Meet the staff

Our dedicated team of business experts brings a wealth of academic and industry experience to equip students with practical skills in leadership, strategy, finance, marketing, and operations. Committed to excellence, our staff foster innovation and critical thinking to prepare future business leaders

Aaron Ecel (PhD)

Aaron Ecel (PhD)

Aaron Ecel is a certified trainer of trainers in market analysis tools by the International Trade Centre. His research focuses on the internationalization of small and medium-sized firms from low-income countries, with a particular interest in export readiness and market selection. 

Aaron is a senior lecturer in the department of Marketing & International business at Makerere University Business School, Uganda (MUBS). As a trainer of trainers in Market Analysis tools for International Business development (International Trade Centre), Aaron has provided research assistance to consultancies related to international business development. Aaron brings on board 11 years of International business lecturing experience at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. His research efforts are focused on the internationalization (export development and international competiveness) of small and medium sized firms from low-income countries. His research themes include: export readiness, export market information use, Non-tariff barriers, export market selection, supplier development, the Constant Market Share Analysis (CMSA) and export performance.

As an avid data cruncher, Aaron is able to make sense of international trade flow and market access data for the benefit of small and medium firms on an internationalization path. With a strong grasp of both the multi-lateral and regional trading systems, and their subsequent influence on international business, He is well positioned to provide guidance and direction to internationalizing firms from low-income countries.

Aaron is passionate about literacy and is the executive director of the Bookshelf Foundation-Uganda, which is an initiative, aimed at bridging the literacy gap in rural areas of Uganda. The initiative hopes to promote literacy by developing a culture of reading for pleasure among the early-childhood demographic.

He holds a Ph.D. (Business Administration) from the University of Dar es salaam, Tanzania, a Masters degree in International business and a first class bachelor’s degree in International Business from Makerere University, Uganda. He holds a certificate in the Empirics of Trade from the UNCTAD Virtual Institute. Aaron is fluent in English, and has basic knowledge of French.

  • Consulting and Training:He has supported numerous SMEs in East Africa to enhance their export readiness and has experience in developing sector guides and reports on trade potential. He is also a certified trainer of trainers in market analysis tools. 
  • Industry Experience:Dr. Ecel is also involved in consulting for AfriTrade & Enterprise Advisory Services and is the founder and team leader of Oak Insights-Uganda
  • Leadership:He has held leadership positions at MUBS, including Deputy Dean and Head of the Department of Marketing and International Business. 

Research Interests

  1. Export Competitiveness
  2. Regional Integration and Market Access
  3. SME Export Development and Innovation
  4. Trade Policy and Internationalisation
  5. International Market Intelligence and Analysis Tools

Staff Publications

  1. Ecel, A., Ahimbisibwe, G. M., Nuwagaba, D., Nankya, M. N., & Nahurira, S. (2025). Evaluating Uganda’s preferential market access; trade intensity, comparative advantage and the potential for trade. Competitiveness Review: An International Business Journal35(3), 579-600.
  2. Ahimbisibwe, G. M., Ecel, A., Nuwagaba, D., Nakigudde, R., Mpiriirwe, R. F., & Kiplangat, L. (2024). Innovation capabilities and international competitiveness of agro-processing firms in Uganda. Competitiveness Review: An International Business Journal.
  3. Ssekiziyivu, B., Nkurunziza, G., Ecel, A., & Kisseka, R. (2025). Strategy execution among transport firms: examining the role of organizational learning. Vilakshan-XIMB Journal of Management.
  4. Ecel, A., Nakintu, N. M., Nakigudde, R., Otim, J. M., & Gimbo, M. (2024). An Assessment of Uganda and Tanzania’s Competitiveness in Prepared Foodstuffs within the EAC Market: A Comparative Analysis. Tanzania Economic Review14(1).
  5. Ecel, A., Nuwagaba, D., Rubanga, E. U., & Mudidi, P. (2023). The Competitiveness of Uganda’s Non-traditional Agricultural Exports: The Case of Flowers Exports. Tanzanian Economic Review13(2), 42-59.
  6. Ecel, A., Nakintu, N. M., Nakigudde, R., Otim, J. M., & Gimbo, M. (2024). An Assessment of Uganda and Tanzania’s Competitiveness in Prepared Foodstuffs within the EAC Market: A Comparative Analysis. Tanzania Economic Review14(1).  

