Health
Makerere rolls out RIMS to streamline graduate research monitoring
A smarter way to track scholars
July 1st, 2025 | Kampala — Makerere University is on a listening tour. The University’s Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) and Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS) met lecturers at the School of Public Health to introduce a prototype Research Information Management System (RIMS). The briefing, held in Lecture Room A, drew heads of department, faculty registrars, research supervisors, and graduate coordinators, the very people who shoulder the university’s research training burden.
RIMS is the latest attempt to modernize how Uganda’s oldest university manages graduate education. The system, backed by the Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (Mak-RIF), aims to digitize the long paper trail typically involved in supervising master’s and PhD students. From monitoring dissertation comments to allocating examiners and tracking student timelines, RIMS promises to cut delays, boost accountability, and foster more seamless interactions between faculty and administration.
“There is great feedback,” said Arthur Opio, the Ag. Principal IT Officer at DICTS, who noted that improvements are already being made based on similar engagements with stakeholders at other colleges. At each stop they ask supervisors, registrars, and heads of department what would actually lighten their administrative load. He noted that the RIMs will integrate components of the Academic Management Information System (ACMIS) and the Makerere human resource management system (eHRMS).
Staff at MakSPH welcomed the platform with cautious optimism. Ms. Gladys Khamili, Principal Registrar at MakSPH, said RIMS could help supervisors track student progress and improve the timeliness of feedback. Digitizing these processes, she noted, would ease coordination and reduce delays in graduations. She emphasized the need for features like automated logging of supervisor comments and alerts for overdue feedback. Others called for additions such as workload tracking, dashboards for seminar and journal submissions, and integration with teaching timetables.
“I hope the developers include features that calculate supervisor workloads, alongside tracking the various stages and activities of PhD training, such as paper submissions, seminar presentations, teaching, and journal publications,” Ms. Khamili said. “It would also be helpful if the system could integrate teaching timetables to better monitor teaching and learning.”
Staff welcomed the idea but asked for more. Professor Elizeus Rutebemberwa, the Deputy Dean of MakSPH, said this was a welcome development as it would help ease graduate training and also support faculty in tracking their students down with ease. “There are some students who get lost, and by the time they return or wake up to resume their work, you have even forgotten their names. I think this will help us in tracking,” he said.
Ms. Khamili, Principal Registrar, said the system should “automate logging of supervisor comments and alerts for overdue feedback” to speed up graduations. She also wants dashboards for seminar and journal submissions, workload tracking, and links to teaching timetables.
“I hope the developers include features that calculate supervisor workloads, alongside tracking the various stages and activities of PhD training, such as paper submissions, seminar presentations, teaching, and journal publications,” she said. “It would also be helpful if the system could integrate teaching timetables to better monitor teaching and learning.”
Dr. Suzanne Kiwanuka, Associate Professor and Head of Health Policy, Planning, and Management, urged caution: “We need systems that talk to each other,” she said, warning against software that forces staff to repeat the same data in different databases.
Professor Julius Kikooma, Acting Director of Graduate Training, underscored the School of Public Health’s leadership in graduate training. “The School of Public Health is a graduate school with the best practices. You are well organized,” he said. “Your feedback comes from a place of strength. You are one of our benchmarks.”
RIMS fits Makerere’s broader plan to shift resources toward postgraduate training and research. Visitation committees in 2016 and 2017 urged the university to focus on these areas, and the 2020‑2030 Strategic Plan sets a goal of 10,000 graduate students, about 40 per cent of enrollment, by the end of the decade if the university is to become a globally competitive, research-led, doctoral-granting institution.
The Dean of MakSPH, Professor Rhoda Wanyenze, welcomed the system as a timely intervention that promises to enhance service delivery to students.
“We appreciate the effort to ease our work in providing better services to students. We have a large number of students, and as our graduate population grows, we hope this system will support us in shaping and improving the services we offer as a university. We congratulate Professor Kikoma and his team on this effort,” said Prof. Wanyenze.
Makerere’s leadership has made no secret of its ambitions. The Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, has echoed this vision in public speeches, interviews, and tweets, with strong backing from the Ugandan government, including exclusive access to the Research and Innovations Fund and endorsements from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Whether the new software can help reach that target will depend less on its code and more on whether the research it tracks is actively used to inform policy, improve lives, and justify the investment in postgraduate education. Success will therefore rely not only on systems and software but also on putting the research produced to practical use.
Through a European Union (EU) funded initiative, Makerere University and Mulago Hospital are hosting a German oncology reconstruction specialist Professor Dr. Thiha AUNG. AUNG is a surgeon, trainer at the Deggendorf Institute of Technology (THD), and researcher on cancer from the Deggendorf Institute of Technology (DIT), Germany.
With his international expertise in oncology and medical management roles at his home institution, his visit is a valuable addition to Uganda’s capacity building efforts in medical advancement.
Prof. Aung who arrived in Uganda in late September 2026 and has since then conducted free identified patient specialised surgeries and training for locals. These are expected to span two weeks. For the period, his service intersects medical expertise and humanitarian efforts.
This is not Prof. Aung’s first time in the country; his first major visit was in 2023, when he performed life-changing free surgeries on early patients. He then made medical history in June 2024 when he arrived to perform Africa’s first-ever lymph node transplant at Mulago Hospital.
It was against this background that the Makerere Public Relations Office engaged him in an exclusive interview to share his philosophy on medical service, his experiences in oncology reconstruction, and his unwavering belief that passion and dedication rather than just resources are the true drivers of sustainable medical progress.
Transforming Lives Through Oncology Reconstruction
At the heart of his mission through the ERASMUS – Oncology/Lymphedema project, is the treatment of lymphedema, a condition often referred to as elephantiasis.
