From September 16th to 18th, 2026, the key stakeholders from Kyambogo University (KyU) gathered for a landmark retreat dedicated to operationalizing the university’s newly proposed Research and Innovations Fund (KyU RIF), a direct response to Kyambogo’s November 2025 proposal to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MOFPED). Designed to support multidisciplinary, evidence-based research aligned with Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan (NDPIV), the initiative sits at the heart of KyU’s Strategic Plan 2025/26 – 2029/30 to drive sustainable industrialization and inform national policy in real time.
Opening the retreat, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Eli Katunguka reinforced management’s readiness to champion a result-oriented research ecosystem. Emphasizing that research is fundamentally about building human capacity, fostering networks, and delivering actionable solutions, Prof. Katunguka highlighted the necessity of strict accountability for all grant recipients.
To ensure seamless execution, management is deploying dedicated governance bodies, including a Grants Management Committee, a Project Implementation Committee, and robust Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) systems among others.
Assoc, Prof. Hasifa Nampala explaining to VC Prof. Eli Katunguka how research can drive sustainable development while Principal Legal Counsel Clare Ninsiima and Chief Internal Audit, Mr. Ashim look on 
The Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Assoc. Prof. Justus Kwetegyeka, expressed gratitude to the Vice Chancellor’s office for sponsoring the workshop. He commended the ad-hoc committee’s preliminary efforts and highlighted the importance of bringing key decision-makers into the room to guarantee the responsible stewardship of public funds.
Prof. Kwetegyeka highlighted that a staggering 195 research applications have already been submitted, signaling strong academic engagement across faculties.
The committee reaffirmed its commitment to managing institutional resources strictly within legal, ethical, and regulatory standards. By bridging academic research with national industrialization goals, Kyambogo University is positioning itself to deliver evidence-based solutions, advance inclusive scientific practices, and drive economic transformation across Uganda.
The University Secretary, Mr. Arthur Katongole discussing with the Members of the Adhoc committee, Dr. Anne Nakagiri and Dr. Judith Nagasha about the project implimentation