Makerere, Mutebile Foundation Seal Deal to Boost Private Sector Growth
By Buwule Joseph Mary
Makerere University has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tumusiime Mutebile Foundation to advance the Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile Centre of Excellence for Private Sector Development, in a move aimed at strengthening collaboration between academia, policymakers, and the private sector.
The agreement, which will run for an initial five-year period, formalises a strategic partnership focused on promoting research, policy dialogue, entrepreneurship development, innovation, and knowledge exchange to support Uganda’s economic transformation.
The partnership brings together Makerere’s vast academic and research capacity with the Foundation’s mission to preserve and advance the legacy of the late Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile, one of Uganda’s most influential economic reformers and a distinguished alumnus of the University.
Advancing a Shared Vision
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Amama Mbabazi, Chairman of the Tumusiime Mutebile Foundation, described the MoU as a milestone in building a purposeful partnership anchored in knowledge and national development.
“This is an important occasion because it formalises a partnership between two institutions with a shared commitment to knowledge, to national development, and to the advancement of Uganda’s private sector,” he said.
Mbabazi emphasised that Uganda’s future prosperity will depend on the strength and competitiveness of its private sector, underscoring the need to nurture innovation, entrepreneurship, and sound economic policy.
According to him, the Centre will serve as a practical platform where research informs policy, young people are trained and inspired, partnerships are cultivated, and innovation is supported to enable enterprise growth.
“These are not separate concerns,” he noted. “They are all part of the same national task: building an economy that creates jobs, expands opportunity, and improves the lives of our people.”
Makerere to Host Centre
Under the arrangement, Makerere University will host the Centre of Excellence, leveraging its research infrastructure, innovation ecosystem, and network of scholars to drive its activities.
Representing the University leadership, Prof. Sarah Ssali reaffirmed Makerere’s commitment to ensuring the success of the initiative.
“Makerere University is fully committed to hosting, resourcing, and championing the Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile Centre of Excellence, and we look forward to working closely with the Foundation to attract additional partnerships that will strengthen its impact,” she said.
The collaboration is expected to bridge academic excellence with real-world private sector engagement, positioning the Centre as a national hub for policy research, entrepreneurship development, and dialogue on economic transformation.
Honouring Mutebile’s Legacy
The establishment of the Centre also serves as a tribute to the enduring legacy of Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile, who served for many years as Governor of the Bank of Uganda and played a central role in shaping the country’s economic policy and institutional development.
Mutebile was widely respected for his intellectual depth, commitment to sound economic management, and dedication to building strong institutions capable of supporting sustainable growth.
Through the Centre, both Makerere University and the Tumusiime Mutebile Foundation aim not only to honour his contributions but also to advance the values he championed, including policy discipline, intellectual rigour, and national development.
As Mbabazi observed, the legacy should go beyond remembrance to meaningful impact. “It is about creating a platform through which research can inform policy, through which young people can be trained and inspired, and through which innovation can be supported,” he said.
Driving Innovation and Growth
The Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile Centre of Excellence for Private Sector Development is expected to operate as a hub for research, capacity building, entrepreneurship support, and policy engagement.
By bringing together academia, policymakers, business leaders, and innovators, the Centre will foster practical solutions to challenges facing Uganda’s private sector while nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs and economic leaders.
The partnership marks a significant step toward ensuring that Mutebile’s legacy continues to inspire ideas, institutions, and opportunities that will shape Uganda’s long-term economic prosperity.
