Humanities & Social Sciences
The Italian – “In Sickness and In Health” Exhibition mounted at CHUSS
A photograph exhibition showcasing an Italian helping hand in Uganda health sector has been mounted for public viewing for the next three months at the Arts Building, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS).
The outstanding and inspiring work of Italian NGOs and Associations dubbed, “In Sickness and In Health”, was on Friday 28th October 2022 presented by the Italian Embassy in collaboration with Italian Agency for Cooperation, CHUSS and Italian NGOs and Associations working in health sector in Uganda.
The aim of this exhibition is to inspire young minds at Makerere University, by sharing an established history and future of the union between Italy and Uganda, founded on philanthropic collaboration and partnership.
The function was presided over by the Minister of State for Public Service Hon. Grace Mary Mugasa. The event was also graced by the Ambassador of Italy to Uganda H.E Massimiliano Mazzanti and the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University represented by his Deputy Vice Chancellor in Charge of Finance and Administration Prof. Henry Alinaitwe. The event was attended by the Principal CHUSS Associate Prof. Josephine Ahikire and her Deputy Dr. Erich Awich, representatives of the Italian NGOS, members of the diplomatic core, heads of international organizations, representatives of the Italian NGOs Association and members of the academia.
Presiding over the launch of the photo exhibition at the CHUSS Arts Quadrangle, Hon. Grace Mary Mugasa recognized the efforts of the Italians and expressed gratitude to the Embassy, Government of Italy and her people for the kind heart and support over the years.
“As Uganda, we are indeed grateful. Before I became Minister, I was seeing AVIS and Camboni missionaries in Hoima and I was seeing many priests going to Italy for further studies but now, I have noticed that it is work which has been ongoing for a period of time. Wherever the Italian Cooperation worked, there is an impact up to today. We are very grateful for this great contribution”, The Minister noted.
Hon. Mugasa reported that up now many missionary activities are ongoing in Hoima and other districts with many traces of the Dominican and Combonian sisters.
The minister described Italy as the epitome of the Catholic faith most especially the Vatican adding that every year, parliamentarians are invited to Rome to reflect on whether, they are following the catholic values while in parliament.
She applauded the Government of Uganda for allowing NGOs and creating a conducive environment for other partners to work in Uganda. She also thanked the organizers for the talking pictures.
The Ambassador of Italy to Uganda H.E Massimiliano Mazzanti said the “In Sickness and In Health” photo exhibition recognizes the historical contribution made by eleven Italian NGOs and Associations in the Ugandan Health sector.
“Italy and Uganda have had a long-standing relationship that dates back to the early 20th century, when members of the order of the Camboni Missionaries settled in the northern areas of the country, implementing commendable activities of support to the local communities especially in areas of health and education”. Ambassador Massimiliano Mazzanti explained.
To-date, the Ambassador explained that several hospitals have been built by Italians and continue to embody a point of reference for Ugandans especially in some of the remote areas of the country.
“The aim of this exhibitions is therefore to inspire young minds here at Makerere University, a Ugandan Centre of Excellence, by sharing an established history and future of this union between Italy and Uganda, founded on philanthropic collaboration and partnership.
These photographs shine a light on the vast ongoing impact of these Italian Civil Society Organizations and hospitals in the different districts which rarely see spotlight. They capture dedication, commitment, professionalism and above all, will act as a tribute to the silent hard work and the legacy of Italian humanitarian excellences”, The Ambassador stressed.
The Ambassador expressed pride of what the NGOs and Associations in collaboration with the different local authorities have been able to achieve so far saying, they will continue to achieve – both in terms of directly supporting their beneficiaries and in continuing to build capacity of the next generation of doctors, sometimes in the most trying of circumstances.
Representing the Vice Chancellor, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in Charge of Finance and Administration Prof. Henry Alinaitwe welcomed all stakeholders and thanked the organizers and NGO forum that has been supporting Ugandans since 1956 adding that, Makerere is one of those institutions that prides itself in collaborating with many institutions .
“I am intrigued by the title of the exhibition, “In sickness and In health”. There has been a lot that the Italian government and NGOs have contributed to this theme . Italians have supported many health and education institutions in Uganda like Lacor hospital, schools like St. Mary’s Kisubi and very well known for supporting especially the Catholic church”. He said.
Prof. Alinaitwe commended the embassy for the exhibition and the wider project of the European Union supporting the mobility of Makerere University students and staff.
