Humanities & Social Sciences
Of Oracy, Orature, Textology and Clapping Chairs
The organizers of the Public Dialogue on Literature had promised that the event would give a rare and valuable platform to two important, respected and celebrated East African scholars with long and glorious careers in the world of letters to share with the public. This message seems to have singularly struck home with the audience for by 2:00pm on Friday 4th April 2014; almost every seat in the Main Hall, Makerere University had already been taken up. And just like a seasoned stage-manager, the man tasked with keeping the audience guessing, Dr. Danson Kahyana kept engaging them, all the while checking to see that all was set for the day’s event until finally, in they walked; the larger than life figures whose literary reputation preceded their every step, led by the Principal College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), Professor Edward Kirumira.
To the casual observer whose judgment is solely based appearance, they looked harmless, too normal, too humble and overly courteous as they made rounds shaking hands with as many old friends as they could reach. Could these surely be the men of whom all those moving tales and fables had been penned? Could these two gentlemen we were even a little hesitant to take up their places at the high table truly be the famous duo of Professor Arthur Gakwandi and Mwalimu Austin Bukenya?
All this doubt were instantly dispatched the moment Dr. Susan Kiguli, Head of the Literature Department, CHUSS took to the podium and began sharing some decadal anecdotes. Of a Scholar in the 1970s; Professor Ali Mazrui, whose presentations on political science would leave even the chairs in the Main Hall clapping; of two Professors – one a fire-spiting socialist by the name of Mahmood Mamdani and another a consuming capitalist by the name of Apolo Nsibambi who in the 1980s held the Makerere audiences at ransom with their debates; and of a Professor by the name of Okot p’Bitek who would awaken all sleeping interest by dancing atop tables and playing his nanga (harp). By this time, the audience that was literally eating out of her palm was further spellbound by her narrations on discovering the life form of these legends, on joining Makerere as an undergraduate student.
“Professor Wangusa, who quoted T.S. Eliot like he was his next of kin…Professor Rubadiri, who was under the impression that all 150 students attending his class were registered for it, only to discover at the time of coursework that 100 of those had come to hear him pour forth poetry…” said Dr. Kiguli, further captivating her audience. She paid tribute to the day’s speakers for “coming back home” and to the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) for sponsoring the day’s Public Dialogue.
Dr. Aaron Mushengyezi, the Dean, School of Languages, Literature and Communication, CHUSS then welcomed the academic twins; in reference to both of the Speakers who recently turned 70, to Makerere. He then paid personal tributes to Prof. Arthur Gakwandi who in 1992 signed his academic life certificate by endorsing his registration for a “forbidden” combination of subjects on the BA programme and to Mwalimu Austin Bukenya for the mentorship he accorded him during his early days as an academic staff. “The values that these two eminent Professors exhibited to me were their humility and simplicity [which values are unmistakable] even as you look at them today” he added.
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is the cradle of the Arts in Makerere University. As such, the Principal, Prof. Edward Kirumira could not hold back his pride as he warmly welcomed back his own. “We appreciate the time that our two Speakers are putting aside to come back and do what they are supposed to do; to mentor us and tell us that before we get to their age, we must continue to share our knowledge,” said Prof. Kirumira.
He encouraged the audience to borrow a leaf from the day’s Speakers by reflecting upon how they had used their respective lives and opportunities to make a lasting impression on society. Prof. Kirumira then challenged the staff to always ensure that they have mentored their younger colleagues to carry on with the great work when that time to retire finally comes knocking.
With the day’s formalities complete, it was now time for the Chairperson to take the Public Dialogue to the next level. This was the moment that the audience had eagerly anticipated all day and it was up to Prof. Abasi Kiyimba to deliver. His choice to initiate by first of all reminding everyone of the day’s topic: Literature and the Crisis in the Humanities was simple but artful. He then proceeded to impress it upon the audience that they each had a role to play beyond the day’s dialogue in as far as coming up with a solution to the crisis. Nevertheless as the Deputy Principal, CHUSS in an era where the voice of Humanities is being drowned out by the Sciences debate, he took this opportunity to make his case, “Occasions like these are our opportunity to demonstrate that we have ideas that can build this country,” and turning to the day’s Speakers, he dropped the gauntlet “speak about your vision of society and the role of literature.”
First up was Professor Arthur Gakwandi who spoke in a moderate but deliberate tone, true to his diplomatic background. After thanking the organizers for the great honour and opportunity to speak to the public, he quickly drew first blood with his statement, “The Humanities are not in a crisis.
“With ears in the audience peaking higher and increased activity as sitting positions were readjusted, Prof. Gakwandi went on to defend his stance by noting that crises speak of danger that comes with an element of surprise leaving the parties only a short time to decide on a course of action. He further noted that since the present state of affairs has been with us for well over a decade, the crisis attribute was therefore unjustifiable. He further backed this up with the existence of books on the subject like Crisis in the Humanities by J.H. Plumb first published in 1964, almost 50 years ago.
“Humanities are not in a crisis, they are facing challenges. They have faced challenges before and they should stand up and look forward with confidence because the contribution to society that they make is likely to remain important,” emphasized Prof. Gakwandi. He then went on to quote his late Professor of Literature, David Cook’s inaugural public lecture in the Main Hall in 1971
“An advanced study of Literature equips a student to think widely, deeply and flexibly on all human affairs and means of expression and is therefore an appropriate intellectual basis for professional men and women in many fields of public service”
Reflecting on the works of Matthew Arnold a British poet and cultural critic, Prof. Gakwandi noted that Literature had a role to play as a vital ingredient in society “Literature embodies values, interprets experience and makes the mind more imaginative, and therefore is valuable not only for those who study it but also for those who read it for pleasure… even if you are a scientist, you can share something from literature by reading and it will save you from some more vulgar forms of entertainment,” he counseled.
