Humanities & Social Sciences
Performing Arts & Film celebrates the Golden Jubilee
The International Conference on Performing Arts and the Department of Performing Arts Golden jubilee celebrations have officially been opened at Makerere University. The celebrations organised under the theme, Performing Arts and the University of the 21st Century: Concepts, Training and Practice was organised and hosted by Makerere University Department of Performing Arts and Film in partnership with the International Drama/ Theatre and Education Association (IDEA) and Rostock University of Music and Theatre in Rostock Germany.
The one-week event (27th March -1st April 2023) attracted over 400 participants from within Uganda and beyond Africa including Europe, USA, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Asia. The participants comprised teachers, researchers, practitioners and other experts and students in disciplines in performing arts presenting, debating and workshopping knowledge and practice.
This platform created space for faculty to hear and share voices, experiences and dreams and commitments around the world in respect of the field of Theatre and performers, while students were able to interact and learn through paper, panel, key note presentations and get exposure.
Opening the conference on behalf of the university Management, the Dean School of Performing arts Associate Professor Patrick Mangeni explained that the celebration was in recognition of the contribution that the department has made to the field of culture and performance in the last 50 years.
The department started its journey under the department of Literature before it became the Department of Music, Dance and Drama and now the Department of Performing Arts and Film. One of the objectives was to develop the human capacity to contribute to education and development through the arts and the area of arts.
Looking back and counting the fruits of the department’s engagements and production, Prof. Mangeni enumerated a number of key milestones worth celebrating.
Among them includes legends like the Late prof. Rose Mbowa, Prof. Sserwadda’s contribution to dance, Zadok Adolu, Prof. George William Kakoma, Prof. Katana, Prof. Tamusuza who were initially students but also came to serve in the department and contributed to expanding the musical score of Uganda.
Members of the department he said have contributed immensely, for example Prof. George William Kakoma who was also head of department and composed the Uganda National anthem, Rose Mbowa wrote the lyrics for the women’s anthem and the music sung by Prof. R Tamusuza. Others are Prof. Grace Wilson Mutekanga Igaga who composed the current Makerere University Anthem.
“Through Uganda’s history particularity when the department had started, we have made a contribution in terms of sensitisation of communities, and in terms of trying to enforce and enhance unity and collaboration which is key for the development of this country.
The department has also gone in the area of health where it played a significant role in awareness creation and sensitisation around HIV/AIDS but also using theatre as a frame to foster society through particular films”, Mangeni said
In addition, the department has contributed the manpower outside Makerere University that continues to make significant contribution. For example, in scene of Theatre and Comedy, people who started and popularised comedy like Philip Luswata were nurtured by the department, formed the first comedy group and others have moved on and the scene is significantly different and improved.
The department has also added to the human resource management and leadership running the university where members have key roles in different units. Prof. Mangeni has served for seven years as chair ceremonies committee, one of the longest serving chairs and Prof. Nakimera Tamusuza now heading the Grants Administration and Management Unit.
The department has also been critical in the entertainment and cultural life in the university during graduations and all occasions with students active in areas of theatre and development.
“We have a lot to celebrate and above all to acknowledge the university for what it has made us and also to point out clearly what we have contributed to this country and to posture to the future”, Prof. Mangeni added.
The Head Department of Performing Arts and Film, Dr. Benon Kigozi said the conference is part of the events lined up for the commemoration of the 50 years of the Department of Performing Arts and Film.
Dr. Kigozi explained that the conference resonates very well with the IDEA conference held bi-annually in different countries and that is why they we thought of partnering since it was coming to Uganda.
The conference is about research, performance, academics presenting papers coming out of research but we are celebrating 50 years of existence as a department
We want to bring the community into the classroom, see where we can mitigate the challenges, where we are going and what we can put across to other people that are coming up, what has gone wrong, what we ca can correct and good practices are we going to take on board”. Dr. Kigozi explained.
As a department, Kigozi noted, they have come a long way to become vibrant at Makerere University running up to about 12 programmes, from diploma, bachelor of Arts, music, dance and drama then Master of Arts in Performing Arts and also have a doctorate of performing arts.
“We take centre stage in the events of the university to do outreach and entertain, to showcase Makerere and get young ones get on stage before they leave Makerere. Theses alludes to the fact that we are relevant, doing what we must be doing and we are in the right direction”, The head said and demystified the thinking that performing arts has no future.
“There is a lot of future in performing arts. There are so many career benefits and career opportunities that you can take on as a performing artist depending on depending on area you choose. You can choose to be drama, music, theatre, be dance and do film as well.
About 20years ago, most of the things we used to see on TV were foreign but now about 90% of what you see on television is locally made and those students are trained here in this country. The arts are very strong and there so many things we can do as performing artists in terms of changing society , lobbying an in terms of sensitising people on various aspects of life”. He added.
IDEA president Sanja Krsmanovic Tasic said IDEA was last on the African continent in 1998 at the Kisumu congress in Kenya.
After 25 years, she observed people live in completely different world with technological experience expressing happiness that people from all round the world sitting in offices, living rooms, kitchens and watching the conference at Makerere.
“We cannot even know what profession our children will be having and the work they will be doing.So the research that need to be conducted is to prove how much performing arts trains young individuals for the jobs for the new century before us.
We know that drama in teacher education is a very important tool for developing creativity, problem solving for the wellbeing of people especially in post COVID era”, she asserted.
She described the moment as an exciting one following IDEA Congress that was hosted in Island last year, a planned Arts Education summit in Portugal and now at Makerere and next the next IDEA congress meeting scheduled to take place in Beijing China
This proves how IDEA is a world-wide inclusive association that spreads the goodness of drama theatre education. It is not about preaching to the congress, it is Abou finding out who we and how important the field is”, Sanja stressed.