“Makerere is celebrating its 100 years of service and we take this exhibition to be part of the Makerere @100 and we want to thank you for contribution to our celebrations. We should extend the collaboration to CEDAT Museum so that these pictures can be archived to strengthen our deliverables”, Prof. Alinaitwe stated.
Alinaitwe also thanked Government of Uganda for the support extend to Makerere and providing a conducive environment for operation.
The Principal CHUSS Associate Prof. Josephine Ahikire said, the Department of Sociology and Anthropology has had long outstanding collaboration with the Embassy of Italy and Italian universities in academic cooperation.
Prof. Ahikire welcomed the Chief guest and all dignitaries to Makerere University and the CHUSS and to the exhibition.
“This is a new and quiet face but a very meaningful event of showcasing in picture and in word the collaborations and footprints of the Italian NGOs in Uganda since 1956. They are more than 60 years old and we celebrate that.
We are glad that we are weaving into our celebrations some of the collaborations we have had with the Italian government, Embassy , NGOs and the European Union in general and since they say, pictures speak 1000 words, they will speak for themselves ”, The Principal said.
As a college, Prof. Ahikire said CHUSS has a long standing collaboration with Turin University Italy in terms of student and staff exchange in sociology and social work, film studies and also interact and broaden the fields around cultural studies.
Prof. Ahikire informed participants that the exhibition had been mounted on a historic building of 1950s and has hosted the former Makerereans heard of including Rose Mbowa, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Ngungi Wa Thiong’o.
The Head Department of Sociology and Anthropology Dr. Fred Bateganya expressed delight and thanked the Italian government for the continuous partnership with Makerere University and specifically the Department.
During a ceremony hosted by The French Embassy in Uganda on Wednesday, October 7 2026, four Makerere-affiliated academics were honoured with French Order of Academic Palms for their effort in strengthening working relations between France and Uganda.
The individuals recognised for their dedication to education, research, and the teaching of French include; Professor Edith Ruth Natukunda Togboa, Dr Agatha Tumwine, Professor Christian Kakuba, and Professor Enoch Sebuyungo.
During the ceremony, the French Ambassador H.E. Virginie Leroy highlighted that the partnership between France and Uganda partly thrives on the commitment of teachers and researchers who facilitate dissemination of knowledge and build lasting connections between the two nations.
One of the recipients, Professor Edith Ruth Natukunda Togboa, who was promoted to the rank of Officer of the Academic Palms is a long-time French instructor at Makerere University.
Professor Natukunda Togboa focused her career on bilingualism, translation, and language policy since returning from her studies in France in the 1980s.
Dr Agatha Tumwine the other recipient was appointed Knight of the Academic Palms.
As a Lecturer at Makerere University and President of the Association of French Teachers in Uganda (APFO), Dr Tumwine is recognised as instrumental in strengthening the French-teaching community and facilitating cooperation with the French Embassy.
The third is Professor Christian Kakuba who also received the rank of Knight. With nearly 30 years of experience at Makerere University in socio-demography and applied statistics. He has been a key figure in training new researchers and maintaining ties with the French National Institute for Demographic Studies (INED).
The fourth, Professor Enoch Sebuyungo, was equally appointed Knight of the Academic Palms.
Professor Sebuyungo is a linguist trained in France, and has worked to promote French as a tool for professional training and dialogue. He has also supported French-speaking refugees through translation services.
The Academic Palms (Ordre des Palmes Académiques) is an official National Order of Merit bestowed by the French Republic to honor distinguished academics, teachers, and individuals who have made valuable contributions to universities, education, science, and French culture.
Humanities & Social Sciences
MISR Director Assoc. Prof. Lyn Ossome Publishes New Book, Democracy’s Subjections
We are pleased to announce the publication of a new book by the Director, Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR), Assoc. Prof. Lyn Ossome titled Democracy’s Subjections: Colonial Modernity and the Gendered Subject of Violence. It was published by Bloomsbury Academic.
In this ground-breaking study, Lyn Ossome offers an authoritative, interdisciplinary theory of how postcolonial capitalist democracies reproduce the gendered forms of violence essential to colonial rule.
