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| Makerere University Business School | |
|---|---|
| Name | Makerere University Business School |
| Established | 1997 (as autonomous entity) |
| Type | Public business school |
| Parent | Makerere University |
| City | Nakawa, Kampala |
| Country | Uganda |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colours | Blue and Gold |
Makerere University Business School is a public business school affiliated with Makerere University located in the Nakawa neighborhood of Kampala. It serves as a centre for professional education and executive training in East Africa, offering a range of undergraduate, postgraduate and diploma programmes. The school engages with regional institutions, development agencies and private sector partners to deliver teaching, research and consultancy services.
The institution traces roots to the commercial studies arm of Makerere University and evolved through restructuring during the late 20th century as reforms influenced by donors and multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. During the 1990s and early 2000s it consolidated programmes previously offered by faculties linked to Makerere University and gained greater autonomy under governance arrangements influenced by national policy reforms led by the Ministry of Education and Sports (Uganda), the Uganda National Council for Higher Education and statutory instruments enacted by the Parliament of Uganda. Prominent educational figures and administrators associated with the school include academics who previously worked with University of Nairobi, University of Dar es Salaam, University of Ibadan and visiting scholars from London School of Economics, Harvard Business School and INSEAD-linked networks. The school’s development was shaped by regional initiatives such as the East African Community integration agenda and capacity building programmes supported by bilateral partners including DFID and the European Union.
The Nakawa campus sits adjacent to notable Kampala landmarks including the Kampala Business and Industrial Park corridor and transport links to Entebbe International Airport. Facilities include lecture halls, computer laboratories, an executive training centre and a business incubation hub modelled after centres at Strathmore University, University of Pretoria and Stellenbosch University. Campus amenities offer student services comparable to nearby institutions such as Uganda Christian University and Kyambogo University, and the library collections complement holdings at Makerere University Main Library, with subscriptions to databases used by partners like African Development Bank research units. Meeting spaces have hosted conferences attended by delegates from Commonwealth Secretariat, African Union commissions and corporate delegations from Standard Chartered Bank (Uganda), Stanbic Bank Uganda and regional chambers including the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Academic offerings span diploma, bachelor and master’s degrees in fields reflecting industry demand and professional accreditation bodies such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Uganda and the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply. Undergraduate degrees include programmes in accounting, finance, marketing, human resource management and procurement, aligning with curricula at institutions like University of Ghana and Makerere University faculties. Postgraduate provision includes Master of Business Administration streams, executive education, and specialist masters in areas related to development finance, entrepreneurship and public sector management, with collaborations echoing programme design at London Business School and Columbia Business School. Short professional courses prepare candidates for examinations by bodies such as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and the Project Management Institute.
Research themes emphasise entrepreneurship, small and medium enterprise growth, development finance, public sector reform and corporate governance. The school hosts centres and units that collaborate with external research actors including the Economic Policy Research Centre, the Makerere University Joint AIDS Program, the Uganda Industrial Research Institute and international research funders like the International Development Research Centre and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Specialized centres focus on entrepreneurship incubation, labour market studies in liaison with the International Labour Organization and business ethics aligned with initiatives by the Transparency International chapters regionally. Faculty publish in outlets frequented by scholars from University of Cape Town, University of Lagos and University of Johannesburg.
Governance structures reflect statutory oversight by Makerere University councils and boards, with an executive leadership team responsible for academic affairs, finance and external relations. Administrative arrangements interact with regulatory bodies including the Uganda National Council for Higher Education and donor oversight mechanisms from organisations such as World Bank project teams. Leadership appointments have historically involved academics with prior service in institutions like University of Nairobi and policy roles within the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (Uganda). Internal committees cover curriculum, research ethics and partnerships, mirroring practices at peer institutions such as University of Dar es Salaam and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
Student life features academic societies, professional clubs and cultural organisations that link students to national associations like the Uganda Law Society (for legal electives) and industry bodies including the Uganda Insurers Association. Extracurricular activities range from debating societies that compete with teams from Makerere University and Nile University to entrepreneurship challenges co-organised with Tony Elumelu Foundation alumni events and hackathons supported by African Entrepreneurship Collective. Sports and cultural festivals engage groups associated with Kampala venues such as KICC (Kampala International Conference Centre) and student media outlets collaborate with broadcasters like Radio Simba and the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation.
The school maintains partnerships with regional universities, international business schools and private sector firms, including exchange links with Strathmore University, University of Nairobi and executive training tie-ups with McKinsey & Company and KPMG. Alumni occupy roles across government ministries such as Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (Uganda), multinationals including MTN Group and development agencies like United Nations Development Programme. Networking and mentorship activities connect graduates to alumni chapters in cities such as Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Addis Ababa. Category:Universities in Uganda