Kampala, Uganda: Makerere University has launched electronic academic transcripts and certificates, enabling graduates to access their academic credentials online while allowing employers and other authorised institutions to verify them digitally, in a major milestone in the university’s ongoing digital transformation.
The new e-transcript and e-certificate system is part of broader reforms that also include expanded online learning and the rollout of Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) from the 2026/2027 academic year.
Speaking to Uganda Radio Network (URN), Academic Registrar Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza said the digital certification platform will eliminate the need for graduates to repeatedly visit the university to obtain certified copies of their academic documents.
“The new e-transcripts and certificates will enable graduates to access their academic documents electronically while allowing employers and other third parties to verify their authenticity online with the graduate’s permission,” Buyinza said.
He explained that the initiative is expected to improve the security, credibility and accessibility of Makerere’s academic records while making verification services faster and more efficient for graduates, employers and academic institutions.
Beyond digital certification, Buyinza revealed that Makerere has fully institutionalised blended learning, combining face-to-face teaching with online instruction across its academic programmes.
He added that the university is also developing fully online degree programmes that will allow students from anywhere in the world to study remotely and graduate with Makerere University qualifications.
According to Buyinza, the reforms are intended to modernise the delivery of higher education while expanding access to learning through technology.
Beginning with the 2026/2027 academic year, the university will also implement revised curricula aligned with the government’s directive to adopt Competency-Based Education and Training. The curriculum reforms are designed to equip students with practical, industry-relevant skills that improve employability and better respond to labour market demands.
Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe dismissed claims that Makerere is facing a shortage of lecturers, insisting the institution remains among the best-staffed universities on the continent.
Speaking during an update on the university’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, Nawangwe said Makerere currently has about 32,000 students and approximately 1,400 teaching staff, including 1,100 lecturers with doctoral qualifications.
He said the university’s lecturer-to-student ratio of 1:21 exceeds the international benchmark of one lecturer for every 35 students, reflecting Makerere’s continued investment in academic excellence.
According to Nawangwe, the growing number of PhD holders has strengthened the university’s research capacity and enhanced the performance of both staff and students in international research and academic competitions.
He also rejected reports that Makerere has frozen staff recruitment and promotions. “The university continues to make significant strides in building a robust and motivated workforce through strategic recruitment, appointments and promotions,” Nawangwe said.
The Vice Chancellor noted that over the past year, the University’s Appointments Board approved several appointments to key academic leadership positions, including deans and heads of departments, while recruiting academic, administrative and support staff to fill critical vacancies.
Although retirements and natural staff attrition continue to create staffing gaps, Nawangwe said the university remains committed to replacing departing personnel and attracting top talent as it implements its strategic plan.
–By URN–
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