Connect with us

General

Amb. Tone Tinnes Visits Mak, Gains Insight into NORHED II Projects

Published

on

The Norwegian Ambassador to Tanzania, the Comoros, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda, H.E. Tone Tinnes visited Makerere University on 25th March 2025 and met with University Management as well as researchers under the NORHED II projects. Amb. Tinnes visit begun with a courtesy call, where he was received upon arrival by Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi before interacting with the delegation from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and NORHED II researchers.

The Norad team included: Tor-Øyvind Rand, Senior Adviser, Education and Research; Solbjørg Sjøveian, Policy Director – Higher Education and Research; Thomas Poulsen, Assistant Director and Chief of Education, Higher Education and Research; Tone Margrethe Utvik, Senior Advisor, Grant Management Systems; and Karstein Haarberg, Senior Advisor, Internal Audit and Investigation Unit. Also present were staff from the Norwegian Embassy in Dar es Salaam.

NORHED is Mutually Beneficial

H.E. Tone Tinnes thanked the leadership and staff of Makerere University for a warm welcome and reiterated her Government’s commitment to continue supporting energy for development and gender equality for development programmes in partnership with the relevant Ugandan Ministries.

Amb. Tinnes added that NORHED is a very important programme in the collaboration between Uganda and Norway, not only because Uganda is the largest participant but also because of the programme’s longstanding nature and mutual benefit.

H.E. Tone Tinnes signs the Vice Chancellor's Visitors' Book during the courtesy call. The Norwegian Ambassador to Tanzania, the Comoros, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda, H.E. Tone Tinnes visits Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa on 25th March 2025, meets University Management, researchers under the NORHED II projects.
H.E. Tone Tinnes signs the Vice Chancellor’s Visitors’ Book during the courtesy call.

“It is not only beneficial to Uganda and Makerere University but it is also beneficial to Norway and Universities that take part from the Norwegian side” underlined Amb. Tinnes, who also lauded NORHED II’s South-South collaborations as very important.

Norway’s Impact at Mak

Prof. Buyinza in his welcome address thanked Amb. Tinnes for visiting Makerere to appraise the collaboration with Norwegian institutions which dates back to the 1960s.

Makerere has benefited enormously from the generosity of the Government and people of Norway. You find a footprint of the Government of Norway in Makerere in many respects; in terms infrastructure, professional skills development, and technical assistance,” narrated Prof. Buyinza.

He also acknowledged gains of the specific Norwegian Programme for Capacity Building in Higher Education and Research for Development – NORHED I (2013-2019) and its successor NORHED II (2021-2026) upon which the visit was based. Uganda is the biggest partner in the NORHED II programme with twenty-one (21) out of the sixty (60) total projects, of which nineteen (19) are being implemented at Makerere University.

“Your Excellency, Makerere is old in age but we are a learning institution. We want to expand our collaboration network and consolidate our huge gains with institutions in Norway, and some of them like the University of Bergen have got a cooperation desk here” Prof. Buyinza committed.

On the future outlook, Prof. Buyinza explained Makerere’s working model of mentoring other universities in Uganda, “we are the oldest university in the region and therefore we have a duty to support upcoming public universities to build their research infrastructure.”

The Role of HEIs

Speaking on behalf of Norad, Thomas Poulsen reiterated that Norway’s support to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is based on the acknowledgement that they are essential partners of sustainable development and societal change. He nevertheless outlined significant disparities that still exist between the North and sub-Saharan Africa such as gross national enrolment ratios (75% vs. 8%) and women’s participation.

H.E. Tone Tinnes (2nd Left) addresses Management and Researchers as Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi (Right) and other officials listen. The Norwegian Ambassador to Tanzania, the Comoros, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda, H.E. Tone Tinnes visits Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa on 25th March 2025, meets University Management, researchers under the NORHED II projects.
H.E. Tone Tinnes (2nd Left) addresses Management and Researchers as Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi (Right) and other officials listen.

“In Norway, women were the majority in Higher Education Institutions in 1988. So Norway’s wealth is not built on oil and gas and fish and energy but it’s built on very early inclusion of females into Higher Education” shared Poulsen.

In this regard, he said that efforts to foster inclusive higher education should focus on underrepresented groups, diverse curricula, academic freedom, and equitable government sub-structures.

“Uganda is Norway’s largest Higher Education partner, with Makerere University boasting nineteen out of twenty-one projects. Makerere is a key partner, demonstrating strong institutional commitment to education and research. As Uganda’s oldest and largest University, and I am proud to say that I am an alumni myself, Makerere plays a vital role in mentoring institutions across the region” added Thomas Poulsen.

