Innovation
Makerere University supports the Ministry of Public Service to develop and Roll Out Productivity Measurement Information System (Pro-MIS) to Boost Efficiency in Delivery
By Moses Lutaaya
KAMPALA – The Productivity Measurement Information System (Pro-MIS), a digital platform designed to assess, monitor, and improve productivity across Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and local governments, was developed by a multidisciplinary team of researchers led by Prof. Robert Wamala, the Director for Research, Innovations and Partnerships at Makerere University, with funding from the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF).
The system is now being rolled out by the Government of Uganda in collaboration with Makerere University as part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening efficiency, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making in public service delivery.
Prof. Wamala said the development of the Productivity Measurement Framework and Pro-MIS system was motivated by the persistent challenge of measuring how effectively public institutions convert resources into tangible outputs.
He explained that while institutions routinely report activities and outputs, the missing link has been the ability to measure efficiency in the use of inputs to generate results.
“The big question has always been, how do we measure productivity? We are pumping resources into institutions, but how do we know that what is being produced is efficient and impactful?” Prof. Wamala said.
He noted that the framework introduces a structured approach to productivity measurement across government, focusing on inputs, processes, outputs, and outcomes, and enabling data-driven policy and management decisions.
Prof. Wamala added that Makerere University remains committed to supporting government in strengthening innovation systems that improve public sector performance and service delivery.
In a special, Prof. Wamala extended his sincere gratitude to The Ministry of Public Service (MoPS) especially Permanent Secretary and Department of Management Services for the visionary partnership and leadership, Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe for rallying scientists to support evidence-based policy, Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (Mak-RIF), Chairperson Prof. Fred Musagazi Masaazi, and the GMC for the funding as well as The District Staff who volunteered to validate tools and gave us data for the development of the Framework.
The rollout engagement brought together representatives from several “champion institutions” selected to pioneer implementation of the system, including the Office of President, Office of Prime Minister, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development; Government Analytical Laboratory, Public Service Commission, Education Service Commission, Makerere University Business School, Ministry of Internal Affairs, among others.
The Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Service, Mr. Rogers Kaija Irumba, said government is introducing champion institutions to lead the rollout of productivity measurement across the public sector.
He explained that the initiative is part of a broader reform agenda aimed at institutionalizing performance and productivity tracking in government operations.
“We are trying to bring on board a number of champion institutions. This is a new concept. So we are trying to bring on board a number of institutions to champion the entire productivity concept,” Mr. Kaija said.
He noted that government is strengthening systems that will allow productivity to be measured systematically at all levels of the public service.
Mr. Kaija emphasized that the initiative aligns with the National Development Plan IV and the Public Sector Transformation Programme, which prioritize efficiency, accountability, and results-based management.
He further explained that productivity measurement is expected to support government efforts to demonstrate value for money and improve service delivery outcomes.
On her part, the Commissioner for Management Services at the Ministry of Public Service, Ms. Allen Kakama, said productivity measurement addresses a long-standing gap in public sector performance evaluation.
She explained that productivity differs from performance management in that it focuses on the relationship between inputs used and outputs produced.
“Productivity is looking at how much resources you have used to produce an output. It is different from performance appraisal, which looks at whether targets have been achieved,” she said.
Ms. Kakama noted that the Pro-MIS system will enable government to measure productivity at institutional, departmental, and individual levels, helping to identify efficiency gaps and improve service delivery.
She added that the system will help reduce wastage and improve the quality and speed of public service outputs.
“We want to reduce wastage and improve efficiency. If two institutions are given the same resources, but one produces better quality and faster outputs, then we must be able to measure and understand that difference,” she said.
She emphasized that the system will strengthen accountability, improve decision-making, and enhance overall public sector performance.
The Government of Uganda said Pro-MIS will initially be piloted in selected institutions before being scaled up across all Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and Local Governments nationwide.
