Connect with us

General

Makerere receives first ASA presidential scholar recognition

Published

on

Dr. Sister Dominic Dipio is renowned for her feature films on Ugandan folklore and her passion for cultural film production and research. This however does not mean that she is used to recognition.

Dr. Sister Dominic Dipio is renowned for her feature films on Ugandan folklore and her passion for cultural film production and research. This however does not mean that she is used to recognition.Dr. Dipio received the nomination to become the first African Studies Association’s (ASA) Presidential Scholar, which also accorded her a trip to New Jersey and San Francisco States of the US, from 5th to 27th November 2010.

Dr. Dipio talks to students of the Media Studies ClassBefore attending the Associations meeting in San Francisco from 18th to 21 November, Dr. Dipio was hosted at Rutgers University by the Center for African Studies, where she gave a lecture in an African Studies Writer’s class titled, Rendition of History in Goretti Kyomuhendo’s Novel, Waiting (2007). She also screened her film, Crafting the Bamasaba, which completely captivated her audience.

She also went to two Media Studies classes, one being peculiarly all female, in keeping with a tradition of a one-time Women’s Studies Department, that has now been reduced to one course. In these classes, she talked broadly about her research area in film and gender: the changing and unchanging gender images represented in African films that she analyzes.

However, her sessions were not without amusement. In the all female class, Dr. Dipio was amazed by a question by one of the students who asked, “How are you perceived in your country/community?” The idea behind the question highlighted how little known, the advancements made by African Women in all spheres of influence were. Startled but not speechless, Dr. Dipio explained to the student that she was right and wrong at the same time because, “There are many women in my country with even greater achievements,” she quickly informed.

In the other media class, Dr. Dipio mainly talked about the politics of making, marketing and distributing African cinema. So as to illustrate her point, she cited Ousmane Sembene, a former mechanic and bricklayer, who rose to international fame for his award-winning films, like Moolaade (2004) among the many. However, as most of the students had no knowledge of who Sembene was, her illustration was incomplete until she easily found a few clips of the director and his film off Youtube, thanks to the fully equipped lecture theatre which hosted the day’s class. This feat was truly enviable for Dr. Dipio who quickly recalled how she struggles with her heroic students of the film class, to screen their weekly films for the class. Nevertheless she expressed her hope, “We hope and look forward to a time when we shall at least have a lecture theatre in the Faculty of Arts, fully equipped with screening facilities.”

About the African Studies Association’s (ASA)
The ASAmembership consists of a diverse group of individuals, who are interested in Africa and its people, and as such carry out research and scholarly activities in and on Africa. It has a long history of doing this, and this year’s conference was the 53rd, with the theme, AFRICAN DIASPORA AND DIASPORAS IN AFRICA.

The overall objectives of ASA are:

  • Fostering the study of Africa
  • Supporting research by Africans and
  • Promoting collaborations among Africanists
L-R Andrzej W. Tymowski-Dir Int Pgms ACLS, Sister Dr. Dominic Dipio, ASA Executive DIrector-Karen Jenkins, Steven C. Wheatley Vice President, ACLS

 

The Conference
The 53rd ASA conference was opened by Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs in President Barack Obama’s administration, and former American Ambassador to Uganda. In his address, he underlined the importance of academic scholarships in US policy. The policy makers need the feedback from academics to inform decision. He outlined four areas of priority that the US Government has in Africa and these are:

Food security: To enhance Africa’s capacity to feed itself and the world because of its enormous capacity for food security.

Climate change: This will greatly affect food security, especially in Africa, which has the greatest risks and vulnerabilities.

Global Health: Related to the large number of skilled work force that Africa loses to the Diaspora. The brain-drain phenomenon has lead to health related deaths in Africa.

Youth and Change in Africa: This is the government’s commitment to leadership training. Training the next generation of African leaders is what will positively influence the three areas mentioned above.

