As the evening breeze gently swayed the ribbons and other decorations, he walked in with a sense of purpose, and paused briefly to take in the surrounding. His sweeping gaze observed the walls draped in the traditional Makerere red, black and green; the audience murmuring softly;
As the evening breeze gently swayed the ribbons and other decorations, he walked in with a sense of purpose, and paused briefly to take in the surrounding. His sweeping gaze observed the walls draped in the traditional Makerere red, black and green; the audience murmuring softly;
the piano, set and ready to go; and finally the dignitaries conferring quietly at the high table. With a satisfied grin, he took a few steps and assumed his position at an imaginary podium. Back straight and respectfully clutching the programme of the day with both hands in front of him, he cleared his voice and made his remarks.
“It is my honor, to invite you today, to a concert where we are celebrating 200years since the birth of Francois Fryderyk Chopin,” remarked Prof. Justinian Tamusuza, Department of Music, Dance and Drama and emcee of the evening, as he welcomed the audience. The Chopin Music Concert was jointly organized by the Quality Assurance Directorate and The Department of Music, Dance and Drama, and featured eight of the over 230 pieces of Chopin’s surviving work.
Francois Fryderyk Chopin (1 March 1810 – 17 October 1849) was a Polish Composer, Virtuoso Pianist, and music teacher of French-Polish parentage. He was one of the great masters of Romantic music, and his music is penetrated by a poetic feeling that has an almost universal appeal. On the evening of Friday November 26, 2010, Makerere University’s Senior Common Room played host to the first ever Chopin project in East and Central Africa, and four of Uganda’s distinguished pianists; Fredrick Kiggundu Musoke, Wilson Tamale, Job Ivan Tezigattwa and John Baptist Walugembe had been lined up to enchant the audience.
The evening’s able emcee was however not yet done with his audience. Before he could invite the Vice Chancellor to address his guests, he ordered everyone in the room to switch off their phones and strictly not to applaud, until the pianists had finished their pieces, as signaled by a polite bow. “I am a dictator and I hope we will all adhere to this,” he added to the amusement of the now anxious audience.
The Vice Chancellor Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba in his speech read by Dr Tickodri-Togboa, commended the Quality Assurance Directorate and the Department of Music, Dance and Drama for embracing the University’s strategic vision. “As an institution that is increasingly becoming conscious of the importance of integrating internationalization in her core functions, we are truly proud to be the pioneers not only in Uganda, but in the East African region to participate in this project,” remarked Dr Togboa. Without further ado, Prof. Baryamureeba then wished everyone a great evening.
Wilson Tamale holds an Associated Board of Music (ABRSM) diploma in piano playing and has until recently, been living in Iowa State, USA. He kicked off the evening’s performances with an Etude in C Major. Op. 10 No.1, and the audience were immediately captivated. The audience watched with almost bated breath as this up-tempo piece, which required swift movements of the fingers as well as accuracy was played. However, the towering Wilson Tamale seemed to breeze through the piece and the resounding applause as he bowed at its end was well earned. His performance had indeed set the pace for this “vehicle artistic expression”, The Chopin project.
The bespectacled John Baptist Walugembe was soon to follow with another Etude in F Minor. Op. 25 No.2 and the first Nocturne of the evening in A flat Major. Op. 32 No. 2. Whereas Etudes as piano pieces focus on stretching the fingers, Nocturnes on the other hand are shorter pieces with a song-like melody. Walugembe an Engineer by training who currently works as a management consultant showed his expertise in not only playing the more dazzling Etude but also seamlessly switching to the more melodious Nocturne. A respectful bow after playing both pieces and the applause that followed confirmed the audience’s appreciation of Eng. Walugembe’s piano mastery.
The youthful Job Ivan Tezigattwa then played two Nocturnes in E Minor. Op 72 and E flat Major. Op. 9 No. 2. Tezigattwa a Bachelor of Music Student at Makerere University sought to explain that Nocturnes were best suited for playing in the evening; a time most relied upon by lovers to woo their partners. Starting off with the Op. 72 composed by Chopin in 1827, Tezigattwa then switched to the popular Op. 9 No. 2. A glance at the audience at this point revealed faces unmistakably lost in reflection. The evening of musical enchantment had indeed claimed its victims. Their reverie was soon abruptly brought to an end as the piece turned more passionate as it wound up.
Next up was the most traveled of the evening’s pianists. A Civil Engineering graduate from Makerere University, Fredrick Kiggundu Musoke holds the Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (LRSM) in piano performance and the Associated Board of Music (ABRSM) Diploma in piano teaching and flute performance. He has performed at the National Theatre, in Amsterdam with the Nairobi Ochestra, at the Edinburgh Festival, and at a luncheon held in honor of Her Majesty the Queen of England when she visited Uganda during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2007.