Engineering, Art & Tech
Makerere’s CEDAT Hosts Groundbreaking LIVWA Workshop on Advanced Climate Modelling for Lake Victoria Water Level Management
By Carol Kasujja and Betty Kyakuwa
Running a side business alongside full-time employment has become an increasingly popular venture among staff. For many, it is a way to supplement income and build financial resilience. For Ms. Rebecca Talikaza, a 48-year-old custodian, it has become a pathway to transformation. Talikaza successfully balances her office responsibilities with her growing enterprise, Beckiz Bathing Sponge.
“For the years I have been running Beckiz Bathing Sponge, my side business has not affected my work. I have a support system at home, and I have learnt how to utilize my time well,” she explains.
Turning Necessity into Opportunity
Talikaza’s entrepreneurial journey began during the COVID-19 period, when schools reopened. While preparing to take her first-born son back to school, she realized he did not have a bathing sponge. A search in nearby supermarkets in Nakwero proved futile.
“When I failed to get a bathing sponge, I went back home and looked for some material I had bought earlier. I became creative and decided to knit one using skills I had acquired in primary school,” she recalls.
As she worked, a neighbor noticed her and expressed interest. “When I told her I was knitting a sponge, she asked me to make four for her,” Talikaza says. After completing the order, her neighbor paid her UGX 20,000.
That same day, a boda boda rider she had sent on an errand also requested one. “He told me instead of giving him money, I should give him a sponge. That is when it hit me—I could actually make money from this. Every home needs two or three sponges,” she says.
From Small Orders to Supermarket Shelves
Encouraged by the demand, Talikaza approached Babis Supermarket in Nakwero with her sample. She requested to supply her products after noticing the gap in the market. The manager agreed and asked her to produce two dozen sponges for distribution across five branches.
She also secured a similar opportunity with Shop Wise Supermarket in Manyangwa Village. “Both supermarkets accepted, but it took me three weeks to deliver. I had to sacrifice my sleep, sometimes working until 2:00 a.m. to meet the demand,” she says.
Her first delivery earned her UGX 54,000 per dozen, with each sponge retailing at UGX 5,000. Drawing on knowledge from her Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration at Makerere University Business School, Talikaza realized the importance of branding and packaging. “I knew I had to register my business and package my products well because my target customers value quality,” she explains.
Improved packaging doubled the price of her sponges from UGX 5,000 to UGX 10,000. Since then, the business has steadily grown, enabling her to pay school fees and purchase land.
Challenges Along the Way
Despite her success, Talikaza faces challenges, particularly with delayed payments from supermarkets.
“Some supermarkets take long to pay, yet I need money to buy materials, so I end up using funds from other sources,” she says.
She also points to the difficulty small businesses face in meeting formal requirements. “Some supermarkets require invoices, which is challenging for small businesses like mine. Without them, we are taxed heavily,” she adds.
Advice on Managing a Side Hustle
Talikaza emphasizes discipline, sacrifice, and humility as key ingredients for success. “Never despise humble beginnings. Side businesses do not accommodate laziness. If it means working late, do so to ensure growth and profit,” she advises.
She also stresses the importance of fairness and teamwork, noting that she employs her children and a maid to help with production—and pays them weekly. To maintain professionalism, Talikaza draws a clear boundary between her job and her business.
“Your office work should not suffer because of your side hustle. I do not sell my products at the University. Those who need them can find them in supermarkets,” she says. She recommends careful time management, dedicating working hours to official duties and reserving evenings or weekends for business.
Efficiency, she adds, is critical. “I do not leave work to buy materials. I send a boda boda rider who delivers on time. He even helps monitor stock in supermarkets,” she explains. Above all, Talikaza encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to build businesses around passion and knowledge.
“Understand your business—its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Also know your target market to avoid being cheated,” she says.
At a Glance
Born to Mr. Nathan Magoola and the late Gladys Magoola, Talikaza hails from Iganga District. She attended Iganga Municipal Council Primary School before joining St. Peter’s Secondary School, Naalya, for both O-Level and A-Level.
She later earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from Makerere University, followed by a Master’s degree in Gender and Women Studies and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration.
The 10th born in a family of 14, Talikaza is a mother of six children.
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