Makerere University has reaffirmed its commitment to embracing artificial intelligence as a catalyst for research excellence, innovation and institutional efficiency, while calling for robust safeguards to protect research integrity and academic quality.
The commitment was made during an online webinar on “Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Research Management at Makerere University,” held on June 4 via Zoom. The webinar attracted members of university management, academic staff, researchers, graduate coordinators, members of Research Ethics Committees, students and development partners interested in the growing role of AI in research and higher education.
The webinar was organized by the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Partnerships in collaboration with the Alliance for African Partnership, the U.S. Embassy in Uganda, the Great Lakes Centre for United States Studies at Makerere University, the Directorate of Graduate Training, the Makerere University Writing Centre and the Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund.
Opening the engagement, Director of Research, Innovation and Partnerships Robert Wamala described AI as a transformative force reshaping the global research landscape. “Artificial Intelligence is increasingly transforming the global research ecosystem and redefining how universities undertake research administration, knowledge production, scholarly communication and innovation management,” he said. AI is creating new possibilities for universities, from literature mapping and proposal development to research integrity checks and administrative automation. “From literature mapping and proposal development to research integrity checks and administrative automation, AI presents significant opportunities for enhancing efficiency, productivity and evidence-based decision-making within higher education institutions,” he said.
Wamala said Makerere University recognizes the growing importance of digital transformation and the need to prepare researchers, administrators and graduate training systems to harness emerging technologies responsibly. “This webinar therefore provides an important platform for dialogue, learning and reflection on how AI can support research management while safeguarding research integrity and academic excellence,” he added.
The highlight of the webinar was a presentation by international AI consultant Vivek Mohindra on the adoption of AI in research management. He shared global perspectives on how AI is transforming research administration, scholarly communication, grant management and institutional operations across universities worldwide, explaining that AI is increasingly being used to support literature reviews, proposal development, data management, academic writing and administrative efficiency. Mohindra encouraged universities to embrace AI as a tool that enhances human capabilities while maintaining academic oversight and professional judgement, and emphasized the importance of responsible AI adoption — cautioning institutions against practices that could compromise research integrity, confidentiality and intellectual property rights.
His presentation sparked an engaging discussion among participants, who raised questions on the ethical use of AI in academic writing, disclosure of AI-assisted editing, data privacy concerns and the use of secure AI platforms for research. Participants also sought guidance on how universities can develop policies and systems that support innovation while safeguarding scholarly standards.
Director of Graduate Training Julius Kikooma emphasized the need to prepare graduate students and supervisors for a rapidly evolving digital research environment. AI is already influencing how research is conducted and communicated, he said, and continuous training is needed to equip researchers with the skills to use emerging technologies responsibly. He stressed the importance of maintaining originality, critical thinking and ethical scholarship even as researchers increasingly adopt AI-powered tools, and highlighted the need to strengthen mentorship, research ethics training and scholarly writing support.
Closing the webinar, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Sarah Ssali thanked participants for their engagement and commended the organizers and partners for convening what she described as a timely discussion. “The discussions today have clearly demonstrated that AI is no longer a distant concept but an emerging reality that universities must thoughtfully engage with,” she said.
As Makerere University continues to position itself as a research-led institution, Ssali said, it must embrace technologies that improve productivity, collaboration and knowledge generation while ensuring their responsible use. “As Makerere University continues to position itself as a research-led institution, we must embrace technologies that enhance productivity, efficiency, collaboration and knowledge generation while ensuring responsible, ethical and accountable use of AI tools,” she said. The webinar, she added, had also highlighted the need for stronger institutional policies, enhanced digital capacity, effective research integrity systems and continuous training to guide AI adoption.
“Today’s engagement reminds us of the need to strengthen institutional policies, digital capacity, research integrity systems and continuous training to ensure that AI adoption supports rather than undermines academic quality and scholarly rigor,” Ssali said.
She encouraged academic units, researchers, graduate students and administrators to continue exploring innovative ways through which AI can support teaching, learning, research management and community impact. The webinar concluded with a shared commitment among participants to continue engaging on AI governance, responsible adoption and digital transformation as the university advances its vision of becoming a leading research-led institution leveraging emerging technologies to address societal challenges.