Before his performance, Musoke dedicated the Ballade in F Minor Op. 38 to his late Engineer Father, who admittedly spent 60% of his time playing the piano. The ballade which opens very softly progresses into an almost violent tempo before halting suddenly then resuming with calmer tempo till its end.
Eng. Walugembe then returned to perform the Waltz Grand ValseBrillante in A Flat Major Op. 34 No. 1, and thereafter Musoke returned to play the evening’s last piece, A Scherzo in C# Minor. Op.39.
Reacting to the evening’s performances, Mr Carr, husband to Mrs. Fiona Carr who taught piano at Makerere University in the early seventies commended the artists for a job well done. He praised the organizers for a putting together a state-of-the-art show, which brought back memories from their times at Makerere where students of the Department of Music, Dance and Drama congregated in the Senior Common Room to listen to similar performances.
The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released admission lists of candidates admitted under the Talented Sports Men & Women, Disability and District Quota Schemes with Government sponsorship 2026/27 Academic Year including appeals and remarked cases.
Other admission lists released include A-Level Applicants with Ugandan and those with Foreign Qualifications, Diploma in Performing Arts, Mature-Age Entry and Bachelor of Education (EXTERNAL Batch 2) for the Academic Year 2026/2027 under self sponsorship.
Makerere University has officially launched its Strategic Plan 2025-2030, marking a major milestone in its commitment to strengthening research, innovation, and human capital development in line with Uganda’s national development priorities.
The launch brought together senior government officials, university leadership, and development planners, including the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi, and a representative from the National Planning Authority (NPA), alongside the University Vice Chancellor.
Hon. Henry Musasizi unveils the Makerere University Strategic Plan (2025-2030).
A Vision Anchored in National Transformation
Speaking at the launch, the Vice Chancellor underscored the University’s ambition to significantly expand graduate training and strengthen its contribution to national development. He noted that the institution is targeting a return to pre-COVID enrolment levels and a substantial increase in postgraduate numbers by 2030, with a focus on producing highly skilled graduates, innovators, and researchers.
He emphasized that the Strategic Plan positions the University as a key driver of Uganda’s transformation through knowledge generation, innovation, and entrepreneurship, aligned with national priorities.
“The staffing distribution is shown here. Under the approved establishment, we intended to have 419 Professors, but we currently have only 75. We planned for 473 Associate Professors, but currently have only 144. This clearly demonstrates that we still have considerable room for growth in strengthening our academic staff profile,” the VC said.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.
The VC appreciated researchers and research centres, that continue to attract substantial research funding. He highlighted the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) and the Makerere University Walter Reed Project which attracted approximately US$70 million in international research funding into Uganda.
“When you combine the grants won by all our researchers through competitive international funding, the total exceeds US$200 million,” he said.
In her remarks, the Chairperson of the University Council, Dr. Lorna Magara, described the Strategic Plan as more than an institutional roadmap, calling it “a public covenant with the people of Uganda.”
She noted that the Plan marks “the launch of Makerere University’s next chapter,” adding that decisions taken over the next five years will shape not only the future of the institution, but also Uganda’s development trajectory through graduates, research, innovations, and leadership.
Dr. Lorna Magara.
Dr. Magara emphasized Makerere’s unique national role as Uganda’s premier public university, entrusted with public resources and public confidence.
“Every investment made in Makerere must produce measurable value for the people of Uganda,” she said, underscoring the need for accountability, integrity, and impact.
Ambitious Targets for Transformation
The Council Chairperson and the Vice chancellor outlined bold performance targets under the Strategic Plan, including doubling postgraduate enrolment, increasing STEM enrolment from 30% to 55%, improving PhD completion rates from 10% to 35%, and more than doubling peer-reviewed research output, alongside a significant rise in patents and innovations.
Dr. Magara stressed that these targets are not aspirations alone but binding commitments against which institutional performance will be measured.
Hon. Henry Musasizi (3rd R) and Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (2rd L) display an autographed dummy of the signed Strategic Plan as L-R: Hon. Kadondi Gracious, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, Rt. Hon. Daniel Kidega, Dr. Lorna Magara, H.E. Mubiru John Bosco and Prof. Sarah Ssali witness.
“Ambition is precisely what this moment demands. A strategic plan is not measured by the elegance of its language, but by the lives it transforms,” she said.
Call for Stronger Governance and Legal Reform
Dr. Magara also highlighted the need for reform of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, Cap. 262, noting that the current legal framework has not kept pace with the evolving realities of university governance and innovation.
She called on Government and Parliament to support a timely review of the Act to enable universities to better optimise knowledge systems, productive assets, and innovation capacity in support of national development.
Government Endorsement and Strategic Alignment
Hon. Henry Musasizi commended the University for developing a forward-looking Strategic Plan aligned with Uganda’s Vision 2040 and the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which serves as the foundation for the country’s Tenfold Growth Strategy.
