UMI governing council has confirmed the appointment of 4 professors at the institute. The four professors are; James Luyonga Nkata a specialist in Higher Education, Maria Barifaijo– Education Management, Rose Namara– Public Policy and Gerald Kagambirwe Karyeija in Public Administration.

Karyeija, Namara & Barifaijo were until recently Associate Professors in their various fields. Nkata on the other hand, known for his enthusiasm & publications in higher education was appointed. The four are the first professors at the Institute that have transitioned from a public service skills training institute – Institute of Public Administration, to an alternate degree awarding institution. UMI has invested heavily in research and training at PhD level.

Dr James Luyonga Nkata

With a career spanning over 35 years in teaching, research, administration, and international consultancy, Dr James Luyonga Nkata is one of Africa’s most distinguished scholars and practitioners in higher education management and public administration. Currently serving as the Director General of Uganda Management Institute (UMI), Dr Nkata combines academic depth, institutional leadership, and global engagement to drive transformation in Uganda’s public sector and beyond.

Academic and Professional Background

Dr Nkata holds a PhD in Higher Education Management, Administration, and Planning from Makerere University, as well as a Master’s degree in Management Sciences and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education Management from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Education, specializing in education management and planning, also from Makerere University.

His early academic career included a 22-year tenure at Makerere University, where he served as Senior Lecturer in Management and Administrative Studies and later as Director of the East African Institute of Higher Education Studies and Research. In this role, he mentored scholars and influenced education policy across the region.

Leadership and Institutional Development

Dr Nkata’s leadership at Uganda Management Institute has been transformative. As Director General, he oversees institutional strategy, program development, quality assurance, research, and partnerships. Under his stewardship, UMI has entered strategic collaborations with government ministries, academic institutions, and international organizations. Key initiatives include the revitalized partnership with the Ministry of Public Service and a recent Memorandum of Understanding with Vision Group aimed at strengthening media and public communication training.

Beyond UMI, Dr. Nkata is the Chancellor of YMCA Comprehensive Institute, where he also serves as Chairperson of the National Executive Committee, guiding the institution’s evolution into a degree-awarding body. His commitment to education and leadership development is reflected in his role as Vice President for East Africa in the African Management Development Institutes Network (AMDIN) and as former Vice President (2008–2022) of the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA) for the Africa region.

Teaching, Research, and Publications

With over three decades of teaching experience, Dr Nkata has taught management and administration studies at several universities, mentoring countless students and practitioners. He has successfully supervised 17 PhD candidates in the fields of management and public administration and served as external examiner for numerous universities across Africa.

His scholarly output is extensive. He has authored multiple books and journal articles on organizational management, higher education governance, and public administration. His research is grounded in real-world practice, reflecting his strong engagement with public sector institutions and reform.

Dr Nkata has also served on editorial boards of several international journals, contributing to global discourse on public administration, institutional planning, and leadership.

International Consultancy and Global Footprint

Dr Nkata has over 20 years of experience in international and national consultancy, particularly in public sector reform, education planning, and organizational development. He has travelled to and worked in more than 37 countries, gaining broad exposure to comparative policies and administration systems.

He has played key roles in financial negotiations with both local and international agencies and has been the recipient of several research grants, which have supported policy innovations and academic development at institutional and national levels.

A Visionary in Public Sector Reform

Dr Nkata’s influence extends beyond academia into public sector transformation. His leadership has positioned UMI as a centre of excellence for public service capacity development in Uganda and the region. His academic and strategic insight continue to shape leadership training, civil service reform, and institutional governance.

Dr James L. Nkata is a visionary scholar and administrator whose lifelong commitment to excellence in public administration and higher education has had a lasting impact in Uganda and across Africa. His blend of academic scholarship, institutional leadership, and policy engagement makes him a pivotal figure in the ongoing transformation of public sector management.

Gerald Karyeija Kagambirwe:

A Distinguished Scholar and Leader in Public Administration he stands as a leading figure in the field of public administration in Africa, combining rigorous academic training with decades of practical experience in governance, institutional development, and public policy.

