The Makerere University Business School (MUBS) officially opened the induction and orientation retreat for its 7th Council (2025–2029) at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel on Thursday.
The three-day event, themed around leadership, governance, and accountability, brought together council members and top management for an insightful engagement aimed at strengthening institutional performance and collaboration.
In her opening remarks, Olive B. Lumonya, Chairperson of the 7th MUBS Council, emphasised the council’s commitment to effective governance and strategic oversight in advancing the university’s mission and vision.
“As the 7th Council takes office, we're excited to build on the foundation laid by our predecessors. This induction marks a new chapter in our journey and core mandate. To uphold MUBS' mission and vision, we must commit to effective governance, ensuring sustainable growth and collective responsibility. Our role is to provide oversight, support the university's core mandate, and build a strong, sustainable image for MUBS.
She added, "We'll work closely with management to drive performance, measure KPIs, and promote ethical accountability among all stakeholders.”
The Chairperson’s address set a strong tone for collaboration between the council and management in steering the institution towards sustainable development and academic excellence.
Prof. Moses Muhwezi, Principal of MUBS, gave the council a comprehensive update on the state of the school, outlining key achievements, strategic priorities, and ongoing initiatives.
“The school offers 47 academic programmes and has admitted 14,337 students in the academic year 2025/26. MUBS is set to graduate 2,288 students in 2026, with a notable 56% female and 44% male representation, presenting the highest number of graduates at the Makerere University graduation,” he said.
He also highlighted progress made by the MUBS Entrepreneurship and Innovation Incubation Centre (EIIC), noting its success in empowering young entrepreneurs.
“The MUBS Entrepreneurship and Innovation Incubation Centre (EIIC) has achieved significant success, onboarding over 5,000 youth to develop business ideas through the online Business Academy. The I-Upshift programme, in partnership with UNICEF, has trained 22 staff members and aims to reach 900 youth in Kampala, Arua, and Mbarara.”
On legal and policy matters, Prof. Muhwezi reported that the school’s Legal Affairs Department had registered with the Law Council, resolved six of thirteen pending cases since July 2023, and reviewed over 90 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to support institutional policy formulation.
He underscored the importance of the induction in aligning council and management efforts.
“This induction is very key as members of the council need to know what we are doing, what the school is all about and our future plans. As members of management, it is important to hear the message that the council has for us. We are also here to look at the strategic plan of MUBS.”
During the session, Dison Okumu, CEO of the Institute of Corporate Governance of Uganda (ICGU), delivered a presentation on corporate governance principles, focusing on ethical leadership, legal responsibilities, and best practices for council members.
The induction and retreat provided a platform for the new council to familiarise themselves with MUBS operations and strengthen their role in ensuring effective oversight and strategic growth.
The programme also featured a shared commitment from both the council and management to advance MUBS’ vision of becoming a leading business education institution in the region.