An elevated shot of the Arts Quadrangle, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda on a bright sunny morning. Date taken: 22nd October 2012
CONFERENCE THEME: Humanities and Humanistic Social Sciences Scholarship for a New Era
PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE:
To centre debates and discussions on how the Humanities and Humanistic Social Sciences can critically grapple with challenges in the era of globalization, decolonization, technological advancement and novel global pandemics. The scholars at the conference will seek to re-imagine how these disciplines can contribute towards repositioning and re-centering the Humanities and Humanistic Social Sciences in debates on key global and national challenges.
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS AND PANEL PROPOSALS
The Organizing Committee of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) National Humanities Conference (HumanitiesCon2021) invites scholars in the disciplines, including Philosophy, Religion, History and Archaeology, Creative Arts (Music, Dance and Drama), Languages and Linguistics, Literature, Social Psychology, Critical Cultural Studies, Media Studies, Political Theory, Law and Feminist Studies to submit abstracts of not more than 300 words or 600-word panel proposals on the following sub-themes:
Multi-disciplinary conceptualising of the Humanities and Humanistic Social Sciences in the neo-liberal and globalised world
Contemporary theoretical and methodological approaches in the study of societal challenges
Humanities, pedagogies and curricula
Exploring the luminaries on whose shoulders we stand: histories and genealogies of Humanities scholarship in Uganda
Humanities and the decolonisation project
Humanities and contemporary development challenges, including climate change, migration, inequalities and pandemics
Repositioning the humanities in higher education
Humanities, human rights, law and governance
Humanities, feminism, gender and sexuality
Indigenous knowledge, archives, heritage and cultural memory
Humanities, identity, nationalism and citizenship
The creative industry and humanistic interventions in society
Humanities in the digital era
Imagining the future of the Humanities
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS AND PANEL PROPOSALS
Please send your abstracts and panel proposals to: humanities_con2021[at]chuss.mak.ac.ug not later than Friday, 26th February 2021. Contributors will be notified of the decisions on their submissions by 26th April 2021.
The results for the 2025/2026 special entry examination for the Diploma in Performing Arts held on Saturday 17th May, 2025. Candidates who scored a final mark of 50% and above passed the Examination and have been recommended to the university’s Admissions Committee for consideration.
Makerere University, June 20, 2025 — The College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) is holding its 2025 Graduate Symposium from June 19 – 21, 2025, bringing together scholars, mentors, and graduate students in a spirited exchange of ideas, research, and academic collaboration.
The symposium, hosted at Makerere University, has provided a dynamic platform for PhD students to present their ongoing research, while also strengthening ties with sister universities and celebrating the achievements of the CHUSS Graduate School in nurturing the next generation of scholars.
Dr. Edgar Fred Nabutanyi delivers the keynoted address.
In his keynote address, Dr. Edgar Fred Nabutanyi welcomed participants and acknowledged the contributions of speakers from the previous day’s sessions, including Prof. Eric Awich Ochen (Deputy Principal, CHUSS), Dr. Peter Wekesa, and Dr. Zaid Sekito, among others. He emphasized that the symposium was not just a showcase of academic work, but a strategic platform to build partnerships and attract research funding.
“Generations must prepare for the next generation,” Dr. Nabutanyi noted, reflecting on life after PhD and the evolving role of Makerere University as a research-intensive institution. He praised department heads for their role in ensuring timely completion of graduate programmes and reiterated the college’s commitment to research excellence.
Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi delivers the Vice Chancellor’s remarks.
The event was officially opened by Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe. In his remarks, Prof. Buyinza highlighted the importance of research that is impactful and relevant to society.
“Research is unimportant unless it is relevant,” he stated. “If one conducts research that doesn’t benefit society, it becomes a waste of resources.” He urged graduate students to approach their academic work with purpose, noting that Makerere is not a “PhD factory” but a hub for innovation, with over 300 active PhD students registered.
Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala addresses the symposium.
Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala, Principal of CHUSS, underscored the College’s intentional approach to graduate success. “You are in the mind of an excellent mind,” she said, encouraging students to continue striving for excellence and leadership in their respective fields. The 2025 CHUSS Graduate Symposium served as both a celebration of academic progress and a call to action for scholars to engage in meaningful research that addresses the needs of communities and contributes to national and global development.