Nkozi university cleared to teach monitoring and evaluation course
L-R: Uganda Martyrs University officials Prof Wycliffe Zaake Muwanga, Prof Peter Kanyandogo, Dr Julius Mwine and minister Zurubabel Nyira at the launch of the degree programme last Friday. PHOTO BY JOSEPH KIGGUNDU.
What you need to know:
Endorsed. Government welcomes move as a step forward in enhancing evaluation culture in public institutions.
KAMPALA. The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has cleared Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi (UMU) to offer a Masters degree in Monitoring and Evaluation.
According to a September 30 letter from NCHE, UMU will offer the course for five years after which the curriculum will be reviewed.
According to Dr Julius Mwine, the Dean Faculty of Agriculture at UMU, the new course has been introduced to create a pool of professionals who will effectively monitor both private and government projects whose success has been limited by lack of expertise.
Dr Mwine said the pioneer students will be considered during the first intake in January, while certificate and diploma courses will commence in June next year.
The academic programme was officially launched last Friday in Kampala by State minister for Agriculture Zurubabel Nyira. The minister urged the university to add assessment as part of the modules offered under the course.
Mr Timothy Lubanga , the assistant commissioner for monitoring and evaluation in the Office of the Prime Minister, said training local experts in monitoring and evaluation will enhance the evaluation culture in both public and private institutions since evaluation studies are undertaken by foreign consultants.
The background
Monitoring and Evaluation is a critical management function in project management. However, very little attention has been paid to performance assessment in the implementation of public and even private investments and interventions.
