Hoima and Kikuube Districts, Uganda – October 20, 2024
A group of third-year students from College of Business and Management Sciences’s Energy and Natural Resources Economics program visited the Kingfisher oil operations and Kabalega Airport in Hoima and Kikuube districts on October 20, 2024. Led by Dr. Peter Babyenda and Dr. John Sseruyange, and with authorization from the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, the visit offered the students an invaluable opportunity to connect classroom learning with field experience.
The primary objective of the field trip was to enhance students’ practical understanding of Uganda’s oil industry by observing the extraction and production processes firsthand. According to Dr. Babyenda, “Blending theory with real-world exposure is essential for these students, as it allows them to apply and expand their knowledge beyond the classroom.”
During the tour, students explored several key areas:
Practical Exposure – Witnessing the operational procedures of oil extraction offered students a concrete understanding of how theoretical concepts play out in the field, enhancing their grasp of the industry.
Economic Impact Analysis – Observing the economic role of oil production in Hoima and Kikuube allowed the students to explore its broader impact on local and global markets and its contributions to community development and Uganda’s economic landscape.
Technical Knowledge – The students gained insights into the technical aspects of oil extraction, learning about the complexities of the operations, the innovations employed, and the challenges faced by the industry.
Environmental and Social Considerations – Students observed the environmental practices in place and evaluated the social dynamics involved, gaining an understanding of how oil companies balance production with community and environmental sustainability.
Career Insights – With opportunities to interact with professionals in the oil sector, students received guidance on potential career paths in the industry, helping them make informed decisions about their futures.
Current Industry Issues – The group also delved into the status of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project and discussed challenges in oil and natural gas production, examining where Uganda stands in terms of production timelines, obstacles, solutions, and the role they can play as future energy professionals.
Reflecting on the trip, Dr. Sseruyange highlighted the importance of this experience in solidifying students’ understanding of Uganda’s evolving oil industry. “This field experience not only complements what they’ve learned in lectures but also equips them with a real sense of the operational and societal impact of the energy sector,”he noted.
The students expressed their gratitude for the immersive experience, noting how it broadened their perspectives and deepened their knowledge. The field trip served as an essential step in preparing them for careers within Uganda’s energy and natural resources sectors, bringing them closer to the industry’s forefront and the future of sustainable energy in the region.
The Environment for Development (EfD) Uganda team, led by Prof. Edward Bbaale, has been recognized as Runners-Up for the prestigious EfD Policy Impact Award 2024. Their impactful paper, titled “Policy Options for Clean Cooking and Reduced Biomass Dependency,” earned them a Certificate of Excellence during the 18th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the EfD network, held from October 3 to 6, 2024, at the Argyle Grand Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.
Organized by the EfD Global Hub at the University of Gothenburg and hosted by EfD-Kenya Centre at the University of Nairobi, the AGM brought together researchers and policymakers from across the world. The event celebrated the remarkable work being done to influence global environmental policies.
Representing Uganda, Prof. Bbaale was accompanied by Mr. Gyaviira Ssewankambo, EfD- Mak’s Office Manager, and a team of researchers and collaborators. Among those present were Dr. Peter Babyenda, Dr. Susan Kavuma, Dr. John Sseruyange, Dr. Nicholas Kilimani, Dr. Florence Lwiza Nsereko, Mr. Jordan Ssemwanga, Mr. Nathan Mununuzi (Ministry of Water and Environment), and Eng. Domnic Mucunguzi (Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries).
Insights from the Study
The award-winning study, led by Prof. Bbaale and his research fellows—Dr. Babyenda, Dr. Sseruyange, and Dr. Kilimani—focused on “Promoting Inclusive Clean Energy Transition in Uganda: Evidence, Challenges, and Policy Options.” The research explored perceptions of cooking energy systems in Uganda, with an emphasis on the over-reliance on biomass, particularly charcoal, as the primary energy source in low-income areas.
The study revealed key barriers to the clean energy transition, including fear of electricity and liquid petroleum gas, weak public awareness, and insufficient regulatory frameworks. These challenges have slowed the adoption of alternative energy solutions in Ugandan households.
Prof. Bbaale emphasized the need for stronger regulatory support and awareness to foster the country’s energy transition: “The transition to cleaner energy requires overcoming public misconceptions and improving regulatory systems to promote sustainable cooking solutions.”
