The Audit Manager in the Office of the Auditor General, Mr. William Ezama has commended Makerere University for improving grants management and reporting processes.

“Since the Grants Administration and Management Support Unit (GAMSU) came into existence, there is a significant improvement on how grants in the University are managed,” said Mr. Ezama during the Capacity Building Workshop held at Makerere University on Tuesday 10^th December 2024.

Delivering a presentation on Financial Accountability and Auditing of Grant-Funded Projects in Higher Education Institutions in Uganda, Mr. Ezama emphasized the need to account for each public fund, indicating the value for money in terms of outputs/deliverables.

“Funding received through grants becomes public money. The Office of the Auditor General by law is mandated to conduct financial, value for money audits and other audits, in respect of any project or activity involving public funds,” he said.

Recounting earlier experiences before the establishment of GAMSU at Makerere University, Mr. Ezama noted that some Project Investigators had a tendency of personalizing funding received through grants.

“In the past, we encountered some cases where some grant holders would tend to personalize these grants because they wrote the proposals. However, this attitude is changing. I believe mainly because of sensititisation and capacity building programmes like the one that we are participating in.  I wish to emphasize that when you receive grants/funds, it becomes public money,” he stated.

Mr. Ezama thanked GAMSU for organizing the capacity building workshop on Legal, Financial and Managerial Frameworks for Grant-Funded Projects in Higher Education Institutions. He noted that workshops of this nature provide a platform to the different stakeholders involved in grants management to engage and understand the expectations of the government, funding agencies, other entities and partners.

Underscoring the importance of GAMSU, Prof. Sylvia Antonia Nakimera Nannyonga-Tamusuza stated the availability of substantial funding opportunities globally and revealed the need for researchers to strategize and tap into those financial resources.

“I want to assure you that there is a lot of money out there in form of grants. We need to strategize and tap into that money. Makerere University established GAMSU in 2020 with the core mandate of supporting faculty and staff throughout the grant lifecycle. This includes identifying funding sources, planning and preparing proposals, facilitating administrative review processes, ensuring compliance, managing grant funds, and successfully closing projects,” she explained.

Drawing from the experiences that grants are not free, and, also grants being legally bound, Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza informed the participants that the capacity building workshop bringing on board the university leadership, researchers and staff was aimed at strengthening grant administration and management skills and knowledge to manage projects of this nature.

“This capacity building program is about improving our proposal writing and understanding the rules and guidelines of the different funders. We also want to strengthen our grants administration and management skills, equip ourselves with knowledge and competencies to write winning grants and be able to manage them with compliance,” she said.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe who was represented by Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi underscored the significant contribution of grant funding to the financial sustainability of the University.

Cognizant of the strategic focus to transform Makerere University into a research-led institution, the Vice Chancellor implored leaders, researchers and staff to work hand in hand with GAMSU to continue writing winning grant proposals to support research.

“It is a timely workshop because we have strategically decided that Makerere becomes a research-led university. When you want to be research-led, it means that the intensity of research definitely has to increase. Research funding is crucial. Grants provide access to funds for research,” said Prof. Nawangwe in a speech read by Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs).

Reflecting on the ever increasing demands on the government’s resource envelope, which affects the funding remitted to universities, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi implored researchers and staff to accelerate grant application processes to win funds for research. He also appealed to the participants to exercise the highest degree of transparency in grants management and project execution.

Contributing to the discussion, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), Prof. Henry Alinaitwe encouraged the participants to read the Grants Administration and Management Policy, as uploaded on the Makerere University policies website, in order to understand and appreciate the roles and expectations.

With specific reference to Section 9 (7, viii) of the Policy, Prof. Alinaitwe commended GAMSU for developing the database of all grants in the University.

On his part, the University Secretary Mr. Yusuf Kiranda, acknowledged the substantial contribution of research grants to Makerere University’s funding portfolio, which is supplemented by approximately $8 million annually.

Mr. Kiranda applauded the Government of Uganda for being the primary funder of Makerere University. He credited the government for the timely payment of staff salaries, utilities such as water and electricity, teaching and learning expenses, as well as supporting research through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (MakRIF).

