Makerere’s rise: A story of vision, resilience and renewal

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OPINION

By Mike Ibrahim Okumu

Makerere University has once again made Uganda proud. In the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the university was ranked the best in East Africa and scored 69.7 per cent for international outlook—far ahead of its regional peers. The University of Rwanda came second with 57.5 per cent, while the top universities in Kenya and Tanzania each scored 54.6 per cent.

Behind this success is a story of focus and planning. Makerere did not achieve this position by accident. With more than 2,500 international students from over 40 countries, the university has deliberately worked to attract talent from across Africa and beyond.

It has invested in quality teaching, global partnerships, and an education model that balances excellence with affordability.

Makerere is not a newcomer to greatness. Established in 1922, it is Uganda’s oldest institution of higher learning and one of Africa’s most respected universities. Over the years, it has educated many of the continent’s leaders—presidents, ministers, scientists, and business executives. But its current success is not just about history. Makerere has been quietly renewing itself to meet the demands of a fast-changing world.

In health sciences, Makerere continues to shine. Its Infectious Diseases Institute has become one of Africa’s leading centres for medical research and training. The institute’s work on HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and malaria has saved lives and shaped public health policy in Uganda and beyond. Through such research, Uganda is contributing directly to global solutions in health.

The university is also making big strides in agriculture through the Makerere University Regional Centre for Crop Improvement—better known as MaRCCI. Supported by the World Bank and the African Union, MaRCCI trains plant breeders and agricultural scientists from more than 20 African countries. Its research has led to new, high-yielding and drought-tolerant varieties of cowpea, maize, and sorghum—crops that are vital to household food and income security.

MaRCCI is also helping to build human capacity. It has trained more than 180 master’s and PhD students, nearly half of them women, who now lead research and agricultural programmes across Africa. This focus on practical science and gender inclusion shows that Makerere is not just teaching; it is transforming lives.

Partnerships have been key to the university’s progress. One of the most visible is with the Mastercard Foundation, an organisation based in Canada. Through this partnership, Makerere offers scholarships to students from 12 African countries, including Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Cameroon, and Zimbabwe. More than 100 international students are currently enrolled under this programme. Such initiatives have given Makerere a strong international character while keeping its doors open to talented young Africans from all backgrounds.

Unlike many universities that have raised tuition sharply, Makerere has kept its fees relatively affordable while maintaining academic quality. This balance has made it attractive to both Ugandan and foreign students.

Equally important is the way Makerere’s academic programmes are evolving. The Department of European and Oriental Studies, for instance, offers courses in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, and Kiswahili—languages that are no longer confined to the humanities but are increasingly being integrated into other disciplines such as tourism, agribusiness, business administration, and social research.

This growing inclusion of international languages reflects Makerere’s commitment to producing graduates who can operate in a borderless world of work. By equipping students with both technical and linguistic skills, the university is preparing a generation that can thrive anywhere—from Kampala to Kigali, Nairobi to Beijing.

Beyond academics, Makerere participates in international student-exchange programmes through the Talloires Network, which links universities from 27 countries across Africa, Asia, and the United States. The university’s International Office ensures that foreign students are well supported from admission to graduation, helping them feel at home in Uganda’s capital.

Makerere’s success is not only a source of national pride but also proof that public institutions can compete globally when properly managed and supported. It shows that Uganda’s investment in education is paying off. The university’s achievements in research, innovation, and partnerships continue to raise the country’s profile across the world. This is further attested by the 2025 Thomas Sterner Best PhD Thesis Paper Award, which was presented to Maxwell Clovice Kamanyire, a PhD (Economics) candidate at Makerere University, for his outstanding research titled “Rural Electrification and Women Empowerment: Do Bargaining Game Approaches with Real Household Items Reduce the Bias?”

The award, named after Swedish economist Thomas Sterner, recognises exceptional doctoral research in development and environmental economics—and Kamanyire’s win speaks volumes about the quality of mentorship and research training at Makerere.

Notwithstanding the challenges that public universities continue to face—such as limited resources and infrastructure constraints—Makerere’s steady progress shows that excellence is possible even within limitations. Its resilience and strategic leadership have made it a model of what African universities can achieve with vision, consistency, and national support.

As Makerere approaches its 105th anniversary, its challenge will be to keep the balance between tradition and change—between serving Uganda and connecting with the world. Yet its journey so far offers a simple but powerful message: when excellence is pursued with discipline and vision, greatness follows.

In every sense, Makerere University is not just Uganda’s pride; it is Africa’s promise—a living example of how knowledge, when shared, can lift nations and shape the future.

The writer is Associate Professor and Dean, Makerere University School of Economics

Fellow of The Uganda National Academy of Sciences (FUNAS)