By KT Reporter
Makerere Happy With New Varsity Rankings Makerere University has welcomed the 2026 Times Higher Education World University ranking.
The ranking, released on Thursday, placed Makerere University in the eighth position in Africa. Makerere was voted the top university in the East African region and number in the 801-1000 band.
Prof. Sarah Ssali, Acting Vice Chancellor, said the ranking reflects the institution’s renewed commitment to academic excellence, research innovation, and regional leadership.
Prof. Ssali, who has just assumed the office of the deputy vice chancellor in charge of academic affairs, said the ranking signals Makerere’s return to prominence and its determination to maintain and build on its top position in Africa.
The ranking assessed universities on five performance indicators. Makerere scored 21.5 in teaching, 26.6 in research environment, 54.2 in research quality, 32.8 in industry collaboration, and performed strongly in international outlook with 69.7.
However, the latest ranking reveals that Makerere has experienced a decline over the past decade. In 2016, Makerere was ranked in the global 401–500 band, highlighting a period of lower international performance before its recent rebound.
Earlier this year, Makerere faced criticism when the Times Higher Education 2025 rankings placed it in the 1201–1500 global band. In statements, the university defended its position amid public scrutiny and social media campaigns targeting the current management.
Commenting on the previous ranking, Dr. Cyprian Misinde, Director Quality Assurance, said the 2025 results were lower due to data issues, noting that Times Higher Education had not fully captured all aspects of the university’s performance.
Prof. Julius Kikooma, Director of Graduate Training, noted that in recent years the University has been improving and streamlining several systems in teaching, learning, research, and innovation. He said some of the efforts include simplifying the application process, tracking curricula, and monitoring student satisfaction, among others.
Prof. Robert Wamala, Director Innovation, Research and Partnerships, said the university has enhanced the research environment by establishing laboratories used by both the university and the public, equipped to international standards.
Makerere also leads in human resources, hosting 80 percent of all PhD holders in the country. We are winning research funding, rewarding top-performing researchers, and managing our data far better than five years ago, when tracking was difficult,” he said.
He added, “Our University collaborates with over 1,000 partners. Through Makerere Innovation Pods, we are extending research beyond publications, transforming ideas into products that benefit communities,” he said.
However, concerns remain that teaching and learning at Makerere still rank low. Among the five performance parameters, it scored the lowest. Prof. Kikooma sought to explain this, noting that the metrics used may not fully reflect the university’s strengths.
“The data for this aspect is collected from students and other respondents worldwide. While our students report that teaching is good, these views are diluted by external responses, which reflect different perceptions,” he said.
However, for Prof. Ssali, whether the results are good or bad, they serve as lessons for the university and guide efforts to improve teaching, learning, and the surrounding environment. She noted that in recent years, the institution has developed several systems and checklists, aligned with international standards, to enhance teaching and learning.
“Some initiatives focus on students. We have systems to ensure learners attend lectures, lecturers teach effectively, and curricula are properly tracked. We also collect feedback on each unit from students, all aimed at improving teaching quality,” she said.
Prof. Ssali added, “We are also improving the learning environment. Checklists have been developed to ensure classrooms have everything students need, from internet access and clean halls to water dispensers and other essentials that support learning.”
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