidence in Makerere University’s expertise in delivering high-impact executive training programs for government officials.
During the closing ceremony, Prof. Bbaale Edward, the Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences expressed gratitude to all partners, including UNCDF, Makerere University management, and the PIM CoE faculty, for their commitment to making the training a success. He emphasized Makerere University’s ongoing efforts to internationalize its research-led agenda, positioning itself as a hub for regional knowledge exchange.
UNCDF Program Manager, Mr. Joel Mundua, the commended the participants for their dedication and encouraged them to share the acquired knowledge with fellow officials in Somalia. This was reaffirmed by one of the participants, who pledged to apply and disseminate the learnings within their respective departments.
Mr. Sunday Denis Aliti, the Program Officer at UNCDF highlighted the importance of ensuring that infrastructure asset management strategies are practical, adaptable, and aligned with national development goals. He commended Makerere University for its leadership in knowledge transfer and regional training and encouraged continued collaboration between universities, governments, and international development partners to strengthen institutional capacity.
Dr. John Sseruyange, Manager of the PIM CoE, applauded both the participants and the expert trainers who contributed to the program. He reiterated the Centre’s commitment to advancing infrastructure asset management through continued training and collaboration with regional stakeholders.
As the training concluded, participants departed with valuable insights and practical tools to improve infrastructure management in Somalia and beyond. The success of this initiative highlights Makerere University’s role as a leading institution in public investment management, fostering capacity-building efforts that drive sustainable development across Africa.
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