NORHED II Projects

Following the remarks, Amb. Tinnes and Norad officials received presentations from some the nineteen (19) projects the University is taking part in. Makerere was listed most in Sub-programme: 3. Climate Change and Natural Resources (6 projects), followed by Sub-programme: 5. Humanities and Social Sciences (5 projects), Sub-programme: 1. Education and Teacher Training (4 projects) as well as Sub-programme 2. Health and Sub-programme: 6. Energy with two projects apiece. Please click the link below to view the detailed list of projects.

https://news.mak.ac.ug/2021/09/mak-listed-in-19-of-60-projects-to-be-funded-under-norhed-ii/

Mark Wamai

General

Women in Business Empowered at Makerere

Published

on

Prof. Sarah Ssali (Seated 3rd Right) with officials and participants during the Women in Business training on 20th August 2025. Institute of Gender and Development Studies in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), training program focusing on procurement and business development for women in business, 20th August 2025, Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Makerere University, through the Institute of Gender and Development Studies in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on 20th August 2025 commenced a training program focusing on procurement and business development for women in business. The two sessions, which brought together women from diverse business sectors, were held at the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility. The training covered critical areas such as business requirements and strategic positioning, access to credit—particularly the Women in Business initiative by Stanbic Bank—and navigating procurement processes in the public service, among other vital aspects.

In his remarks, Mr. Paul Agaba, Director of the Procurement and Disposal Unit (PDU) at Makerere University, outlined relevant laws and shed light on reservation schemes for women-owned businesses. He detailed the requirements for companies to participate in procurement reserved for women, the necessary qualifying documents, and the benefits associated with such schemes. Mr. Agaba referred to the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDA) Act of 2003, a law aimed at regulating procurement processes while enhancing service delivery and ensuring value for money. He noted that the Act has undergone several amendments to address emerging issues and reinforce principles of fairness and inclusivity, including measures to integrate previously marginalized groups—women, youth, and persons with disabilities—into business opportunities.

He further emphasized that reservation schemes are designed to provide incentives for women-owned businesses. To qualify, a business must be registered with the appropriate authorities, with at least 51% of its shares owned by one or more Ugandan women. On specific requirements, he highlighted the need for registration with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), annual registration with the PPDA to be listed among providers, and documentation proving 51% female shareholding. However, Mr. Agaba noted that more effort is needed to actualize some provisions, such as ensuring that 15% of every procurement plan in public institutions and all procurements below UGX 30 million are reserved for women.

Representing UNDP, Ms. Beatrice Nabagya Mugambe, whose organization funded the training, underscored the importance of the program, describing it as a response to critical gaps identified through organizational assessments and surveys. She observed that despite ongoing efforts in gender-responsive procurement, women’s participation in procurement processes remains limited—a challenge not unique to Makerere but also evident across other agencies. She pointed to barriers such as lack of capital, insufficient information about bid opportunities and procedures, perceptions that bid amounts are beyond their reach, and limited business networks that could otherwise facilitate collective bidding. She stressed that such limitations can be overcome through collective action.

Addressing the topic of access to credit, Mr. Joel Mukasa, Relationship Manager at Stanbic Bank, highlighted opportunities available to women-owned businesses through the bank. Drawing from over seven years of experience, he noted that women tend to be better business managers, with 90% of loans disbursed to women being repaid, compared to less than 50% among men, attributing the gap to men often diverting business funds for personal use. Mr. Mukasa explained that Stanbic Bank has established several initiatives tailored for women, including the ‘Grow Project’ in partnership with the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) and the government, and the ‘Stanbic for Her’ program. He clarified that the ‘Grow Project’ does not provide free money but rather credit facilities designed for active women entrepreneurs. To qualify, businesses must be registered as sole proprietorships headed by women, companies with at least 51% female shareholding, partnerships led by women, or formal/informal savings groups composed entirely of women. Applicants are also required to have an operational account with Stanbic Bank for at least six months, which eases qualification without the need for audited books.

Prof. Sarah Ssali, Head of the Institute of Gender and Development Studies, reaffirmed Makerere University’s commitment to gender equity and justice as central pillars of its operations. She noted that Makerere is the first public institution globally to apply for the UNDP’s Gender Equality Seal, with the process beginning in 2022. As part of this commitment, the university is evaluated on gender parity in student enrollment. Since 1991, initiatives such as the 1.5 scheme, the establishment of a gender institute, and other affirmative action programs, including those addressing disability and inclusion, have been implemented to promote gender balance among students.