A fresh retiree from Makerere University, Prof. Gakwandi appreciated the important foundation that his background in Literature training laid for his 15 years of Diplomatic service. He also noted that he had seen many of his former students taken on roles of responsibility in many other fields such as politics and the media, especially as Chief Editors, “many of these people have risen to the top thus vindicating their Education in Literature at Makerere,” he substantiated.
As he concluded his submission, Prof. Gakwandi however warned that the Teachers of Literature ought to adapt their styles to the changing times and circumstances in our society, “I am especially thinking about the influence of bad journalism, facebook, twitter and social media on the way we speak and write.” Prof. Gakwandi also warned on the tendency of compartmentalizing the various disciplines in the Arts to the exclusion of others, “We need to see more interdisciplinarity because whether you study History or Political Science or Literature, you are studying the same society from different perspectives,” further adding that “I think we ought to borrow a little more from each other, teachers of language should use literary text to teach language and Lecturers in Literature should pay more attention to Language Communication skills and courses should be offered across the boundaries of these disciplines and that is when we shall move forward in promoting the values of the Humanities,” said Prof. Gakwandi in ending.
Next up was Mwalimu Austin Bukenya, a leading authority on Oracy and African Orature who straight away paid tribute to his training at the University of Dar-es-salaam by addressing the gathering in Kiswahili. He then commended the audience for “voting with their feet for Literature” by turning up in overwhelming numbers. Mwalimu Bukenya proposed that the Public Dialogue be dedicated to a literary colleague Prof. Christopher Lukorito Wanjala who was celebrating his 70th birthday on that day. He further emphasized that although the Public Dialogue had been organized as a way of bidding the Professors farewell, he preferred that the Swahili ni kwaheri ya kuonana (until the next time) reference be used instead of the academic parlance reference of valedictory lectures.
In a bid put an end to the “backward and primitive way of referring to Literature as quoting Shakespeare to one another”, Professor Bukenya or Mwalimu is he’s fondly known in the literary circles put forth four definitions of Literature as: i) a form of artistic communication using language as its medium, the artistic bit fusing observation, imagination and precise distinctive expression – literature is iconic, it calls attention to itself; ii) texts – anything that is written – literate e.g. Mathematical literature. There also exist oral/orate/unwritten texts that come from oracy (the skill of the spoken word) and orature (the creativity of the spoken word); iii) in broader modern literature – anything that signifies e.g. the clothes one wears and their implication hence
Mwalimu however sought to clearly point out that by the Humanities being in a crisis; they are in a state of concern, “That crisis is a false positing of Arts versus Sciences. That has created a state of crisis. Can we really say it is either Arts or Sciences?” pondered Prof. Bukenya. He further noted that the policy makers have over the years been gradually diminishing almost to negligible levels the sponsorship of students in the arts, “It is not only the funding that is going down but also the public pronouncements on the same,” Prof. Bukenya further added terms like appropriate dressing and iv) concerned with the studying of all texts in their signifying modes which pertains to textology (using texts as communicating systems to uncover and describe grammar) and one of Mwalimu’s coining of the day testectics (the mechanics of the word/text)
He noted that this has driven the teachers of the Arts so hard against the wall that even the mode of teaching has changed. “People seem to be so thoroughly concerned with just learning things and writing exams that our effectiveness has become questionable, especially in the areas of language and literature,” lamented Mwalimu. He noted that this teaching has led to students being exam-oriented which leads to conclusions like our graduates are unemployable.
Prof. Bukenya stressed the need to continue prioritizing the Humanities as they are those activities and studies that are primarily concerned with human relationships. “What I propose is that we should have both Sciences and Humanities. This comes from a theory in Literature – to deconstruct which does not seek to destroy but instead break up and rearrange,” he elaborated, further adding that “We cannot afford to have a person today who is purely a Humanist without a Science competence or else we are developing an articulate caveman. Equally importantly, we cannot have a Scientist who is purely a whiz in chemical formulae without a human side otherwise he will be just a robot.”
He further reiterated the notion that Literature is the most humane of the humanities because it deals with human relationships and as such can used to best illustrate their importance. Mwalimu sought to give the audience a deeper appreciation of his field by speaking about Literature as phatic communion as is the reference in advanced literary theory. This communion he said goes beyond simply making a connection through speech but going further to establish and maintain a relationship. “When someone says how are you or wasuze otya, it is not because they want you to describe exactly what bed you slept in but they are establishing a relationship and trying to maintain that relationship,” elaborated Prof. Bukenya.
He then delved into other branches of Literature like para-literature pertaining to films and songs further noting that, “People cannot do without these, and you have to ask yourself why? This all points to the phatic communion that makes us empathise and symphatise with our fellow human beings,” he explained. As a demonstration of phatic communion, Mwalimu then recited his Swahili translation of The Lonely Soul a poem written by a West African poet. He then sought to further dispel the unjustified generalizations that people in the Humanities do not create jobs.
