Business & Management
Brewing Innovation: 9th Annual Youth Expo showcases enterprises in Uganda’s coffee value chain
By Ritah Namisango and Monica Meeme
On 17th October 2025, the Makerere University Freedom Square was a beehive of activity as over 600 students from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) participated in the 9th Annual Innovation and Youth Expo.
Organized by the Makerere University Entrepreneurship and Outreach Centre, the 2025 Innovation and Youth Expo, focused on Uganda’s most strategic Agricultural sector – COFFEE.
Under the theme, Brewing Prosperity: Youth Entrepreneurship in Uganda’s Coffee Value Chain, student entrepreneurs exhibited more than 300 innovations including youth coffee brands, brewing demonstrations, agri-tech prototypes, live cupping sessions, among others.
The Youth Expo focused on amplifying youth-led innovations across the entire coffee value chain—from farm to cup, providing a hands-on, interactive platform for young entrepreneurs to exhibit their products, prototypes, and business ideas, while engaging directly with industry stakeholders.
By placing the youth at the center of the value chain, the Youth Expo demonstrated the untapped potential of innovation, creativity, and enterprise among Uganda’s next generation of entrepreneurs.
Student innovations for real-world impact:
The Director of the Makerere University Entrepreneurship and Outreach Centre, Dr. Sarah Bimbona, urged students to view their innovations not just as academic projects, but as the starting point for real-world impact.
“These innovations should not just end here or be seen as projects for marks. Continue nurturing those dreams, take them further, and make them a reality,” she advised.
She recognized the critical role of faculty and mentors, specifically appreciating them for their tireless support in guiding students through their innovation undertakings.
Dr. Bimbona emphasized the importance of linking academic learning with practical enterprise, highlighting that student-led innovations have the potential to create meaningful economic and social change.
Students encouraged to embrace entrepreneurship:
The Dean, School of Business, Associate Professor Godfrey Akileng specified that entrepreneurship is one of the flagship initiatives of the College of Business and Management Sciences. He encouraged the students to seize the moment. “This is your opportunity to showcase your innovations, to interact with industry players, and to change your mindset from job-seekers to job creation,” he said. “Let the entrepreneurship Expo awaken a new spirit in you-one that says-yes, I can make it.”
Associate Professor Akileng cited the story of Bill Gates as an example of what determination and innovation can achieve, reminding the students that greatness often starts from simple beginnings. “There is no reason we cannot build something extraordinary from coffee and other local products,” he stated, emphasizing the value of entrepreneurship in national transformation.
The Dean, School of Business, expressed deep appreciation to the industry partners for their collaboration and generosity. “You have invested time, knowledge and financial support to be here. Thank you for supporting the Entrepreneurship Congress and Expo,” he remarked.
BRAC Uganda participates in the Expo:
The Communications Officer of BRAC Uganda, Ms. Barbra Ampaire, stressed that BRAC aims to equip youth with the tools and knowledge to discover and maximize their potential.
“We have supported thousands of youth through tailored programs in areas such as tailoring, livestock farming, agribusiness, financial literacy, and value addition. These initiatives are supported not just with training, but also with seed capital, equipment, and ongoing mentorship,” she said.
Ms. Ampaire noted that Makerere University, being a hub for students and young innovators, aligns perfectly with BRAC’s focus on empowering youth while they are still developing their ideas and ambitions.
A case for domestic consumption and local processing:
One of the participants from the BRAC Scholar Transition Fund, Mr. Godwin Birungi, emphasized the need for domestic consumption and local processing, highlighting that exporting raw coffee reduces employment opportunities and stunts economic growth.
“When we consume and process our coffee locally, we not only improve public health, but also create jobs and stimulate our economy.”
He encouraged young entrepreneurs to embrace patience, maintain consistency in their efforts, and stay focused on their goals, emphasizing that building a successful and sustainable business is a gradual process that requires dedication and resilience.
“Building a sustainable business takes time. Many successful entrepreneurs spent over a decade before making a profit. Find your passion, refine your strategy, and stay the course.” he said.
Student entrepreneurs speak out:
The Marketing Manager of Victory Cakes students’ enterprise, Ms. Keziah Nasenga, explained that the team offers two main product variations including coffee cupcakes with icing and those without, catering to different customer preferences.
She noted that the cupcakes are crafted using brewed coffee mixed with hot water, then blended with traditional baking ingredients such as flour, vanilla, and other flavor-enhancing components.
