PIM Centre Awards Certificates to MoKCC&MA Officers after Safeguards Training
The Makerere University Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence has awarded certificates to over 30 officers from the Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs (MoKCC&MA) following the successful completion of a four-day training on Managing Environmental and Social Safeguards in the Procurement Cycle.
The certificate award ceremony, held on February 13, 2026 was presided over by the Under Secretary of MoKCC&MA, Ms. Monica Edemachu Ejua, and attended by university leaders, facilitators, and development partners.
Building Sustainable Procurement Systems
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Prof. Eria Hisali congratulated the participants for pioneering the programme and reaffirmed the PIM Centre’s commitment to strengthening public investment management across the entire project cycle.
Prof. Hisali traced the origins of the PIM Centre to the 2020/2021 financial year, when it was established with initial support from the British Government under a World Bank trust fund. He explained that the Centre was created to equip public sector officials with skills to assess the financial and economic viability of public investment projects.
“We started by focusing on whether projects make financial and economic sense. But public investment management goes beyond feasibility. It includes procurement, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability considerations,” he noted.
He emphasized that procurement professionals serve as critical gatekeepers in ensuring value for money in public projects. However, he added that modern procurement must go beyond cost considerations to integrate environmental and social sustainability.
“This training marks an important step in mainstreaming sustainability issues into procurement processes,” Prof. Hisali said.
First Cohort of a World Bank-Initiated Programme
Dr. Jude Mugarura, the Lead Trainer, highlighted that development of the training module began three years ago at the initiative of the World Bank. The programme brought together experts from multiple institutions and disciplines, including three colleges at Makerere University—CoBAMS, the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences—working under the PIM Centre of Excellence.
Facilitators also included experts from the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), corporate practitioners, and specialists from the World Bank.
Dr. Mugarura noted that the MoKCC&MA officers formed the first cohort to receive the training, positioning them at the forefront of integrating environmental and social safeguards into procurement practices.
“We appreciate the World Bank for coordinating the development of these materials and supporting the training. We are proud that you are the first group to benefit from this internationally benchmarked programme,” he said.
Call for Practical, Impact-Oriented Training
In her closing remarks, Under Secretary Monica Edemachu Ejua thanked Makerere University and the facilitators for dedicating time and expertise to build the capacity of ministry staff.
She described the training as timely and strategic, noting that it lays a strong foundation for implementation of the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme, as well as other government initiatives.
“This training is not just about one programme. It sets the foundation for sustainability in government projects,” she said.
The Under Secretary challenged universities to strengthen practical components in their curricula to better prepare graduates for the demands of public service. She underscored the importance of collaboration between academia and government in addressing national challenges such as waste management, environmental protection, and sustainable urban development.
“Developed countries have worked closely with academia to solve their problems. As government, we must continue partnering with institutions like Makerere to find practical solutions to our challenges,” she emphasized.
She further reminded participants of their responsibility as public officers to promote patriotism, accountability, and sustainability in service delivery.
Expanding the PIM Offering
The training forms part of the PIM Centre’s broader strategy to expand its offerings beyond project appraisal to cover the entire public investment management cycle. Going forward, the Centre plans to deliver modular programmes covering procurement, monitoring and evaluation, project conceptualization, and sustainability integration.
The ceremony concluded with the award of certificates to participants and facilitators, marking another milestone in Makerere University’s contribution to strengthening public sector capacity and promoting sustainable public investment in Uganda.
