Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) Benchmarks Makerere University’s Research and Innovations Fund to Strengthen Research and Innovation Ecosystem
The Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) recently hosted a high-level benchmarking delegation from Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Pauline Byakika-Kibwika, for a strategic engagement aimed at sharing best practices in establishing and managing a university-based Research and Innovation Fund (RIF). The visit provided MUST with an opportunity to learn from Mak-RIF’s successful model of research funding, innovation management, commercialization, and institutional capacity building as it advances efforts to strengthen its own research and innovation ecosystem.
The visit reflects MUST’s commitment to building a sustainable institutional framework that promotes high-quality research, innovation, commercialization, and societal impact in line with Uganda’s National Development Agenda.
The highlight of the engagement was a comprehensive presentation by the Mak-RIF Coordinator, Dr. Roy William Mayega, who took the delegation through the evolution of the Research and Innovations Fund since its establishment in 2019. He outlined how Mak-RIF has transformed Makerere University’s research landscape by supporting multidisciplinary research, nurturing innovation, strengthening knowledge translation, and fostering strategic partnerships with government, industry, development partners, and local communities.
Dr. Mayega shared the key building blocks that have contributed to Mak-RIF’s success, including strong institutional leadership, transparent and competitive grant management systems, rigorous monitoring and evaluation, stakeholder engagement, intellectual property management, commercialization pathways, and continuous dissemination of research findings to inform policy and practice.
Recognizing MUST’s aspirations to establish its own Research and Innovation Fund (RIF), Dr. Mayega provided practical guidance on the critical considerations for developing a sustainable institutional funding mechanism. His presentation highlighted the importance of aligning the Fund with the university’s strategic priorities, establishing robust governance structures, mobilizing diverse funding sources, building strong research support systems, and cultivating partnerships that can translate research outputs into innovations with social and economic impact.
He emphasized that the success of a Research and Innovation Fund extends beyond financing research projects. It requires creating an enabling ecosystem where researchers are supported throughout the research value chain—from idea generation and proposal development to implementation, knowledge dissemination, commercialization, and policy uptake.
The discussions also explored Mak-RIF’s experiences in supporting researchers to develop solutions across health, agriculture, engineering, education, environmental sustainability, digital technologies, and industrial development, demonstrating how university research can directly contribute to national transformation and improved livelihoods.
Speaking during the visit, Prof. Pauline Byakika-Kibwika commended Makerere University for pioneering an institutional model that has significantly strengthened research excellence and innovation. She noted that the benchmarking exercise had provided valuable practical lessons that will guide MUST as it develops a Research and Innovation Fund tailored to its institutional context while drawing on the proven success of Mak-RIF.
The engagement further reaffirmed the importance of collaboration among Uganda’s universities in building stronger research ecosystems. Through sharing experiences, institutional best practices, and lessons learned, universities can collectively enhance research quality, increase innovation output, strengthen commercialization efforts, and contribute more effectively to national development.
The benchmarking visit concluded with a shared commitment to deepen collaboration between Makerere University and MUST through joint research initiatives, capacity building, knowledge exchange, innovation partnerships, and institutional strengthening.
As Uganda continues to prioritize science, technology, and innovation as key drivers of socio-economic transformation, partnerships such as this underscore the vital role that universities play in generating knowledge, nurturing innovation, and delivering evidence-based solutions to the country’s most pressing development challenges.