She added that as a gender-responsive employer, the university emphasizes women’s representation in its workforce, particularly in leadership and staffing. Makerere has a comprehensive Gender Equality Policy and Framework supported by affirmative action, which has significantly increased women’s representation in both employment and leadership roles. However, Prof. Ssali acknowledged that challenges persist in the area of procurement. Bound by the PPDA Act, the university cannot impose gender quotas since bidding is based on merit and fair competition. Low participation of women in bids is often due to their operation at a micro-level, lack of familiarity with the PPDA Act, and insufficient capital to handle large contracts.

To address these challenges, Prof. Ssali said Makerere is exploring lawful strategies to promote gender parity in procurement. The main focus is to strengthen women-owned businesses so they can compete effectively for large contracts, while also supporting small and medium women entrepreneurs as they scale up. She explained that the current workshop was deliberately designed for women in business, with participation restricted to women-owned companies. Its primary goal was to build competitiveness by equipping participants with knowledge of pre-qualification, bid submission, assessment, appraisal, and selection processes—ensuring women-owned businesses are fully integrated into Makerere’s procurement activities as part of the university’s broader gender inclusivity agenda.

Ms. Sara Nakibuuka, a practicing procurement professional at Makerere University, stressed the importance of such initiatives in supporting women entrepreneurs. She encouraged women to take full advantage of provisions under the existing Acts of Parliament to expand their business opportunities and strengthen their market presence.

The Women in Business Training 2025 was moderated by Donna Keirungi, a member of the Makerere University Gender Equality Seal implementation team.

Eve Nakyanzi
Eve Nakyanzi

Continue Reading

General

E-Mobility Skilling Programme: Cohort 2 Applications Now Open!

Published

on

E-Mobility Skilling Programme: Cohort 2, in partnership with Kiira Motors Corporation and UNDP Uganda launched! Apply by September 1, 2025. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The Makerere University Innovation Pod is thrilled to announce the launch of the E-Mobility Skilling Programme: Cohort 2, in partnership with Kiira Motors Corporation and UNDP Uganda! This immersive one-year program offers exceptional Bachelor of Science and related discipline students (2nd-3rd year) the opportunity to gain cutting-edge skills in electric vehicle technology.

We are seeking motivated individuals from Physics, various Engineering fields, Industrial Art, Architecture, and Business (Marketing) with a strong academic record. Participants will engage in hands-on training, industrial immersion at Kiira Motors, and contribute to the development of the “Moonshot Project.”

Apply by September 1, 2025, to be part of this transformative skilling initiative. Female students are strongly encouraged to apply.

Learn more and apply here: https://forms.gle/jntp2TrzYqJ4TrKv9

Mak Editor

Continue Reading

General

Bid Notice: Refugee Law Project Mid-Term Review

Published

on

An aerial view of Left to Right: Mitchell Hall, Senate, CoCIS Blocks B and A, Lincoln Flats, Frank Kalimuzo Central Teaching Facility and School of Social Sciences (white) Buildings, Makerere University, with Kampala City in the background, October 2018. Uganda.

DETAILED BID NOTICE UNDER OPEN BIDDING

Invitation to bid for Consultancy Services for Midterm Review of The Embassy of The Kingdom of Netherlands Funded Project; Securing Refugee-Host Relations Through Enhanced Protection, under Refugee Law Project, School of Law, Makerere University.
Proc. Ref. No. MAK/SRVCS/2025-26/00013

  1. The Makerere University under Refugee Law Project has allocated funds to be used for the acquisition of Consultancy Services for Midterm Review of The Embassy of The Kingdom of Netherlands Funded Project; Securing Refugee-Host Relations Through Enhanced Protection, under Refugee Law Project, School of Law, Makerere University.
  2. The Entity invites sealed bids from eligible bidders for the provision of the above consultancy services.
  3. Bidding will be conducted in accordance with the open domestic bidding procedures contained in the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act, 2003, and is open to all bidders.
  4. Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information and inspect the bidding documents at the address given below at 8(a) from 8:00am to 5:00pm.
  5. The Bidding Documents in English may be purchased by interested bidders on the submission of a written application to the address at 2 above and upon payment of a non-refundable fee of UGX. 100,000/= (One Hundred Thousand), only. The method of payment shall be cash payment after downloading Application Advice Slip from https://payments.mak.ac.ug/ and thereafter obtain a receipt from the bank before picking the document.
  6. Proposals must be delivered to the address below at 8(c) at or before 10:00am on Wednesday 20th August 2025. All proposals must be accompanied by a proposal securing declaration which must be valid until 28th February 2026. Late proposals shall be rejected. Proposals will be opened in the presence of the consultants’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below at 8(a) at 10:15am on 20th August 2025.

See below for detailed bid notice.

Mak Editor

Continue Reading

Trending