Treading ever so lightly, Mwalimu then gave the Faith Industry; the fastest growing industry in the country today as a valid example, “I cannot say everyday but we can be sure that every week a new Church is coming up in Uganda. You cannot say that Churches are not job creators. Wherever you have a Church, you have a Pastor, Assistant Pastor, Choir Members, Counsellors, Intercessors and so on… the question we then ask is if you deny a person who seeks to study Religious Study sponsorship, who is going to professionally run those Churches? How many have got trained scriptural scholars, theologians and so on? No wonder we keep saying if we have so many Churches, why then do we have so many thieves or so much corruption? Is it because the Churches are not run by professionally competent people? We could do the same in Music Dance and Drama, how many professionals do we have?” Mwalimu questioned as the audience struggled to contain themselves.
He also touched on the distorted expectation of the university, noting that “A University is supposed to educate people. It is not a technical school. This is the mistake we make when we swallow up our polytechnics and make them universities,” lamented Prof. Bukenya as the audience stomped their feet. “People who want to acquire technical skills should go to technical institutions not universities. The university is a training place for thinking people, creative people, and imaginative people and maybe we should think of restructuring our education system to make our first degree more generalized to create an educated person who can then go on to technical training. This is just what we are trying to do when we train Literature. We have various specific theories of Textology where we use the speech act theory which consists of Elocution – what we utter, Illocution – what we intend and Perlocution – what you achieve. The literature person is a trained individual who can perform many duties and the demand is there,” elucidated Prof. Bukenya.
He thanked the audience for their patience and was confident that this event was only just the beginning “I am sure that we are only initiating the dialogue and I hope that it will continue” he summed up.As he brought his presentation to a close Mwalimu cautioned the audience to guard against the sinister intentions of international sponsors who are urging Governments to train Scientists and forget the Arts, “Because they know they can create their hordes of scientists and recolonise us, what we call ukoloni mamboleo [neocolonialism] because those people that go [solely] into technical things will have the ‘technical know-who’ but lack the ‘technical know-why’ to ask provocative questions,” preached Mwalimu. “It is only the political scientist who is going to ask those questions and it is not in their interest to cater for our culture, for critical people who will ask questions and we’ll be a damned generations which cannot ask questions and we need to guard against that,” added Mwalimu.
The debate then shifted to the floor where members of the audience were given the chance to ask related questions that ranged from the inspiration behind some of the Speakers’ publications to why Literature was glaringly absent from the modern day homes in all its forms. In their responses the Speakers challenged the audience to derive their own meanings from the publications as is the true spirit of literature, “Trust the tale, not the artist and books don’t have meaning save for the meaning you derive out of them” were some of the words of wisdom dispensed by both Speakers. They also challenged the audience to reintroduce literature in all its forms back into their homes, “Wherever there is a bottle of beer, there should be a bookcase, and we should make books a part of our lives.”
In his closing remarks, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Dr. Ernest Okello Ogwang, himself an Associate Professor of Literature and accomplished publisher, profusely thanked the Day’s Speakers Prof. Bukenya, Prof. Gakwandi as well as the session Chairman Prof. Kiyimba for ably illustrating that literary culture has played and will continue to play a prominent role in shaping the East African region. He also thanked his three aforementioned mentors for the wonderful set of words of wisdom that were delivered in the true spirit of orature.
He however challenged the audience to ride on the spark that the dialogue had ignited, “There is some kind of crisis in the Humanities but it must not be defined for us by others. What is our role in this crisis? Can we reconfigure it for the good of the younger people?” the DVC-AA asked the audience, before summarily adding “I think so.”
In moving a vote of thanks to the day’s speakers and indeed to everyone present, Sr. Dr. Dominic Dipio, Associate Professor of Literature, CHUSS acknowledged the respective contributions to the success of the Literature Public Dialogue by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Dr. Ernest Okello Ogwang, the Principal CHUSS, Prof. Edward Kirumira, the Dean School of Languages Literature and Communication, Dr. Aaron Mushengyezi, the Head, Literature Department, Dr. Susan Kiguli as well as all members of the organizing committee. She further appreciated that the Humanities were steadily coming to the fore of the University leadership and hoped that this would help reinforce their importance to society. Sr. Dr. Dipio then commended the Speakers Prof. Arthur Gakwandi and Mwalimu Austin Bukenya for elaborately handling the day’s topic and continuing to keep the Literature torch aflame through their continued and mentorship and involvement in the literary circles.
Assoc. Prof. Okello Ogwang then took this opportunity to recognize other legendary names in the literary circles like Prof. Ruth Mukama and Prof. Theo Luzuka and acknowledge their respective contributions to mentoring writers in the Department of Literature, Makerere University and beyond.
Article and Pictures by Public Relations Office
Special thanks to @nyanaKakoma
Humanities & Social Sciences
Prof. Walakira takes over as CHUSS Deputy Principal, pledges research-driven leadership
New Deputy Principal Prof. Eddy Joshua Walakira has pledged to build on the existing foundations at Makerere University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), with a focus on strengthening research, innovation, partnerships and the college’s income-generating capacity.
Prof. Walakira made the pledge on Monday, September 14, 2026, after officially taking over as Deputy Principal of CHUSS from Associate Prof. Eric Awich Ochen, who completed his four-year tenure after assuming office in April 2022.
The handover ceremony, held at the CHUSS Smart Room, brought together the College Principal, Associate Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala, deans, heads of departments, academic, administrative and support staff, as well as representatives from the Directorate of Internal Audit.
Walakira said he was taking over at a time when CHUSS had established a strong foundation and pledged to work with the Principal and staff to take the college to greater heights.
“I’m coming in with a lot of hope, a lot of courage and a lot of optimism because the foundations are already in place and the structures are already in place,” Walakira said.
