The former Chief Justice Bart Katureebe has advised Uganda Management Institute – UMI, to look beyond government funding.
Katureebe, who is also the institute’s Chancellor, noted that although UMI has goals, they may not be realized due to financial uncertainties stemming from the lack of government support.
Katureebe advised the institute’s management to look into alternative funding sources like establishing endowment funds and drawing research grant funding.
Katureebe was speaking on Friday during the institution’s 20th graduation ceremony held at their main campus in Kampala.
Katureebe also reminded the institute about the need to carry out research on several critical needs of society.
“Education is only as good as it answers societal challenges. To the early explorers, education was required to deliver an easy, fast, secure sea route to India, and the next generation needed faster mobility, communication…as UMI we have an opportunity to be the center global of research,” he said.
Dr. James Nkata, the UMI Director General, said that under his leadership, their footprint in research is growing with an increase in publications from academic staff since their last graduation from 17 to 21.
Dr. Nkata also stressed that in order to stay afloat, they have begun forming partnerships with organizations, many specialized colleges in Uganda, and foreign governments. Under this arrangement, they have partnered with relevant ministries to enhance the Civil Service College in Jinja, Senior Staff College Kimaka, and Police Senior Staff College Bwebajja.
Katureebe noted that alliances like the one with the Ministry of Public Service would aid the institute in regaining the authority to manage the Civil Service College that had been detached from it thirty years ago.
UMI, originally known as the Uganda Institute of Public Administration, was founded in 1968 with the goal of establishing a cadre of Africans who could take on more responsibility when the continent gained independence in 1962.
The Institute of Public Administration was a division of the Ministry of Public Service up to 1992. This status changed once the Civil Service College was separated from the Institution in 1992 and the Uganda Management Institute Statute was passed.
Nkata also announced that they have added new courses to match among other reasons, the needs of the world of work. Among the new programs is the chartered institute of public relations. He said that the first cohort is anticipated to begin studying in January.
The other courses are Postgraduate diplomas in journalism and communication management, leadership and management in education, management and administration of health services, and diplomacy and management of international relations among the other new programs.
During the ceremony, 2,839 students were conferred Master’s degrees, postgraduate diplomas, and ordinary diplomas while four students were awarded a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.).
-URN
