By: Boy Fidel Leon
In higher education, standing still is falling behind. Makerere University knows this. For the second consecutive year, it has claimed the top spot among East African universities in the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, not because the competition disappeared, but because the university refused to disappear.
The numbers matter, though they tell only part of the story. Makerere lands in the 801–1000 band globally, a significant leap from the previous year. It ranks 8th in Sub-Saharan Africa. More tellingly, its score of 37.2 nearly doubles that of other East African competitors, which average 18.8.
The university excels particularly in Research Quality (54.2%) and International Outlook (69.7%). These are two measures that reflect how seriously it takes both rigorous enquiry and global connection. But Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Sarah Ssali frames the achievement differently.
“We continue to uphold our legacy as a leading institution of higher learning, committed to teaching, research, and innovation that drives Africa’s development,” she said during this week’s press conference.
That legacy carries weight. Over 80% of all PhD holders in Uganda are affiliated with Makerere. The university operates 68 research centres and laboratories that draw scholars from across the continent. Yet maintaining this position requires constant adaptation, especially when digital learning and global partnerships now define competitive advantage.
Assoc. Prof. Robert Wamala, Director of the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, credits sustained government investment as a turning point. Uganda’s government now allocates UGX 30 billion annually for dedicated research funding, a commitment that has translated into measurable momentum.
“We are moving from ‘research for publication’ to research for impact,” Wamala explained. That distinction cuts to the heart of what’s changed: the difference between producing papers and producing solutions.
The digital transformation coursing through university is equally telling. Graduate admissions now operate entirely online. Applicants upload documents, receive individualised feedback, and get admission letters without stepping into an office. Research-based programs accept rolling applications throughout the year.
Makerere has established dual-degree programs with international partners, giving students exposure beyond East Africa’s borders. It’s a deliberate infrastructure built to make excellence accessible.
Prof. Julius Kikooma, Director of Graduate Training, emphasises that innovation only matters if students feel it.
“We have also established a recognition system for outstanding dissertations and theses,” he said. “Our goal is to ensure that innovative ideas developed in research are linked with industry to drive real-world change.”
That global reach isn’t theoretical. Makerere maintains 725 active Memoranda of Understanding with leading universities worldwide. These partnerships bring expertise home and open doors for students.
The university collaborates with Johns Hopkins on health sciences, Michigan State and Penn State on agriculture, Tsinghua on ICT, and the Technical University of Munich on health research. “These partnerships are not symbolic, they are active and impactful,” said Mathias Ssemanda, Manager for International Outlook.
Behind the rankings sit the people who experience them daily. The Student Affairs Office fosters an environment that promotes research, retention, and academic achievement. Dr Winifred Namuwonge Kabumbuli, Dean of Students, notes that accommodation, extracurricular activities, emotional support, and health services.
The unglamorous infrastructure shapes whether students thrive.
The trajectory since 2016 reveals a university aware of its vulnerabilities. Makerere peaked at 401–500 in 2017–2018, faced challenges in subsequent years, and has now worked its way back. Competitors like Kenya’s Kenyatta University and Tanzania’s University of Dar es Salaam languish in the 1501+ band. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, only South African universities rank higher.
Makerere’s comeback isn’t exceptional by global standards. Oxford remains the top-ranked institution worldwide. But it matters regionally and, more importantly, locally. It signals to students, faculty, and partners that this institution has chosen not just to survive, but to evolve. In higher education, that choice is everything.