He said his immediate priority would be to understand the needs of the different schools and departments and develop practical interventions, particularly in research, innovation and partnerships.
The incoming Deputy Principal said he intends to undertake a tour of CHUSS schools and departments to assess their research, innovation and partnership needs. said the exercise would help management identify existing capacities, gaps and opportunities that could be developed into practical plans for the college.
“My thinking is that we are going to form the best team ever that has led CHUSS,” he said, stressing that the college has the human and institutional capacity to become a leading unit within the University.
Walakira said CHUSS should make greater use of the networks and partnerships already established by its academic units, arguing that these could provide opportunities for research collaboration, innovation and resource mobilisation.
He also challenged departments that have faced long-standing equipment shortages to explore sustainable solutions rather than relying entirely on external funding.
“If the Department of Journalism for the last 20 years is still crying about equipment, I don’t think that is a good song. There must be a way out from within,” Walakira said. He pledged to work closely with Principal Nambalirwa Nkabala and other college leaders to identify opportunities for strengthening research capacity, publication and partnerships.
Walakira pledges loyal and collaborative leadership
Walakira pledged to work closely with the Principal, deans, heads of departments and staff while respecting University policies and structures. He said his leadership approach would be based on humility, consultation and practical problem-solving.
“My pledge, first of all, is to be loyal and humble to my boss and, above all, to serve in the fear of the Most High and to respect the rules, the principles and the structures of the University,” he said.
Walakira said he would seek to strengthen existing research groups and explore opportunities for the college to generate more resources internally. He urged staff to embrace a collective vision and work together to address challenges facing the college.
He expressed confidence that CHUSS could become a leading college within Makerere University if its existing human resource and institutional capacity were effectively harnessed.
“We have people who can work in leadership, but we have to develop a collective vision. We have to respect and accept the capabilities that we have, and also accept to work together to address the challenges that confront us,” he said.
Assoc. Prof. Ochen highlights four years of academic and research gains
In his handover report, outgoing Deputy Principal Prof. Eric Awich Ochen highlighted progress made during his four-year tenure, including improvements in teaching and learning, academic programme development, research, internationalisation, staff capacity building and digitalisation.
Ochen said he assumed office in April 2022, in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and worked under two College Principals—Prof. Josephine Ahikire and Associate Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala.
He attributed the achievements recorded during his tenure to collective efforts by the Principal, deans, heads of departments and staff.
“Whatever I did in the office of the Deputy Principal for the last four years has been in the best interest of the students. I tried to act in good faith,” Ochen said.
He acknowledged that leadership involves mistakes and said one of his major lessons had been the importance of consultation before making decisions.
Ochen advised his successor to maintain close consultation with the Principal, particularly when dealing with issues requiring clarification.
Ochen reported that the college had developed and revised several academic programmes during his tenure, including postgraduate programmes in French language studies, African languages and anthropology.
He said several existing programmes had also undergone accreditation and urged deans and heads of departments to begin preparations early for programmes due for re-accreditation.
He warned that delays in accreditation could disrupt student admissions and programme delivery, citing previous cases where some programmes were temporarily affected.
The outgoing Deputy Principal also highlighted efforts to revive and establish scholarly journals within CHUSS, including journals in history, peace, humanities, literature and communication.
He called for greater regularity in journal publication and continued digitisation to improve the visibility and accessibility of the college’s scholarly output.
Ochen said CHUSS had also made progress in modernising teaching and learning through the adoption of digital academic management systems.
He noted that staff had transitioned from the Academic Information Management System to ACMIS for the management and uploading of students’ results.
Timetable coordinators had also been trained to upload teaching timetables and workloads electronically.
The college also installed smart interactive screens in several lecture rooms, which Ochen said had improved the teaching environment and supported blended learning.
He urged the incoming leadership to continue investing in digital infrastructure, particularly for smaller postgraduate teaching spaces.
Ochen reported that CHUSS had significantly expanded its research and grants portfolio, with the college managing grants estimated at about US$12 million.
He attributed the growth partly to the development of research groups across departments and encouraged the new leadership to strengthen these groups to increase grant applications and scholarly publications.
“I believe in the last four years we have grown as a college. I think we have quite a higher portfolio of grants,” Ochen said.
He also cited numerous conferences, public lectures and international academic events as having contributed to CHUSS’s visibility nationally and internationally.
These included philosophy events, social work conferences, peace-related events, language celebrations, history and climate-migration conferences and other scholarly engagements.
Ochen said CHUSS had expanded its international collaborations through mobility programmes, academic partnerships and international conferences.
He pointed to Erasmus+ programmes and other collaborations involving universities in Europe, Africa and other parts of the world.
He also highlighted the Rotary Peace Centre and its growing international student community as important contributors to the college and University’s internationalisation agenda.
Despite the progress, Ochen identified inadequate equipment, particularly in journalism and multimedia production, as one of the challenges requiring attention.
He also cited concerns around support for staff supervising students, marking dissertations and other academic work, as well as the need to better recognise academic work conducted outside normal university hours.
He urged the incoming leadership to continue engaging staff and seeking practical solutions to these challenges.
Leadership transition will not disrupt CHUSS
Principal Associate Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala thanked Ochen for his service and said the transition would not destabilise the college.
She described Ochen as a committed colleague whose passion, energy and humility had contributed to the college’s progress.
Nambalirwa said the college was entering a new phase under Walakira, whose appointment comes as CHUSS implements its strategic priorities.
