General
RUFORUM Newsletter: Celebrating Twenty Years of Educating Africa 2004-2024
Published
4 months agoon
By
Mak Editor
Dear esteemed reader,
I bring you warm greetings from the RUFORUM Secretariat, here in Kampala, Uganda. The year 2024 marked a milestone in RUFORUM’s journey of contributing towards enhancing our continent’s development leveraging on our natural strength of agriculture and allied sub-sectors of the economy. At 20 years of age, RUFORUM remains focused on its core mission of enabling Africa University effectively and efficiently generate relevant solutions to underpin the continent’s transformative development aspirations. In this issue, I am pleased to provide you with an overview of RUFORUM’s journey during the past two decades as we celebrate its 20th anniversary. While doing so, I found it crucial to look retrospectively from the perspectives of the FORUM on Agriculture Resource Husbandry (alias FORUM), RUFORUM’s predecessor; the past two decades of RUFORUM, and to look at the future of Africa’s Agricultural transformation, economic growth and higher agricultural education.
The Forum for Agricultural Resource Husbandry – FORUM
FORUM was a capacity development program established in 1992 by the Rockefeller Foundation that was implemented in five countries (Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda and Zimbabwe), Foundation’s focus countries’ at the time. The countries faced unique as well as shared challenges and opportunities at that time. Uganda and Mozambique had just emerged from conflict, whilst Kenya, was expanding its university education to meet the growing demand, while Zimbabwe was a young country post independence. All these countries had also been affected by the effects of macroeconomic structural adjustment programming that had limited funding for university education especially, post-graduate education. The FORUM initiative initially focused on crop sciences gradually expanding to other disciplines of agriculture. At inception FORUM’s programmes aimed “to build national and local capacity in crop management research with capability to develop alternative management-variety-resource combinations, soil fertility and biological practices, agroforestry technologies, pest management approaches and related crop management techniques; and evaluate the biological, economic and ecological effects”. FORUM was implemented through competitive grants to support student training at the master’s degree level. To deliver on its mission, FORUM utilized interdisciplinary, participatory and system-level approaches and worked with stakeholders beyond universities including agricultural research institutes, civil society, private sector and smallholder farmers. The FORUM Secretariat was initially headquartered in Lilongwe, Malawi and later relocated to Nairobi, Kenya.
Achievements of the FORUM that underpin RUFORUM
- Institutional strengthening
- FORUM helped stabilize colleges, faculties and schools of agriculture in Kenya, Malawi,
Mozambique, Uganda, and Zimbabwe by providing resources, mission and peer support, during and after the structural adjustment programmes. It also contributed to staff retention in the participating universities and built their capacity for research, student supervision, scholarly and policy works. - The program contributed to institutional development by creating high quality graduate training programmes whose research agenda directly addressed problems facing smallholder based agriculture.
- FORUM helped stabilize colleges, faculties and schools of agriculture in Kenya, Malawi,
- Enhancing networking and engagement with other ecosystem actors
- FORUM actions catalyzed collaboration among universities and with other education and
research for development actors including a broad range of farmers. This enhanced relevance and contribution of University led research and training to national development. - Over its life FORUM enabled the creation and nurture of an Africa Institution for the benefit of
Africa. This resulted in building the capacity of institutions and individuals that have progressively contributed to the continent’s economic growth.
- FORUM actions catalyzed collaboration among universities and with other education and
- Science solutions for development
- FORUM strengthened the contribution of its members to knowledge generation, one hundred
twenty three publications done in international and regional peer reviewed journals. The
publications covered crop improvement, plant protection, soil sciences, economics and social
sciences. - Scientists supported by the productivity enhancing technologies such as improved bean and
soybean and cowpea varieties, a highly effective seed-dressing innovation for the control of bean fly, a soil fertility improvement technology called ‘Prep-Pac’ that combines a slow release rock phosphate, a nitrogen source (urea) and an inoculant.
