Ag. Deputy Principal Assoc. Prof. Rachel Mindra Katoroogo, Principal Prof. Moses Muhwezi, Guild President Rose Nabwire, BoU Deputy Governor Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba, Council Chairperson Ms. Olive B. Lumonya, and the Guild Vice President H.E Pius Mugwanya during the MUBS 7th Council retreat at Imperial Resort Beach Hotel, Entebbe
Makerere University Business School (MUBS) has reaffirmed its commitment to academic excellence, strong governance, and competence-based learning as the newly inaugurated 7th Council begins its term of office. The new Council is expected to steer the institution towards greater innovation, accountability, and alignment with national development priorities under Uganda Vision 2040 and the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV).
This commitment was underscored during a two-day Council induction and retreat held from 23–24 October 2025 at Imperial Resort Beach Hotel, Entebbe. Organised by the Directorate of the School Secretary, the retreat brought together Council members and top management to reflect on strategies for strengthening institutional performance and enhancing MUBS’ role in delivering competence – based , industry-relevant education in line with NDP IV’s Human Capital Development and Private Sector Development programmes.
“MUBS programmes must be industry-engaged and market-relevant, and our applied research must address national priorities,”-
Ms. Olive B. Lumonya,
During the event, Assoc. Prof. Rachel Mindra Katoroogo, Acting Deputy Principal, was sworn in as a new member of the Council. Council Chairperson, Ms Olive Birungi Lumonya, noted that the induction ushers in a new era of accountability, innovation, and
growth at MUBS, aligning the School with the Government’s 2027/2028 competence-based education mandate and broader reforms articulated in Vision 2040 and NDP IV. She urged Management to upskill faculty and embed industry- validated, work-integrated learning and capstone projects in all programmes, ensuring that MUBS remains market-relevant and that applied research directly addresses national development priorities, including job creation, enterprise development, and digital transformation.
She reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to effective governance, sustainable growth, and collective responsibility, emphasizing that Council will work hand-in-hand with Management to enhance performance, track key indicators, and uphold ethical accountability at every level, in line with emerging best practice and national expectations for public higher education institutions.
Presenting the School’s progress report, the MUBS Principal, Prof. Moses Muhwezi, highlighted key institutional achievements and priorities that position MUBS as a strategic implementing partner of NDP IV. He reported that the School currently offers 47 academic programmes, with an enrollment of 14,337 students for the 2025/2026 academic year, and expects to graduate 2,288 students in 2026, the highest number at the Makerere University graduation ceremony.
He further showcased the impact of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Incubation Centre (EIIC), which has supported over 5,000 youth through the online Business Academy and trained 22 staff members under the I- Upshift programme in partnership with UNICEF, with a target of reaching 900 youth across Kampala, Arua, and Mbarara. These initiatives align with Government’s Ten-Fold Growth Strategy and NDP IV’s focus on enterprise development, skills for employability, and youth livelihoods.
Prof. Muhwezi also reported progress in legal and policy affairs, noting that the School’s Legal Affairs Directorate has registered with the Law Council, resolved six of thirteen pending cases since July 2023, and reviewed over 90 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) to strengthen institutional collaboration and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. This work underpins MUBS’ governance reforms and its aspiration to model accountability and rule-of-law principles envisaged under Vision 2040.
Addressing the retreat, Bank of Uganda Deputy Governor, Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba, urged MUBS to deepen the practical orientation of its programmes by engaging “professors of practice” and to establish an endowment fund to support research, innovation, and scholarships.
He observed that a well-managed endowment fund provides a stable source of income, enabling universities to plan long-term, maintain financial independence, and contribute meaningfully to the research and innovation agenda envisaged in Vision 2040 and NDP IV.
Experts from the Institute of Corporate Governance of Uganda (ICGU), CEO Mr Dison Okumu and consultant Mr Joseph Matovu, facilitated sessions on corporate governance, ethical leadership, and accountability.
Their engagements equipped Council members with tools for effective oversight and decision-making, reinforcing MUBS’s resolution to strengthen governance, safeguard institutional integrity, and deliver high-quality, competence-based education that responds to national and regional needs, while positioning the School as a key partner in the implementation of Vision 2040 and NDP IV.
A well-managed endowment fund provides a stable source of income, enabling universities to plan long-term, maintain financial independence, and contribute meaningfully to the research and innovation agenda envisaged in Vision 2040 and NDP IV.