On 8th January 2018, the outgoing Acting Director, Gender and Mainstreaming Directorate Ms. Frances Nyachwo handed over office to the newly-appointed Acting Director Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine.
 
Dr. Euzobia M. Baine joined Makerere University in February 2000 as an Assistant Registrar. She worked as a Senior Assistant Registrar in Charge of Policy and Welfare from 2007 -2011, and an Assistant Registrar in charge of the Female Scholarship Initiative from 2001 -2007 in the then Gender Mainstreaming Division (GMD). In May 2011, she was appointed  Manager in charge of Academic Affairs in the Quality Assurance Directorate of Makerere University, a post she has held until she was currently appointed the Acting Director of Gender and Mainstreaming Directorate, Makerere University.

Presided over by the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Ernest Okello Ogwang, the handover took  place in the office of Gender Mainstreaming Directorate, Makerere University Senate Building witnessed by the staff of Gender Mainstreaming Directorate and Makerere University Public Relations office.

According to the communication signed by the Acting Director, Human Resources, Mrs Dorothy Sennoga Zake, the Vice Chancellor authorised the Acting appointment of Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine for a period of one year effective 2nd January 2018.

On behalf of the Management and the entire University Community, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Dr. Ernest Okello Ogwang thanked Ms Frances Nyachwo for the outstanding service. In the same spirit, he warmly welcomed the new Acting Director-Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine referring to her as a workhorse and a friendly person.

Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine said that her appointment to the new post signalled the University support for the program and therefore called upon the team to utilize the opportunity achieve the programs goals and objectives.

“My appointment shows that the University Management treasures Gender mainstreaming. It is high time we use this opportunity to champion its interests. We are aware that the program has faced so many challenges but it kept a fleet, but if we come together we can find solutions,” she said.

The outgoing Acting Director,  Ms.  Nyachwo thanked the University for granting her the opportunity to lead the Directorate for over two years where she has been able to learn many things in the field of gender and leadership. She also appreciated the love and support from the staff during her tenure. Ms. Nyachwo congratulated Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine upon her new role and pledged to work harmoniously with to ensure that the objective and goals of the directorate are fulfilled.

“As the Deputy Director Teaching, Learning Research and Innovations now, I am ready to work hand in hand with you to ensure that we uplift the pride of the Directorate not forgetting the efforts of the staff. Remember, staff members in their uniqueness contribute a lot as a team in achieving any planned output and realising any planned outcome,” she vehemently said.

She encouraged the incoming Acting Director to take networking and Gender advocacy seriously since it is a component of Gender Mainstreaming Program at Makerere University. “Gender Mainstreaming is one of the three crosscutting themes in the University’s strategic plan, others include; Quality Assurance, internationalisation and ICT,” she mentioned.

She also advised Makerere University Management to revise means of filling the staff-role gap that is affecting the effective delivery of services in the Directorate when she said, “Gender Mainstreaming is a powerful program, enhance it with trained and skilled staff and unmask its possibilities. Being one of the first of the kind in Sub Saharan Africa and beyond, many universities in Africa have tapped its potential through understudying it and using the knowledge to develop their own programs. We should therefore emphasize its ability.”
Article by Mak-Public Relations Office