Makerere University has unveiled an ambitious plan to significantly boost doctoral completion, innovation and startup creation as it positions itself as a leading research-driven institution.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at the Main Building, Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe said the university is entering a new phase focused on translating research into tangible economic impact.
The Strategic Plan (2025/26–2029/30) prioritises strengthening research output, accelerating innovation and increasing the commercialisation of ideas into viable businesses.
“We want our students to leave not just with degrees, but with companies that can employ others,” Prof Nawangwe said.
PhD Completion to Rise Fivefold
At the centre of the plan is a push to dramatically improve doctoral training outcomes. Makerere aims to increase on-time PhD completion rates from 10 percent to 50 percent over the next five years—one of the most ambitious targets set by the institution.
“Currently, our PhD on-time completion is about 10 percent. We want to raise that to 50 percent so that a significant number of our doctoral students graduate on time,” Prof Nawangwe said.
The move is expected to strengthen the university’s research capacity and align it with national and global development priorities.
The university also plans to more than double postgraduate enrolment, increasing the number of graduate students from 3,874 to 7,744 while maintaining undergraduate intake.
Innovation Drive to Boost Patents and Commercialisation
Makerere is also targeting a sharp increase in intellectual property and innovation output. Under the plan, patents will grow from 12 to 45, and annual startups from university innovation hubs will increase from 15 to 65.
The university says this will be achieved through strengthened research systems and platforms, such as innovation hubs and grant support units.
“One of our intentions is to produce as many companies as possible, so that our graduates can go out and create jobs rather than look for them,” Prof Nawangwe said.
He noted that while many student-led innovations already exist, the focus will now be on scaling them into fully commercialised enterprises.
From Research to Job Creation
The strategy reflects a broader shift from academic output to economic impact, with the university seeking to link research directly to job creation and industrial growth.
Prof Nawangwe said Makerere is already making progress, citing increasing numbers of startups emerging from student projects and research initiatives. “We are producing companies every year, but we want to increase that number significantly and support them to full commercialisation,” he said.
Research Output and Global Competitiveness
Beyond innovation, Makerere also plans to increase its academic output, targeting a rise in annual publications from 1,365 to 3,000 in peer-reviewed journals.
The university believes this will further strengthen its position as a globally competitive research institution. “This strategic plan is about optimising our research potential for national and global transformation,” Prof Nawangwe said.
The new strategy is part of Makerere’s broader 10-year vision to become a fully research-led university aligned with Uganda’s development priorities under the National Development Plan.
By focusing on doctoral training, patents and startups, the university aims to play a central role in driving innovation, employment and economic growth.
“Technology is evolving every day, including artificial intelligence. We must move at the same pace to remain relevant and achieve our goals,” Prof Nawangwe added.