See video clips interview with Edward Bbaale and Peter Babyenda – Courtesy of the EfD Global Hub
Prof. Bbaale highlighted the value of the 18th AGM for fostering collaboration and growth within the EfD network. “The EfD-Mak Centre appreciates the efforts of colleagues who submitted proposals and papers, and we congratulate Dr. Lwiza and Dr. Kavuma for their contributions. These proposals are vital to keeping the Centre running,” Bbaale noted.
Looking ahead, he encouraged further mobilization of research fellows, recommending the appointment of collaborative leaders and co-leaders to enhance engagement and productivity within the Centre. A full report on EfD Uganda’s participation at the AGM is attached.
The School of Business, College of Business and Management Sciences, has concluded the 3rd Annual Doctoral Colloquium Programme, 2024, which brought together 34 PhD students, including 11 third-year and 23 first- and second-year students, for a four-day engagement held from Monday October 14 to October 17, 2024.
Organized under the leadership of Prof. Godfrey Akileng, Dean of the School of Business, and Dr. Kasimu Sendawula, the colloquium focused on the theme, “Research Grounding, Framing, Problematizing, and Making a Contribution for a Seamless PhD Experience.” The event aimed to educate participants on research proposals and thesis guidelines, enhance scholarly writing and presentation skills, and foster networking between young and senior researchers.
The colloquium achieved its objectives through sessions on both provisional and full admission processes, addressing essential topics such as proposal and thesis structure, conceptualization, literature review, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, philosophy of methods, scholarly writing, and ethical clearance. Paper presentation sessions, held on Days 3 and 4, allowed students to refine their research ideas and enhance their understanding of PhD management policies, philosophical foundations, and scholarly writing skills.
Prof. Godfrey Akileng highlighted the remarkable progress of the School’s doctoral program since its inception in 2019. “We have 31 active doctoral students, and five graduates are expected in January,” said Prof. Akileng. He expressed pride in the school’s initiatives, noting the increasing publication rate among both students and staff, which reflects the growing research output. Prof. Akileng encouraged scholars to present their research, develop a matrix for comments received, and work diligently to finish their work on time.
Prof. Akileng also emphasized the importance of customer satisfaction in research, stating, “Our business thought is that the best strategy is having a satisfied work customer and addressing their needs.” He reaffirmed that the staff remains committed to supporting students throughout their PhD journey, urging them to stay focused and follow the plan.
In addition to the ongoing training efforts, upcoming events include the November and December research seminars, where staff members studying abroad will present their work.
During his opening remarks, Prof. Edward Bbaale, Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), emphasized Makerere University’s strategic vision under the 2020-2030 plan, which focuses on transforming the university into a research-led and innovation-driven institution. Prof. Bbaale highlighted three key pillars of the strategy: increasing graduate enrollment, establishing research entities, and bridging research and policy.
“We aim to raise the graduate student population to 30% by 2030, with 10% being international students,” Prof. Bbaale said, adding that the current figure stands at 12%, with only 2% being international students. He also noted the creation of 68 research centers and institutes, such as the School of Business Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, as key steps in developing innovative solutions through collaborative research.
Prof. Bbaale encouraged students to embrace challenges and use the resources available at Makerere University to further their academic and research goals. “Your research is not just an academic pursuit; it’s a beacon of hope and a catalyst for societal change,” he said, citing the importance of interdisciplinary research and international collaboration in shaping the future of academic excellence.
Speaking at the closing of the colloquium, Dr. Julius Kikoma, Deputy Director of the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT) at Makerere University, praised the School of Business for its progress in doctoral training. “I’m happy to see that the school has grown its capacity to train PhDs,” Dr. Kikoma remarked, adding that the DRGT is working to make the PhD journey less isolating by organizing gatherings like the colloquium, which bring students together.
Dr. Kikoma further highlighted the reforms initiated by the DRGT to streamline PhD training, including a shift from open-ended to structured programs, cohort-based admissions, and providing full admission to students. “We’ve implemented changes to help PhD students move more smoothly through their journey,” he explained.
The symposium also featured contributions from experts such as Dr. Kassim Sendawula, the Coordinator of the PhD Programme at the School of Business, who underscored the value of expert feedback in the research process. Dr. Sendawula noted that the review process provided essential skills and insights, helping scholars refine their research and develop practical solutions.
The colloquium demonstrated Makerere University’s dedication to advancing graduate training and research, fostering a supportive community for PhD students. Dr. Kikoma highlighted that 350 applicants for PhD by research were received in the current academic year, underscoring the increasing interest in graduate studies at the university. The event concluded with a call for continued efforts to support PhD students, align research with national priorities, and maintain the momentum toward achieving the university’s vision of becoming a research-led institution.
