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
In a vibrant celebration of youth leadership and African unity, Makerere University hosted the Second Annual Guild Leaders’ Summit, an event that brought together high-profile dignitaries, student leaders, and international partners for a powerful dialogue on the future of the continent. The summit, organized by the Guild Presidents Leadership Academy, served as a rallying point for East Africa’s young leaders to confront Africa’s most urgent challenges—on their own terms and with their own solutions.
A Warm Welcome and Reflections on Makerere’s Legacy
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, welcomed the distinguished guests, who included Former President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo, former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, Justice Simon Byabakama, Hon. Mathew Rukikaire, and European Union Deputy Ambassador Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, among others.
In his address, Prof. Nawangwe reflected on Makerere’s deep historical ties to East Africa’s liberation and development movements. He reminded the audience that Makerere University has been a crucible for the continent’s leadership, stating:
“Jomo Kenyatta was the first person to receive a degree from Makerere when, in 1963, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by then Chancellor Julius Nyerere. All freedom fighters in East Africa studied at Makerere.”
Building on this rich history, Prof. Nawangwe affirmed the university’s current mission to tackle pressing continental issues. “Today,” he said, “Makerere is committed to addressing Africa’s challenges—climate change, disease, poverty, food security, conflict resolution, and economic development. But we cannot do this alone.”
He echoed sentiments later shared by the keynote speaker, stressing that Africa must no longer depend on external interventions:
“Foreign agencies will not solve all Africa’s problems. It is our young people who must step forward and lead the change.”
Uhuru Kenyatta: “You Are the Last Line of Defence”
In a keynote address that resonated deeply with the students and delegates in attendance, Former President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a bold and urgent call to action for Africa’s youth.
“No one is coming to save us,” Kenyatta declared. “You are the last line of defence in the battle to rescue the heart and soul of Africa.”
Positioning today’s youth as the heirs of the continent’s freedom fighters, Kenyatta described the current moment as a new “independence era”—not of political liberation, but of economic and intellectual sovereignty. He urged students to think critically about intra-African trade, which currently accounts for less than 2.5% of global commerce, and to advocate for the removal of internal barriers to trade, innovation, and mobility.
“You are the freedom fighters of this generation,” he said. “Universities must be incubators of change, and students must be the trustees of tomorrow’s Africa.”
Pan-Africanism, Leadership, and Action
Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo encouraged students to take up the mantle of Pan-Africanism with unwavering commitment. She acknowledged that while the rhetoric of African unity is inspiring, real progress demands more than words:
“You must embrace the spirit of Pan-Africanism. But it is easy to say these words—the challenge lies in collective implementation.”
She emphasized the importance of action-oriented leadership and urged the youth to harness their creativity, energy, and education for the benefit of the continent.
European Union’s Message: Leadership with Integrity
Representing Team Europe, the EU Deputy Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, gave a passionate speech on the values of authentic leadership, integrity, and inclusive development. He praised Makerere University as a space where “intellectual ambition meets civic responsibility” and emphasized that leadership is not about prestige, but purpose:
“Be a leader because of what you want to be—not because of what you want to have,” he said.
Citing former Makerere alumni such as Julius Nyerere and Wangari Maathai, Chartrain called on students to model courage, resilience, and humility:
“True leadership emerges in moments of loss—when resilience, not triumph, becomes the measure of one’s character.”
The EU, he said, remains committed to supporting youth through programs like Erasmus+, the EU Youth Sounding Board, and partnerships with organizations like Faraja Africa Foundation and Restless Development. These initiatives empower youth not as symbols, but as active participants in shaping policy and governance.
The Legacy Continues
Throughout the summit, speakers highlighted the importance of legacy and long-term impact. They challenged young leaders to think not just about the present, but about the systems and institutions they will leave behind. In the words of Former President Kenyatta:
“Leadership is not about the next election. It’s about the next generation.”
The summit ended on a high note, with students invigorated and inspired to lead with purpose. As global support grows less predictable and Africa stands at a crossroads, the message from Makerere was clear: the future of the continent is in the hands of its youth. And as the Guild Leaders’ Summit demonstrated, they are ready.
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