FAMReports News Desk | July2025
Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, has called on Ugandan universities to increase their focus on research and innovation as essential drivers for solving national problems, eliminating poverty, and advancing sustainable development.
Speaking at the official launch of the Makerere University Grants Administration Professionals (MakGAP) initiative on July 17 at the university’s main campus, Professor Nawangwe emphasised that research must be placed at the centre of Uganda’s development agenda. He described research as the cornerstone of any knowledge-based society seeking to compete on a global scale.
“It is extremely important for us as Uganda and Africa as a whole to invest in research because without it, we are not going to move our people out of poverty,” Professor Nawangwe stated. “When we do research, we pass on our knowledge to farmers, people in business, those at work, and in health. We give them the information they need to maximize their benefits and become competitive globally.”
He revealed that Makerere University currently channels approximately 250 million US dollars, which is about 909 billion Ugandan shillings, into research activities. Most of these resources come from competitive grants awarded to the university’s scientists through international collaborations.
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“Makerere is a formidable research-led university, not only one of the leaders in Africa but also globally, especially in health and clinical research. Most of our research grants are obtained by our scientists, and through collaborations, we are one of the most connected universities. In just two months, I signed 300 grants won by our scientists through these partnerships,” he added.
MakGAP Launched to Strengthen Grant Management Across Universities
The MakGAP initiative was officially launched after a four-day workshop that brought together researchers, scientists, and grant management professionals from various academic institutions. It aims to strengthen the professionalisation of research grants administration and foster best practices in compliance, transparency, and institutional collaboration.
Professor Sylvia Nannyonga Tamusuza, the head of the Grant Administration and Management Support Unit at Makerere University, explained that MakGAP is a capacity building platform for research professionals across different departments and academic units. Its core objective is to build stronger systems for grant accountability, improve compliance, and provide a space for policy dialogue and collective learning.
“We strive to engage a diverse membership of research support professionals across departments, divisions, centres, and central administration,” Professor Tamusuza noted. “We also aim to empower grant administration professionals at Makerere University through capacity building, networking, and compliance-driven practices that enhance efficient and transparent grant management.”
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Professor Nawangwe expressed optimism that the new MakGAP system would significantly improve the university’s ability to track, manage, and report on the numerous grants awarded annually, contributing to a culture of professionalism in research financing and institutional stewardship.
Global Partnerships Remain Key to Research Impact
The importance of strategic partnerships in advancing university-led research was underscored by representatives from Global Health, a division of Chicago-based Northwestern University, which collaborates with Makerere on several research projects.
“Without research, we can’t grow our universities and our human capital,” said Ms Klein from Global Health. “Collaboration is so integral in research grant administration, and as Northwestern University, we are excited to be collaborating with Makerere.”
Makerere University continues to attract strong interest from international research institutions due to its track record of excellence in grant acquisition, research output, and impact-driven knowledge transfer. With the establishment of MakGAP, the university is positioning itself as a model for grant governance and scientific innovation across the continent.
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