Over 30 researchers and graduate students from Makerere University participated in a specialized training aimed at enhancing their skills in research co-creation, science communication, and policy engagement. The training, organized by the Environment for Development (EfD) Mak Centre, emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between academic research and policy impact, particularly in the fields of environmental economics and natural resources management.
Research Must Impact Communities
While opening the training on 15th October 2024 at Makerere University, Prof. Edward Bbaale, Director of the EfD-Mak Centre, underscored Makerere University’s commitment to becoming a research-intensive institution. “Makerere University resolved to produce as much research output as possible,” he stated. Prof. Bbaale emphasized that the university’s strategy goes beyond just producing research but also ensuring that this research has real-world impact. “This research must not be done for its own sake or just for attaining degrees. It must impact communities,” he added.
Prof. Bbaale also highlighted the critical role graduate students play in advancing Makerere‘s research mission. “The university is counting on you to produce high-quality research. You are researchers, and this type of training helps you transition from science to policy communication,” he said, encouraging participants to actively engage with policymakers to ensure that their research findings inform decision-making.
The training is part of the broader mission of the EfD initiative, which seeks to influence policy in the Global South through high-quality research. Prof. Bbaale reiterated the Centre’s focus on capacity building, particularly in the area of environmental economics. “We emphasize academic training, policy-relevant research, and engaging policymakers to create impact. Our goal is to build long-lasting relationships with policymakers, but that starts with rigorous research,” he noted.
Bridging the Writing Skills Gap
Dr. Peter Babyenda, Uganda’s Policy Engagement Specialist and lead trainer, identified a gap in writing skills among graduate students, which prompted the focus on co-creation, communication, and policy engagement. “We realized that students often struggle to develop strong research topics, which is why this training is important. Co-creation allows researchers to share ideas with peers and stakeholders to refine their research problems,” he explained.
Babyenda also stressed the importance of disseminating research findings. “Researchers should not keep their work to themselves. They must learn how to effectively communicate their findings through policy briefs, press releases, and social media,” he advised. He further encouraged the use of technology, including AI, to improve writing style and clarity.
Dr. Babyenda added that future training sessions would focus on methodologies and advanced research techniques. “We want to ensure that students and researchers are equipped with the latest methodologies in environmental economics to produce research that informs policy and drives actionable change,” he said.
Reflecting on the training, participants said, it was insightful and transformative.
John Robert Opus: A Shift to Purposeful Research
John Robert Opus, a graduate student at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences pursuing a Master of Agribusiness, expressed gratitude for the insights he gained during the training. “I’ve been doing a lot of research, but I’ve not been mindful of who my research is for. Today, I learned that as a researcher, you need to know who will use your results and what impact they will have,” he noted. Opus added that this training has transformed his approach to research, making him more focused on creating purposeful work that makes a tangible impact.
He also acknowledged the importance of communicating research findings, which many students often overlook. “We usually think research is just a requirement to complete our Masters, but today I learned that it helps in policy-making. Communicating the results—whether through social media or other platforms—is very important.”
Hilda Namuleme: Rethinking Research Communication
Hilda Namuleme, a researcher at the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), highlighted how the training changed her approach to writing and communicating research results. “Coming from a research background, my pyramid has always been to start with the background and build up to the results,” she said. “But in this training, I learned that I need to start with the results when writing for the media, like press releases or newspaper articles. It was very educational.”
Namuleme praised the structure of the training, calling it a valuable learning experience. “It was a good, educative session, and I thank EfD for organizing such great trainings. We look forward to more of these opportunities,” she concluded.
Taaka Proscovia Mugeni: A Focus on Feasible Research Topics
Taaka Proscovia Mugeni, a graduate student pursuing a Master of Arts in Economics at the School of Economics, expressed her gratitude for the insights gained from the training. “I’ve really learned a lot from today’s training,” Mugeni shared. “I’ve learned aspects of communication—how to communicate issues related to your research, and also insights on how to structure your research topics.”
Mugeni emphasized the importance of selecting feasible research topics and praised the workshop for addressing key challenges that students face. “It has been a very insightful training, and I would love to appreciate all the stakeholders who contributed to organizing it. We as students need more of this,” she noted.
Jane Anyango is the Communication Officer EfD Uganda