He called upon staff entrusted with financial resources to always be in position to provide value for money.  “The government has changed to programme-specific budgeting, which necessitates the need for staff to provide value for money in the implementation of different university activities,” he said.

The University Secretary, who is also the Secretary to Council, stressed the need for compliance as stated in the different sections of the Grants Administration and Management Policy. He pointed out that the University Council will not approve remittance of funds to any project, that is not registered or reflected in the Grants Management system of the University.

Delivering a keynote speech, Ms Nana Oye Akuffo, a Grants Administrator at the University of Ghana, with over 22 years of experience in managing grants, shared that research is dynamic and not static, and encouraged researchers and grant writers to study the research environment and adapt to emerging trends while applying for grants as well as focusing on conducting research that creates a meaningful impact on society.

Ms Akuffo emphasized the need for capacity building trainings in research and grants application and management. “Let us train our faculty members because they are key people. These are the people who will go and look out for the funding and we will manage it for them,” she said.

She urged researchers applying for grants to prioritize attention to the do’s and don’ts, noting that ignoring these details often leads to unsuccessful applications.

She underlined the need for integrity, professionalism, transparency and proper accountability in the management of grants. To expound this point, she reminded the participants that the donor community is interlinked, and the news of mismanagement of funds from a particular funding agency/body, will be relayed to other funding agencies/bodies.

Noting that different funders have different financial requirements and guidelines, she advised the participants to always study the needs of each funder in detail.

Pointing out that during the grant application process, funders request for specific policies available at the University and/or in the country, she requested the participants to always take note of the list of the policies required, and submit them as per the guidelines.

At the university level, the keynote speaker advocated for regular stakeholder engagements to ensure that every staff involved in the grant process is on board, developing policies for research development, and undertaking monitoring and evaluation of policies for learning outcomes to guide the next course of action.

During the question and answer session moderated by Dr. Venny Nakazibwe, the participants gained a deeper understanding on the need for the Project Principal Investigators, faculty and support staff to work together in all the processes of grant management and execution. In addition, participants reached a consensus that the existing structures at Makerere University namely the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), GAMSU, and the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training should consolidate the efforts towards grants management, reporting and compliance.

Closing the half day workshop, Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza explained that GAMSU is working with the different units within the University to integrate the grants management system with the financial domain in order to track the entire process.

She stressed that compliance starts when the Principal Investigator or researcher reads the call for a grant, and decides to apply. She reported that during the grant application processes, a number of issues and documents are requested for, including mentioning the structures in place to assist in the execution of the grant, as well as staff or offices, and available university policies, among others.

Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza thanked the participants for dedicating valuable time to listen to the different presenters and the keynote speaker, and for actively participating in the discussions. She also thanked Ms Ritah Namisango for moderating the workshop.

On December 5, 2024, the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC), in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), concluded its three-day Youth Leadership Training Programme with a cross-generational dialogue on peace and security. This dynamic gathering, held in the serene gardens of Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre at Makerere University, brought together student leaders and alumni from various universities to exchange insights with seasoned experts and practitioners.

The “Ekyooto” Experience: Bridging Generations

The event, modeled after the traditional “Ekyooto” fireside gathering, facilitated open conversations between youth and experienced leaders. Discussions tackled peacebuilding, conflict resolution, gender, and regional politics. Participants explored innovative solutions to local and global peace and security challenges, enriched by intergenerational wisdom.

Leadership Perspectives      

Dr. Nansozi Muwanga, JNLC Executive Director, emphasised the dialogue’s purpose: bridging young and experienced voices to provide a holistic view of peace and security challenges. She lauded participants’ enthusiasm and highlighted their potential to translate lessons into actionable solutions for their communities.

Ms. Angella Kasekende of KAS highlighted the transformative nature of cross-generational conversations, sharing how similar dialogues had shaped her leadership journey. She stressed the value of interactive learning over information-heavy training, enabling participants to directly engage with experts.

Insights from Prof. Julius Kiiza

Prof. Julius Kiiza, a political science and political economy expert, delivered a thought-provoking presentation on Servant Leadership, Pan-Africanism, and Peacebuilding in the Great Lakes Region. Addressing the question Whose Security Counts?, he argued that true peace extends beyond the absence of war to encompass human, economic, and cyber security. He urged leaders to prioritize citizens’ welfare, economic opportunities, and meritocracy, framing these within the broader concept of Staatsbildung (state-building).

