General
Mak Financial Management System a Timely addition to Digitalisation Drive
The Makerere University Financial Management System launched on Wednesday 10th July 2024 by the Chairperson, Finance, Planning, Administration and Investment Committee (FPAIC) of Council, Mr. Bruce Kabaasa has been heralded a timely addition to our transformation into a digitally-driven research-led University. Since the beginning of the year, the University has launched systems to digitalise Research Information Management (RIMS), Academic Records and Processes (DARP), Student and Staff Attendance Management (SAMS) and to amalgamate records from all the above, the Makerere Data Repository (MakDATA).
The system developed in-house by the Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS) is part of the University Council’s strategy to adopt a cost-effective and sustainable approach to Makerere’s business automation needs. It will enable the Finance Department to streamline budget management at cost centres and budgeting units at the University as well as automate the requisitions and generation of digital reports for decision making.
Presiding over the event held in the Council Room, Mr. Kabaasa congratulated the University Management upon taking yet another step in improving the efficiency of the University “I am very happy with your leadership Mr. Vice Chancellor. The processes of improving financial management continue to come a long with your guidance.”
He equally paid tribute to the University Bursar, Director DICTS and their respective teams on a job well done in developing the system but nevertheless challenged offices directly in charge of financial management to review the line manual so as to cater for the growth in development financing and other grants. “We must have a robust framework within which all these policies that speak to finances are grounded.”
Mr. Kabaasa further called for the appreciation that timelines and deliverables are very pertinent in a Public-funded University such as Makerere and called upon the offices in charge to go beyond release funds for procurement to ensuring that the goods and services purchased meet the requisite quality and timeliness of delivery. In the spirit of ensuring transparency, he urged that the system should grant limited access to all users to view amounts and dates when releases are effected.
Adding his voice to Mr. Kabaasa’s, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe acknowledged that the launch of the system is testament to Makerere’s commitment not to be left behind in the global digitalisation drive. Furthermore, he noted that the system is a game changer in the drive to reduce the paper trail generated by business operations especially in light of inefficient search processes associated with physical documents.
The Vice Chancellor therefore paid tribute to the Director DICTS, Mr. Samuel Mugabi and his team of young developers that have been at the helm of implementing the University Council’s in-house software development strategy. He nevertheless tasked the developers to incorporate alerts in the system that are reflective of the University Organisational Manual’s stipulation of the maximum period within which documents ought to be cleared by the concerned offices.
Prof. Nawangwe thanked the University Council for creating an environment conducive for the digialisation of business processes. “I am happy that Council put its foot down and said ‘we must digitalise’ and we can now see how many systems we have in such a short time; what remains is to integrate all these (systems) so that they speak to each other and I urge DICTS to expedite that.”
“At Makerere we want to be the best and if we want to be the best, we must make sure that we are efficient” continued the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), Prof. Henry Alinaitwe. He added that the system would greatly enhance transparency in the administration of budgets as relevant offices will be able to view real-time balances during implementation.
Pre-empting the notion that too many systems were being launched, the University Secretary Mr. Yusuf Kiranda explained that “digitalisation is only coming to translate what we have been doing on paper onto a digital platform, which improves efficiency and most importantly for Makerere, transparency.”
He therefore thanked the Vice Chancellor for leading the drive to digitalise the University and FPAIC for the strong interest taken in budget processes and enabling Makerere to achieve a stronger compliance. “Lastly, I thank the University Bursar and Director DICTS for working under pressure to deliver the system.”
The University Bursar, Mr. Evarist Bainomugisha noted that the system launch was a key milestone for the Finance Department, University Council and Makerere. He explained that whereas the University is already implementing the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS), the system consolidates all administrative units into one pool which makes managing budgets at unit level complicated. He further noted that IFMS neither processes payment vouchers for various requisitions nor has the ability to capture supporting documents.
“I therefore thank the University Council and Management led by the Vice Chancellor for the support and DICTS for all the technical backing” acknowledged Mr. Bainomugisha.
The event attended by Members of Central Management, College Principals and staff from the Finance Department was moderated by the Principal Public Relations Officer, Ms. Ritah Namisango.
By Moses Lutaaya
Makerere University has challenged its newly admitted PhD students to go beyond pursuing academic qualifications and become independent scholars capable of generating knowledge, solving societal problems and contributing to Africa’s transformation.
The call was made by the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Sarah Ssali, during the orientation of the 2026/2027 PhD cohort at Makerere University’s Main Hall in the Main Building on 10th August 2026.
Prof. Ssali told the new scholars that a PhD marks a fundamental shift from previous levels of education, requiring students to take greater responsibility for their academic progress rather than depending entirely on lecturers and supervisors.
“You will have to push yourself and also push your supervisor to move with you,” Prof. Ssali said, urging the students to take ownership of their doctoral journey.
She acknowledged that many PhD students have to balance their studies with employment, family responsibilities and community leadership, making doctoral training demanding. However, she urged them to remain focused on completing their programmes within the prescribed three, four or five years.
Prof. Ssali said Makerere expects its doctoral training to produce scholars who can create knowledge, challenge existing ideas and develop solutions to societal problems.
She encouraged the students to embrace ambiguity and become comfortable questioning what they already know, noting that doctoral education requires scholars to identify important questions, investigate them and generate answers that advance knowledge.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor also urged the students to develop interdisciplinary collaborations and scholarly networks rather than confining their research to their individual disciplines.
She said the success of doctoral education should not be measured merely by the number of dissertations completed or papers published, but by the extent to which research contributes to society.
With Africa facing complex challenges, including climate change, disease, population growth and development pressures, Prof. Ssali said PhD scholars have a responsibility to generate evidence that can influence policy, strengthen institutions and advance innovation.