He explained that Uganda’s ambition to grow its economy from about USD 50 billion to USD 500 billion requires accelerated growth driven by productivity gains, innovation, and strong human capital development.
Hon. Henry Musasizi.
“Universities are central actors in national transformation. They are engines of knowledge creation, innovation, and human capital development,” he said.
The Minister stressed that government priorities include strengthening research, promoting industrialization, and ensuring that knowledge generated in universities is translated into practical solutions that support economic growth. He further highlighted the importance of accountability, efficiency, and value for money in public investments in higher education.
Universities as Drivers of the Tenfold Growth Strategy
In his presentation, the Senior Planner at the National Planning Authority, Samuel Kasule, emphasized that the Strategic Plan is firmly anchored in Uganda’s comprehensive development framework under Vision 2040 and NDP IV.
He noted that the Tenfold Growth Strategy seeks to accelerate Uganda’s economic growth into double-digit territory, enabling the country to achieve structural transformation and reach upper middle-income status.
Mr. Samuel Kasule.
Kasule underscored that universities play a critical role in this transformation through labour productivity, research, and innovation. He pointed out that priority sectors such as agriculture, tourism, minerals, oil and gas, and ICT depend heavily on skilled graduates and strong research ecosystems.
He also highlighted the importance of competency-based education, alignment of academic programmes with national human resource needs, and strengthening postgraduate training and research outputs.
A Shared Commitment to Transformation
Across all speeches, a strong message emerged: universities are central to Uganda’s development agenda and must evolve into research-intensive institutions that directly contribute to economic transformation.
The Strategic Plan 2025-2030 was widely commended for its focus on innovation, industry collaboration, digital transformation, and the commercialization of research outputs.
Government leaders reaffirmed continued support for higher education institutions through research funding, innovation ecosystems, and strengthened university–industry partnerships.
Conclusion
The launch of the Strategic Plan 2030 signals a renewed commitment to positioning the University as a key partner in Uganda’s development journey. With strong alignment to national priorities, the Plan is expected to accelerate research, innovation, and skills development necessary for achieving Uganda’s long-term economic ambitions. The Strategic Plan may be accessed at: https://mak.ac.ug/about/strategic-plan
Visionary Blueprint to Drive Excellence, Innovation, and National Development.
Kampala, Uganda – July 2, 2026. — Makerere University today officially launched its Strategic Plan 2026–2030, outlining a bold roadmap for academic excellence, research innovation, and transformative impact on Uganda and the region. The high-profile launch event, held at Makerere University Main Campus, brought together government leaders, university stakeholders, development partners, and academia.
The Chief Guest, Hon. Henry Musasizi, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, presided over the official launch. In his presentation, Vice Chancellor Prof. Nawangwe Barnabas highlighted the University’s past achievements and the new Plan’s strategic vision. “This Strategic Plan builds on our rich legacy while positioning Makerere University as a leader in addressing contemporary challenges through cutting-edge research, quality education, and innovation,” he stated.
The Plan was developed through an inclusive process led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, with input from across the University community. It aligns closely with national development priorities, as affirmed by Dr. Joseph Muvawala, Executive Director of the National Planning Authority.
University Council Chairperson Dr Lorna Magara emphasised the Council’s oversight role and commitment: “The University Council is fully committed to providing the strategic leadership and oversight necessary for the successful implementation of this Plan. It will strengthen Makerere’s role as a driver of Uganda’s socio-economic transformation and ensure we remain a beacon of excellence in higher education across Africa.”
Development partners, Vice Chancellors from other public universities, college principals, deans, professors, and student representatives attended the event, underscoring broad stakeholder support.
Key Pillars of the Strategic Plan 2026–2030 include enhancing excellence in teaching and learning, advancing research and innovation, strengthening infrastructure and sustainability, promoting inclusivity, and deepening engagement with industry and government. Following the formal proceedings, guests participated in a networking breakfast and media engagement session.
Additional Quotes:
“Makerere University remains Uganda’s flagship institution. This Strategic Plan will further harness our intellectual capital to contribute meaningfully to the National Development Plan and Vision 2040.” — Hon. Henry Musasizi, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
“We are excited to embark on this new strategic journey. With the support of our dedicated staff, students, alumni, and partners, we will achieve even greater heights in the next five years.” — Prof. Nawangwe Barnabas, Vice Chancellor, Makerere University
Makerere University is Uganda’s oldest and largest public university, established in 1922. It is a world-class institution recognised for academic excellence, groundbreaking research, and cross-disciplinary innovation. With over 35,000 students and a strong alumni network, Makerere continues to shape leaders and solutions for Africa and beyond.
For more information, contact:
Ms. Eunice Rukundo, Deputy Chief, Public Relations