Key Themes and Reflections

• Human-Centered Security: Addressing unemployment, access to resources, and functioning institutions as prerequisites for genuine peace.
• Meritocracy and Good Governance: Advocating for competence-based leadership to drive national progress.
• Pan-African Aspirations: Exploring the potential for African unity, inspired by historical state-building models.

Cross-Generational Panel Explores Root Causes of Conflict

Moderated by Prof. Julius Kiiza, a distinguished panel at the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre included Prof. Philip Kasaija, Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala, Ms. Joanna Grace Nakabiito, and Ms. Nashiba Nakabira. They addressed the root causes of conflict and strategies for peacebuilding, drawing insights from academia, policy, and practice to address the root causes of conflict, identity-related disputes, and the roles of youth and women in peacebuilding.

Root Causes of Conflict

The panelists identified marginalisation, greed, colonial legacies, and identity-based disputes tied to religion, ethnicity, or politics as key conflict drivers. To understand identity-based conflicts, participants were asked, “What non-negotiable rights are you ready to fight for?”

Prof. Nkabala urged a shift from a “hardware” focus on peace (guns and uniforms) to human security, emphasizing livelihoods, governance, and distinguishing positive peace from mere absence of conflict. She also highlighted the media’s dual role in fueling or resolving disputes, stressing the importance of trauma-informed peacebuilding and responsible journalism.

Prof. Kasaija categorised conflicts using the “conflict tree” framework, noting interconnections among colonialism, resource greed, and constructed identities. He highlighted the evolution of security from state-centered to human-focused, emphasizing individual well-being as a pillar of stability.

Ms. Nakabiito addressed the complexity of identity conflicts, which are deeply tied to self-concept and collective identity. She stressed the need to address marginalisation and dismantle media narratives that portray such disputes as irrational.

Tackling Conflict and Building Peace

Panelists agreed on the need for inclusive, multi-dimensional approaches to address the root causes of conflict. They emphasized leadership, collaboration, and proactive engagement by youth and women as essential for fostering sustainable peace. The discussion offered participants practical frameworks and insights to address challenges, inspiring them to drive transformative change in their communities.

Key Takeaways from Panelists:

Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala

• Advocated for a human-centric approach to peace and security, highlighting livelihoods, human rights, and the distinction between positive and negative peace.
• Stressed governance and representation as essential pillars for societal harmony.
• Emphasized the responsibility of the media in fostering peace, warning against dehumanizing language and sensationalism that escalate conflicts.
• Advocated for trauma-informed peacebuilding, urging the need to address unresolved trauma as a foundation for sustainable peace.
• Encouraged proactive youth and women’s leadership, suggesting readiness to act even with partial preparedness.

Associate Prof. Philip Kasaija

• Introduced the “conflict tree” framework, linking conflicts to colonial legacies, marginalization, greed, and constructed identities.
• Traced the evolution of security definitions from state-centric to human-centric approaches, emphasizing individual well-being as the ultimate security goal.
• Highlighted resource greed and grievances as intertwined conflict drivers, with examples from the DRC and Darfur.
• Addressed latent regional conflicts (e.g., border disputes) and urged comprehensive, inclusive conflict-resolution strategies.

Ms. Joanna Grace Nakabiito

• Examined identity-related conflicts, emphasizing their roots in self-concept tied to ethnicity, religion, or political ideology.
• Distinguished between necessary (group identity) and sufficient (marginalization) conditions fueling identity conflicts.
• Called for meaningful youth inclusion in peacebuilding, moving beyond token representation.
• Advocated for better coordination among youth empowerment initiatives to align with global and regional frameworks.

Ms. Nashiba Nakabira

• Highlighted the link between strong national institutions and regional integration, using South Sudan’s struggles as an example.
• Criticized barriers to intra-African movement and reliance on foreign donations, urging domestic resource mobilization.
• Addressed the gender disparities in peace processes, emphasizing the need for women’s capacity building in negotiation and diplomacy.

