Humanities & Social Sciences
Prof. Andrew Ellias State hands over Deanship to Dr. Justus Twesigye
The Dean School of Social Sciences Prof. Andrew Ellias State on 1st December, 2022 handed over office to the Dr. Justus Twesigye at ceremony presided over by the Principal College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) at the School’s premises.
Prof. State assumed office as Dean on 4th December, 2014 from Assoc. Prof. Charles Bwana. He served for the first four-year term and was re-elected for another term culminating into eight years of service. State extended appreciation to all staff in and outside the School for the cooperation and support that has enabled him execute his eight years of Deanship.
“I also wish to thank Makerere University for giving me the opportunity to serve in the capacity of Dean. I am aware that my service may not have been so pleasant to some members. I wish to sincerely apologise for the discomfort my work in the capacity of Dean may have caused to you. I wish to thank all those who actively supported me all the way through”, He said.
Prof. State reported that, there have been major changes in the university such as the consolidation of the collegiate system, composition of college committees and the introduction of blended learning under the COVID-19 pandemic where, as Dean he was actively involved.
In his 22-page handover report, State highlighted a number of achievements during his eight-year term. These included changes in staffing levels and promotions, the establishment of the Schools Ethics Research Committee which increased the visibility of the school, revival of the Mawazo journal, restoration of the school generator and increased number of linkages.
Other achievements reported included repairs and maintenance of the school infrastructure, beautification of the school offices and corridor, improved water storage capacity and lighting system, securing funds for the installation of a video conferencing facility for the school and the Uganda Military Academy Kabamba, revamping grounded vehicles and a significant movement from individual-based research projects to collaborative research teamwork among others.
He highlighted a number of challenges including the general lack of space for staff offices and teaching graduate programmes, low completion rates, lack of facilitation for graduate programmes, and the inability to pay part timers.
Prof. State also presented a list of pending issues for follow up by the incoming Dean such as processing and submitting final examinations results for 2021-2022, payments for local graduate supervision and examination, the renewed participation of students in examination malpractices and the review of the collegiate system to grant the independent status of the school.
“Since I am leaving, the office, I hope you will continue promoting the school’s position in as far as the collegiate system is concerned without fear or intimidation” He stated.
New Dean accepts to serve, softens restrictions on wearing masks, calls for peace and social cohesion in the School.
The incoming Dean Dr. Justus Twesigye congratulated the outgoing dean for the service rendered to the School. Twesigye also appreciated staff for working and supporting the outgoing Dean. He also commended Prof. State for withstanding the office pressure with aggressiveness.
“You have done a good job, served diligently and experienced challenges. Congratulations. To be able to serve in a public office for eight years without an investigation or checking in the coolers, is commendable”, Dr. Twesigye appreciated.
“It is heavy to work as an insulator to get the directives from above that must be digested and communicated to colleagues. You have made your presence felt in the school and university. State has been firm in coordination issues of teaching, research and implementation of the Standard Operating Procedures (SoPS) for CoVID prevention. I think he saved some of us who did not care about ourselves”. Dr. Twesigye stated.
Prof. Andrew Ellias State was credited for the implementing the Ministry of Health SOPs that required handwashing and wearing of masks to prevent and control the spread of COVID 19. State, firmly implemented the SOPs without fear or favour irrespective of one’s age, social, political and economic class, making the building and all premises of the School of Social Sciences a no-go zone for non-compliant citizens.
Prof. State’s health stance on wearing masks to access the school could have saved many from contracting the deadly Corona virus.
Unlike his predecessor, Dr. Justus Twesigye relaxed on the measures basing on the Ministry of Health recent pronouncement.
“On the issue of masks, the outgoing Dean has told you that he no longer has the powers. The Ministry of Health has indicated that people can use masks at their individual discretion. If you feel you need to have a booster dose, do that, but, I think from now we can allow people make their choices including students. If they can, or cannot afford, let people make choices so that we have a bit of peace. It had began raising so much stress. I am going to see how to handle but of course we have Ebola, it is still with us , maintain handwashing”, Dr. Twesigye explained
Dr. Twesigye recognised his undergraduate teachers for nurturing him and thanked staff for voting him and entrusting him with the duty to serve as Dean.
“I would like to accept taking over this responsibility as Dean basically to serve. It is my humble prayer that God grants me Grace to serve. You are part of this service. I will constantly coordinate and persuade but where applicable add a bit of controlled aggression for the good of all”, He pledged.
Dr. Twesigye highlighted a number of issues facing the school he would like to start working on including reorganisation of the teaching space to provide room for Masters students, expediting the process of examining and processing the graduation lists, internet connectivity in the school, following up on the recruitment of a custodian for the school and how to ease access for students with disabilities to the school premises.
As a social worker, Dr. Twesigye said he takes pride in having the School of Social Sciences operate as a family on grounds that staff spend most of their time at the school.
“We spend most of our time here even on weekends, with people coming on Saturdays. Registrars have been here in the nights meaning that they spend very little time with their families.
We would like to make this place our family, just bond, let us create a kind of connection. Let us feel free with each other. Symbolically, I made sure my daughter (Blessing) is here. I did not bring her here to brag but I want you to know that our children, your children, my children can find this place their home.
Once you have an opportunity bring your children, let us know them, this is the network they are going to have. There is no other network we are going to have other than the one we have here. Our grandchildren should come and enjoy this place.” The Dean-elect asserted.
Speaking on behalf of the Principal College of Humanities and Social Sciences Dr. Eric Awich expressed happiness to be a witness of the peaceful transfer of responsibilities from Prof. State to Dr. Twesigye.
Dr. Awich pledged the commitment for the Principal’s Office to support the new Dean in the execution of his duties.
Awich also implored the incoming Dean to work on the pending issues as highlighted by the outgoing Dean and to ensure that staff expedite the process of examining, nominating examiners and processing the graduation lists to avoid unnecessary delays.
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
-
Health2 weeks agoUganda’s HIV Treatment Gains Bring the Youth Gap into Focus
-
General1 week agoTimothy Khabusi: From Barefoot Walks to shaping Uganda’s Eye health Future
-
Agriculture & Environment1 week agoMakerere University Welcomes 50 Youth Skilling Program trainees under the Africa Climate Collaborative, Supported by Mastercard Foundation
-
Humanities & Social Sciences5 days agoFrench Embassy Presents Four Makerere Scholars with Academic Palms
-
Research2 weeks agoCall For Applications: KU Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme