General
Mak to make the most of AHP Fellowships
The African Humanities Program (AHP) is conducted by The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) with support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The program which currently supports five countries in Africa namely; Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa is aimed at encouraging and enabling research and writing of the highest quality by African scholars. AHP supports awards on the two fronts of Dissertation-Completion Fellowships and Early Career Postdoctoral Fellowships.
On Friday 15th August 2014, the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs (DVCAA) organized an application preparation workshop for prospective fellows who had expressed interest in the call for applications. Welcoming participants to the workshop, Dr. Susan Kiguli; herself a 2010 AHP Postdoctoral Fellow and Head, Literature Department, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), thanked Dr. Ernest Okello Ogwang for organizing the workshop as part of Makerere’s AHP coordination activities. She then commended all applicants for seeking to take advantage of one of the best Humanities Fellowships.
“The AHP fellowship promotes inter-scholarly interaction and communication and presents us all with the perfect platform to see how we can forge a way forward in research and promotion of humanities on the African continent,” said Dr. Kiguli.
The AHP applications preparation workshop targeted doctoral candidates in the final year of writing their dissertation as well as postdoctoral applicants who had obtained their PhD within the last eight years. The workshop coordinator Dr. Florence Ebila, School of Women and Gender Studies, CHUSS, announced that a total of 18 abstracts had been received and the two-day meeting would work with applicants to secure as many fellowship awards for Uganda as possible. “This is the most wonderful fellowship to help you come up with a book or journal. As a fresh fellow of the AHP, I personally look forward to completing my manuscript soon,” added Dr. Ebila.
In order to make the most of such opportunities, the Makerere University coordination office regularly invites AHP assessors to guide participants through the application process. Welcoming the facilitators, the DVCAA Dr. Ernest Okello Ogwang thanked Dr. Muhammed Umar-Burutai and Dr. Sani Aliyu from Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria and Prof. Edward Wamala from the Philosophy Department, CHUSS, for accepting to facilitate the workshop. He noted that the highest number of participants Uganda had ever sent was eight although this total has varied over the years. He also urged participants take advantage of sabbatical teaching opportunities at Ahmadu Bello University, the largest university in Nigeria and second largest in Africa after Cairo University, Egypt.
“This workshop is a unique opportunity for Uganda to better package her applications. Although colleagues from all around the world are lamenting over the state of affairs in the Humanities, we should not be complicit but move beyond lamentations,” persuaded Dr. Okello Ogwang. “Listen closely as the facilitators as they discuss your abstracts and carefully follow all instructions and this will help you understand the specific nature of the fellowship,” he added.
In his remarks as he officially opened the workshop, the Principal, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), Prof. Edward Kirumira welcomed the various shifts in National and Global strategies as an indicator that the Humanities and Social Sciences disciplines were starting to make an impact.
“Nationally, we are witnessing the shift from Poverty Eradication to National Development Programmes, and from science and technology for excellence to science and technology for prosperity,” Prof. Kirumira noted. “This shift is based on the recognition that development programmes ought to be holistic and will move much slower if the Humanities and Social Sciences component is excluded” added the Principal.
He however urged collegues in the Humanities and Social Sciences not to remain in their academic silos but to step out and apply their various disciplines to the development agenda. “I urge all participants to have the National Development Agenda in sight as you write abstracts. Humanities and Social Sciences may not be explicitly emphasized on the research agenda and so it is our responsibility to reach out to them. This exclusion opens up opportunities for us to go to them,” counseled Prof. Kirumira.
He also noted that as Public institutions continued to tighten their expenditure patterns, staff development initiatives were likely to be affected and opportunities such as those presented by AHP ought to be welcomed and wholly embraced.
“We look forward to having the next generation of academic leaders emerging from AHP especially as you continue to create networks. The money is not in the pockets but in the networks so make the most of them,” Prof. Kirumira concluded.
Commenting on the workshop one of the facilitators Dr. Sani Aliyu noted that the AHP fellowship is a mentorship platform for the academia to help each other advance their careers, “As such, you interaction should not stop at workshops such as this two-day event but continue through the networks you establish,” he said.