She challenged each scholar to continually ask what problem their research addresses, what solution it advances and whether that solution can create sustainable value.
The Director of Graduate Training, Prof. Julius Kikooma, said the new cohort was joining Makerere at a time when the University is implementing reforms aimed at strengthening graduate education and improving completion rates.
Prof. Kikooma revealed that Makerere received close to 12,000 applications across its master’s, postgraduate and PhD programmes but admitted about 6,000 students.
He said graduate education has been placed at the centre of the University’s efforts to strengthen research capacity and prepare scholars to contribute to knowledge production and innovation.
Under the reforms, PhD students will undertake compulsory cross-cutting courses designed to provide foundational knowledge and skills for doctoral research. They will also be required to undertake teaching in either their second or third year under the guidance of their supervisors.
In addition to completing their theses, students will be required to produce at least two publications before graduation, a requirement intended to prepare them to become the next generation of researchers, innovators, inventors and creators.
Makerere has also introduced a digital system to monitor the progress of every PhD student each semester. The system is intended to enable students, supervisors and university officials to identify challenges early and intervene in real time.
Prof. Kikooma urged the scholars to write regularly, think critically, maintain open and constructive relationships with their supervisors and protect their academic integrity and professional reputation.
He also encouraged them to build scholarly networks and remain resilient, noting that rejected papers, disappointing data and unexpected challenges are normal aspects of doctoral training.
The Director of Research, Innovations and Partnerships, Prof. Robert Wamala, challenged the scholars to ensure that the knowledge they produce is trustworthy, responsible and ethically sound.
Prof. Wamala emphasized the importance of respecting the dignity, rights, safety and autonomy of research participants, particularly where studies involve individuals, communities and personal information.
He highlighted informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, justice and accountability as critical principles of ethical research and urged students to maintain transparency throughout the research process, from developing research questions and collecting data to analyzing and reporting findings.
Prof. Wamala also cautioned the students on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in research.
He said although AI can assist researchers with activities such as language improvement, it does not remove the researcher’s responsibility for the final product.
Researchers, he said, must verify AI-generated information and remain accountable for inaccurate statements, misleading interpretations and incorrect references.
He further urged students involved in international and other research collaborations to establish clear agreements on roles, authorship, data ownership, access and intellectual property before commencing their research.
The Deputy University Librarian, Dr. Kizito Ongaya, meanwhile, urged the new scholars to make full use of Makerere’s library and information resources throughout their doctoral journey.
Dr. Ongaya said the University operates a hybrid library system combining physical and electronic resources, with more than 200,000 books, 45 e-journal databases and over 16,000 archival materials available to researchers.
He encouraged the students to participate in library training to learn how to access and effectively use electronic resources and to explore specialized libraries and information centers across the University’s colleges.
These include resources covering natural sciences, agriculture, veterinary medicine, health sciences, education and humanities, as well as museums, botanical gardens, specialized collections and other research facilities.
The newly admitted doctoral students were also addressed by Mr. Henry Nsubuga, the Manager Makerere University Counselling and Guidance Centre, Mr. George Mugabi Turyamureeba, the Deputy University Bursar and members of Makerere University Convocation.
Makerere University has once again cemented its place as a regional leader in academic excellence after successfully hosting the East African Universities Debate Championships (EAUDC) 2026, welcoming the continent’s brightest young minds for a week of intellectual competition, cultural exchange, and leadership development.
Held from 26th July to 1st August 2026, the championship brought together more than 200 student debaters, adjudicators and delegates from 25 universities across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and other invited institutions, transforming the Ivory Tower into East Africa’s premier arena for ideas, innovation and public discourse.
The week-long tournament featured rigorous British Parliamentary debate rounds, public speaking competitions, adjudication workshops and networking sessions designed to sharpen critical thinking, leadership and persuasive communication. Participants debated contemporary issues ranging from governance and economic transformation to technology, public health, climate change and Africa’s future.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Deputy Vice Chancellor welcomed delegates to Makerere University, emphasizing the institution’s enduring commitment to nurturing graduates who are not only academically accomplished but also capable of leading meaningful conversations that shape society. The championship reflected Makerere’s vision of producing graduates who are innovative, analytical and prepared to address regional and global challenges.
Beyond competition, EAUDC 2026 became a celebration of East African unity. Delegates experienced Uganda’s rich cultural heritage through social events, campus tours and cultural showcases that fostered friendships beyond national borders. The interactions reinforced the championship’s belief that dialogue remains one of the strongest foundations for regional integration and peaceful cooperation.
The tournament concluded with an electrifying Grand Finale witnessed by students, alumni, university leaders, invited guests and debate enthusiasts. The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Sports Hon. Eng. Cuthbert Abigaba represented the Speaker of Parliament as the Guest of Honour. In his remarks he congratulated Makerere University on the successful event and encouraged debate among students.
Prof Sarah Ssali the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs at Makerere University pledged continuous support from the administration towards Makerere Debate Union. Teams demonstrated exceptional research, analytical reasoning and eloquence before a distinguished panel of international adjudicators, bringing to a close one of the most competitive editions of the championship.
The successful hosting of EAUDC 2026 marks another milestone in Makerere University‘s growing reputation as a centre of excellence for debating and public speaking. The event builds on the university’s long-standing tradition of producing outstanding debaters while providing students with opportunities to engage with peers from across the region in meaningful intellectual exchange.
As the championship drew to a close, participants departed Kampala with new friendships, stronger networks and renewed inspiration to continue using debate as a tool for leadership, democratic participation and social transformation.
With the East African chapter successfully concluded, attention now turns to the Pan-African Universities Debating Championship (PAUDC) 2026, where Makerere University will once again represent East Africa on the continental stage.
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