She said the college’s newly developed strategic plan provides a framework for advancing research, social protection, innovation, partnerships and other institutional priorities.
“We are very ambitious. We are hoping that we shall get a lot of wealth. For this college to move further, we are moving with stability,” Nambalirwa said.
The Principal also urged staff to continue supporting the new Deputy Principal as they had supported Ochen.
“Please, support that you have given Professor Ochen should be extended to Professor Walakira, because service is only fun when you have all your hands,” she said.
Staff commend Ochen, welcome Walakira
Staff members who spoke during the ceremony commended Ochen for his leadership and commitment to students while welcoming Walakira to the new role.
Mr. Gidange Moses from the Directorate of Internal Audit praised the Principal for nurturing staff and creating opportunities for them to take up leadership responsibilities.
He commended Ochen for completing his tenure and urged Walakira to embrace the responsibility of leading the college alongside the Principal.
Dr. Charlotte Mafumbo, Head of the Department of History, Archaeology and Heritage Studies, described Ochen as a passionate leader and thanked him for his contribution to the college.
She pledged the department’s support to the incoming Deputy Principal.
Dr. Denis Muhangi, Head of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, representing the Dean of the School of Social Sciences, praised Ochen for his resilience in following up decisions and his commitment to student welfare.
He assured Walakira of the school’s support as he takes on his new responsibilities.
Maria Gyezaho, from the Principal’s office, also thanked Ochen for his guidance and leadership, saying the skills he had imparted to staff would continue to benefit them.
The handover formally marked the end of Ochen’s tenure as Deputy Principal and the beginning of Walakira’s term, with the college leadership calling on staff to maintain the momentum achieved over the previous four years while pursuing new opportunities for growth.
For details about Prof. Eddy Joshua Walakira, please click on the link below:
https://chuss.mak.ac.ug/en/personnel/eddy-joshua-walakira/
Jane Anyango is the Principal Communication Officer CHUSS
Humanities & Social Sciences
Makerere Probes Climate Change–Migration Links: Calls for Protective Policies for Vulnerable Communities
A three-day workshop examining the historical relationship between climate change and migration in Uganda has opened at Makerere University, bringing together academics, government officials, refugee-community representatives and postgraduate students to examine how environmental and climate factors have shaped population movements across the country’s history.
The workshop, running from September 8 to 10, 2026, is hosted by the Department of History, Archaeology and Heritage Studies in the School of Liberal and Performing Arts under the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS).
The event is being held under a joint project between Makerere University and the University of Cambridge on the Histories of Climate and Migration in Uganda.
The project is funded by the Mastercard Foundation’s Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund in partnership with the Cambridge Africa Programme at the University of Cambridge. It has received a grant of £49,800 and seeks to expand knowledge on how environmental and climate factors have influenced Uganda’s long history of migration, both in recent times and in the deeper historical past.
The workshop has attracted officials from government ministries and agencies, principal and co-principal investigators, heads of departments from CHUSS and other colleges, senior academics and professors, organisations working with refugees, refugee-community members serving as change agents and CHUSS graduate students.
Over the three days, participants are expected to consider 32 research papers and three keynote addresses, alongside roundtable discussions and a field visit to the Uganda National Archives.
Keynote speaker Anthony Mugeere calls for climate-migration policies that protect vulnerable communities
Uganda needs to rethink its policies on migration by recognising climate change as a growing factor influencing where, when and why people move, Dr. Anthony Mugeere, a sociologist and climate policy researcher, has said.
Mugeere made the call while delivering a keynote address on Climate and Migration in Uganda .
Mugeere argued that migration should not automatically be interpreted as a crisis or solely as a consequence of climate change because movement has historically been one of the ways communities respond and adapt to changing environmental and economic circumstances.
He challenged researchers to examine whether people who leave their homes because of failed rains, floods, disappearing crops or scarcity of pasture are necessarily being displaced, or whether their movement can also constitute an adaptation strategy.
“Migration is not simply a consequence of climate change,” Mugeere said, arguing that mobility can also be a way through which households respond to climate stress.
Mugeere said climate has always influenced where and how communities live and move, although the environmental dimension was not always explicitly recognised in earlier explanations of migration.
He said traditional explanations of historical migration often focused on wars, tribal conflicts, the search for land, cattle, women, slaves and other social or political factors, without adequately considering environmental pressures.
According to Mugeere, a historical examination of migration reveals that movement was often connected to access to water, pasture, fertile land and other environmental resources.
He cited pastoral communities that moved in search of water and pasture and agricultural communities that moved in response to land and environmental conditions.
Fishing communities, he added, have historically developed around lakes, while trade routes and settlements have also been influenced by patterns of human mobility.
He said factors such as epidemics, famine, environmental changes and the availability of resources have long contributed to population movements.
Mugeere argued that contemporary research therefore needs to connect historical migration patterns with the changing climate rather than treating climate-induced migration as an entirely new phenomenon.
Mugeere cited landslides and flooding in Bududa as examples of how climate and environmental conditions are altering the circumstances under which people move.
He also pointed to rising water levels in Lake Victoria and other water bodies as factors that have displaced communities and changed settlement patterns.
Drought, livestock losses, flooding, landslides and rising water levels, he said, are among the environmental pressures that can force people to leave places they have traditionally occupied.
He warned that some forms of movement may easily be overlooked because they do not fit conventional definitions of migration.
These include temporary movement, rural-to-urban migration and movement by communities seeking alternative livelihoods when agricultural production becomes increasingly difficult.