Currently the Dean of the School of Management Science at Uganda Management Institute (UMI), Prof. Karyeija has carved a distinguished career in academia, research, consultancy, and institutional leadership. He holds a PhD and MPhil in Public Administration and Organization Theory from the University of Bergen, Norway, and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from Makerere University.

With over 25 years of experience, Prof Karyeija has taught and conducted research in areas including project planning and management, public policy, strategic leadership, and development management. His work has extended across more than 30 countries, contributing to a truly global understanding of public administration and governance.

Beyond his role at UMI, Prof Karyeija has held esteemed academic positions, including Extra-Ordinary Professor of Public Administration at North-West University (South Africa) and Senior Scholar at the University of Lusaka. He was also a 2017–2018 NAFSA Global Dialogue Fellow, an international recognition of his scholarly engagement in global higher education.

Prof Karyeija’ s professional influence is equally significant. He chairs the ECASSA Institute of Social Protection, serves as a board member of the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre, and represents the UMI Senate on its Governing Council. He is also a Council Member of the African Association of Public Administration and Management (AAPAM)—a leading continental platform for knowledge sharing in public sector governance.

An active and prolific academic, Prof Karyeija has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, delivered presentations at international conferences, and produced policy briefs for governments. He has supervised a number of PhD and numerous Master’s students, contributing to the next generation of public administration scholars and practitioners.

He is a reviewer for six academic journals and serves on editorial boards. In addition, he acts as an external examiner for 13 universities, underscoring the demand for his academic rigor and evaluative expertise.

Prof Karyeija’ s professional memberships reflect the breadth of his networks: he is affiliated with the Uganda Evaluation Association, Local Economic Development Network of Africa, Eastern Africa Research and Innovations Management Association, Norwegian Association for Development Research, Africa Network Norway, and AAPAM, among others.

His early career includes key roles as a Graduate Tutor and PhD Candidate at the University of Bergen, Compliance Officer and Manager at Uganda’s National Social Security Fund (NSSF), and a journalist at New Vision Publications, showcasing his diverse professional foundation.

Prof Gerald Karyeija embodies the intersection of academic scholarship, policy relevance, and leadership excellence. His contributions continue to shape the discourse and practice of public administration both within Uganda and across the African continent.

Maria Kaguhangire‑Barifaijo

A seasoned academic and educational leader whose work spans; teaching, research, and institutional development. She is firmly anchored in advancing educational quality, leadership, and governance within Uganda’s higher education system. Until her appointment to the Professorial rank, Maria has served as Associate Professor of Higher Educational Leadership and currently heads the Department of Educational Leadership and Management within the School of Management Sciences at Uganda Management Institute (UMI) in Kampala. She has built a robust professional network in the educational research community.

Her academic profile includes:

An extensive research portfolio with at least 18 peer-reviewed publications focusing on topics such as pedagogical content knowledge, educational leadership, quality assurance in postgraduate education, and educational management in the COVID‑19 era.

A Google Scholar‑verified profile highlighting her role in higher education management and human resource management, with significant readership and citation impact (over 190 citations).

Recognition by AD Scientific Index as a top-ranking researcher within UMI and Uganda in her field.

Rose B. Namara

Until this appointment she was an Associate Professor, a leading scholar and practitioner in development management, currently serving as Head of the Institute Research and Innovation Centre (IRIC) at Uganda Management Institute (UMI). With over 25 years of experience in academia, policy evaluation, and consultancy, she has significantly contributed to shaping Uganda’s research and policy landscape.

Prof Namara holds a PhD in Development Studies and a Master’s in Women and Development (Evaluation and Policy) from Erasmus University, The Hague, and a BA in Sociology and Social Administration from Makerere University. Her work spans gender-responsive budgeting, decentralisation, local governance, and institutional evaluation.

She has published extensively on public policy, including studies on cultural institutions in water governance, police accountability, and education sector reforms. Her research promotes inclusive development and has informed national evaluations by the Office of the Prime Minister and Uganda Police.

As a member of Uganda’s national Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Working Group and a mentor with international bodies, Prof Namara bridges academic scholarship with policy implementation. Her leadership at UMI continues to foster a strong research culture grounded in equity, impact, and innovation.