Through an interdisciplinary methodology traversing political studies, feminist political economy, historical and literary studies, Ossome shows how postcolonial, capitalist democracies in Africa, like their colonial antecedents, use various identity-markers to determine whose rights and bodies are violable, to what extent, and whether and how the violated have a right to resist. The book critically reflects on the dilemmas and contradictions produced by the colonial encounter and its subjugative orders for the postcolonial democratizing state, interrogating why the failures of democratic institutions target gendered, labouring bodies. Through evidence gathered from colonial archives in Kenya, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, as well as through critical comparisons of two artistic responses to gender-based violence and rape in South Africa and India, Ossome offers a trenchant critique that, beyond the contexts analysed, is relevant across the postcolonial Global South.
The Makerere University community heartily congratulates Assoc. Prof. Lyn Ossome on this new milestone!
Book cover
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Humanities & Social Sciences
Prof. Walakira takes over as CHUSS Deputy Principal, pledges research-driven leadership
New Deputy Principal Prof. Eddy Joshua Walakira has pledged to build on the existing foundations at Makerere University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), with a focus on strengthening research, innovation, partnerships and the college’s income-generating capacity.
Prof. Walakira made the pledge on Monday, September 14, 2026, after officially taking over as Deputy Principal of CHUSS from Associate Prof. Eric Awich Ochen, who completed his four-year tenure after assuming office in April 2022.
The handover ceremony, held at the CHUSS Smart Room, brought together the College Principal, Associate Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala, deans, heads of departments, academic, administrative and support staff, as well as representatives from the Directorate of Internal Audit.
Walakira said he was taking over at a time when CHUSS had established a strong foundation and pledged to work with the Principal and staff to take the college to greater heights.
“I’m coming in with a lot of hope, a lot of courage and a lot of optimism because the foundations are already in place and the structures are already in place,” Walakira said.
He said his immediate priority would be to understand the needs of the different schools and departments and develop practical interventions, particularly in research, innovation and partnerships.
The incoming Deputy Principal said he intends to undertake a tour of CHUSS schools and departments to assess their research, innovation and partnership needs. said the exercise would help management identify existing capacities, gaps and opportunities that could be developed into practical plans for the college.
“My thinking is that we are going to form the best team ever that has led CHUSS,” he said, stressing that the college has the human and institutional capacity to become a leading unit within the University.
Walakira said CHUSS should make greater use of the networks and partnerships already established by its academic units, arguing that these could provide opportunities for research collaboration, innovation and resource mobilisation.
He also challenged departments that have faced long-standing equipment shortages to explore sustainable solutions rather than relying entirely on external funding.
“If the Department of Journalism for the last 20 years is still crying about equipment, I don’t think that is a good song. There must be a way out from within,” Walakira said. He pledged to work closely with Principal Nambalirwa Nkabala and other college leaders to identify opportunities for strengthening research capacity, publication and partnerships.
Walakira pledges loyal and collaborative leadership
Walakira pledged to work closely with the Principal, deans, heads of departments and staff while respecting University policies and structures. He said his leadership approach would be based on humility, consultation and practical problem-solving.
“My pledge, first of all, is to be loyal and humble to my boss and, above all, to serve in the fear of the Most High and to respect the rules, the principles and the structures of the University,” he said.
Walakira said he would seek to strengthen existing research groups and explore opportunities for the college to generate more resources internally. He urged staff to embrace a collective vision and work together to address challenges facing the college.
He expressed confidence that CHUSS could become a leading college within Makerere University if its existing human resource and institutional capacity were effectively harnessed.
“We have people who can work in leadership, but we have to develop a collective vision. We have to respect and accept the capabilities that we have, and also accept to work together to address the challenges that confront us,” he said.
Assoc. Prof. Ochen highlights four years of academic and research gains
In his handover report, outgoing Deputy Principal Prof. Eric Awich Ochen highlighted progress made during his four-year tenure, including improvements in teaching and learning, academic programme development, research, internationalisation, staff capacity building and digitalisation.
Ochen said he assumed office in April 2022, in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and worked under two College Principals—Prof. Josephine Ahikire and Associate Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala.
He attributed the achievements recorded during his tenure to collective efforts by the Principal, deans, heads of departments and staff.
“Whatever I did in the office of the Deputy Principal for the last four years has been in the best interest of the students. I tried to act in good faith,” Ochen said.
He acknowledged that leadership involves mistakes and said one of his major lessons had been the importance of consultation before making decisions.
Ochen advised his successor to maintain close consultation with the Principal, particularly when dealing with issues requiring clarification.
Ochen reported that the college had developed and revised several academic programmes during his tenure, including postgraduate programmes in French language studies, African languages and anthropology.
He said several existing programmes had also undergone accreditation and urged deans and heads of departments to begin preparations early for programmes due for re-accreditation.