Mr. Robert Muhangi

• Urged youth to advocate for national peace and security action plans, ensuring resource allocation for youth training.
• Encouraged grassroots mobilization of small youth groups to engage in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
• Highlighted the importance of integrating peace initiatives at the community level for broader impact.

Ms. Falade Olutoyin

• Questioned the persistence of patriarchy, advocating for gender equality as a pathway to women’s leadership and decision-making roles.
• Linked corruption to women’s marginalization, particularly in conflict zones, stressing the need to address governance flaws to enable women’s empowerment.

Core Recommendations:

• Address the Root Causes of Conflict: Focus on marginalization, resource greed, and identity-based grievances.
• Promote Human-Centric Security: Broaden definitions of security to encompass individual livelihoods and well-being.
• Empower Youth and Women: Foster meaningful participation in peace processes, ensuring capacity-building and leadership opportunities.
• Strengthen Institutions for Integration: Build robust national frameworks to facilitate effective regional collaboration.
• Leverage Media for Peace: Promote peace narratives and train journalists in peace reporting to prevent conflict escalation.
• Combat Corruption: Redirect resources from corrupt practices to inclusive governance and women’s empowerment.

This panel underscored the complexity of conflicts in Africa and the importance of a multi-faceted, inclusive approach to peacebuilding and governance. The discussion laid a foundation for actionable strategies to empower marginalized groups, harmonize initiatives, and foster a culture of sustainable peace. Here’s a summary of key insights and recommendations:

Key Issues Highlighted

Identity-Based Conflicts:

• Rooted in self-concept based on ethnicity, religion, or ideology.
• Often exacerbated by systemic marginalization and colonial legacies, as exemplified by the Tutsi-Hutu conflict.
• Requires addressing underlying marginalization to prevent escalation.

Youth and Women’s Participation:

• Youth face systemic barriers limiting their decision-making roles.
• Women are disproportionately affected by conflicts and underrepresented in peace processes.
• The intersectionality of age and gender adds layers of vulnerability, particularly for young women.

Structural Barriers:

• Weak national institutions hinder regional integration efforts.
• Fragmented initiatives lack coordination, undermining peacebuilding programs.
• Patriarchy restricts women’s roles in leadership and peacebuilding.

Abuse of Power in Professional Spaces:

• Women face exploitation and harassment in leadership contexts.
• Cultural and systemic issues discourage victims from seeking justice.

Corruption:

• Deepens economic inequalities, disproportionately affecting women in conflict zones.
• Diverts resources that could empower women and youth in leadership.

Educational Disparities:

• Women face additional challenges accessing quality education in conflict regions.
• Lack of networks and support makes it difficult for women to sustain leadership roles.

Recommendations and Insights

Enhancing Youth Engagement:

• Adopt and implement national action plans for youth inclusion in peace and security.
• Equip youth with skills through training programs like those led by the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre.

Promoting Women’s Leadership:

• Increase investment in women’s capacity-building for preventive diplomacy and peace negotiations.
• Address systemic barriers to education and leadership, ensuring equitable resource allocation.

Strengthening Institutions:

• Build robust national frameworks to support regional integration and peace initiatives.
• Mobilize domestic resources to reduce reliance on foreign aid.

Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Harassment:

• Establish policies and support systems to protect women in professional and leadership spaces.
• Create safe avenues for victims to report abuses without fear of retaliation.

Building Networks and Coalitions:

• Foster coordination among peacebuilding initiatives to align with global frameworks.
• Encourage collective advocacy by women and youth to amplify their voices.

Continuous Learning and Advocacy:

• Encourage participants to stay informed about global and regional conflicts.
• Promote proactive steps toward leadership, utilizing knowledge gained from training sessions.

Looking Ahead

This transformative programme serves as a reminder that peacebuilding is a collective endeavor, requiring bold ideas, cross-generational collaboration, and unwavering commitment. The training and dialogue fostered a shared commitment to tackling peace and security challenges. As future leaders, participants were equipped with tools, perspectives, and networks to drive transformative change across Uganda and Africa.