- FORUM strengthened the contribution of its members to knowledge generation, one hundred
- Training the next generation of scientists:
- There was significant improvement in the completion rate of graduate level training reducing the completion time from 4-7 to 2 years as required in masters degrees by course work and research.
- One hundred eighty eight (188) students were trained in east and southern Africa.
- Twenty-three percent of the graduates enrolled in a PhD program while 54% were employed,
presumably, often because of contacts/relationships they developed during their training.
From FORUM to RUFORUM
After a decade of implementation (1992 – 2002), the Rockefeller Foundation supported the creation of an African led and owned organization that was called, “ The Regional Universities Forum For Capacity Building in Agriculture-(RUFORUM). RUFORUM thus naturally became the successor of The Foundation’s investments for building the Capacity of African Universities to effectively engage in growth of the continent’s Agriculture sector. It initially, focused on Eastern and Southern Africa as its zone of influence before growing to become a continent wide agency that it is today. The new RUFORUM Secretariat was established in Kampala, Uganda hosted by the Government via Makerere University, one of its founder members following a successful bidding by Uganda through Makerere University.
The RUFORUM’s first decade journey (2004 – 2014)
The first decade focused on consolidation of FORUM achievements and expansion both sub-regionally and continentally. The growth was guided by a new strategic plan underpinned by a new vision of “Vibrant agricultural innovation systems with fully integrated universities that play a leading role in nurturing the systems through high-performing agricultural science graduates who are innovative and responsive to changing demands”. The RUFORUM network grew to include 32 universities from its initial ten members in 2004 drawing membership from three regions of Africa (Eastern, Central and Southern Africa). It expanded the scope of operations, to include PhD training as well as institutional and leadership strengthening. RUFORUM maintained most of FORUM training, networking and scaling agenda involving principal investigators, students, academic leaders (Principals and Deans), as well as collaboration with non-university stakeholders. New governance organs were created to stabilize the organization and strategic partnership forged. Consequently by the end of the first decade, RUFORUM had emerged as a key continental agency in capacity building for agriculture and policy information that it still is today. The new regional PhD and master’s degree programmes that focused on emergent areas, catalyzed the resurgence of African University in development processes and practice.
RUFORUM’s second decade (2014 – 2024)
The second decade journey saw a steady growth in both scale and scope. The network’s operations expanded to cover all university training programmes, i.e. Bachelors, Masters and doctoral degree. To address the question of a rebalanced human resource pyramid, work transitions for fresh graduates and gender and diversity asymmetry, especially of underserved demographics, RUFORUM expanded its scope of actions to include Technical, Vocational, Education and Training (TVET), entrepreneurship, gender and inclusion, and future of work activities. Science was strengthened by the introduction of post-doctoral training. The new thrust required expansion of the stakeholder ecosystem to include farming communities, private sector and partners in the Global North and Global South. By December 2024, the network had 175 member universities in 40 of Africa’s 55 countries from all five geographic regions of Africa. To strengthen service delivery and relevance, RUFORUM board in 2021 created two regional hubs (for Western and Southern Africa), eastern Africa and other regions being served through the Secretariat.
At continental level, in 2014, RUFORUM signed a cooperation agreement with the African Union Commission (AUC) to support implementation of the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA, 2024). It also entered various memoranda with key continental agencies in the global north and south respectively, during the same period. In 2024, an MoU with the AUC’s Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) to support its agricultural growth and transformation flagship programs was signed.
During its second decade, RUFORUM implemented its first operational plan (2018 – 2022) that was aligned to regional policy development frameworks such as Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want of AUC, “The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), Malabo Declaration, the Continental Education Strategy (CESA), the Continental Strategy for Technical and Vocational Educational and Training (TVET), and the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa (S3A); among others. RUFORUM’s operations were framed by its continental strategy, Vision 2030 that leverages on the continent’s higher education and agriculture ecosystems to create and unlock opportunities for wealth and jobs especially for young people. During the same period, RUFORUM in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation launched the flagship program “Transforming African Agricultural Universities for Africa’s Growth and Development” (TAGDev Phase 1 (2016 – 2024) now in its second phase (2024 – 2034). TAGDEv aims to transform African agricultural universities and their graduates to better respond to developmental challenges through enhanced application of science, technology, business and innovation for rural agricultural transformation.