Mugeere said the increasing movement of Ugandans to cities and abroad, including to the Gulf region, should also be examined against a broader range of economic, social and environmental factors.
The sociologist said migration can provide important benefits to households affected by climate stress.
People who move can diversify household income, reduce exposure to climate-related risks, access employment and send remittances back to their families.
Migration can also help households recover from shocks and strengthen their resilience, particularly when migrants find employment and are able to support relatives who remain behind.
However, Mugeere cautioned that migration can also create serious social and economic challenges.
He identified social disruption, vulnerability, difficulties with integration, exploitation, overcrowding and pressure on host communities among the potential consequences of climate-induced movement.
He particularly highlighted the pressure placed on resources in areas hosting refugees, noting that receiving communities can experience additional demands on land, firewood and other natural resources.
This, he said, creates a need for better planning to ensure that both displaced populations and host communities can access essential services and resources.
Mugeere called for climate change, mitigation and adaptation to be incorporated into government programmes and policies dealing with livelihoods and migration.
He said programmes such as the Parish Development Model would struggle to achieve their intended objectives if they do not take climate-related risks into account.
He also urged policymakers to consider migration as part of Uganda’s adaptation strategies rather than treating every movement as a failure or emergency.
The researcher said Uganda must prepare both people who move and communities that receive them.
He noted that Uganda has a strong record of hosting refugees from neighbouring countries but questioned whether the country is sufficiently prepared to provide services and support to growing populations in receiving communities.
He also called for policies that protect people who may be unable to migrate, including persons with disabilities, women and young people.
According to Mugeere, these groups must be incorporated into planning for climate-related migration because not everyone has the ability or resources to move when environmental conditions deteriorate.
Mugeere further called for comprehensive planning when communities are relocated from areas exposed to disasters.
He cited communities affected by landslides and flooding, arguing that relocation should not simply involve moving people from dangerous locations to safer areas without planning for their long-term livelihoods and social needs.
He said policymakers should consider rehabilitation, awareness, settlement, access to services and livelihood opportunities as part of relocation programmes.
Mugeere argued that the contribution of social scientists extends beyond academic research because disciplines such as sociology, history and social work can provide evidence to guide policy and programme management.
In his concluding message, Mugeere said climate change should be understood as a force that is transforming the geography of opportunity, risk and human mobility.
“Climate change does not simply change Uganda’s climate. It changes the geography of opportunity, risk, and human mobility,” he said.
He urged researchers to adopt a human-centred approach that considers how individuals and communities perceive climate risks and how those perceptions influence decisions to remain, move or adapt.
He also stressed that Uganda’s history demonstrates that mobility is not new and has long been part of how communities respond to livelihood opportunities and changing circumstances.
However, he warned that climate change is intensifying these pressures and will increasingly affect poverty, land, infrastructure, urbanisation and governance.
Mugeere said Uganda’s preparedness for climate-related disasters must therefore be questioned despite the existence of government ministries, budgets, teams and equipment.
He observed that the country often discovers gaps in preparedness only when disasters occur, underscoring the need for proactive planning before climate-related displacement reaches crisis levels.
Historians must trace the roots of climate-related migration
Dr. Charlotte Mafumbo, Head of the Department of History, Archaeology and Heritage Studies, said the workshop provides an opportunity for historians and other scholars to critically examine two interconnected global challenges—climate change and migration—and understand how they have evolved over time.
Mafumbo said the scale of displacement globally makes historical research on migration increasingly important, noting that people have been forced to move for different reasons, including war, ethnicity, political and international complications and environmental pressures.
She referred to estimates that about 250 million people were displaced during and around the period of the Second World War, with some forced into settlements, deported, imprisoned or driven from their homes because of their ethnicity or other circumstances.
She said the world is now witnessing another major displacement challenge associated with climate change, with an estimated 112 million displaced people affected by climate-related pressures.
Mafumbo argued that the current situation requires historians to go back into the past and establish when and how climate-related migration emerged, how it has manifested itself and whether there are similarities or differences between historical and contemporary patterns.
“There is no better time than now for us to reflect on these issues,” Mafumbo said.
She said the workshop should go beyond presentations and academic debate by encouraging participants to establish partnerships that can continue after the event.
Mafumbo encouraged participants to exchange contacts and develop collaborations, particularly because the three-day programme may not provide enough time to exhaust the issues under discussion.
She also said the Department of History, Archaeology and Heritage Studies is committed to ensuring that the research and discussions produce practical outcomes for government and other stakeholders.
According to Mafumbo, the department hopes the workshop will generate key talking points that can be shared with relevant ministries and contribute to the development of policy briefs.
“We do hope that out of the workshop, we shall have some talking points we shall be sharing with the relevant ministries after here,” she said.
She welcomed keynote speakers, officials from the Ministry of Water and Environment and the Office of the Prime Minister, as well as other participants, to the Department of History, Archaeology and Heritage Studies, the School of Liberal and Performing Arts and CHUSS.
Research project links academics with refugee communities
Dr. Pamela Khanakwa, Dean of the School of Liberal and Performing Arts and a Principal Investigator on the project, said the initiative was made possible through the support of Makerere University and Cambridge, with the project housed in the Department of History, Archaeology and Heritage Studies.
She thanked the department and CHUSS leadership, as well as the university’s Directorate of Legal Affairs and the Office of the Vice Chancellor, for their support in making the project possible.
Khanakwa also used her remarks to recognise Professor Asiimwe Godfrey, whom she described as an important figure in her intellectual development dating back to her undergraduate years.
