Business & Management

Youth Urged to Embrace Entrepreneurship for Economic Empowerment

Published

1 year ago

November 4, 2024

Hon. Balaam Barugahara in a group photo with organisers and discussion panel at the opening of the Expo on October 31st, 2024 at Yusuf Lule Auditorium.

At the recent Makerere University Entrepreneurship Congress 2024, held under the theme “Entrepreneurship as a Catalyst for Inclusive Growth”, Uganda’s State Minister for Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Hon. Balaam Barugahara, highlighted the transformative power of entrepreneurship. “Entrepreneurship promotes social mobility, fosters innovation, and empowers young people,” he said, emphasizing its role in addressing unemployment, limited opportunities, and inequality.

The event, organized by the Entrepreneurship and Outreach Center (MakEOC) under the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), focused on providing young people with practical skills and strategies for entrepreneurial success. Hon. Barugahara shared his entrepreneurial journey, urging young entrepreneurs to “start small, dream big, understand their market, and surround themselves with mentors.”

*State Minister for Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Hon. Balaam Barugahara* was the Keynote Speaker.

Prof. Edward Bbaale, Principal of CoBAMS, who represented the Vice Chancellor, emphasized that entrepreneurship is vital for Uganda’s economic growth and development, particularly in tackling underemployment. “We aim to reinforce that growth must be inclusive, equitable, and accessible, ensuring that no one is left behind,” he remarked. He encouraged students and faculty to leverage the university’s resources to turn ideas into marketable products.

The Dean of the School of Business, Prof. Godfrey Akileng, underscored the role of entrepreneurship in achieving Uganda’s sustainable development goals, describing it as a crucial path for economic empowerment. “Through this congress, we aim to prepare students not only to create jobs for themselves but also to drive change and innovation that can uplift communities,” he stated.

Dr. Jude Mugarura, Head of the Department of Marketing and Management, commended the congress’s efforts in fostering entrepreneurship and noted the department’s role in developing well-rounded graduates. “Our goal is to produce graduates who can innovate, create, and manage businesses and also employ others,” he said, emphasizing the shift from “job-for-life” careers to “portfolio careers.”

Students showcase their entrepreneurial projects at the Expo.

The congress explored four core areas of modern entrepreneurship:

Starting and Scaling a Small Business – Vision, resilience, and strong teamwork.
Entrepreneurial Leadership and Mindset – Adaptability and comprehensive business planning.
Technological Trends – Utilizing AI and data to fuel entrepreneurial growth.
The Digital Hustle – Mastering digital presence, content creation, and engagement.

The event also featured insights from a range of panel speakers. Spera Atuhaire, Country Director of BRAC Uganda, discussed their mentorship-driven employment programs designed to empower young people. “Our initiatives focus on social economy, mentorship, and savings, helping youth overcome barriers to success,” she noted, adding that BRAC provides affordable credit to address financial challenges for young entrepreneurs.

Hon. Balaam Barugahara receiving his portrait as a gift from Prof. Edward Bbaale. Extreme left is Dr. Sarah Bimbona.

Diana Ninsiima Kibuuka, Country Director of BNI Uganda, highlighted the importance of networking and understanding the values behind each network. “Each network serves a purpose, and you must understand that purpose,” she said, sharing her personal experience transitioning from law to entrepreneurship through her connection with BNI.

CK Japheth, founder of Innovation Village, emphasized the importance of testing business ideas for viability. “How do you reduce the time spent proving an idea is viable?” he asked, encouraging entrepreneurs to validate ideas through trial and error. “Find out by trying,” he advised, reminding participants that good ideas don’t automatically lead to successful businesses.

Diana Njuguna, an Associate Partner at Nyota Capital, discussed the challenges entrepreneurs face in securing funding, pointing to issues such as poor financial structure, inadequate governance, and complacency. “Strong financial management and qualified personnel are essential,” she said, urging young entrepreneurs to prioritize growth and avoid getting too comfortable in “lifestyle businesses.”

The Congress culminated in a well-attended Students’ Expo at Freedom Square, showcasing innovative student-led products and services. Dr. Sarah Bimbona, Director of Makerere University’s Entrepreneurship and Outreach Centre, praised the event, saying, “This year’s theme resonated deeply, addressing pressing challenges in Uganda’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

The Makerere University Entrepreneurship Congress 2024 succeeded in inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs, promoting discussions on innovative solutions, and fostering partnerships that support Uganda’s socio-economic growth and development.

Business & Management

Cementing the Mak-UNISA partnership: Prof. Sarah Ssali meets Dr. Sizile Makola

Published

2 days ago

April 15, 2026

Ritah Namisango

L-R: Associate Prof. Godfrey Akileng, Dean,School of Business, Visiting Scholar-Dr. Sizile Makola, DVCAA-Prof. Sarah Ssali, Ms. Agnes Sansa-PhD Student during the meeting on 13th April 2026.

On 13^th April 2026, Prof. Sarah Ssali, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) of Makerere University, hosted Dr. Sizile Makola, a Visiting Scholar and Senior Lecturer from the University of South Africa (UNISA).

Makerere University and the University of South Africa committed to partnership and collaboration through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Consequently, Dr. Makola, a researcher and an expert in human resource and business management is scheduled to spend two weeks at Makerere University, interacting with the leadership at different levels, researchers, students, as well as staff in the Department of Marketing and Management, School of Business under the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS).

Additionally, the visit accords Dr. Makola the golden opportunity to finalise her comparative studies with members of staff from the Department of Marketing and Management on behalf of Makerere University for the Ugandan context.

