KAMPALA — Makerere University has officially launched its Strategic Plan for the period 2025/26–2029/30, marking a major shift toward becoming a fully research-led institution aligned with Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and the Vision 2040 Tenfold Growth Strategy.
The launch, held at the University Main Hall, brought together government leaders, academia, development partners, and students in what was described as a defining moment for the country’s oldest public university.
The five-year roadmap sets ambitious targets, including doubling postgraduate enrolment, increasing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) enrolment to 55 percent, expanding research output, and commercialising innovation to strengthen Uganda’s knowledge economy.
Government Calls for Evidence-Based Policy Support
The Chief Guest, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi, commended Makerere University for aligning its strategy with national development priorities.
“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. Musasizi said.
He noted that Uganda’s economic transformation depends on knowledge, innovation, and human capital development, adding that universities must play a central role in policy formulation.
“Government institutions require timely, credible and locally generated evidence to guide policy reforms and investments,” he said.
Musasizi further urged the university to strengthen research commercialisation, innovation ecosystems, and university–industry collaboration, while taking a firm stance against corruption.
Makerere’s Shift to a Research-Led University
Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe described the new plan as a decisive shift from a teaching-focused institution to a research-intensive and innovation-driven university.
“In the new strategic plan, we are making a bold commitment to reinforcing our identity as a research-driven, innovative, and globally competitive university,” Prof. Nawangwe said.
He revealed that Makerere currently generates over US$250 million annually in research grants, making it one of the region’s leading research institutions.
The Vice Chancellor added that the plan is fully costed and anchored in measurable outcomes, including increased PhD completion rates, expanded postgraduate training, and a rise in patents and innovations.
Universities Central to Tenfold Growth Strategy
Representing the National Planning Authority (NPA), Executive Director Dr Joseph Muvawala (represented by Samuel Kasule) emphasised that universities are central to achieving Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy.
He explained that Uganda aims to expand its economy from about USD 50 billion to USD 500 billion by 2040, requiring sustained double-digit growth driven by productivity and innovation.
“The most significant shift in this Strategic Plan is the commitment to becoming a research-led university, and this is the right direction,” Dr Muvawala noted.
He urged Makerere to ensure strong alignment between academic programmes and the Human Capital Development priorities under NDP IV.
University Council Describes Plan as a “Public Covenant”
University Council Chairperson Dr Lorna Magara described the Strategic Plan as more than an institutional framework, calling it a “public covenant” with Ugandans.
“Every investment made in Makerere must produce measurable value for the people of Uganda,” she said.
Dr Magara stressed that Council would prioritise accountability, performance, and value for public investment, noting that government funding is projected to rise significantly over the plan period.
She also called for a review of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act to align governance structures with modern higher education demands.
Key Strategic Priorities
The Strategic Plan 2025–2030 is built around four core pillars: teaching and learning transformation through competency-based education; research, innovation, and knowledge generation; partnerships, community engagement, and societal impact; and institutional strengthening, including governance, infrastructure, and digital systems.
The plan also prioritises: doubling postgraduate enrolment, increasing STEM enrolment to 55%, expanding patents and commercialised innovations, and strengthening PhD completion rates and scaling research output and industry collaboration.
Alignment With National Development Agenda
According to NPA, Uganda’s development trajectory under NDP IV and Vision 2040 depends heavily on human capital development and productivity growth.
The Strategic Plan is anchored in Uganda’s broader economic strategy, which prioritises Agriculture, Tourism, Minerals, Oil and Gas, and Science, Technology and Innovation (ATMS sectors) as drivers of transformation.
Financing and Sustainability Concerns
The plan acknowledges a significant financing gap of over UGX 820 billion, prompting calls for diversified funding sources.
University leadership highlighted strategies including: expansion of non-tax revenue, public–private partnerships, endowment fund development, alumni and donor mobilisation, and digital efficiency gains.
Stakeholders agreed that the Strategic Plan marks a historic shift in Makerere University’s role—from a traditional academic institution to a strategic engine of national transformation.
As Dr Magara summed up: “Fifty years from now, people will not remember the document we launched today. They will remember what we did with it.”
The university now begins implementation of what leaders described as an ambitious but necessary roadmap for Uganda’s knowledge-driven future.