Makerere University has announced a major digital transformation that will see students and graduates access electronic transcripts and certificates online, eliminating the need for lengthy paper-based processes and physical visits to university offices.
The new system, unveiled by Academic Registrar Professor Mukadasi Buyinza, is expected to streamline academic administration, improve service delivery and make it easier for employers and institutions to verify academic credentials.
Speaking about the development, Prof. Buyinza described the transition as one of the university’s most significant administrative milestones.
“We have one amazing academic process that I can tell you about. All the work from my commission has been geared towards improving efficiency, but the last mile has been the e-process,” he said.
Under the new arrangement, Makerere graduates will no longer be required to move from office to office in search of transcripts or certificates.
Instead, they will access the documents securely through a digital portal once the university officially announces the access procedures.
“This means that a student or graduate of Makerere University no longer has to physically move from one office desk to another to obtain academic documents. Instead, through a digital portal and with the access rights that we shall announce, graduates will be able to securely obtain their electronic transcripts and certificates,” Prof. Buyinza explained.
He said the initiative forms part of Makerere University’s broader digital transformation agenda aimed at delivering smarter, faster and more efficient services.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to moving away from paper-based systems towards more efficient, smart and intelligent ways of serving our students,” he added.
Beyond simplifying access to academic records, the university says the new platform will strengthen the verification of qualifications.
According to Prof. Buyinza, employers and other institutions will be able to authenticate certificates and transcripts electronically after receiving permission from graduates.
“Employers, once given the access rights by the graduates, will be able to verify that this is a genuine credential and that it was issued by Makerere University,” he said.
The move is expected to address long-standing challenges associated with manual processing, including delays, unnecessary travel and difficulties in verifying academic records.
The digital certification system also complements Makerere’s growing investment in online and blended learning.
Prof. Buyinza said the university is expanding programmes that will allow students to pursue Makerere qualifications remotely without compromising academic standards.
“You should be able to run a programme and study from wherever you are, and still obtain one of the qualifications of Makerere University,” he said.
Alongside digitising academic services, Makerere is reviewing its curriculum to align with the government’s push for competency-based education.
Prof. Buyinza said the university is shifting emphasis from purely theoretical instruction to practical, hands-on training that equips graduates with workplace skills.
“We are currently reviewing our curriculum to ensure that we align our programmes with practical, hands-on training that prepares learners for the real world,” he said.
He noted that competency-based learning has already been introduced in disciplines such as health sciences and clinical legal education at the School of Law.
The university is also strengthening continuous assessment, with staff being retooled to place greater emphasis on practical exercises and ongoing evaluation rather than relying heavily on final examinations.
“There is not much that we are going to change. The foundation has already been established. We are mainly retooling our staff to give a lot more attention to continuous learning exercises, practical assessments and different training models beyond the traditional lecture-based approach,” he explained.
Traditional Academic Calendar Returns
Meanwhile, Makerere University Vice Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe announced that the institution will revert to its traditional academic calendar beginning with the next academic year.
The academic year will commence on August 1 with orientation for first-year students, while continuing students will report later in August. The first semester will run until December 5, followed by a month-long break before graduation week in January.
Prof. Nawangwe said restoring the traditional calendar would improve planning and university operations.
He also revealed that newly admitted students can now download provisional admission letters through Makerere’s online application platforms, reducing the need for physical visits to campus.
The latest reforms underscore Makerere University’s commitment to modernising academic administration, expanding digital services and improving access to higher education as the institution embraces technology-driven learning and service delivery.