A student from the Ring Hair Stimulator group, Ms. Martha Alwe, said their product is a premium hair care solution designed to promote healthy hair growth, prevent breakage and hair loss in women, and enhance beard growth in men through a specialized beard oil.
“The full product line includes beard growth oil, hair shock treatment, hair spray, leave-in conditioner, and hair growth shampoo each carefully developed to address a wide range of hair care needs with quality and effectiveness,” she said.
The Marketing Manager of the team of Coffee Cupcake, Ms. Catherine Nasaazi, explained that the shampoo is enriched with sodium benzoate, tea tree oil, and other ingredients.
Precursor to the Youth Expo:
The 3rd Uganda Entrepreneurship Congress held on 16th October 2025 at Makerere University Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium, provided a perfect transition into the 9th Annual Makerere University Youth Expo held on 17th October 2025 at the Freedom Square.
During the Uganda Entrepreneurship Congress, students listened to lived experiences and case presentations from young, mid-level and senior entrepreneurs. The panelists who discussed topics on Market Readiness, Value Addition and Story Telling, as well as, Financing the Future, enlightened the students and upcoming entrepreneurs to creating impact, access to markets and capital, and breaking the barriers in a competitive world.
The students gained valuable knowledge from the Chief Guest-Mr. Odrek Rwabwogo, Chair of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development, and the Keynote Speaker- Mr. Moses Nyabila, CEO of aBi Development Ltd.
Mr. Rwabwogo challenged the young entrepreneurs to think beyond Uganda’s borders, when he highlighted that true entrepreneurship lies in producing goods that can compete on the international market.
“When you build a business that can sell in another person’s market, you are a hero or heroine because what you have done is disrupting the status quo, which praises imports over exports. In this country, for instance in Kikuubo business area, you hear statements such as my container is about to reach Uganda, and not my container is leaving the yard in Uganda and is taking avocado to Spain or another country. I want the language to change.”
Partners of the Uganda Entrepreneurship Congress and Youth Expo: Makerere University (Mak), Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), National Coffee Research Initiative (NaCORI), BRAC Uganda, Tooke, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, Vision Group, Mountain Harvest, Pepsi, Rainforest Alliance, Sumz, and the Banana Industrial Research & Development Centre.
Writers: Ritah Namisango, Principal Communication Officer at Makerere University & Monica Meeme, a student of Bachelor of Journalism and Communication at Makerere University.
Business & Management
CoBAMS, European Partners Launch Programme to Equip Students with Polycrisis Management Skills
By Hasifa Kabejja and Ritah Namisango
Makerere University, through the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), in collaboration with international partners, is implementing a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) aimed at equipping a new generation of professionals in Africa and Europe with the knowledge and practical skills needed to understand and respond to complex, interconnected global crises.
Held under the PolyCIVIS network, the programme, titled Enhancing Skills in Polycrisis Management: African and European Approaches, brings together participants from Makerere University, the University of Salzburg, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
It was competitively secured under the 6th Call for CIVIS Blended Intensive Programmes by the Makerere PolyCIVIS team, comprising Prof. Edward Bbaale from the School of Economics, CoBAMS; Dr. Anthony Tibaingana from the School of Business, CoBAMS; and Dr. Kamatara Kanifa from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES).
The European facilitators include Prof. Gudrun Zagel, Dr. Sabine Hennig, and Dr. Roman Puff, all from Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Austria.
Tackling the Growing Reality of Polycrises
Funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme under the Jean Monnet Networks, the initiative responds to the growing reality of polycrises – situations in which multiple crises, including climate change, pandemics, displacement, poverty, environmental degradation and economic instability, interact and compound one another, often resulting in consequences more severe than those of individual crises.
The BIP Workshop at Makerere University
The BIP combines virtual and physical learning to give participants both theoretical grounding and hands-on experience in polycrisis management.
During the virtual component conducted in May 2026, participants including students and academics from the participating institutions worked in interdisciplinary teams to analyze real-world scenarios, including climate disasters, refugee crises, pandemics and urban waste management. The students were required to develop and present polysolutions from the perspectives of different stakeholders, including governments, civil society and academic institutions.
The physical component, taking place in Kampala from 7th-11th September 2026, brings together students from across CIVIS consortium universities to complete the remaining course content, participate in practical activities, and develop solutions to real-world polycrisis challenges. It also provides participants with an opportunity to examine real-life Ugandan cases, including the Kitezi landfill disaster and the Bulambuli landslides. Through these case studies, students will explore how crises intersect with public health, environmental protection, poverty, security, and sustainable development, while gaining practical insights into integrated approaches to crisis management.
