Education
Makerere University recruits 240 staff, promotes 81
Nawangwe said the recruitment and promotions are part of implementing the university's Strategic Plan 2025–2030, which prioritises academic excellence, research and innovation, infrastructure development and human resource development.
Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (right) addresses the media at Makerere University as Dr Andrew Kambugu (left), Executive Director of the Infectious Diseases Institute, looks on. (Photo by John Odyek)
By: John Odyek, Journalist @New Vision
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Makerere University has recruited 240 new staff and promoted 81 employees over the past one year as it strengthens teaching, research and service delivery ahead of the 2026/2027 academic year.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, said the recruitment and promotions are part of implementing the university's Strategic Plan 2025–2030, which prioritises academic excellence, research and innovation, infrastructure development and human resource development.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at Makerere University, Nawangwe said the institution continues to invest in its workforce to fill critical staffing gaps and improve service delivery.
"People remain at the heart of our strategic plan, as beneficiaries but as key implementers," he said. Of the 240 newly recruited staff, 88 are academic staff, including 62 assistant lecturers and 26 lecturers, while 152 are non-academic staff. The university also promoted 81 employees, comprising 65 academic staff and 16 non-academic staff.
Academic promotions included 16 assistant lecturers to lecturer level, 16 lecturers to senior lecturer level, 25 senior lecturers to associate professors, and eight associate professors to professors.
Nawangwe said Makerere continues to address staffing gaps created by retirements, resignations and specialised needs through targeted recruitment and post-retirement contracts, including professors reaching the age of 80 years and staff development programmes. He emphasised that recruitments were done transparently.
The Vice Chancellor announced that the 2026/2027 academic year will begin with the Freshers' Orientation week from August 1 to August 7, followed by Semester One from August 8 to December 5. The 77th graduation ceremony is scheduled for January 11 to 15, 2027. He urged newly admitted undergraduate and postgraduate students to access their provisional admission letters via the university application portal and complete registration by paying the required fees.
On infrastructure, Nawangwe said the Government has provided sh12 billion to renovate the CCE (Complex) Hall of Residence. The project, to be undertaken by the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), a business arm of the Uganda People's Defence Forces, is expected to be completed within 12 months and will improve accommodation for female students.
Nawangwe said Makerere continues to address staffing gaps created by retirements, resignations and specialised needs through targeted recruitment and post-retirement contracts, including professors reaching the age of 80 years and staff development programmes. He emphasised that recruitments were done transparently.
The Vice Chancellor announced that the 2026/2027 academic year will begin with the Freshers' Orientation week from August 1 to August 7, followed by Semester One from August 8 to December 5. The 77th graduation ceremony is scheduled for January 11 to 15, 2027. He urged newly admitted undergraduate and postgraduate students to access their provisional admission letters via the university application portal and complete registration by paying the required fees.
On infrastructure, Nawangwe said the Government has provided sh12 billion to renovate the CCE (Complex) Hall of Residence. The project, to be undertaken by the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), a business arm of the Uganda People's Defence Forces, is expected to be completed within 12 months and will improve accommodation for female students.
Makerere will host the East African Universities Debate Championships from July 26 to August 1, bringing together university debaters from across the region. Nawangwe said the event will strengthen intellectual exchange and leadership development among students.
He added that Makerere continues to play a leading role in Africa's response to the Ebola outbreak through the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), which recently hosted the Joint Continental Incident Management Support Team, a coordination hub established by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Africa to support surveillance, research and emergency response.
IDI executive director Dr Andrew Kambugu said IDI is honoured to host the joint continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST) in Kampala, noting that the platform coordinates partners to strengthen preparedness and response to disease outbreaks across African Union Member States.
He said IDI's role as the host underscores the growing contribution of African academic and scientific institutions to emergency coordination, evidence generation, training and knowledge sharing. "Hosting the continental IMST is not simply about providing a location; it is about creating an environment where science, evidence and partnerships strengthen Africa's capacity to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies," Kambugu told reporters.
He added that the initiative would leave a lasting impact beyond the current emergency response. "The greatest legacy of the joint continental IMST will not only be the support it provides during the current response, but the stronger institutions, stronger partnerships and stronger public health systems it helps build for the future," he said.
Kambugu said hosting the IMST is aligned with IDI's mission of advancing science, innovation and public health. He noted that it demonstrates how academic institutions can contribute to continental public health priorities beyond research and clinical care, while strengthening collaboration among governments, regional institutions and academia. He said the arrangement reinforces IDI's and Makerere University's contribution towards research, innovation, learning and workforce development in support of Africa's health security agenda.
He added that Makerere continues to play a leading role in Africa's response to the Ebola outbreak through the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), which recently hosted the Joint Continental Incident Management Support Team, a coordination hub established by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Africa to support surveillance, research and emergency response.
IDI executive director Dr Andrew Kambugu said IDI is honoured to host the joint continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST) in Kampala, noting that the platform coordinates partners to strengthen preparedness and response to disease outbreaks across African Union Member States.
He said IDI's role as the host underscores the growing contribution of African academic and scientific institutions to emergency coordination, evidence generation, training and knowledge sharing. "Hosting the continental IMST is not simply about providing a location; it is about creating an environment where science, evidence and partnerships strengthen Africa's capacity to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies," Kambugu told reporters.
He added that the initiative would leave a lasting impact beyond the current emergency response. "The greatest legacy of the joint continental IMST will not only be the support it provides during the current response, but the stronger institutions, stronger partnerships and stronger public health systems it helps build for the future," he said.
Kambugu said hosting the IMST is aligned with IDI's mission of advancing science, innovation and public health. He noted that it demonstrates how academic institutions can contribute to continental public health priorities beyond research and clinical care, while strengthening collaboration among governments, regional institutions and academia. He said the arrangement reinforces IDI's and Makerere University's contribution towards research, innovation, learning and workforce development in support of Africa's health security agenda.