 

L-R Johnnie Carson-Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Dr. Dipio, Karen Jenkins-ASA Exec Dir & Prof Aili Tripp-Incoming ASA President 2011

During the conference, Dr. Dipio managed to attend some of the parallel sessions and was particularly impressed by the academic rigor of the various senior scholars and graduate students’ researches, undertaken in different parts of the continent. Some of the sessions she attended were: a Roundtable: Whither African Studies in the Academy and in Praxis, Visuality and Social Reform in Colonial Africa; New Critical Approaches to African Literature and Cinema in an Age of Global Production; New discourses on African Personhood in a Time of Votality; and South Asians in Africa, Asian Communities in Africa.

On the last day of the conference, Dr. Dipio was introduced to a group of scholars, doing research on Uganda. Most of the researches that are currently on-going are either historical or political. She however foresaw opportunities, where researchers in Makerere could collaborate with team leaders and join these research groups.

At the close of the conference, The Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola Lecture was delivered by Professor Bekeret Selassie. The issue he highlighted was the need for renewed commitment of the Africans in Diaspora to their Mother continent, where at one point he challenged the Africans living in Diaspora to go back and get involved more directly in the continent’s development.

The African continent’s participation in the ASA annual conference is important. As observed by Dr. Dipio, “Almost all the participants at the conference were people living in or studying in the US or European universities.”

L-R Karen Jenkins-ASA Exec Dir, Prof. Ali Mazrui & Dr. DipioThe Association’s initiative to open up the Presidential scholar offer is an attempt to bridge the gap between scholars in the Diaspora and those in the continent. “Whereas this move from the ASA is highly appreciated, it is the challenge of African universities that value research to support the membership and participation of their scholars at this annual conference and other ASA activities,” added Dr. Dipio.

As Makerere continues to re-affirm its commitment to be a research driven University, this is a great opportunity for her to network with various universities especially in the US that welcome such collaborations. Additionally, investment for institutional participation at this conference that is attended by top researchers in the academia will be an added advantage. “I was delighted to particularly meet and interact with Prof. Ali Mazrui our revered and beloved scholar from East Africa,” remarked Dr. Dipio. “I was also delighted to meet my mentor in African cinema and comparative Literature, Prof. Manthia Diawara, who in recent years twice visited Makerere; first to deliver a lecture on Sembene Ousmane in 2005, and in the following year as a filmmaker who accompanied Ngugi wa Thiongo in is ‘homecoming’ to Makerere and East Africa,” she concluded.

Some quick facts about the Nomination

 

  • Dr. Dipio’s nomination came through the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) that that is directly responsible for promoting the African Humanities Program (AHP) to which she has previously been a fellow 2009/2010.
  • This nomination came in response to African Studies Association’s (ASA) search for a credible African scholar to be invited as the first Presidential Scholar at the Association annual conference.
  • After this inaugural process, the association will annually invite an African scholar living in the continent to participate in the annual ASA conference
  • The purpose for this is to grow a more meaningful connection/relationship African scholars in the continent and those in Diaspora

 

 

Related Stories

 

Crafting the Bamasaba: a Mak-NUFU film premiere

 

 

 

mwamai@admin.mak.ac.ug, Public Relations Office

Mark Wamai

Continue Reading

General

Women in Business Empowered at Makerere

Published

on

Prof. Sarah Ssali (Seated 3rd Right) with officials and participants during the Women in Business training on 20th August 2025. Institute of Gender and Development Studies in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), training program focusing on procurement and business development for women in business, 20th August 2025, Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Makerere University, through the Institute of Gender and Development Studies in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on 20th August 2025 commenced a training program focusing on procurement and business development for women in business. The two sessions, which brought together women from diverse business sectors, were held at the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility. The training covered critical areas such as business requirements and strategic positioning, access to credit—particularly the Women in Business initiative by Stanbic Bank—and navigating procurement processes in the public service, among other vital aspects.

