Humanities & Social Sciences
Mak New hires trained on varsity policies, curriculum development & implementation
New employees across colleges of Makerere University were on 7th December 2022 equipped with information and tools on how to succeed on the job at Makerere University.
The main objectives were to update the new hires in terms of the policies and to help them know the core business of curriculum development and implementation and to make sure that they are effective teachers.
The third new hires workshop held in the Yusuf Lule Auditorium a was organized by CHUSS Centre of Excellence in Research, Teaching and Learning (CERTL). The College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), received a grant from the Mellon Foundation of New York for the establishment of the center to explore and develop mechanisms of strengthening and promoting teaching and learning in the humanities and social sciences.
The third new hires training was facilitated by panelists from university Directorates, prominent alumni and former staff working outside Makerere University including Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, the Vice Chancellor Uganda Christian University (UCU) Mukono. The workshop was officially opened by the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs (DVCAA) represented by the Principal, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Assoc. Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga.
The DVC AA appreciated all those involved in this noble task of orienting new staff noting that the importance of employee orientation in many organizations is often understated. The new hires workshop according to the DVCAA was in line with the mandate of the university in ensuring that teaching and learning is effective and secondly, it was timely for new hires to be aware of the changes brought by COVID in the way teaching and learning is conducted.
“Orientation serves to assist new employees with the tools and information they need to succeed in the job. It establishes the stage for human resource processes and company policy in the organization. An effective employee orientation program like this one will make a notable difference in how swiftly a new employee becomes prolific with other long-term impressions on the organization”, Part of the speech read
The DVC commended all those who have put aside their commitments to come and provide the new recruits with the tools and information they require to serve the university.
“Orientation encourages employee confidence and helps the new employee adapt faster to the job; Contributes to a more effective, productive workforce; Improves employee retention; and. Promotes communication between the supervisor and the new employee. Without an adequate, skilled and well-motivated workforce operating within a sound human resource management programme, development is not possible, “he added.
The DVC AA congratulated and welcomed the new hires for successfully joining Makerere noting that the University has many opportunities but, like any other higher education institution, there are challenges including; the academic student -staff ratio, inadequate funding, staff welfare issues, and infrastructural challenges and challenges related to managing relationships, training and ddevelopment, talent retention, diversity in the workplace, embracing inevitable change as well as employee health and well-being.
Besides the Policy Framework, Financial Sustainability and Infrastructure Support, the the DVCAA reported that the new Strategic Plan (2020/21-2030/31) considers Human resource as the foundation of the University’s success.
He pledged the University commitment to have an integrated and innovative people-centered services that foster attraction, retention and development of an engaged, rewarded, motivated, healthy and effective workforce supporting the strategic direction of the University.
The objectives under Human Resource Development according to the Deputy Vice Chancellor include; to attract, recruit and retain quality Human Resource to support the mission of the University; to create an enabling environment for optimal performance of staff in service delivery; and to increase the capacity of teaching staff to deliver using modern pedagogy, including use of Online, Distance and e-Learning (ODEL) technologies.
“The university has continued to lobby government and succeeded on welfare where salaries for staff were more than doubled by the target period. Appraisal tools were developed and are being used and staff development programmes, including sabbaticals, were instituted. The academic staff-student ratio was decreased which is within acceptable levels internationally and we continue to pursue our goal of becoming research led- a move to focus more on graduate training” he added.
He reminded recruits that Makerere is an equal opportunity institution that embraces diversity in order to achieve maximum potential without discrimination. He implored them to commit to the university’s core values including accountability and upholding ethos that meet the expectations of the different stakeholders
The DVC AA also implored employees to uphold Professionalism and adopt work ethics that demonstrate competence and capacity to generate results to the expected institutional, national, international and discipline specific standards.
“We also cherish integrity and upholding ethical values that will ensure that you do the right thing in all circumstances and maintaining the value of honesty, trust and responsibility in all your actions.
You are expected to have respect for fellow staff and students and that you will conduct yourselves with due regard and consideration for the rights of others and ensure acknowledgement, attention and good judgement in dealings with all our stakeholders”, he added
He applauded CHUSS and CERTL for this initiative and asked the Director and his team to continue using it to improve teaching and learning. As management, we also pledge our continued support to the center.
Session one on Makerere University academic and other policies brought together a panel of experts including Patience Mushyengyezi representing the Academic Registrar who spoke on academic policies. The Director Quality Assurance Dr. Cyprian Misinde presented on Quality Assurance policy while the Mr. Julius Lebo who represented the Acting Director Ssanyu Lawrence deliberated on the Human resources policy and the Director Gender Mainstreaming Dr. Baine Euzobia presented the Gender mainstreaming policy and the Sexual Harassment policy.
Session two of the training was on working at a university and focused on privileges and academic responsibilities with advise from panelists: Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda, Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga, Prof. Florence Kyoheirwe Muhanguzi and Dr. James Taabu Busimba.
Aspects covered in session two included: Managing relationship with colleagues, Heads of Departments, Deans and Principals, Academics and senate Academics and peers, Academics and support staff, preparation to teach and Sexual Harrassment and Teaching that as the elephant in the room .
The training was also graced by Vice Chancellor Uganda Christian University Mukono Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi. In his keynote address titled: From Teaching Assistant to Vice Chancellor: The academic and professional journey of Makerere academic. Prof. Mushengyezi advised new hires that it is alright to start small as a Teaching Assistant and progress step by step, but always endeavor to publish and aim at professorship as the goal.
Mushengyezi described Makerere as a place full of opportunities and privileges for employees to tap into saying, working as an academic requires hard work and commitment but, a sacrifice worth making.
He advised new employees to define the philosophy of their leadership, lead to make a difference and serve beyond self-saying, sometimes they have to make sacrifices of their leisure and use creativity to make things work.
The professor also urged employees to pursue dreams beyond the university obligations, engage in community work, join good networks, support just courses, stand for the good of the institution, be sober minded, and to always put God first.
“Professorship is our dream us academicians, we all dream to be professors. Position yourself, find out what you are good at and use it as an opener for you. When there is always an opportunity for you, go for it. The biggest problem is our mindset change. Always be focused and deal with mindsets.
Join good networks of winners and associate with people who are innovative because you learn from them. Find a good mentor with mentorship skills that you admire. Lastly live to make a change in the community and God will bless you”, he advised.
The Director CERTL Prof. Andrew Ellias State told new hires that they are expected to communicate with students very well and to remember that culture and emotions affect communication hence the need to check their teaching effectiveness.
“Students will also remember you because of your unique teaching techniques and you need to ask and evaluate yourself if you doing the right thing. Promote effective learning by encouraging students to deal with challenges in class and bring out the ideas and also debates. Do not prejudge. Engage students in active learning. ”, Prof. State advised
From the day’s discussion State asked new hires to pick positive professional relationships on reason that they are going to be in a community with other scholars, colleagues and are also going to teach multiple classes, serve on other committees, have family and also squeeze in time for scholarship.
“Take time and talk to others If the opportunity presents and involve those in and out of your department. On top of that, be kind, patient for the interests of others, don’t be selfish. Develop a reputation for acting with integrity and trying to understand your colleagues’ perspectives and avoid departmental factions.
Support networks, seek out mentoring in your profession line. Attend conferences, tell colleagues what your research interests are, where you want to specialize in. Take out colleagues for coffee and tea in case you have something to discuss”, State advised.
Prof. State also advised employees never to give up when their articles for publication get nasty comments but instead marry their science, for better or worse, pursue their passions and make sure they are good and also learn to say no and not to be afraid to change directions.
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
Reviews
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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