1. Uganda Country Progress Report
Dr. Richard Edema/ Prof. Paul Gibson
Prof. John Baptist Kirabira/ Dr. Michael Lubwama
Prof. Julius Mwine/Dr. Jude Ssebuwufu
Dr. Cassim Tolo/Dr. Patrick Ogwang
Technical and Advisory Meeting April 27 – 29, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

2. Mbarara University of Science and Technology Uganda Martyrs University
African Centre of Excellence in Materials, Product Development & Nanotechnology (MAPRONANO)
Makerere Univ. Centre for Crop Improvement (MaRCCI)
Pharm-Biotechnology & Traditional Medicine Center (PHARMBIOTRAC)
Uganda Martyrs Univ.(Private) African Center of Excellence in Agroecology and Livelihood Systems (ACALISE)
IDA credit- US$ 24 Million
Makerere University
Mbarara University of Science and Technology
Uganda Martyrs University

3. Progress at ACEs - Attaining Effectiveness (DLI # 1)
Condition
Progress
Approved Implementation Plan (IP)
Parliament approval
Establishment of the National Steering Comm.
Signed Loan Financing Agreement (FA)
Signed Performance and Funding Agreements (PFAs)
Legal Opinion on the Loan FA & PFAs
Completed; 2016 Completed; 15th Feb, 2017 Completed; 24th Mar, 2017 Completed; 17th Mar, 2017 Completed; 21st April, 2017 Due 15th May 2017

4. Attaining Effectiveness (DLI # 1) – What is left for institutional readiness?
Legal Opinion on the FA & PFAs
Creation of ACE designated account
Initiated for PHARMBIOTRAC;
Awaiting Official Univ approvals in MaRCCI, MAPRONANO & ACALISE
Recruitment of key project personnel underway in all 4 ACEs – (Project Mgr/Accounts Asst)
Advertised, shortlisted, carried/carrying out interviews
Appointment of Project Staff in the next few weeks
 Procurement initiated (limited by Univ. admin.)
 Office space & ACEs facilities identified
Anticipated Disbursement (DLI # 1)=$1,100,000

5. Progress at ACEs - Excellence in education and research capacity and development impact (DLI # 2) Anticipated Disbursement from DLI # 1=$4,300,000
Achievements
DLR
Condition
ACAL
MAPR
MaRCC
PHAR
#2.2:
Newly enrolled students
(20% regional (African) students
Yes
Yes 
#2.3:
Accreditation of new progms
 No
No 
#2.4:
Partnerships
 Init’d
Init’d 
#2.5
Peer-reviewed publications
  (ongoing—what counts toward DLR?)
#2.6:
Faculty& PhD student exchanges
 Yes
#2.7
External revenue generation
(ongoing—what counts toward DLR?)
#2.8:
Institution benchmarking

6. Challenges Delayed effectiveness of the ACEs
Exhaustion of intuitional revenues in unplanned ACE activities
Complexities of implementations
Several key players involved
Layers of Univ. admin, RFU, WB Project Leaders, WB Country Officials
who MUST all be on the “same page” – NOT uncoordinated movement of troops
Lack of a clear understanding of Financial and Reporting Procedures
IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT IS REQUIRED !!