She recounted her longstanding academic relationship with Dr. Samuel Meyerson, the project’s Cambridge-based Principal Investigator, explaining that she first encountered him as one of the students she supervised at Makerere.
She said their relationship subsequently developed from a student-supervisor relationship into an academic collaboration, eventually leading to the current project.
Khanakwa recalled assisting Meyerson with applications for PhD study in the United States, including submitting one recommendation letter at the last minute while travelling through Atlanta.
She said Meyerson later continued his research on Karamoja, including through his master’s research, which she described as an extensive study.
Their collaboration continued when Meyerson participated in a 2022 Humanities International Conference at Makerere University, where he presented research in the same room in which the current workshop is being held.
Khanakwa said Meyerson eventually returned with the idea of developing a collaborative project, choosing to approach Makerere’s Department of History, Archaeology and Heritage Studies to develop the proposal.
“It started like a small conversation, small ideas, but we put our efforts together and we are able to be where we are today,” Khanakwa said.
She credited co-principal investigators Dr. Charlotte Mafumbo and Dr. Edgar Taylor for their contribution to shaping the project, while also praising administrative staff Duncan Muhanguzi and Esther Namitala for handling budgeting, communication and logistical preparations.
Khanakwa said the project is designed to bring together researchers from different disciplines and members of refugee communities in Uganda.
She explained that its focus is not limited to recent climate-related migration but also examines the deeper historical relationship between environmental conditions and migration.
The project is expected to run through March or April next year and contains several components, including the three-day workshop and a seed-funding programme.
Under the seed-funding component, five graduate students have each received £2,000 to conduct empirical research with a historical orientation. Three additional grants have been awarded to researchers from refugee communities.
Khanakwa said the seed funding was intended to expand the range of voices and evidence informing research on climate and migration, while also giving graduate students and refugee researchers an opportunity to contribute directly to knowledge production.
She noted that securing research funding is highly competitive and said the £49,800 grant was an achievement that should be recognised, while clarifying that the entire amount would not be spent on the workshop.
Khanakwa said discussions during the workshop should contribute to intellectual debates while also producing ideas that could have practical value and inform policy.
“We hope that we can be able to come up with very meaningful discussions that can inform not only intellectual debates, but also ideas that can be of great value in practical terms and perhaps also in ways that they can inform policy,” she said.
She urged participants to make full use of the workshop to exchange ideas and develop collaborations that can continue beyond the three-day event.
Refugee voices central to understanding migration history
Dr. Samuel Meyerson, a Research Fellow in History at the University of Cambridge and Principal Investigator of the project, said the objectives of the initiative had already been clearly outlined by the other speakers, allowing him to focus on welcoming participants and acknowledging those who made the workshop possible.
Meyerson, who is a former student of Makerere University’s Department of History, said he was particularly pleased to return to the institution as a researcher and project leader.
He extended a special welcome to participants from Nakivale Refugee Settlement, saying their involvement was important because the project seeks to incorporate perspectives from refugee communities into discussions about migration.
“We very much appreciate you coming all this way to contribute your perspectives to the workshop,” Meyerson said.
Meyerson acknowledged the support of the Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund, managed jointly by the Mastercard Foundation and the University of Cambridge, which is financing the project.
He thanked his fellow Principal Investigator, Dr. Pamela Khanakwa, as well as co-principal investigators Dr. Charlotte Mafumbo and Dr. Edgar Taylor, for helping transform the initial idea for a collaborative project into the workshop.
According to Meyerson, the idea began as a relatively undeveloped concept that he brought to his Makerere colleagues in October last year before the partners worked together to develop it into the current research project.
He also praised the administrative team of Duncan Muhanguzi and Esther Namitala for their work in handling the numerous logistical details required to organise the workshop.
Meyerson further recognised administrative personnel at both Cambridge and Makerere universities whose time and expertise contributed to bringing the event together.
He also highlighted the role of the refugee researchers and Makerere postgraduate students who successfully applied for the project’s seed-funding grants.
Meyerson said members of the selection committee were impressed by the quality of the applications and expected the supported research to generate new evidence and perspectives on climate and migration.
“We, as the members of the selection committee, were deeply impressed by these applications and we all greatly look forward to the insights that your projects will yield,” he said.
The workshop is expected to provide a platform for sustained discussion between academics, policymakers, researchers and communities affected by migration.
Through presentations, keynote addresses, roundtable discussions, seed-funded research and engagement with archival materials at the Uganda National Archives, the organisers hope to deepen understanding of the historical forces behind migration and the role environmental and climate factors have played in shaping population movements in Uganda.
Climate-migration research strengthens Makerere’s global academic partnerships
CHUSS welcomed a new research project examining the historical links between climate change and migration, describing the initiative as an opportunity to strengthen interdisciplinary scholarship and connect academic research with the experiences of refugee communities.
Speaking on behalf of the CHUSS Principal, Associate Professor Eric Awich Ochen said climate change is an issue that increasingly affects everyday life and requires sustained research and collaboration.
Ochen said the Principal was unable to attend the workshop because of other commitments and had sent him to represent her and convey her greetings to participants.
He described CHUSS as the largest college at Makerere University, with more than 225 full-time academic staff and close to 300 staff when support personnel are included.
He said the college makes a significant contribution to the university through its humanities, liberal arts, social sciences, performing arts and other academic programmes.
Ochen defended the importance of the humanities and social sciences in understanding complex social challenges, saying the disciplines are essential to understanding how human beings respond to changes in their environment and society.
