By Diana N.Kintu
Makerere University has unveiled an ambitious five-year strategic plan aimed at strengthening its position as a leading research institution, with a strong focus on increasing postgraduate enrolment and advancing national development priorities.
The Strategic Plan (2025/26–2029/30), launched during a press briefing at the university, sets out a roadmap to deepen research, expand innovation, and enhance Makerere’s global outlook. University leaders say the plan is aligned with Uganda’s broader economic transformation agenda, particularly the National Development Plan’s tenfold growth strategy.
Speaking at the briefing, Vice Chancellor Barnabas Nawangwe said the university is positioning itself to play a central role in driving the country’s socio-economic progress through knowledge production and skills development.
“We are deliberately strengthening our capacity as a research-led university to support Uganda’s development agenda,” Prof. Nawangwe noted, adding that international collaboration and innovation will be key pillars of the new strategy.
A central component of the plan is a significant expansion in postgraduate education. The university aims to nearly double the number of graduate students—from the current 3,800 to 7,400—over the next five years. This growth will focus on master’s and doctoral programmes, which university officials describe as critical to building a strong research base.
Prof. Nawangwe emphasised that postgraduate students play a vital role in driving innovation and producing solutions to national challenges. “Graduate students are the backbone of research and innovation. Expanding their numbers is essential if we are to remain competitive and impactful,” he said.
To support this target, the university is advocating for the establishment of a dedicated scholarship or loan scheme for postgraduate students. Officials argue that limited funding remains a major barrier to advanced study in Uganda, and addressing this gap will be crucial in achieving the enrolment targets.
The Vice Chancellor also reassured the public that Makerere is well prepared to accommodate learners transitioning from Uganda’s competence-based curriculum. He explained that the university has long adopted a similar approach in line with minimum standards set by the National Council for Higher Education and recent government directives.
“Our academic model already emphasises practical skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving, which are at the core of the competence-based curriculum,” he said, adding that the transition is unlikely to disrupt university operations.
The briefing further highlighted efforts by the College of Natural Sciences (CONAS) to address persistent challenges in science education, particularly poor performance in Biology at the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) level.
Led by Prof. Fredrick Muyodi, the CONAS team has undertaken a nationwide initiative to investigate the root causes of declining performance in the subject. The study, conducted in over 100 districts, engaged more than 5,000 stakeholders, including teachers, students, and education officials.
According to Prof. Muyodi, the initiative is structured in two phases and is expected to generate practical recommendations to improve science education outcomes. The findings are scheduled to be presented at a dissemination workshop at the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium.
Education experts have long expressed concern over weak performance in science subjects, warning that it could undermine Uganda’s ambitions to build a knowledge-based economy. Makerere’s intervention is therefore seen as a timely effort to address systemic gaps in teaching, learning resources, and curriculum delivery.
The university’s new strategic plan underscores a broader commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and national service. By expanding postgraduate education, strengthening research capacity, and addressing foundational challenges in science education, Makerere aims to reinforce its role as a key driver of Uganda’s development. As implementation begins, stakeholders will be watching closely to see how the institution translates its vision into measurable outcomes, particularly in increasing graduate enrolment and improving the quality of research and teaching across disciplines.