General
Mak female staff trained on gender and leadership
Makerere University female staff have been urged to actively participate in the leadership activities of the institution. This was at the Gender and Leadership training; held on 7th May 2019, in the Upper Senate Conference Hall, Makerere University. According to Dr. Rhoda Wanyenze, the Dean School of Public Health- Makerere University, there is need for both female Administrative and Academic staff to access and actively participate in the decision-making processes if they are to realize gender equity at Makerere University.
“We cannot blame the University leadership for making decisions that are not gender responsive when we have failed to take up the mantle and be part of the leadership team and processes. It is high time we left our comfortable zones and became active leaders. We don’t need to wait until we hold positons to exercise our leadership roles. We are potential and true leaders already,” she said.
In a presentation on Women and leadership of Makerere university: challenges and opportunities, Dr. Wanyenze called for the development of a collaborative framework that will enable female Administrative and Academic staff understand their leadership rights, build their leadership potential and support their leadership journey.
“We need to join efforts in this struggle, have one voice and prepare ourselves for the big role. We must learn to overcome the challenges, understand how to balance both the family roles and professional roles. Above all, we need to be ready, acquire the necessary skills, have support and this can be achieved through a collaborative measure,” she said.
The leadership training on Gender and Leadership was organized by Makerere University Gender Mainstreaming Directorate. Sponsored by School of Women and Gender Studies under the SIDA 2391 Gender Mainstreaming Project, the training aimed at generating a critical mass of female Administrative and Academic staff as potential leaders in Makerere University by enhancing their academic, administrative and leadership skills.
According to the Director of Gender and Mainstreaming Dr. Euzobia Mugisha M. Baine, despite the fact that Makerere University has a well-established School of Women and Gender Studies and the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate, the institution is still finding it hard to bridge the ever widening gender gap in leadership. Dr. Baine noted that there is poor representation of female Administrative and Academic staff in the institution’s top leadership and this has equally affected their interests when it comes to decision-making.
The Deputy Director of Gender and Mainstreaming Ms. Frances Nyachwo, presented the current gendered leadership statistics at Makerere University. “Currently the proportion of female teaching Staff University-wide is 29%, and men 71%. Out of the 16 Central Management position women occupy only 3 positions, in the Top Management positions women occupy 3 positions out of 26, and for the position of School Deans, 3 out of 29 are women” she said.
In 2004, Makerere University Commissioned a study on the Situation Analysis on the Gender Terrain at Makerere University. This study established that female Administrative and Academic staff were underrepresented in top leadership and decision making of the academic and administrative levels. The main reason was that female Administrative and Academic staff lacked requisite academic qualifications to compete for these positions. In addition, the study also confirmed that challenges of balancing family and work responsibilities, within a patriarchal institution hindered women’s career progression.
The training on gender and leadership was attended by Makerere University senior female staff. The one-day non-residential training equipped participants with various skills and techniques on leadership development Makerere University.
Discussing the need to change the leadership terrain of Makerere University, Associate Professor Consolota Kabonesa, the Principal Investigator of SIDA 2391 Gender Mainstreaming Project at School of Women and Gender Studies highlighted the need to change the gender profile in leadership especially in top leadership positions to reflect equity.
“We should transform our lives and society if we are to create a gender-fair Makerere. We have to be activity oriented and differentiate leadership from authority and have a sense of developing others” said Dr. Kabonesa.
During the interactive session that was chaired by Mr. Eric Tumwesigye a Senior Gender Officer and Ms. Suzan Mbabazi a Principal Gender Officer, participants developed the action points. Among the points included;
• Strengthen the Affirmative Action Programmes
• Recognise women as an essential resource-base at the University
• Create a gender advocacy group to lobby for the increase of more women in leadership at the University
• Establish a colloquium to discuss gender and leadership topics
• Create a Makerere University women empowerment platform.
Article by Nabatte Proscovia, Mak Public Relations office
Makerere University and the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA (ND) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which opens opportunities for collaboration between the two historic and leading research institutions in the areas of staff and student exchange, joint research and training, joint supervision of graduate students, and others.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe signed on behalf of Makerere University and Rev. Robert A. Dowd, the 18th President signed on behalf of the University of Notre Dame. The ceremony, which was held at the University of Notre Dame campus at South Bend, Indiana was witnessed by Dr. Lorna Magara, the Chairperson of the Council of Makerere University, who led the Mak delegation.
Dr. Magara appreciated the institutionalisation of the collaboration between the two universities and the very warm hospitality accorded to the Mak delegation.
General
Press Release: Government of Uganda and Partners Launch SAY Plus+ to Scale Youth Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR) Impact in Underserved Regions
USD 50 million national programme moves into full implementation, strengthening
adolescent and youth rights, empowerment, protection and access to youth-responsive
services in 13 districts across five sub-regions
KAMPALA, 7 MAY 2026: The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Health, today officially launched the SAY Plus+ Programme, a Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) initiative designed to strengthen adolescent and youth rights, empowerment, protection and access to quality services in Uganda’s underserved regions.
The launch, held at Makerere University‘s Freedom Square under the theme “My Voice Matters: Youth Voices for SAY Plus+” and the tagline “Nothing for us, without us”, marks the programme’s transition into full implementation.
SAY Plus+, formerly known as Strengthening Adolescents and Youth Rights and Empowerment: Scaling Impact, is led by the Ministry of Health, in coordination with other Ministries, with UNFPA Uganda serving as the Managing and Technical Agency.
Backed by a USD 50 million pooled fund from the Governments of Iceland, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden, the initiative is scheduled to operate between 2024 and 2030. It is currently being rolled out across thirteen districts within five sub-regions, providing targeted assistance to regional referral hospitals in Jinja, Mbale, Moroto, Yumbe, Arua, and Gulu. Furthermore, the programme supports the Human Capital Development goals established in Uganda’s National Development Plan IV.
“SAY Plus+ represents a shift from fragmented interventions to a coordinated national effort that meaningfully places young people at the centre of both design and delivery. Through our partnership with the Government of Uganda, development partners, and implementing partners, we are investing not only in services, but in the systems, communities, and environments that enable adolescents and young people to thrive not only today but also in the future,” said Ms. Kristine Blokhus, Representative – UNFPA Uganda.
Officially launched by the Minister of State for Health Hon. Margaret Muhanga, the SAY Plus+ programme targets adolescents and young people aged 10 to 24 years, with particular focus on adolescent girls and young women, refugees and host-community youth, out-of-school young people, those not in employment, education or training, adolescents with disabilities, and young people in humanitarian and post-conflict settings.
“For many of us, things like this one are designed without listening to what we go through every day, think or even feel. SAY Plus+ feels different because it starts with our voices and gives us a real role in shaping solutions. It is not just about information, it is about being supported to make decisions, access services, and build the future we want.” – Jovia Dranzoa, Young person.
SAY Plus+ operates through three pillars. First, it empowers youth to exercise their rights and make informed choices. Second, it engages families, communities, and leaders to address harmful social norms. Third, it strengthens youth-responsive SRHR, HIV, and gender-based violence services via health facilities and community platforms, aiming to reach over 2.3 million direct and indirect beneficiaries.
The SAY Plus+ initiative stands as a model of international cooperation and multi-sectoral synergy. Through the combined support of the Governments of Iceland, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden, and the technical leadership of UNFPA, Uganda is now equipped to scale-up critical interventions in HIV prevention, gender-based violence response, and reproductive health. With implementation now in high gear through 2030, the programme is poised to make a lasting contribution to the nation’s human capital development goals.
— ENDS —
Photos from the event
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