On the first day of the training, participants undertook an excursion to the Kiteezi Landfill. During the week, they will also engage with experts from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), civil society and academia, and work in thematic groups to explore the legal, economic, sociological, historical, communication and educational dimensions of Kampala’s waste management challenges.
The teams will subsequently develop a Kampala waste policy paper and accompanying presentations, proposing integrated approaches to addressing the city’s waste crisis.
The learning approach incorporates case studies, simulations, role-play, guest lectures, peer learning, interdisciplinary teamwork, and problem-based learning. Participants are encouraged to move beyond identifying problems to developing practical and sustainable solutions.
Call for Integrated Approaches to Complex Global Challenges
Officially opening the programme, Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), Prof. Henry Mwanaki Alinaitwe commended the team for securing the programme.
Addressing participants, he emphasized the need for universities to move beyond fragmented approaches to problem-solving and develop integrated responses to increasingly complex global challenges.
“Interconnected problems cannot be adequately addressed through fragmented solutions,” Prof. Nawangwe observed, stressing the importance of collaboration across disciplines, institutions, sectors and countries.
He noted that no single discipline or institution possesses all the knowledge required to address the challenges confronting societies today, calling for stronger integration of fields such as economics, public health, environmental science, engineering, governance, technology and the social sciences.
Embracing Innovative and Sustainable “Polysolutions”
Prof. Nawangwe further emphasized the importance of developing innovative and sustainable “polysolutions”- integrated responses that address multiple, interconnected crises while minimizing unintended consequences across other sectors.
He underscored the value of combining African and European perspectives, noting that while crises may manifest differently across regions because of differences in history, institutions and resources, challenges such as climate change, migration, pandemics, conflict and economic instability increasingly transcend national boundaries.
He described the partnership as an opportunity for mutual learning and co-creation of knowledge, rather than a one-way transfer of expertise.
“We must bring these experiences into conversation and determine what works, under what circumstances, and how solutions can be adapted to different social, economic and institutional contexts,” Prof. Nawangwe said.
Collaboration Beyond the Blended Intensive Programme
The Vice Chancellor expressed hope that the collaboration would extend beyond the BIP into joint research, publications, teaching, student supervision and other sustained academic initiatives.
He challenged the participants to make the most of the opportunity by learning across disciplinary boundaries, questioning established assumptions and focusing on solutions.
“The world you are preparing to lead will require people who can understand complexity, work across institutional and disciplinary boundaries, and convert knowledge into practical responses,” he said.
Ebola Outbreak Demonstrates the Interconnected Nature of Modern Crises
The Vice Chancellor further observed that the postponement of the physical component of the training following the outbreak of Ebola underscored the interconnected nature of modern crises. He noted that a health emergency can quickly disrupt education, international mobility, economic activity and institutional planning.
Appreciation by the Vice Chancellor
He commended the PolyCIVIS team and partner universities for bringing the initiative to fruition, expressing confidence that the programme would generate practical and innovative polysolutions to some of the challenges facing societies.
Strengthening international academic collaboration
In his capacity as Principal of CoBAMS, Prof. Edward Bbaale described the programme as a significant reflection of the College’s commitment to fostering an integrated approach to teaching, research, policy engagement and international collaboration.
He noted that the increasingly complex challenges facing society require institutions and professionals to transcend geographical and disciplinary boundaries and collaborate across diverse fields of expertise.
Prof. Bbaale further highlighted the value of bringing Makerere students and faculty into direct engagement with colleagues and practitioners from partner universities.
“Such engagements enrich the learning experience while creating opportunities for sustained collaboration in research, teaching and student supervision. For Makerere University, the programme represents a practical expression of its internationalization agenda, creating opportunities for students and academics from different countries to exchange knowledge, share expertise and work together to address complex societal challenges.”
Preparing future leaders for complex challenges
The programme seeks to enable learners to identify, assess and manage polycrisis situations in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while building competencies in addressing the social, environmental and economic dimensions of crises.
It also aims to develop practical skills in designing and evaluating integrated policies and polysolutions, including effective communication and public awareness strategies.
Ultimately, the initiative seeks to strengthen participants’ critical thinking, digital, spatial and 21st-century skills while promoting interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration.
The BIP also serves as a pilot initiative for the planned Joint Master’s Programme on Managing Polycrises under the PolyCIVIS framework.