Distinguished reader, during the second decade RUFORUM intensified its partnerships with the European Union Universities and within the continent implementing academic mobility that enabled staff and student exchange including 67 academic staff across disciplines; implementing user centered initiatives for students and agriculture value chain actors such as Community Action Research projects (CARP), and CARP+ (involving TVET), and the RUFORUM entrepreneurship challenge program (RECAP) to scale out best practices. RECAPs were implemented at over 20 other universities within the network. Member university academic staff and students also benefited from RUFORUM’s skills enhancement in community engagement, online resource use, work preparedness, entrepreneurship, scientific writing, and data management.
The RUFORUM’s Third decade journey (2024 – 2034): Looking into the future
RUFORUM begins its third decade amidst a number of major continental and global underpinnings such as the Second Ten Year Implementation plan (STYIP) of the African Union Agenda 2063, The Kampala declaration for implementation of the Comprehensive Africa’s Agriculture Development Program; The Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa, The Continental Education Strategy for Africa and several refreshed national and continental development blueprints among others. These policy instruments all point to a shared vision of a continental set to reap from its young population and endowments for its development. Pivotal to achievement of these aspirations is the need for a strong human capital base. Indeed the STYIP has already set a plan of training 100,000 PhD level scientists over this decade many of whom must be within the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEMs). The network certainly has a crucial role to play in that regard and has aligned its operational plan to deliver on some of these policy instruments.
A common thread running through many of the national to regional and global policy instruments is the role of science and innovation in generating solutions. Accordingly, during its third decade, RUFORUM will leverage its vast network to engage education and agriculture ecosystems actors in science for development actions. Last mile science and technology delivery mechanisms will be strengthened at country (National FORUMs) to sub-regional levels (Regional hubs), existing partnerships strengthened while new partnerships forged to serve our network in mission delivery. We shall continue to implement our transformative education agenda, cognisant of fourth industrial revolution technologies and opportunities that integrate the digital, biological, and physical sectors of the economy. We will strive to close the gender and diversity gap in our operations and enhance future of work skills development. RUFORUM will remain resolute in its mission to supporting transitions to resilient economies.
In conclusion, as we navigate through the challenges of the third decade journey, I wish to reiterate our deepest acknowledgement to all our partners and governments who continue to walk this journey with us. To the Secretariat staff, our board members and members of all RUFORUM Governance Organs and all others who supported us through this 20 year long journey, I extend my deepest appreciations and wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year 2025.
Thank you.
Prof. Patrick Okori
Executive Secretary
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Makerere, Stanbic Bank Set to Renew Strategic Partnership
Published
41 minutes agoon
August 26, 2025By
Eve Nakyanzi
The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe on Tuesday 26th August 2025 hosted a delegation from Stanbic Bank to strengthen their longstanding relationship and explore future collaborations. The delegation, led by the Executive Director of Stanbic Bank, Mr. Samuel Mwogeza, included senior officials such as the Head of Personal Banking, Mr. Israel Arinaitwe, the Head of Affluent & Private Banking, Mr. Kiwanuka Arthure, and the Head of Client Coverage, Mr. Samuel Bulenzi.
In attendance were; the Acting (Ag) Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs)-Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration)-Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, University Secretary-Mr. Yusuf Kiranda, Principal College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and Chair Intellectual Property Management Board-Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga, Dean of Students-Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli, Chair Convocation-Mr. George Turyamureeba, Manager Makerere University Innovation Pod (Mak UniPod)-Dr. Cathy Mbidde, Director Research Innovation and Partnerships (DRIP)-Prof. Robert Wamala, Chief Advancement Officer-Mr. Awel Uwihanganye, and Deputy Manager Mak UniPod-Dr. Margaret Nagwovuma.