He warned that delays in accreditation could disrupt student admissions and programme delivery, citing previous cases where some programmes were temporarily affected.
The outgoing Deputy Principal also highlighted efforts to revive and establish scholarly journals within CHUSS, including journals in history, peace, humanities, literature and communication.
He called for greater regularity in journal publication and continued digitisation to improve the visibility and accessibility of the college’s scholarly output.
Ochen said CHUSS had also made progress in modernising teaching and learning through the adoption of digital academic management systems.
He noted that staff had transitioned from the Academic Information Management System to ACMIS for the management and uploading of students’ results.
Timetable coordinators had also been trained to upload teaching timetables and workloads electronically.
The college also installed smart interactive screens in several lecture rooms, which Ochen said had improved the teaching environment and supported blended learning.
He urged the incoming leadership to continue investing in digital infrastructure, particularly for smaller postgraduate teaching spaces.
Ochen reported that CHUSS had significantly expanded its research and grants portfolio, with the college managing grants estimated at about US$12 million.
He attributed the growth partly to the development of research groups across departments and encouraged the new leadership to strengthen these groups to increase grant applications and scholarly publications.
“I believe in the last four years we have grown as a college. I think we have quite a higher portfolio of grants,” Ochen said.
He also cited numerous conferences, public lectures and international academic events as having contributed to CHUSS’s visibility nationally and internationally.
These included philosophy events, social work conferences, peace-related events, language celebrations, history and climate-migration conferences and other scholarly engagements.
Ochen said CHUSS had expanded its international collaborations through mobility programmes, academic partnerships and international conferences.
He pointed to Erasmus+ programmes and other collaborations involving universities in Europe, Africa and other parts of the world.
He also highlighted the Rotary Peace Centre and its growing international student community as important contributors to the college and University’s internationalisation agenda.
Despite the progress, Ochen identified inadequate equipment, particularly in journalism and multimedia production, as one of the challenges requiring attention.
He also cited concerns around support for staff supervising students, marking dissertations and other academic work, as well as the need to better recognise academic work conducted outside normal university hours.
He urged the incoming leadership to continue engaging staff and seeking practical solutions to these challenges.
Leadership transition will not disrupt CHUSS
Principal Associate Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala thanked Ochen for his service and said the transition would not destabilise the college.
She described Ochen as a committed colleague whose passion, energy and humility had contributed to the college’s progress.
Nambalirwa said the college was entering a new phase under Walakira, whose appointment comes as CHUSS implements its strategic priorities.
She said the college’s newly developed strategic plan provides a framework for advancing research, social protection, innovation, partnerships and other institutional priorities.
“We are very ambitious. We are hoping that we shall get a lot of wealth. For this college to move further, we are moving with stability,” Nambalirwa said.
The Principal also urged staff to continue supporting the new Deputy Principal as they had supported Ochen.
“Please, support that you have given Professor Ochen should be extended to Professor Walakira, because service is only fun when you have all your hands,” she said.
Staff commend Ochen, welcome Walakira
Staff members who spoke during the ceremony commended Ochen for his leadership and commitment to students while welcoming Walakira to the new role.
Mr. Gidange Moses from the Directorate of Internal Audit praised the Principal for nurturing staff and creating opportunities for them to take up leadership responsibilities.
He commended Ochen for completing his tenure and urged Walakira to embrace the responsibility of leading the college alongside the Principal.
Dr. Charlotte Mafumbo, Head of the Department of History, Archaeology and Heritage Studies, described Ochen as a passionate leader and thanked him for his contribution to the college.
She pledged the department’s support to the incoming Deputy Principal.
Dr. Denis Muhangi, Head of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, representing the Dean of the School of Social Sciences, praised Ochen for his resilience in following up decisions and his commitment to student welfare.
He assured Walakira of the school’s support as he takes on his new responsibilities.
Maria Gyezaho, from the Principal’s office, also thanked Ochen for his guidance and leadership, saying the skills he had imparted to staff would continue to benefit them.
The handover formally marked the end of Ochen’s tenure as Deputy Principal and the beginning of Walakira’s term, with the college leadership calling on staff to maintain the momentum achieved over the previous four years while pursuing new opportunities for growth.
For details about Prof. Eddy Joshua Walakira, please click on the link below:
https://chuss.mak.ac.ug/en/personnel/eddy-joshua-walakira/
Jane Anyango is the Principal Communication Officer CHUSS
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