Makerere, Psalms Food Industries Partner to Boost Graduate Employability

What the report says

Nile Post reported that Makerere University has entered a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with Psalms Food Industries to expand practical training, research and innovation for students. The agreement, signed this week at Makerere’s main campus, is intended to give learners more exposure to real workplace conditions in the food processing sector and to better connect university instruction with labour market needs.

According to the report, university officials said the collaboration reflects a wider push toward industry-oriented education, with students expected to gain experience beyond classroom and laboratory settings. Prof. Sarah Ssali said one challenge facing practical training is limited access to modern industrial equipment, and that the partnership will allow students to use Psalms Food Industries’ production facilities and technology as part of their learning.

Psalms Food Industries CEO Denis Ngabirano described the arrangement as a way to support innovation and Uganda’s future workforce. He said the company wants to draw on student talent in areas such as business analytics, research and technical problem-solving, while also encouraging more private firms to work with universities so that graduates develop skills that employers need.

The MoU focuses on three broad areas over the five-year period: structured industrial placements linked to academic programmes, joint research addressing issues in food science, manufacturing and industrial management, and specialised workshops led by industry experts. The development matters because universities in Uganda are under pressure to improve graduate employability, while employers often cite a mismatch between academic training and practical workplace skills.