Other members of the Stanbic delegation included the Manager Mortgage-Ms. Kairumba Damalie, CIB Relationships Manager-Mr. Baziwe Alan, Stanbic Branch Manager Makerere-Mr. Hasule Umaru, Relationship Manager-Mr. Kali Ronald Kali, and Manager Business-Mr. Eric Kalayi.
Stanbic Bank has been a significant partner to the university, supporting digitization through the provision of computers under the Laptop Loan Scheme Agreement and funding several projects including the Albert Cook Library renovation and Makerere’s centennial celebrations. The two institutions have an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which is due for renewal this year.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, noted that the university has undergone remarkable transformation, moving away from the state it was in decades ago. He emphasized Makerere’s deliberate shift towards research and innovation as a core mission, driven by the need to contribute to Uganda and Africa’s prosperity and stability in line with global development trends. He highlighted challenges such as climate change, rapid population growth, and especially youth unemployment, which he described as the most pressing factor in determining the continent’s stability. To address these, he explained, the university is focusing on research into food security, drought-resistant crops, and improved agricultural productivity.

Prof. Nawangwe proposed investment opportunities and collaborations with the bank, particularly in the commercialization of innovations and infrastructure. He stressed that such partnerships would not only support investment but also build capacity for the future generation of citizens.
Adding to his voice, the DVCAA, Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza, said the university seeks to transform research into products ready for the market. “We are good in science but we want to commercialise,” he emphasized.
The University Secretary, Mr. Yusuf Kiranda, appealed to the bank to provide staff with resources that go beyond loan facilities. He also advocated for the solution to the University’s many accounts so as to ease transactions and monitoring.

Prof. Goretti Nabanoga invited Stanbic to partner with the university on Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, especially tree planting. She noted that Makerere is recognized as a “green campus” and such an initiative would enhance both the bank’s carbon footprint and visibility. She also encouraged investment in student accommodation, an idea supported by the Dean of Students, Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli. Dr. Kabumbuli stressed that with only 10% of students in residence, 90% remain in need of housing. She added that such an investment would be mutually beneficial, as enrolled students would likely become loyal clients of the bank.
On her part, Dr. Cathy Mbidde, reported that the university generates numerous research outputs and innovations, with student and staff ideas developed into tangible products and services in the Mak UniPod maker spaces. However, she pointed out that scaling prototypes into large-scale commercial products remains a challenge. She highlighted at least five student companies already registered, including one developing a syrup for malaria treatment that has passed clinical trials and regulatory approvals. She appealed for support to commercialize such innovations to prevent innovators from being limited to selling on a small scale.
In his response, Mr. Mwogeza described the partnership with Makerere as “returning home,” commending the university’s leadership for pivoting towards commercialization, which he recognized as key for sustainability. He identified practical skilling as a critical intervention to address youth unemployment and outlined Stanbic Bank’s main focus areas as women in enterprise, agriculture, and youth empowerment. He further pledged the bank’s support towards completing the university’s indoor stadium as requested by management. He also underscored the role of the bank in supporting institutions with both financial and social capital, noting readiness to contribute to student accommodation and to leverage Makerere’s alumni network.

During the discussions, members of the Stanbic delegation recommended that the partnership also focus on business coaching and financial literacy, debt management, wealth transfer, and broader financial education. It was noted that equipping both students and staff with these skills would not only foster responsible financial behavior but also prepare graduates to better navigate personal and business finances, thereby contributing to long-term stability and prosperity. Stanbic Bank reaffirmed its long-standing partnership as the primary banker of the university, having supported various initiatives including a UGX 150 million donation towards Makerere’s centenary celebrations in 2022.