Dr. Muhammed Umar-Burutai who took participants through the application procedures emphasized that the fellowship was only meant to fund basic research. “This fellowship will only support those whose research is aimed at providing a greater understanding of the subject and so if your research is applied in nature, it may not be considered,” advised Dr. Aliyu.
The AHP Application Preparation Workshop 2014 coordinators Dr. Florence Ebila and Dr. Peace Musiimenta assured participants of success if they stuck to the application instructions. The humanities disciplines that qualify for support include; anthropology, archaeology, studies of fine and performing arts, history, linguistics, literature studies, studies of religion, and philosophy. Projects in social sciences such as economics, sociology, or political science, as well as in law or international relations, are not eligible unless they are clearly humanistic in content and focus. More information on the program may be obtained at htto://www.acls.org/programs/ahp.
Article by Public Relations Office
The Board Chairperson of the Makerere University Endowment Fund (MakEF), Dr. Margaret Blick Kigozi, has urged graduands in Health and Life Sciences to uphold professional ethics and serve humanity with diligence and compassion.
Her appeal came during the passing out of graduates from the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-Security (CoVAB), the College of Health Sciences (CHS) and the School of Public Health (SPH) on Day Two of the 76th Graduation Ceremony of Makerere University.
“Class of 2026, you are now part of the Makerere legacy. Wherever you go clinics, laboratories, farms, boardrooms, or classrooms, you carry this institution with you. Serve your patients with skill and compassion. Care for animals and communities responsibly. Question boldly and keep learning,” Dr Kigozi, said.
Delivering the commencement address, Dr. Kigozi lauded the graduates for their dedication to careers that directly impact lives and communities. She encouraged them to use their knowledge generously and exercise their power gently.
“Your education has trained you to ask better questions. Your humanity must guide the answers. Never forget that behind every chart, every case, every animal, every experiment, there is life. And life deserves care, patience, and dignity. Give every person you come in contact with care, patience and dignity,” Dr Kigozi, noted.
As the graduates embark on their professional journeys, Dr. Kigozi emphasized the importance of cultivating basic business acumen and financial literacy to ensure sustainability in their work.
“You do not need to become accountants but you must be able to read the essentials: understand simple financial statements, budgets and key metrics so you can judge whether a clinic, lab, or program is sustainable. You are encouraged to start your business. There are numerous investment opportunities in your areas of training. You can provide services to our people and create jobs,” Dr Kigozi, said.
She shared candidly how, when she first stepped into leadership, she realised she did not understand balance sheets or budgets well enough. So, she returned to Makerere for short courses to strengthen herself.
“A well-run Hospital, clinic or lab delivers better outcomes, attracts staff, and secures funding. Business savvy is not only about profit, it’s about sustainability and the freedom to serve ethically and effectively. Carry clinical skill with business sense so your work endures and grows,” Dr. Kigozi, noted.
Quoting renowned writer and producer Shonda Rhimes, creator of Grey’s Anatomy, who once reflected that succeeding in one area of life can sometimes mean falling short in another, Dr. Kigozi encouraged women graduates to intentionally balance professional ambition with family responsibilities.
“When one area thrives, another is often under strain. When Navio was graduating from school I had to manage the Presidential Investor Round Table on the same day as Executive Director Uganda Investment Authority. I chose my job and delegated his siblings to attend Navios graduation. I learnt from this. I choose family always after that thing you achieve once and keep forever,” Dr Kigozi, said.
In his speech, the Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice Chancellor, informed the congregation that Makerere’s ranking on all university ranking platforms has remained stable, placing Makerere among the top 10 African universities and within the top 4.5% globally.
“In the Times Higher Education global ranking, Makerere University made a formidable jump from the 1200-1500 bracket to the 800-1000 bracket. This was no mean achievement and I congratulate all members of the Makerere Community on this stellar performance,” Prof Nawangwe, said.
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