In Europe, such surgeries can cost between 80,000 and 100,000 euros, making them inaccessible to many.
Thankfully, Professor and his team, including some of his post graduate students like Anna Friedrich (B.Sc) and Sophia Waser (B.Sc., PA) from the Institute of Medical Science and Engineering, have once again brought this specialised care to Uganda pro bono.
He highlights the story of a teacher who, after receiving surgery, regained her quality of life and returned to the classroom. For him, the impact is exponential. “You change one life, but this person changes a lot in the community.”
This shift from individual surgery to the long-term wellbeing of the community, reinforces the local impact of these services.
Professor AUNG’s Personal Conviction
The professor confessed that inherently, he commands himself that beyond knowledge, true progress is driven by passion and will rather than resources.
He does not agree with those that think money and resources are the sole prerequisite for change in the medical world, stating, “you cannot change with money only.” Rather, he upholds the importance of personal decision and commitment.
When discussing the challenges of working in resource-limited settings, he maintains a simple, direct explanation “it’s always beyond the money.”
Ultimately, the Professor believes that if he can provide the spark, his students and patients can carry through with the same flame for significant change.
Motivation to Serve in Uganda
When asked about his inspiration for entering the field and now volunteering to work in Uganda, he explained that his primary goal was always to serve others. “That’s why I finished my medical school to help as many people as possible with my skills.”
He views his medical expertise not as a tool for the privileged, but as a universal resource., “People are all the same, their anatomy is the same. So, I can help all these people pretty well,” Prof AUNG remarked.
His approach is motivated by a pay it forward dogma where treating a single patient creates a broader societal benefit. He illustrates this through his work with patients who, after surgery, are able to return to their professions like the teacher earlier mentioned.
Tips for Medical Professionals working in Uganda
As a foundation for professional growth, the Professor advised medical professionals working in Uganda to prioritise genuine interest in their work because he believes it is “the most important…” for “if you are interested, you will go far in the profession.”
He further reinforced the human capacity point, noting, “no matter what kind of equipment you have… it all depends on the people operating them and the patient.”
Professor AUNG concluded by encouraging doctors to overcome resource fears through action, stating, “If you want to create impact or change, you do.”
Dr. AUNG is part of the Lymphoedema Warriors Association (LWAU) in Uganda. He describes it as a grassroots organisation and commends them for “leveling the grond”. He reiterated his commitment to work with the organisation in reviewing patient reports to determine the best course of treatment.
Makerere University’s School of Public Health (MakSPH) showcased research, training and international partnerships supported through European Union funding during the EU Uganda Research and Study Fair 2026 held at Makerere University.
The fair brought together students, researchers, academics, government representatives and development partners to explore opportunities in education, research, innovation and international collaboration, while celebrating 50 years of partnership between Uganda and the European Union.
Through its exhibition, MakSPH highlighted research and capacity building initiatives addressing public health challenges including infectious diseases, non communicable diseases, health systems, climate change and pandemic preparedness.
18 EU funded projects supported at MakSPH
Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze, Dean of Students, School of Public Health, said the School has benefited from 18 EU funded projects over the past five years, supporting research and training across several areas of public health.
She said the projects have contributed to the training of PhD researchers and the development of research addressing infectious diseases and prevention, non communicable diseases, health systems, climate change and health.
Prof. Wanyenze also highlighted a new five year programme which started in 2021 that is aiming at strengthening capacity for research on pandemic preparedness and response, including outbreaks such as Ebola.
Another programme being undertaken with the Ministry of Health and Karolinska Institute focuses on improving maternal health while also addressing adolescent pregnancy and the health of mothers and children.
She described partnerships as critical to advancing science and innovation, noting that collaboration allows researchers in Africa and Europe to share knowledge and strengthen the impact of research on communities.
Research partnerships strengthen innovation
Prof. Robert Wamala, Director of the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Partnerships at Makerere University, said the exhibition provided an opportunity to showcase EU funded projects across the University.
He noted that the School of Public Health alone has more than 18 such projects, while other colleges also have several EU supported initiatives.
One of the projects showcased was PREPARE TID, a partnership aimed at developing rapid diagnostic technologies for emerging and re emerging infectious diseases.
Prof. Julius Okuni, Associate Professor of Veterinary Pathobiology and Molecular Diagnostics at Makerere University, said the project brings together universities, industries and other organisations from Africa and Europe.
The project is working to develop technologies that can quickly identify pathogens responsible for outbreaks such as Ebola, Rift Valley fever and Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever.
According to Prof. Okuni, Makerere is involved in field and laboratory work to test and refine the technologies before they can be delivered to end users.
Fair provides platform for research visibility
For researchers at MakSPH, the fair also provided an opportunity to increase the visibility of ongoing research and create new connections with researchers, policymakers and potential funders.
Dr. Raymond Tweheyo, Honorary Lecturer and Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, said such exhibitions allow researchers to share their work and identify others working on related challenges.
He cited the CONNECT for Health project, which focuses on transforming non-communicable disease care in Uganda through collaboration with partners across several countries.
Dr. Tweheyo said exhibitions can help researchers connect with policymakers, civil society organisations and other partners who can contribute to translating research into practical solutions.
Assoc. Prof. Angelina Kakooza Mwesigye, Associate Professor and Child Neurologist at Makerere University College of Health Sciences, also emphasised the importance of exposing young people to international research opportunities.
She said the long standing Uganda Europe partnership provides opportunities for the next generation of researchers to learn, build networks and prepare for future research collaborations.
The School of Public Health’s participation highlighted the role of international partnerships in strengthening research capacity, supporting innovation and developing evidence based responses to Uganda’s public health challenges.
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