The Ugandan government has challenged Makerere University to become a powerhouse of policy research, innovation and technological advancement capable of driving the country’s ambitious plan to grow its economy tenfold to US$500 billion by 2040, as the institution launched its new Strategic Plan 2025–2030.
Speaking during the launch on Wednesday, Finance Minister Henry Musasizi said Uganda’s economic transformation would ultimately depend on knowledge, innovation, technology and the quality of its human capital, placing Makerere at the centre of the country’s long-term development agenda.
The minister described the new strategy as timely, saying it comes when government is implementing the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) alongside the Tenfold Growth Strategy aimed at accelerating industrialization, increasing exports and expanding household incomes.
“Government is aware that sustainable economic transformation is fundamentally driven by knowledge, innovation, technology and human capital,” Musasizi said.
He praised Makerere for aligning its priorities with national development objectives, arguing that the university’s renewed focus on research and innovation would strengthen Uganda’s ability to compete globally while solving local challenges.
Research at the Centre of Development
Musasizi said the country’s oldest and largest university should increasingly position itself as government’s principal source of evidence-based policy advice.
He called for stronger collaboration between academia and public institutions, saying ministries, departments and agencies require reliable locally generated research to guide reforms and investment decisions.
“I would like to see Makerere increasingly support government decision-making through policy research and economic modelling. Government institutions require timely, credible and locally generated evidence to guide policy reforms and investments,” he said.
The minister pledged continued government support through the Research and Innovations Fund (RIF), one of the flagship initiatives that has financed hundreds of research projects at Makerere over recent years.
However, he urged the university not to depend solely on government funding.
Instead, he encouraged the institution to diversify its financing by attracting more research grants, strengthening partnerships with industry, commercializing scientific discoveries and building innovation ecosystems capable of transforming research into businesses and jobs.
According to Musasizi, stronger university-industry collaboration will be essential if Uganda is to achieve value addition, industrial growth and increased productivity envisioned under the government’s economic transformation agenda.
Anti-Corruption Challenge
Beyond research and innovation, the Finance Minister used the occasion to issue a strong warning on corruption, describing graft as one of the biggest obstacles to Uganda’s development.
He appealed to Makerere’s leadership to take a leading role in nurturing integrity among students while ensuring the university itself maintains high standards of accountability.
Musasizi said universities have a responsibility not only to produce skilled graduates but also ethical leaders capable of transforming society.
He argued that corruption continues to undermine service delivery, discourage investment and weaken public confidence in institutions.
“We must reject corruption outright,” he said, urging university administrators and lecturers to instill values of honesty, accountability and patriotism among students.
Nawangwe Outlines University’s Vision
Makerere University Vice Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe said the institution’s new five-year roadmap is built around four major strategic pillars designed to strengthen the university’s global competitiveness.
These include:
- Teaching and learning;
- Research and innovation;
- Institutional engagement, partnerships and community impact; and
- Institutional capacity.
Nawangwe said the university is determined to deepen its transformation into one of Africa’s leading research institutions.
“In the new strategic plan, we are making a bold commitment to reinforcing our identity as a research-driven, innovative, and globally competitive University,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor said Makerere intends to strengthen postgraduate education, expand research output, improve innovation capacity and deepen collaborations with governments, development partners, industries and international universities.
The university also aims to produce graduates equipped with practical skills required in today’s rapidly changing economy while strengthening community engagement across Uganda.
Council Chair Sees Opportunity for Transformation
University Council Chairperson Dr. Lorna Magara described the new strategic plan as a critical roadmap that will build on achievements registered under the previous five-year strategy.
She said the university now has an opportunity to consolidate reforms while accelerating institutional transformation.
“The new strategic plan presents a pivotal opportunity to build on the gains of the past five years and accelerate the University’s transformation,” Magara said.
She emphasized that successful implementation would require collective commitment from management, staff, students, government and development partners.
Aligning with National Priorities
The launch signals closer alignment between Uganda’s premier public university and government’s broader economic agenda.
Government has increasingly emphasized science, technology, innovation and research as critical drivers of industrialization and wealth creation under the country’s long-term development strategy.
Officials believe universities such as Makerere must move beyond their traditional teaching role to become centres of innovation capable of generating solutions for agriculture, health, manufacturing, climate resilience, digital transformation and public policy.
The Strategic Plan 2025–2030 is expected to guide Makerere’s investments over the next five years as it seeks to strengthen academic excellence, expand research funding, improve infrastructure, enhance digital learning and increase its international competitiveness.
The launch also comes at a time when Makerere is seeking to reinforce its standing as East Africa’s leading university amid increasing competition from regional institutions, with university leaders expressing confidence that the new roadmap will position the institution to make greater contributions to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation while enhancing its global research profile.