General
Prof. Sarah Ssali Commits to Strengthen Makerere’s Teaching–Research Nexus
Published
1 day agoon
August 25, 2025By
Eve Nakyanzi
At a public presentation for candidates vying for the position of First Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) for Academic Affairs, Prof. Sarah Ssali delivered her vision under the theme “Strengthening the Teaching–Research Nexus to Deliver High-Quality Graduates for Africa’s Transformation.” Her presentation highlighted her academic profile, service record, and achievements, while also outlining her motivation for the role and innovative strategies to enhance academic efficiency, research, knowledge transfer, partnerships, and student academic affairs.
The DVC for Academic Affairs oversees academic programmes and policies that foster excellence within the University. The office ensures quality assurance, proper planning and coordination of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, curriculum development, and optimal utilization of teaching, research, and library resources. It also supervises Colleges, Faculties, Institutes, Schools, Graduate Training, the University Library, and the Office of the Academic Registrar.

Prof. Ssali, currently the Director of the Institute of Women and Gender Studies, was the only shortlisted candidate for the position, according to Prof. Masagazi Masaazi, Chair of the Search Committee. Prof. Masagazi reported that the search committee was appointed by the Senate in February to identify qualified candidates for the position. The selection process involved a thorough analysis of all legal documents guiding the operations and the subsequent advertisement of the position. He explained that only two individuals had applied, and the presentation was the fifth activity in the selection roadmap.
In his remarks, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, the Academic Registrar, described Prof. Ssali as a distinguished scholar with a rich academic and professional background, consistently demonstrating excellence throughout her career. He further underscored the importance of the DVC Academic Affairs role in safeguarding academic programmes, standards, and student life.
Prof. Ssali holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences and a Master of Arts in Gender Studies from Makerere University, as well as a PhD in International Health Studies from Queen Margaret University. She has also earned certificates in Teaching and Assessment of Postgraduate Students, Problem-Based Learning, and Research Uptake and Data Visualization—credentials that reinforce her academic preparedness for the DVC role. Her career at Makerere began as a Lecturer, steadily rising to Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, and finally Professor of Gender Studies. She has held positions as a Research Fellow at the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), and beyond Makerere, as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Limerick, and a part-time lecturer, reflecting her broad academic experience locally and internationally.

Since 2004, Prof. Ssali has demonstrated strong leadership at Makerere, serving as Graduate Programmes Coordinator, Exchange Programme Coordinator, Dean, and Director of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Centre of Excellence in Notions of Identities. She now leads the Institute of Gender and Development Studies. Her extensive leadership background illustrates her capacity for the DVC position.
She has also been active on numerous strategic university committees, including Council, Senate, and the MasterCard Foundation Steering Committee. Within Council, she has chaired key committees on Quality Assurance (QA), Gender-Based Training and ICT; Staff Development, Welfare and Retirement Benefits; and Student Affairs. She has equally served on the Appointments Board, Audit Committee, Finance, Planning and Administration Committee, and QA Committee—experiences that have honed her policymaking and implementation skills.
In the interactive session that followed her presentation, on the matter of global rankings, Prof. Ssali acknowledged Makerere’s undisputed competitiveness but stressed the need for continuous innovation, noting that other universities are adopting similar excellence strategies.

Regarding accountability, she clarified that the DVC Academic Affairs Office operates within a well-defined framework of institutional policies and structures, including deputizing the Vice Chancellor and working with the Library, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, the University Press, and the Academic Registrar. Accountability, she emphasized, is embedded in the University’s Mother Law-the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, Strategic Plan, and various operational manuals in Human Resource, Finance, Audit, and Academic Programs, making it a continuous process from day one rather than a review at the end of five years.
If appointed, Prof. Ssali would become the second woman to serve as First Deputy Vice Chancellor, following Prof. Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza. The presentation, held on 25th August 2025 in the Main Hall of the Main Building, was attended by members of the Search Committee, Council, University Management, and academic staff, including the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.
General
Women in Business Empowered at Makerere
Published
4 days agoon
August 22, 2025By
Eve Nakyanzi
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.
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