Dr. Mildred Barungi

Dr. Mildred Barungi is a distinguished Economist and thought leader in academic and policy-oriented research. She currently serves as the Director of Research, Monitoring & Evaluation at the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), the statutory investment arm of the Government of Uganda charged with driving industrialization and economic transformation. She holds a PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics, and an MSc in Agricultural Economics.

With nearly two decades of experience spanning development finance institutions, policy think tanks, and international research organisations, Dr. Barungi has established herself as a leading voice on how strategic investments, blended finance, and effective public–private partnerships can unlock industrial growth. At UDC, she provides strategic oversight of the Corporation’s research agenda and monitoring of investments, ensuring that investment decisions are grounded in evidence, impact-oriented, and aligned with Uganda’s long-term industrialization strategy. She also represents UDC on some boards of the Corporation’s investee companies, where she contributes to governance, high-level negotiations, and stakeholder engagement.

Previously, Dr. Barungi held senior positions at the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC)―Uganda’s leading policy think-Tank, where she designed and led high-impact policy research on agriculture, education, and public–private partnerships, producing widely cited studies. She has authored over twenty (20) peer-reviewed publications, working papers, and policy briefs, with strong emphasis on industrialization, sustainable financing, and evidence-driven policy reform.

She has also played a pivotal role in multi-country programmes, notably the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) implemented by the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). Covering 18 African countries, this programme advanced agricultural transformation across the continent, and Dr. Barungi contributed significantly by leading monitoring efforts, generating insights, and ensuring programme success and impact.