On 1st April 2026, the Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) at Makerere University, Professor Edward Bbaale hosted a delegation from the World Bank for a strategic partnership engagement ahead of the African Meeting of the Econometric Society scheduled to take place in June 2027. The International engagement will be preceded by the Econometric Society Summer School.
Focusing on macroeconomic stability, productivity, climate resilience, and youth employment, the African Meeting is expected to attract over 400 national and international participants. The Meeting has been deemed critical in advancing research and policy dialogue as well as planning and development across the continent.
The World Bank delegation consisted of Hassan Zaman-Regional Director for East Africa, Cyril Desponts-Country Senior Economist, and Liz Mukasa Samula-Country Economist. During the introduction, Liz Mukasa Samula stated that she is a proud alumnus of Makerere University, specifically, the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS).
At the College level, the meeting brought onboard, Professor Edward Bbaale, Associate Professor Eria Hisali, Associate Professor Ibrahim Mike Okumu, and Ritah Namisango.
Presentation by Mak CoBAMS
Welcoming the delegation, Prof. Bbaale presented the College of Business and Management Sciences as a centre of excellence in teaching and learning, research, policy engagement, knowledge transfer, and entrepreneurship. Prof. Bbaale informed the delegation about the great works under the School of Economics, School of Business, and the School of Statistics and Planning.
Highlighting the purpose of Mak CoBAMS in line with the strategic meeting, Prof. Bbaale explained that the World Bank is a leader in applied research, policy design, and capacity building, and therefore, as partner, they would enrich the discussions aimed at hosting a successful and impact-driven African Meeting of the Econometric Society. In addition, the partnership would present an opportunity to shape policy dialogue and engage Africa’s next generation of economists.
He added that at the national level, the Bank of Uganda, National Planning Authority, and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development had agreed to be partners.
Acknowledging that scholars, researchers and participants in general, would be delighted to engage with an authority in the discipline, Prof. Bbaale proposed a Policy Round Table moderated by the World Bank.
Building on Prof. Bbaale’s remarks, the Dean of the School of Economics, and a Member of the Global Organizing Committee, Associate Professor Ibrahim Mike Okumu, highlighted that partnership with the World Bank would strengthen the research-policy interface at scale.
At the strategic level, the Dean of the School of Economics, articulated that the partnership would establish a lasting platform to strengthen the role of economic research in development policy across Africa. He noted that some of topics, papers and research, would focus on African economics and development. He pointed out that the international engagement with participants from across the globe provides an opportunity to inform policy briefs on a wide range of topics
Contributing to the discussion, Associate Professor Eria Hisali, submitted that the Journal Publications under the World Bank would provide possible outlets for the dissemination of information and knowledge generated during the African Meeting of the Econometric Society.
Presentation by the delegation from the World Bank
The Regional Director for East Africa, Hassan Zaman, was pleased to visit Makerere University, an institution that has significantly contributed to knowledge creation and transfer as well as development.
Responding to the presentation from the College of Business and Management Sciences, Zaman welcomed the idea of potential collaboration. “Based on our knowledge bank perspective, it is of interest to engage.”
Specific to Africa, Zaman emphasized the need for topics on econometrics to be presented by experts from the continent. He welcomed the proposals on a Policy Round Table, Impact-driven Policy briefs, participating in the summer school, and representation of the World Bank on the Global Organising Committee.
Presentation on the Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence
During the Strategic Partnership Meeting, the delegation expressed interest in collaborating with the Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence based at Makerere University. “The World Bank will undertake a public investment review. Does the PIM Centre at Makerere University undertake analytical work?”
In response, the College team expressed readiness for collaboration with the World Bank. Consequently, the Principal of CoBAMS and his team, briefed the delegation on the PIM Centre of Excellence:
- Its main focus is capacity building through training of government officials along the entire project cycle.
- PIM Centre kicked off with seed funding from the World Bank. When the grant came to an end, Bank of Uganda came onboard to support.
- The Centre undertakes capacity building, research, and policy engagements.
- Every year in the month of August, Makerere University, College of Business and Management Sciences, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), and the National Planning Authority (NPA), hold a PIM Conference.
- Associate Professor Ibrahim Mike Okumu and Associate Professor Eria Hisali shared some of the ongoing research in the area of public investment management.
The Strategic Meeting concluded on a high note, with both parties not only acknowledging but receptive of the various prospects future collaboration and partnership presents.
