I congratulate all staff and students upon persevering the harsh academic year 2020/2021 that was disrupted by the COVID 19 lockdown. The world was shut down, lives lost and livelihoods disrupted including the disruption of the academic schedules in all institutions of learning. We thank God for his divine protection and bringing us this far. We convey our sympathies to the families that lost their dear ones and pray that you find solace in Him the Living God.

Although the academic schedules were disrupted, the college implemented the academic road map as guided by the University management and Government. This mainly involved adherence to the MoH Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), training staff on online delivery modes, adoption of staggered face to face teaching and learning, and different modes of assessment in the face of the pandemic. We were therefore able to commence Semester II through online teaching and completed examinations for Semester I 2020/2021 for first years and continuing students.

Graduate program supervision, examination and defense continued online during the shutdown and resumed face to face after the lifting of the lock down. Over 2,300 students were admitted in the CHUSS while over 1,960 students were awarded degrees and diplomas in various disciplines during the Mak 71st graduation ceremony held on 17th- 21st, May 2021. Out of 108 Doctorates across all colleges , CHUSS presented 22 PHDs, the highest of all.

Further, the College was involved in restructuring of her programmes following standards set by the National Council for Higher education and the Quality Assurance and Gender committee of the University. A key milestone recorded in the year under review was the approval of three academic programmes (Master of Development Studies, Master of Strategic Studies and Master of Journalism and multimedia) by the Senate for onward submission to the National Council of Higher Education for accreditation.

Under our dissemination and knowledge transfer efforts, we organized over 20 public fora in which we disseminated research findings and shared knowledge in the field of Humanities and Social Sciences with different stakeholders including government, other universities, private sector, civil society organizations and our donors. Over 30 publications were recorded this year including a Dictionary on Ruruuli -Lunyara, a book on gender and the launch of the Mawazo Journal.

Our staff have continued to write grant winning proposals to attract funding to supplement the university resource envelop. Currently, the college runs over 20 grants. Part of the grants was used to refurbish an ordinary lecture room into a SMART ROOM that has tremendously improved the College’s response to the demands of the new normal for online meetings and lectures. In very specific way the smart room has ensured efficient support to PhD defense sessions where the college has registered increased participation of scholars from outside the country. This has further enriched the PHD defense processes.

In the area of Human resources, our staff have continued to rise in academic ranks. Over 15 staff were considered for appointments, promotion and confirmation during the Appointments Board meeting that was held in June 2021.

As CHUSS , we appreciate the Government of Uganda for the support extended to the University for Research and innovation. Special tribute is extended to our development partners for the enduring support to the college in different aspects of development –human capacity, infrastructure and research.

We thank Makerere University top management for the support accorded throughout the year and for providing a conducive environment that has enabled CHUSS to execute her mandate. We are committed to move on with our renewed vibrancy in research, teaching and learning and knowledge transfer as We Build for the Future.

Associate Prof. Josephine Ahikire
PRINCIPAL