The Uganda Management Institute (UMI) and Uganda Prisons Service (UPS) have strengthened their partnership with a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deliver the Institutional Leadership and Management Course for Senior Prison Officers. This agreement solidifies their shared commitment to professionalizing the service through advanced training and capacity building.

The course, launched in 2022, targets middle-line managers and covers key topics such as institutional leadership, human resource management, and entrepreneurship. Participants receive a certificate of competence upon completion, evaluated through an academic grading system.

The partnership has provided administrative training to prison officers for decades and aims to sharpen skills for managing correctional facilities effectively. Other key stakeholders, including the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, Police, and Internal Security Organisation, have also benefited from UMI’s training programs.

Dr. Byabashaija praised Dr. James Nkata, Director General of Uganda Management Institute (UMI), for upholding exceptional standards, recognizing UMI as a key knowledge hub for enhancing government efficiency across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

UMI offers various courses, including Postgraduate Diploma Courses like; Information Technology, Business Computing and Management, and Public Policy and Governance. They also offer Professional Courses such as; Chartered Institute of Marketing, Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, and Certified Public Accountant.

Key Highlights of the Partnership:

Institutional Leadership and Management Course: A 22-day program targeting middle-line managers, covering topics like institutional leadership, human resource management, and entrepreneurship.

Certificate of Competence: Participants receive a certificate upon completion, evaluated through an academic grading system.

UPS’s Commitment to Excellence: The partnership aims to enhance human resource capacity, with UPS achieving 95% management excellence, according to Commissioner General of Prisons, Dr. Johnson Byabashaija.

UMI’s Broader Impact: The institute has contributed to making UPS one of Uganda’s best-managed public agencies, with a legacy of excellence in training and capacity building.

The partnership has yielded positive results, with noticeable improvements in field performance among prison officers who have completed the course. As UPS continues to prioritize robust recruitment and human resource development, this collaboration is expected to further enhance the prison service’s efficiency and effectiveness.

Dr. Johnson Byabashaija, Commissioner General of Prisons, attributes his transformation as a professional to the postgraduate diploma in management he earned from Uganda Management Institute (UMI). This credential had a profound impact on his outlook during his tenure as Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons. When he assumed the role of Commissioner General in 2005, he made UMI training a priority for senior managers, citing its rigorous programs as the driving force behind achieving 95% management excellence.

This acknowledgment is tied to the Uganda Prisons Service’s (UPS) mission to professionalize its workforce through initiatives like the Senior and Intermediate Command and Staff Course. Dr. Byabashaija vowed to continue collaborating with UMI to boost human resource capacity.

UMI’s reputation as a hub for knowledge and expertise is rooted in its mandate to provide training, research, and consultancy services to the public, private, and non-governmental sectors. The institute offers various academic programs, from diplomas to PhDs, focusing on practical and sustainable administration, leadership, and management capacity development.

Dr. James Nkata, Director General of Uganda Management Institute (UMI), is proud of the institute’s role in making Uganda Prisons Service (UPS) one of the best-managed public agencies in Uganda. He highlighted UMI’s work with other entities like the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, Uganda Police, and Internal Security Organisation, showcasing the institute’s broader impact.

Dr. James Nkata emphasized that UMI’s training programs have been instrumental in producing skilled leaders and top performers, citing the consistent presence of prison officers at UMI graduations. He committed to upholding UMI’s legacy of excellence, demonstrating the institute’s dedication to capacity building and professional development.

As a renowned expert in management and administration, Dr. James Nkata brings a wealth of experience to his role, having worked with various institutions and governments globally. His leadership has been instrumental in shaping UMI’s programs and partnerships, solidifying its reputation as a hub for management education and training in Uganda.

According to Dr. Rose Kwatampora, Head of UMI’s Projects and Consultancy Department, the Institutional Leadership and Management Course has been a resounding success since its inception. The program is designed to equip prison officers with practical skills and knowledge to excel in their roles.

Dr. Rose Kwatampora expressed her gratitude to the Prisons Academy and Training School for providing a supportive academic environment, which has been instrumental in the program’s success. She also voiced her optimism about the current cohort of trainees, who are undergoing evaluation.

The collaboration between UPS and UMI serves as a model for effective partnerships between government agencies and academic institutions. By leveraging each other’s strengths, they can drive meaningful change and improvement in public service delivery.