Business & Management
KCCA Officials Complete Two-Week Training in Economic Appraisal and Stakeholder Analysis
Jinja, September 4, 2026
Officials from Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) have completed a two-week training in Economic Appraisal and Stakeholder Analysis, strengthening their capacity to prepare, assess and make informed decisions on public investment projects.
The training, held in Jinja from August 24 to September 4, 2026, was conducted under the Public Investment Appraisal and Risk Analysis Module II (PIAR II) programme by the Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE). It brought together KCCA officials drawn from different professional backgrounds, including economic planning, engineering and other technical areas.
Speaking at the close of the training, Mr. Edison Masereka, Manager, Business Development and PPPs in the Strategy Management and Business Development Department at KCCA, commended the participants for their commitment throughout the programme and emphasised the importance of applying the knowledge gained to KCCA’s project preparation and implementation processes.
Mr. Masereka said the training comes at an important time for KCCA, given the range and complexity of projects undertaken by the Authority, which span infrastructure, transport and roads, as well as social sectors such as education, health and social protection.
He noted that weaknesses in project preparation can contribute to challenges during implementation, including delays, changes to project designs and cost overruns. He therefore encouraged the participants to use the skills acquired during the training to improve the quality of project preparation and appraisal.
“The training does not stop here. This is probably just the beginning,” Masereka said, stressing the need for the officials to continue practicing and strengthening the skills acquired.
He also expressed KCCA’s interest in continuing its partnership with the PIM Centre of Excellence through practical engagement on actual KCCA projects, noting that such collaboration would provide an opportunity for the trained officials to apply and further strengthen their skills.
Building a stronger public investment management capacity
Prof. Edward Bbaale, Director of the Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence, congratulated the participants on completing the two-week programme and commended KCCA for deliberately investing in the professional development of its staff.
He noted that the cohort had undertaken a progressive capacity-building programme, having previously completed training in the Essentials of Public Investment Management as well as Financial Appraisal and Risk Analysis before advancing to Economic Appraisal and Stakeholder Analysis.
According to Prof. Bbaale, this approach is helping KCCA build an internal pool of officers with increasingly strong competencies across the public investment management cycle.
He challenged the participants to move beyond simply acquiring certificates and apply the knowledge in their day-to-day work.
“Do not allow this training to remain in your notebooks or on your certificates. Apply it,” Prof. Bbaale urged the participants.
He emphasised that public projects should not be assessed solely on their ability to generate financial returns. Projects such as roads, drainage systems, public transport, street lighting, markets, water and sanitation may generate significant economic and social benefits even where direct financial revenues are limited.
For KCCA, he said, economic appraisal provides a broader basis for determining whether scarce public resources are being allocated to projects that generate the greatest benefits to society.
“Resources, however, will always be limited relative to our needs. We therefore cannot afford poorly conceived or inadequately appraised investments,” Prof. Bbaale said.
He encouraged KCCA to institutionalise the skills acquired through the training within its project preparation and decision-making processes and urged the participants to become champions of good Public Investment Management practice within the Authority.
Strengthening project preparation and decision-making
The training also highlighted the importance of stakeholder analysis in public investment. Prof. Bbaale observed that infrastructure and other public investments affect different groups—including residents, businesses, commuters, property owners and communities—in different ways.
He said understanding these interests early in the project cycle is essential for improving project design and implementation.
Masereka similarly highlighted the importance of strengthening the ability of KCCA officials to communicate and defend projects to different audiences. He noted that technical presentations to finance officials, senior management and political decision-makers require different approaches, while technical officers must have a strong understanding of the projects they are presenting.
He further proposed continued engagement between KCCA and the Centre, including possible executive-level sessions to help senior decision-makers appreciate the principles and processes underlying project appraisal and investment decisions.
The proposal is intended to ensure that project appraisal competencies are understood not only by technical officers but are also appreciated at the institutional decision-making level.
From training to better projects for Kampala
The closing ceremony marked the completion of the second module of PIAR II for the participating KCCA officials, but both KCCA and the PIM Centre of Excellence emphasised that the partnership should extend beyond the classroom.
Dr. John Sseruyange, the Manager of the Centre said the ultimate measure of the training would not be the certificates awarded to participants, but whether the acquired competencies translate into better-prepared projects, stronger appraisal reports, better investment choices and improved services for the people of Kampala.
He also reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to continuing to work with KCCA through training, research, technical support and policy engagement.
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