LATEST RANKINGS! Makerere Still King – But Private Universities Surge in Uganda’s Latest Global Rankings

Uganda’s premier academic giant Makerere University has once again stamped its dominance as the country’s best-performing institution in the July 2025 Webometrics global rankings — landing at 778th worldwide. But in a surprising twist, private universities are closing in fast, shaking up the traditional order.

The Webometrics Ranking, an internationally respected system that evaluates over 32,000 institutions worldwide, placed Kampala International University (KIU) in second place in Uganda, at 1,516 globally, followed by Mbarara University of Science and Technology (1,957) and Gulu University (2,334).

The rankings consider a university’s global visibility, research excellence, and online openness — not just academic pedigree.

Top Performers: Who’s Who in Uganda’s Ivory Tower

Makerere University – Still unmatched in research and academic output, Makerere led all indicators, ranking 1143 in research excellence, and 1643 in impact (global visibility).
Kampala International University (KIU) – Defying odds, KIU edged past many public institutions with a strong online presence and research visibility. Despite criticisms over its rapid expansion, KIU posted an impressive impact rank of 1530.
Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) – Once dubbed Uganda’s rising research star, MUST showed notable strength in openness (3230) and excellence (3043).
Kyambogo University – Ranked 2472 globally, this traditional public university struggled with web impact but shone in openness (3735).
Kabale University and Busitema University took 6th and 7th positions nationally, with surprisingly strong indicators in transparency and research.

It’s no longer just a public university show. Institutions like Uganda Martyrs University (8th nationally), Islamic University in Uganda (10th), and Victoria University Kampala (22nd) are increasingly asserting their academic presence online and globally.

Uganda Management Institute (9th) and Makerere University Business School (20th), both specialized institutions, also scored highly, especially in web impact and openness.

Meanwhile, ISBAT University Kampala, Ndejje University, and Clarke International University climbed into the mid-tier ranks — outperforming even some older public institutions in digital visibility.

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Who’s Slipping?

The bottom of the pack included Kampala University (5120), Muteesa I Royal University (4860), and St. Lawrence University (5433) — all struggling with visibility, impact, and research excellence. Their low rankings have raised concerns about academic competitiveness in an increasingly digital world.

What the Rankings Mean

Unlike traditional rankings, Webometrics focuses not just on scholarly publications, but also digital reach, openness, and research influence.

Visibility (50%) – How widely the university is mentioned and linked on the web (via Ahrefs).
Openness (10%) – Number of top-cited researchers with open Google Scholar profiles.
Excellence (40%) – Volume of top-10% cited research papers globally (Scopus/Scimago).

“These rankings are not just vanity metrics,” a higher education expert said; “They are a reflection of how well universities communicate, collaborate, and compete in the modern academic landscape.”