9th March 2026– PhD students under the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) at Makerere University are participating in an intensive Data Analysis Training (STATA) aimed at enriching the qulaity of their research.
Organized by the Office of the Principal, in partnership with the Executive of the CoBAMS PhD Forum, the practical three-day training (9th to 11th March 2026) brings onboard PhD students, faculty members, and facilitators from the School of Business, School of Economics, and the School of Statistics and Planning.
Rolling out capacity building programmes for PhD students
In an interview with Ms. Ritah Namisango, the College Principal, Prof. Edward Bbaale articulated that the College leadership and members of faculty, are committed to working with the Executive of the CoBAMS PhD Forum, to provide a condusive and supportive teaching, learning and research environment to PhD students.
Prof. Bbaale notified the College Communication Office that the training was aimed at strengthening the capacity of PhD students in data analysis and improving the quality of research and publications. “The initiative seeks to equip scholars with practical analytical skills necessary for producing high-quality doctoral research and publishing in reputable academic journals,” he stated.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Networking
Addressing the PhD students on the first day of the training (9th March 2026), Dr. Kasimu Sendawula, a member of faculty from the School of Business, encouraged the PhD scholars to use the training to strengthen their analytical abilities and deepen their understanding of research methods.
Dr. Sendawula stated that strong data analysis skills are essential for producing credible research findings and contributing to knowledge and policy development.
Impressed by the participation of PhD scholars from Economics, Business, Statistics and Planning, Dr. Sendawula emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in research, and networking across disciplines.
Empowering PhD Students to analyse and Interpret data
Ms. Sylvia Namujuzi, Vice Chairperson of the CoBAMS PhD Forum, explained that the training was organized to address common challenges doctoral students face in analyzing and interpreting research data.
She observed that some PhD candidates depend heavily on external analysts, which can limit their ability to explain analytical procedures and results during thesis examinations.
“The training therefore aims to empower scholars to independently conduct and interpret their data analysis. The PhD students leadership will continue to implement capacity building programmes in partnership with the Office of the Principal, to provide exposure to diverse data analysis software, aimed at strengthening their analytical capacity and advancing research competence,” she said.
Practical Hands-on Learning
The program features practical sessions where participants work directly with their own datasets while learning key statistical concepts and analytical techniques. Facilitators guide scholars through the installation and use of statistical software, preparation of datasets, selection of appropriate statistical tests, and interpretation of research findings. Scholars are also introduced to key statistical concepts such as levels of measurement—nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio—and the difference between parametric and non-parametric methods.
Encouraging Academic Integrity and Quality Publishing
During the training, scholars were encouraged to understand the nature of their data and justify the statistical methods they apply. Addressing participants, the Dean, School of Business, Associate Professor Godfrey Akileng urged scholars to take doctoral studies seriously, noting that a PhD is fundamentally a research degree that requires discipline, commitment, and intellectual independence. He advised scholars to publish their research in reputable academic journals and avoid predatory publishers. He recommended targeting established international publishers such as Emerald, Springer, Taylor & Francis, and Elsevier, which maintain strong peer-review standards.
Building a Strong Research Community
The Data Analysis Training (STATA) will strengthen research capacity within CoBAMS by equipping doctoral scholars with practical data analysis skills, promoting collaboration across disciplines, and enhancing the quality of research outputs produced by the college. By empowering scholars to confidently analyze and interpret their own data, the initiative supports the production of credible research that contributes to academic excellence and informs policy and development.
