Directorate of Graduate Training

About MUNIRIF

The Muni University Research and Innovation Fund (MUNIRIF) represents the Government of Uganda's commitment to positioning universities at the forefront of driving the national research agenda. Established with special funding from the Government starting from the 2022/23 Financial Year, MUNIRIF illustrates the increasing importance that the Government attaches to the role of universities in undertaking research and innovation as a driver of socio-economic transformation.

The main objective of MUNIRIF is to increase the local generation of translatable research and scalable innovations that address key gaps required to drive Uganda's development agenda as outlined in the Third National Development Plan (NDPIII). The fund complements other funding streams mobilized by Muni University to contribute to community transformation and national development.

MUNIRIF supports new ideas that respond to a widely consultative Research Agenda focused on national priorities. Projects are typically designed to cover one year, with multi-year projects receiving extensions after demonstrating their commercialization/scaling potential.

Guiding Principles

Commitment to Results & Impact

MUNIRIF is dedicated to tangible outcomes. Researchers must address pressing development issues and generate findings useful to policymakers, program implementers, and the private sector.

Equity & Inclusion

Ensuring representation across university units with special consideration for female researchers and junior staff, while recognizing that research needs and costs vary across disciplines.

Multi-Disciplinary Approach

Addressing complex development challenges requires collaboration across sectors, reflected in problem selection, technical proposals, and team composition.

Accountability & Fund Utilization

Maintaining the highest standards of financial accountability with regular tracking of awardee performance and utilization of allocated funds within stipulated timeframes.

Eligibility Criteria

For Academic Staff

Principal Investigator must be academic staff with minimum Master's degree
Must be on full-time contract and actively in service
Must obtain letter of support from their academic unit
Cannot be PI on more than one grant application
Must designate a Co-PI with minimum Master's degree

For Collaborators

External researchers can participate as co-investigators
Must provide letter of support from their institution
Must justify unique expertise they bring to the team
Collaboration with government, industry encouraged

For Students

Students can participate in research teams for special projects
Student Innovation Grants available for teams of 5-10
Must be under guidance of academic supervisor/mentor
Cannot apply as PI or Co-PI for research grants

Grant Application Process

1

Submission of Applications

Applications are submitted via email to grants@muni.ac.ug. Each call clearly indicates opening and closing dates, with strict adherence to deadlines.

2

Eligibility Determination

The GMC Secretariat at DGTRI screens applications to select those meeting eligibility criteria specified in the call.

3

Technical Review

Independent national and international experts conduct detailed technical review using standardized criteria. Each proposal is reviewed by at least two reviewers.

4

Final Selection

The GMC selects the best-scored proposals considering alignment with national priorities, equity between units, gender balance, and available funds.

5

Notification & Award

Successful applicants are notified via email. All applicants receive notification of their application status at the end of the review process.

Grant Timeline

Milestone	Timeline
Issuance of request for applications	To be announced per call
Researcher sensitization meeting	To be announced per call
Q&A period	To be announced per call
Closing date for applications (11:59 pm EAT)	To be announced per call
Determination of eligibility	Within 2 weeks of closing date
Detailed technical review	Within 4 weeks of eligibility determination
Selection of best proposals	Within 2 weeks of technical review
Award notification	Within 1 week of selection
Induction and award agreements	Within 2 weeks of notification
Notification of unsuccessful applicants	Within 1 week of award notification

Student Innovation Grants

Muni University has a strong focus on nurturing students' innovations through the University's Business Incubation Center (BIC). The GMC allocates part of MUNIRIF funds as Student Innovation Grants for students with strong innovation ideas in teams of 5-10 people under the guidance of an academic supervisor/mentor.

Evaluation Process:

First Evaluation: Concepts are screened by GMC Secretariat to select those meeting the call focus
Second Evaluation: Shortlisted applicants pitch their innovations to the GMC
Award: Top-ranked innovations receive grant awards for one-year implementation

Innovation concepts should be a maximum of 4 pages and follow the specified formatting guidelines. All concepts must be approved by the academic supervisor/mentor before submission.

MUNIRIF