The meeting between the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) and Dr. Sizile Makola was attended by Associate Professor Godfrey Akileng-the Dean, School of Business, and Ms. Agnes Sansa from the Department of Marketing and Management.

Welcoming the Visiting Scholar, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) urged Dr. Makola to solidify the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both universities through academic exchanges and deepening scholarship on African-centred leadership.

Prof. Ssali shared a brief trajectory that has shaped Uganda’s workspace. She mentioned the critical role of three pillars that have fundamentally influenced the human resource development landscape in Uganda namely: Cultural practices, Structural Adjustment Programs (SAP), and Spirituality/Religion. She also acknowledged the distinct historical differences between Uganda and South Africa.

Dr. Makola’s discussion with the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) also featured the ongoing comparative study that Dr. Sizile Makola and Ms. Agnes Sansa are conducting in relation to how organizational and human resource management conditions shape the recognition and conversion of women leadership resilience in Uganda and South Africa.

The study is titled: Ubuntu/Obuntu Bulamu, Emotional Capital and Women’s Leadership Resilience: A Comparative Study Across Public and Private Sectors in South Africa and Uganda.

Impressed by the ongoing study, Prof. Ssali implored the visiting faculty-Dr. Sizile Makola to share with her the findings in due course.

Prof. Ssali expressed the readiness of the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) to work with the different units within Makerere University, and the University of South Africa, to support programmes aimed at strengthening collaboration, partnership, research, and internationalization.

On 10^th April 2026, Dr. Makola delivered a captivating guest lecture titled,Re-Imagining Human Resource Management in Africa, targeting undergraduate and postgraduate students pursuing human resource management courses at Makerere University.

Emphasizing the need to integrate indigenous knowledge and organizational practice, Dr. Makola argued that researchers should theorize from African contexts, treat indigenous knowledge as a source of theory, use methodologies capturing moral, communal, and context-bound dimensions of work, and build concepts from African languages, values, and institutional histories.

She stressed the need for African-centered human resource management thinking, rather than just adding local case studies to Western frameworks. Dr. Makola’s argument was informed by limitations of Western human resource management frameworks, which assume autonomous individuals, formal institutions, and technical organizations, which are separate from family and community.

Related articles:

Mak CoBAMS Hosts UNISA’s Dr. Sizile Makola

Mak CoBAMS Hosts UNISA’s Dr. Sizile Makola

African Scholarship Must Theorize from Indigenous Knowledge to Build Contextually Grounded Leadership Systems,” Dr. Sizile Makola

“African Scholarship Must Theorize from Indigenous Knowledge to Build Contextually Grounded Leadership Systems,” Dr. Sizile Makola

Business & Management

Call For Applications: Student Mobility – University of Padova, Italy (Oct 2026-Jan 2027)

Published

3 days ago

April 14, 2026

Mak Editor

Group Photo of the trainers and trainees that took part in the workshop on multivariate statistics and time series analysis, held 11th-20th June 2024 between the School of Statistics and Planning, CoBAMS and University of Padova, Italy. Makerere University School of Statistics and Planning-University of Padova, Italy dynamic workshop on multivariate statistics and time series analysis, 11th to 20th June 2024, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Arising from an existing Memorandum of Understanding (until September 2028) between University of Padova, Italy (UniPd) and Makerere University (Mak), the two institutions partnered and will jointly implement the Bilateral Agreement for the mobility for students between 2026 and 2027. At Mak, the Departmental Flow Coordinator is Symon Peter Wandiembe (PhD) and the project Principal Investigator and Contact Person 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 student mobility to the Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy for the Winter Semester, October 2026 – January 2027.

The selection process shall entail five-steps:

Step 1: Submission of documents by candidates for nomination, with an internal deadline of April 20^th, 2026, 05.00 p.m. (EAT) to allow for time to process nomination applications;
Step 2: Meeting of the Nomination Committee to review documents received from applicants;
Step 3: Submitting the list of nominated candidates, by April 30^th, 2026, 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.

Please see download for detailed call.

Inquiry

S.K. Omala via +256 772 491545 before April 20^th, 2026.

Advert Bilateral UniPd_Mak_Agreement_for Student Mobility Download

Business & Management

Mak CoBAMS Hosts UNISA’s Dr. Sizile Makola

Published

1 week ago

April 8, 2026

Ritah Namisango

L-R: Dr. Zaina Nakabuye, Dr. Jude Mugarura, Dr. Agnes Sansa, Dr. Sizile Makola, Prof Edward Bbaale and Dr. Anthony Tibaingana at the 8th April 2026 meeting in the Office of the Principal. Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Prof. Edward Bbaale welcomes Dr. Sizile Makola, a Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management from the University of South Africa (UNISA), to the College and Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa, 8th April 2026.

On Wednesday 8^th April 2026 the Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Prof. Edward Bbaale received and welcomed, Dr. Sizile Makola, a Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management from the University of South Africa (UNISA), to the College and Makerere University.

The interaction meeting held in the Office of the Principal brought onboard the following members of staff from the Department of Marketing and Management, School of Business: Dr. Jude Mugarura, Dr. Zaina Nakabuye, Dr. Agnes Sansa, and Dr. Anthony Tibaingana.

Dr.Sizile Makola is visiting Makerere University for two (2) weeks to cement the MoU between Makerere University and UNISA and to finalise her comparative studies with staff from the department of marketing and management on behalf of Makerere University for the Ugandan context.

Dr. Makola is scheduled to deliver an interactive guest lecture to undergraduate and postgraduate human resource management students on Friday 10^th April 2026 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm in the School of Business, Conference Hall.