He highlighted the College’s Department of Performing Arts and Film and the School of Liberal and Performing Arts, where history and other disciplines contribute to academic and cultural development.
He said Makerere-trained artists and scholars have contributed to Uganda and beyond, demonstrating the wider contribution of humanities and social sciences to society.
“The liberal arts, the humanities and social sciences are very important for us human beings,” Ochen said.
He praised the keynote speaker, Dr. Anthony Mugeere, describing him as a scholar with a distinctive sense of humour and resilience, while also welcoming participants to the workshop.
Ochen said the research project is important because it examines environmental and climate factors that have influenced Uganda’s long history of migration, both in recent times and in the deeper historical past.
He thanked Dr. Pamela Khanakwa and Dr. Samuel Meyerson for developing the project and noted that although the current project is relatively short, the researchers are already exploring ways of expanding it to create further learning around climate and migration.
The project brings together scholars from multiple disciplines as well as members of refugee communities in Uganda.Ochen said the inclusion of refugee communities was particularly significant because it allows research to incorporate experiences and perspectives from people directly affected by migration.
He also welcomed the project’s collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation’s Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund and the Cambridge Africa Programme at the University of Cambridge.
Ochen outlined the longstanding relationship between Makerere University and the Mastercard Foundation, noting that the Foundation has supported several major initiatives at the university.He said one of the major programmes has provided scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds and has increasingly extended opportunities to graduate students.
He noted that members of refugee communities have also benefited from the opportunities created through the partnership.
Ochen also highlighted the African Climate Collaborative, another Mastercard Foundation-supported initiative focused on climate change and advanced academic training.
He said the programme is expected to support the training of up to 200 PhD researchers over a 10-year period through the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
He encouraged possible collaboration between the Histories of Climate and Migration project and other climate-focused initiatives supported by the Foundation.
Ochen said Mastercard Foundation had continued to demonstrate its commitment to supporting African universities and research.
Ochen also traced the long-standing relationship between Makerere University and the University of Cambridge, saying the partnership has involved both institutional cooperation and individual research collaborations.
He cited his own experience at Cambridge, where he spent time at the Centre of African Studies under the Cambridge Africa Programme. He said the experience enabled him and other Makerere academics to establish relationships with researchers at Cambridge and other institutions.
Ochen also mentioned his continued research collaboration with Professor Adam Branch, an academic at Cambridge who has an affiliation with Makerere University.He said the existing relationships provide a foundation for further cooperation between Makerere, Cambridge and other African universities.
Ochen said the climate and migration project demonstrates Makerere University’s position as a leader in interdisciplinary research in the humanities and social sciences. He said the research has the potential to generate knowledge that will be useful not only in Uganda but also to scholars and policymakers across East Africa and internationally.
The project, he noted, brings together Makerere University, the University of Cambridge and the Mastercard Foundation in a collaboration that links academic research with community experiences. He said the project’s focus on climate, migration and history was particularly relevant because environmental change is increasingly affecting communities and patterns of human mobility.
Ochen applauded the project’s seed-funding component, which provides research grants to Makerere postgraduate students and members of refugee communities. Under the programme, five postgraduate students and three members of refugee communities are expected to receive funding to undertake independent, historically oriented research.
He said the initiative would help empower emerging researchers while ensuring that refugee communities participate in knowledge production rather than simply being subjects of research.
“By empowering both Makerere postgraduate students and refugees to conduct independent research and share their ideas, this project bridges the gaps between academic knowledge production and grassroots concerns,” Ochen said.
The funded researchers are expected to conduct their studies between the workshop and February 2027. Ochen said the findings are expected to contribute to a special issue of the Makerere Historical Journal, which he described as an increasingly vibrant platform for historical scholarship. He said publication of the research would provide an opportunity to preserve and share new knowledge emerging from the project while extending the impact of the workshop beyond its three-day programme.
Ochen concluded by thanking the organisers and encouraging continued collaboration among Makerere University, Cambridge, the Mastercard Foundation, researchers and refugee communities. He said partnerships of this nature are important for generating research that is academically rigorous while remaining relevant to communities and policymakers.
By Jane Anyango, Peninah Nalubega and Joseph Buwule
Humanities & Social Sciences
Dr. Olive Lomokol Receives Honorable Mention for the Lynne Rienner Award for Best Dissertation in African Politics, 2026
The Director of Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR) is delighted to announce that MISR Postdoctoral Fellow, Olive Lomokol, has received an Honorable Mention for the prestigious Lynne Rienner Award for Best Dissertation in African Politics, 2026.
Awarded by the African Politics Conference Group (APCG) at the American Political Science Association (APSA), the Lynne Rienner Award is one of the leading international prizes that recognizes outstanding scholarship in African politics. The award carries a prize and honors work that makes a significant contribution to the field. Olive was recognized for her dissertation titled, “Shifting Perspectives on ‘Pastoral’ Violence: The Persistence of the ‘Karamoja Problem’ in Uganda” completed at the Makerere Institute of Social Research, Makerere University, 2026.
Her study offers a critical re-examination of the long-standing construction of the ‘Karamoja Problem’ in Uganda, interrogating how narratives of ‘pastoral’ violence have been produced, sustained, and deployed within colonial and post-colonial statecraft. By shifting perspective from a predominantly security lens to a historical and political one, the dissertation contributes to broader scholarly debates on the state, violence, and marginality in contemporary Africa.
Congratulations to Dr. Lomokol on this remarkable academic achievement and recognition.
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