Closing Remarks

The collaborative efforts of organisations like Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), Makerere University Rotary Peace Centre, and Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre highlight the value of mentorship and training. As emphasized by facilitators, this initiative is not only about expanding knowledge but also about equipping young leaders with tools to foster meaningful change. Furthermore, the cross-generational dialogue underscored the need for collective action, deliberate policy-making, and active participation to achieve sustainable peace and security in Africa.

Dr. Simba Sallie Kayunga, the Commissioner at the Electoral Commission, has urged University student leaders to embrace unity if they want to live in a peaceful society.

He made the remarks on Wednesday 4^th December 2024, during the second day of training of finalists and Graduating former student leaders from different Universities in Uganda. The training was conducted by Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC) in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), at Makerere University.

While delivering his overview of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere’s Ideas and Ideals in relations to Peace and Conflict, Dr. Simba explained that in order to achieve peace, Mwalimu Nyerere believed that it was essential that women live on terms of full equality with men, as their fellow citizens.

Dr. Simba explained that in order to achieve peace, there must be equality because people cooperate more effectively if they are equals.

Highlighting Nyerere’s ideas on peace, Dr. Simba pointed out that Mwalimu Nyerere saw tribalism as one of the biggest dangers to African progress, unity and peace. He reiterated that Mwalimu Nyerere was opposed to racism. He was a great supporter of a multi-racial society.

“Let us desist from manipulating our ethnic and religious identities, or any other identity to our political advantage. Let us embrace the principle of Pan-Africanism. We must have been born differently, but all of us have a contribution to make to our mother Uganda, our continent called Africa. We must, therefore, value and respect each person’s contribution to society,” Dr. Simba said.

Mwalimu Nyerere at glance

Mwalimu Julius Nyerere was born on 13^th April 1922, to Nyerere Burito and Mgaya Nyang’ombe, at Mwitongo, a village in Butiama in Tanganyika’s Mara Region. He went to Native Administration School in Mwisenge, Musoma for his Primary and later joined Elite Tabora Government School, for his secondary Education.

Mwalimu Nyerere later joined Makerere University College in January 1943, to pursue a Diploma in Education. While at Makerere, he was an active member of the Makerere Debating Society.

Upon completing his education at Makerere University, he went to teach at St Mary’s Secondary School, Tabora. In October 1949, Nyerere joined the University of Edinburgh to study a Master of Arts. In 1952, he graduated with a Master of Arts in History and Economics and returned to Tanzania to teach.

In 1948, Mwalimu formally engaged to Maria Gabriel, and they officially married at Musoma mission on 24^th January 1953.

Upon his return, Nyerere joined the Tanganyika African Association, becoming its President in 1953.

Mwalimu Julius Nyerere resigned as President of the United Republic of Tanzania on 5th November 1985, and handed over the presidency to Ali Hassan Mwinyi. He died on 14^th October 1999.

Participants equipped with skills

During the second day of the training, over 60 participants listened were equipped with skills through presentations and practical sessions on team building for mediation, negotiation and resilience.

Ronald Ssazi, a Clinical Psychologist, presented the ethos that are crucial for creating an effective team culture.

 “Start with investing into a team. When you have a team, go ahead and pay the price for team development. It helps with the growth of the team. Empower team members with responsibility and authority in order to groom and raise leaders for the team,” Ssazi highlighted.

Ssazi stressed that disagreements and conflicts are bound to happen in a team, but he guided on the need-to find healthy ways of handling them diplomatically.

Re-echoing the words of wisdom from Mahatma Gandhi, David Nyaribi, a representative from ActionAid Uganda encouraged the student leaders to always be the change they want to see in the world. Nyaribi urged them to be Servant Leaders who exemplify integrity and a great work ethic to transform Uganda and Africa.

Robert Muhangi, a Lecturer at Uganda Christian University-Mukono, called upon student leaders and the young people to always utilize indigenous ways to provide solutions to some of the problems they come across other than prioritizing external interventions.

“The best time to become a village champion is when you have just left University, let people look at you like a champion. When you solve conflicts by providing solutions, trust me, you will not look for a job, the job will look for you,” Muhangi stated. The practical session on Building Bridges for Peace and Security, focused on identifying the root causes of conflict, applying emotional intelligence, financial literacy and crafting strategies for community-based conflict resolution.