 

 

Staff Projects

S/N Name Registration Number Date of completiom University
1 Monica Kamau 2014/HD10/394K 2017 Makerere University, Uganda
2 Kingsley Obeng-Amoako 2018/HD10/3724X 2021 Makerere University, Uganda
3 Henry Bukenya 2013/HD10/2262U 2018 Makerere University, Uganda
4 Jimmy Moses Otim 2012/HD10/2354U 2018 Makerere University, Uganda
5 Gimbo Monica 2013/HD10/2263U 2019 Makerere University, Uganda
6 Ratiibu Ssemata 2017/HD10/2182U 2022 Makerere University, Uganda
7 Namajja Dorcas 2012/HD10/2188U 2023 Makerere University, Uganda
8 Muwayi Sophia 2019/HD10/21733U 2023 Makerere University, Uganda
9 Kagwisagye Kyangungu Allan 2012/ HD10/2249U 2023 Makerere University, Uganda
10 Kihembo Hope Mary 2019/HD10/25769U 2024 Makerere University, Uganda
11 Kabalega Anderson Roweny 2019/HD10/21729U 2024 Makerere University, Uganda
12 Mpiriirwe Rinah 2020/HD10/20635U 2024 Makerere University, Uganda
13 Muliisa Isaac 2019/HD10/25588U 2024 Makerere University, Uganda

Staff Supervision

Presentations

S /No Name of Conference Conference Theme Location Date
1 Makerere University Business School 28th Annual International Management Conference Artificial Intelligence and Knowledge society; the future of business in Africa Imperial Golf view Hotel, Entebbe-Uganda September 24-26, 2024

Other Info

  1. Certified Export Trainer | International Trade Centre (ITC)
    • Trained and certified as a Trainer of Trainers by ITC, specializing in Market Analysis Tools (May 2025), Export Business Development (Dec 2024), and Trade Policy Advocacy (Jan 2025). Proficient in using tools like Trade Map, Market Access Map, and Export Potential Map to support firms’ export strategies and market entry planning.
  2. Consultant – Export Readiness Training (June 2023)
    • Centre for Accelerated Women’s Economic Empowerment (CAWEE), Ethiopia Delivered AfCFTA-focused export readiness training to SMEs, covering identification of export opportunities, export procedures, market research, product compliance, and distributor targeting.
  3.  Export Trainer & Coach – GIZ “Creating Perspectives” Project (2019–2020)
    • Afri-Trade & Enterprise Advisory Services (ATEAS), EAC Region Trained 46 SMEs in East Africa on export readiness, market entry planning, and export documentation. Developed customized export business plans and ran ITC tool-based workshops on international market intelligence. 
  4.  Consultant – Commercial Diplomacy Training (July 2022)
    • Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB) Trained Uganda’s diplomatic staff and trade attachés on international market analysis and export promotion strategies using ITC tools.
  •  4. Sector Guide Developer – GIZ / ATEAS (2018–2019)
    • Conducted sector-specific market assessments and developed regional guides for processed juice and leather exporters. These guides detailed sector trends, market size, and access pathways for SMEs in the EAC.
  •  5. Grant-Funded Researcher – EAC Trade Opportunities Mapping (2023)
    • Makerere University Business School (MUBS) Economic Forum Conducted a grant-funded research project to map trade opportunities within the EAC for Ugandan SMEs. The project culminated in a practical guide outlining how SMEs can leverage regional integration and policy instruments to expand their exports.
      • Grant Source: MUBS Economic Forum Research Grant.

6. Regional Trade Researcher – EABC/GIZ (2020)

    • Conducted a regional trade opportunity study for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), analyzing product demand, access barriers, and distributor channels. The findings were compiled into a regional guide aimed at informing and supporting export strategies for EAC-based SMEs.
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