The Complete Guide to Project Management in Uganda 2024

• David Njoroge
• 30 Aug, 2023
• 0 Comments
• 5 Mins Read

Top businesses across the world are turning to project management to increase their overall profit. Essentially, a project is done by key personnel who are drawn together for a definite period of time. Since a project has a beginning and an end, project management is the art of bringing together tasks, resources and people in order to accomplish specific objectives.

Both commercial and non-commercial establishments in Uganda are seeking out project managers. Urbanization is on the rise in Uganda. It is for this reason the second most populous landlocked country in Africa needs people who are capable of managing projects.

Project Management Course in Uganda

A Ugandan national is on track to be a project manager by enrolling in a course and earning a certification in project management. Quite a few institutions of higher learning that are accredited by the government of Uganda sign up students for a project management course. Earning a Project Management Institute (PMI) certification is a substitute which makes way for a job in that field.

How to Earn a Project Management Degree in Uganda

It is possible to receive a degree in project management in Uganda. At present, there are three universities that teach this undergraduate programme. Actually, they are all private universities.

Here are the universities:

1. Uganda Technology and Management University
2. Ndejje University
3. Nexus International University

Admission Requirements

Here is what is needed during application for a bachelor’s in project management in Uganda:

• Pass the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) with credits in at least five subjects including Mathematics and English
• Pass the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) with principal passes in at least two subjects including Economics, Entrepreneurship or Mathematics
• OR a Diploma in a relevant field from a recognized institution.

Course Duration and Structure

The Bachelor of Project Management programme in Uganda takes three years for full time students. But it can take longer for part-time students. With a view to cater to needs of different students, these universities have a flexible schedule.

Here are the common courses in a project management degree in Uganda:

1. Introduction to Project Management
2. Quality Management
3. Risk Management
4. Cost Management
5. Human Resource Management
6. Scope Management
7. Stakeholder Management
8. Resource Management
9. Planning, scheduling and controlling
10. Monitoring and evaluation

Course Fees in Uganda

Tuition fees for a bachelor of project management in Uganda per semester is between 800,000 Ugandan Shillings and 1 million Ugandan Shillings. This fee covers the cost of registration, tuition and examinations. Additional costs are meant for students to access university resources like library and internet.

Project Management Short Course in Uganda

A few universities in Uganda award a Certificate or Diploma in Project Planning and Management. On the contrary, there are those which provide training in project management in form of a short course. The course takes either a few weeks or a few months. Tuition fees for a short course is between 400,000 Ugandan Shillings and 500,000 Ugandan Shillings.

Here are some of the universities:

1. Makerere University
2. Uganda Management Institute
3. Uganda Technology and Management University
4. Nexus International University
5. Uganda Pentecostal University
6. Clarke International University

Which is the Highest Level of Education in Project Management in Uganda?

A master’s degree in project management is broadly available in Uganda. This kind of degree opens the door to new job prospects for students. There are a few universities in the country that offer this type of graduate degree.

Which Certification is Best for Project Management in Uganda?

It is common for some employers to prefer to hire project managers who hold PMI certifications. This is because PMI is the primary organization offering professional certificates in project management. Many project managers pursue either a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification or a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or even both.

How to Become a Certified Project Manager in Uganda

PMI has a branch in Uganda called PMI Uganda chapter. Therefore, an aspiring project manager in Uganda is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP) by PMI Uganda. It’s the most widely recognized certification in the world.

Here is what it takes to qualify for a PMP certification in Uganda:

• For those who have completed secondary school (high school) education, need to put in 60 months of experience leading projects and 35 hours of project management training or have CAPM certification
• For those who have completed a four-year degree, need to put in 36 months of experience leading projects and 35 hours of project management training or have CAPM certification
• Prepare for the PMP exam by studying. The cost of the classes depends on the institution and the format. A student can be trained either in person or online. There are several authorized training centers alongside accredited institutions in Uganda that offer PMP certification classes.
• Clearly, with a CAPM certification, a student does not need to fulfil the 35-hour education requirement.
• The next step is paying the PMP exam fee. For a PMI member, it costs US405 Dollars (about 5 million Ugandan Shillings) while for a non-PMI member it costs US555 Dollars (about 2 million Ugandan Shillings).
• After paying, a student can schedule their exam. The exam can be taken online or at a testing center in Uganda accredited by Pearson Vue. In case a student fails, they can retake the exam up to three times in one year.
• A student who passes the exam becomes PMP certified. A certified project manager in Uganda must keep their certification active by completing certain stages of continuing education.

Project Management Careers in Uganda

Project manager is one of the many jobs that come about after studying project management in Uganda. Due to the crucial nature of a project manager’s job, they can be found in every type of organization. Their work which involves coming up with distinct products or services cuts across a wide array of industries. The sectors where project managers work include:

• Construction and real estate
• Engineering
• Information Technology (IT)
• Manufacturing
• Hospitality
• Transportation and logistics
• Financial services
• Advertising and marketing
• Retail
• Non-profit

Project Manager Salary in Uganda

Project managers in Uganda earn an estimated salary that ranges from 40 million Ugandan Shillings to 50 million Ugandan Shillings a year. Besides, the salary will be different based on level of experience from entry level to mid-level to senior level. The other factor that determines a project manager’s salary is the size of the project and the industry.

Assistant Project Manager Salary in Uganda

Assistant project managers in Uganda earn an estimated salary that ranges from 20 million Ugandan Shillings to 40 million Ugandan Shillings. Since they help the project manager in running a project, their salary is less than their immediate supervisor. Project size, nature of the industry and level of experience are also considered in setting their pay.

Job Outlook for Project Managers in Uganda

There is a greater demand for project managers in Uganda than in recent years. Businesses in the country are getting projects off the ground pretty quickly. As a consequence, they need professionals to take the lead on these projects. Organizations in Uganda are embracing project management practices with an aim to positively impact the bottom line.