In his remarks, Mr. Paul Agaba, Director of the Procurement and Disposal Unit (PDU) at Makerere University, outlined relevant laws and shed light on reservation schemes for women-owned businesses. He detailed the requirements for companies to participate in procurement reserved for women, the necessary qualifying documents, and the benefits associated with such schemes. Mr. Agaba referred to the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDA) Act of 2003, a law aimed at regulating procurement processes while enhancing service delivery and ensuring value for money. He noted that the Act has undergone several amendments to address emerging issues and reinforce principles of fairness and inclusivity, including measures to integrate previously marginalized groups—women, youth, and persons with disabilities—into business opportunities.

He further emphasized that reservation schemes are designed to provide incentives for women-owned businesses. To qualify, a business must be registered with the appropriate authorities, with at least 51% of its shares owned by one or more Ugandan women. On specific requirements, he highlighted the need for registration with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), annual registration with the PPDA to be listed among providers, and documentation proving 51% female shareholding. However, Mr. Agaba noted that more effort is needed to actualize some provisions, such as ensuring that 15% of every procurement plan in public institutions and all procurements below UGX 30 million are reserved for women.

Representing UNDP, Ms. Beatrice Nabagya Mugambe, whose organization funded the training, underscored the importance of the program, describing it as a response to critical gaps identified through organizational assessments and surveys. She observed that despite ongoing efforts in gender-responsive procurement, women’s participation in procurement processes remains limited—a challenge not unique to Makerere but also evident across other agencies. She pointed to barriers such as lack of capital, insufficient information about bid opportunities and procedures, perceptions that bid amounts are beyond their reach, and limited business networks that could otherwise facilitate collective bidding. She stressed that such limitations can be overcome through collective action.

Addressing the topic of access to credit, Mr. Joel Mukasa, Relationship Manager at Stanbic Bank, highlighted opportunities available to women-owned businesses through the bank. Drawing from over seven years of experience, he noted that women tend to be better business managers, with 90% of loans disbursed to women being repaid, compared to less than 50% among men, attributing the gap to men often diverting business funds for personal use. Mr. Mukasa explained that Stanbic Bank has established several initiatives tailored for women, including the ‘Grow Project’ in partnership with the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) and the government, and the ‘Stanbic for Her’ program. He clarified that the ‘Grow Project’ does not provide free money but rather credit facilities designed for active women entrepreneurs. To qualify, businesses must be registered as sole proprietorships headed by women, companies with at least 51% female shareholding, partnerships led by women, or formal/informal savings groups composed entirely of women. Applicants are also required to have an operational account with Stanbic Bank for at least six months, which eases qualification without the need for audited books.

Prof. Sarah Ssali, Head of the Institute of Gender and Development Studies, reaffirmed Makerere University’s commitment to gender equity and justice as central pillars of its operations. She noted that Makerere is the first public institution globally to apply for the UNDP’s Gender Equality Seal, with the process beginning in 2022. As part of this commitment, the university is evaluated on gender parity in student enrollment. Since 1991, initiatives such as the 1.5 scheme, the establishment of a gender institute, and other affirmative action programs, including those addressing disability and inclusion, have been implemented to promote gender balance among students.

She added that as a gender-responsive employer, the university emphasizes women’s representation in its workforce, particularly in leadership and staffing. Makerere has a comprehensive Gender Equality Policy and Framework supported by affirmative action, which has significantly increased women’s representation in both employment and leadership roles. However, Prof. Ssali acknowledged that challenges persist in the area of procurement. Bound by the PPDA Act, the university cannot impose gender quotas since bidding is based on merit and fair competition. Low participation of women in bids is often due to their operation at a micro-level, lack of familiarity with the PPDA Act, and insufficient capital to handle large contracts.

To address these challenges, Prof. Ssali said Makerere is exploring lawful strategies to promote gender parity in procurement. The main focus is to strengthen women-owned businesses so they can compete effectively for large contracts, while also supporting small and medium women entrepreneurs as they scale up. She explained that the current workshop was deliberately designed for women in business, with participation restricted to women-owned companies. Its primary goal was to build competitiveness by equipping participants with knowledge of pre-qualification, bid submission, assessment, appraisal, and selection processes—ensuring women-owned businesses are fully integrated into Makerere’s procurement activities as part of the university’s broader gender inclusivity agenda.

