Makerere University has strengthened its workforce by recruiting 240 new employees and promoting 81 existing staff members as part of efforts to improve academic performance, research, and service delivery ahead of the 2026/2027 academic year.
Speaking during a media briefing at the university on Wednesday, Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe said the appointments are in line with Makerere’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, which focuses on enhancing teaching, research, innovation, infrastructure, and human resource development.
Prof. Nawangwe said investing in staff remains a key priority for the university as it works to address staffing shortages caused by retirements, resignations, and increasing demand for specialised expertise.
Of the newly recruited employees, 88 are academic staff, including 62 assistant lecturers and 26 lecturers, while 152 are non-academic staff recruited to support university operations.
The university also promoted 81 employees, comprising 65 academic staff and 16 non-academic staff. Among the academic promotions, 16 assistant lecturers advanced to lecturer level, 16 lecturers became senior lecturers, 25 senior lecturers were elevated to associate professors, and eight associate professors attained the rank of professor.
Prof. Nawangwe said the recruitment exercise was conducted transparently and forms part of broader efforts to strengthen the institution’s human resource capacity. He added that Makerere continues to retain experienced scholars through post-retirement contracts where necessary while investing in staff development programmes.
New Academic Calendar Released
The Vice Chancellor also unveiled the university’s academic calendar for the 2026/2027 academic year.
Freshers’ orientation is scheduled to run from August 1 to August 7, while Semester One will officially begin on August 8 and end on December 5, 2026. The university’s 77th graduation ceremony is expected to take place between January 11 and January 15, 2027.
He encouraged all newly admitted undergraduate and postgraduate students to download their provisional admission letters through the university’s online application portal and complete registration by paying the required tuition and functional fees.
Prof. Nawangwe announced that the Government has allocated Shs12 billion for the renovation of CCE (Complex) Hall of Residence, a project expected to improve accommodation facilities for female students.
The renovation will be undertaken by the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) and is expected to be completed within one year.
Makerere University will also host the East African Universities Debate Championships from July 26 to August 1, bringing together student debaters from universities across the region.
According to Prof. Nawangwe, the competition will promote intellectual engagement, leadership development, and regional collaboration among students.
Makerere Supports Africa’s Disease Response
The Vice Chancellor further highlighted Makerere University’s contribution to Africa’s public health response through its Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), which is currently hosting the Joint Continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST) established by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa.
IDI Executive Director Dr. Andrew Kambugu said hosting the continental team demonstrates the growing role of African academic institutions in strengthening disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, research, and coordination during public health crises.
He noted that beyond responding to the current Ebola situation, the initiative is expected to strengthen institutions, partnerships, and public health systems across Africa.
Dr. Kambugu said the collaboration also reflects Makerere University’s continued commitment to advancing scientific research, innovation, and workforce development in support of the continent’s health security agenda.