Ms. Sara Nakibuuka, a practicing procurement professional at Makerere University, stressed the importance of such initiatives in supporting women entrepreneurs. She encouraged women to take full advantage of provisions under the existing Acts of Parliament to expand their business opportunities and strengthen their market presence.

The Women in Business Training 2025 was moderated by Donna Keirungi, a member of the Makerere University Gender Equality Seal implementation team.

Eve Nakyanzi
Eve Nakyanzi

Continue Reading

General

E-Mobility Skilling Programme: Cohort 2 Applications Now Open!

Published

on

E-Mobility Skilling Programme: Cohort 2, in partnership with Kiira Motors Corporation and UNDP Uganda launched! Apply by September 1, 2025. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The Makerere University Innovation Pod is thrilled to announce the launch of the E-Mobility Skilling Programme: Cohort 2, in partnership with Kiira Motors Corporation and UNDP Uganda! This immersive one-year program offers exceptional Bachelor of Science and related discipline students (2nd-3rd year) the opportunity to gain cutting-edge skills in electric vehicle technology.

We are seeking motivated individuals from Physics, various Engineering fields, Industrial Art, Architecture, and Business (Marketing) with a strong academic record. Participants will engage in hands-on training, industrial immersion at Kiira Motors, and contribute to the development of the “Moonshot Project.”

Apply by September 1, 2025, to be part of this transformative skilling initiative. Female students are strongly encouraged to apply.

Learn more and apply here: https://forms.gle/jntp2TrzYqJ4TrKv9

Mak Editor

Continue Reading

General

Bid Notice: Refugee Law Project Mid-Term Review

Published

on

An aerial view of Left to Right: Mitchell Hall, Senate, CoCIS Blocks B and A, Lincoln Flats, Frank Kalimuzo Central Teaching Facility and School of Social Sciences (white) Buildings, Makerere University, with Kampala City in the background, October 2018. Uganda.

DETAILED BID NOTICE UNDER OPEN BIDDING

Invitation to bid for Consultancy Services for Midterm Review of The Embassy of The Kingdom of Netherlands Funded Project; Securing Refugee-Host Relations Through Enhanced Protection, under Refugee Law Project, School of Law, Makerere University.
Proc. Ref. No. MAK/SRVCS/2025-26/00013

  1. The Makerere University under Refugee Law Project has allocated funds to be used for the acquisition of Consultancy Services for Midterm Review of The Embassy of The Kingdom of Netherlands Funded Project; Securing Refugee-Host Relations Through Enhanced Protection, under Refugee Law Project, School of Law, Makerere University.
  2. The Entity invites sealed bids from eligible bidders for the provision of the above consultancy services.
  3. Bidding will be conducted in accordance with the open domestic bidding procedures contained in the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act, 2003, and is open to all bidders.
  4. Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information and inspect the bidding documents at the address given below at 8(a) from 8:00am to 5:00pm.
  5. The Bidding Documents in English may be purchased by interested bidders on the submission of a written application to the address at 2 above and upon payment of a non-refundable fee of UGX. 100,000/= (One Hundred Thousand), only. The method of payment shall be cash payment after downloading Application Advice Slip from https://payments.mak.ac.ug/ and thereafter obtain a receipt from the bank before picking the document.
  6. Proposals must be delivered to the address below at 8(c) at or before 10:00am on Wednesday 20th August 2025. All proposals must be accompanied by a proposal securing declaration which must be valid until 28th February 2026. Late proposals shall be rejected. Proposals will be opened in the presence of the consultants’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below at 8(a) at 10:15am on 20th August 2025.

See below for detailed bid notice.

Mak Editor

Continue Reading

Trending