She implored participants to think of how they can change the world as individuals as long as they are alive. In such a meeting she said, there are three most important things to achieve.
One key thing is to listen to each other and find about each other’s work. The second level is to watch each other’s work, (is it a presentation, a performance, a video) but the third level is to work together and encounter each other in creative work.
The conference papers and workshops addressed topics on different themes including Theories and Aesthetics, Text and Performance, Practice and Context, Interculturality and Globalisation and Performing arts and university education.
Other themes were Institutionalisation, Curriculum and Scholarship, Publishing the Performing Arts, Knowledge Production and Reproducibility, Performing Artist for Tomorrow and Digitalisation and New Media.
Humanities & Social Sciences
Dr. Pamela Khanakwa Honored for Steering Record 18 PhD Candidates for the Mak 2026 Graduation
Six personally supervised, three completed in record time, as School of Liberal and Performing Arts sets a historic milestone. Dr. Pamela Khanakwa got the Award as Best PhD Supervisor and Dean
A Historic Academic Milestone for SLPA
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) recognised the Dean of the School of Liberal and Performing Arts (SLPA), Dr. Pamela Khanakwa, for outstanding academic leadership that has seen the School field 18 PhD candidates for the next 2026 Makerere University Graduation Ceremony scheduled for 24th-27th February. Remarkably, six of these doctoral graduates were directly supervised by Dr. Khanakwa, with three completing within the official three-year timeframe, an exceptional achievement in graduate training. The recognition was announced during the CHUSS End-of-Year Get-Together, where staff applauded Dr. Khanakwa’s dedication, humility, and relentless commitment to postgraduate supervision and timely completion.
Message to Academic Staff
Q: What message do you have for your staff following this achievement?
Dr. Khanakwa:
First, I celebrate my staff and thank them for their dedication to supervision and student support. Academic work is demanding, and material rewards are often limited, but the true satisfaction comes from seeing students succeed.
I encourage my colleagues to remain committed. Yes, the workload is heavy, but many things are possible with dedication and teamwork. Let us continue working for the good of our students, our School, and Makerere University.
Leadership Rooted in Humility
Q: Many colleagues describe you as humble, down to earth, and hardworking. What shapes this character?
Dr. Khanakwa:
I think it is largely my upbringing. My mother was a primary school teacher from the 1950s until the mid-1980s. She worked extremely hard to raise us, combining teaching with farming to ensure we had school fees and basic needs. From her, I learned humility, discipline, and the value of hard work.
I also learned that leadership positions are temporary. You occupy them today, and tomorrow you move on. So humility is essential.
My graduate training also shaped me significantly. My PhD supervisor emphasized that graduate study is a full-time job and that results matter more than noise. Let people see your work through outcomes, not announcements.
Supervision as a Two-Way Commitment
Q: How would you describe your supervision style?
Dr. Khanakwa:
I read my students’ work thoroughly, word by word. Sometimes my comments are tough, but they are honest. Supervision is a two-way commitment. I give feedback, but students must also respond and remain engaged. When that relationship works, progress happens.
Balancing Leadership, Scholarship, and Family
Q: How do you balance being a Dean, scholar, wife, mother, and daughter?
Dr. Khanakwa:
Honestly, I am not sure I balance perfectly. My mother lives far away in Bukwo, so visiting requires careful planning. My children grew up understanding the demands of academic life. I pursued my PhD in the United States and spent long periods away, but we adapted as a family.
Work has become part of my lifestyle. I use weekends to read dissertations, review manuscripts, and write. Sometimes my children ask if I ever sit without working, but this is the commitment I made. As we often say jokingly, “We humbly applied for the job, so let us do the job.”
Scholarship Beyond Supervision
Dr. Khanakwa is also an active scholar and editor. In the past year alone, she has:
- Edited scholarly volumes on archives, memory, method, and pedagogy
- Published a book with Routledge Companion
- Co-authored journal articles and book chapters with graduating students, including Priscah Asiimwe and Anatoli Lwasa Mpijja
“I feel an obligation to write with students,” she notes. “It takes time, energy, and commitment, but it is part of academic mentorship.”
Who Is Dr. Pamela Khanakwa?
Dr. Pamela Khanakwa is the Dean, School of Liberal and Performing Arts, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Makerere University. She is a seasoned scholar, supervisor, administrator, and mentor whose leadership continues to redefine graduate training excellence. Details about Dr. Pamela Khanakwa can be accessed at: https://chuss.mak.ac.ug/en/personnel/pamela-khanakwa/
More details are available in her attached curriculum vitae.
The CHUSS End- Of-Year-Get-Together
On 12th December, 2025 the college leadership organised a get-together end of year gathering to take stock of the achievements, challenges and brainstorm together on how to move forward. The event was marked by entertainment, team building games, appreciation speeches, sharing a meal and a Christmas package for every staff
Retirees and staff recognised
Five retired staff Dr. Micheal Wangotta Masakala, Dr. Anatole Kirigwajjo and Dr. Jackson Kizza Mukas (all from the School of Languages, Literature and Communication), Assoc. Prof. Florence Nansubuga (School of Psychology), Dr. Tusabe Gervase (School of Liberal and Perforing Arts) and Ms. Scovia Nganda Sekweyama (secretary from the School of Social Sciences) were recognised for their dedicated services to the university.
In addition to Dr. Pamela Khanakwa’s Award as Best PhD Supervisor and Dean, Ms. Birabwa Florence scooped the award of Best Registrar of the year. Birabwa is the registrar for the School of Liberal and Performing Arts.
Administrative and support staff including Ms. Mary Gyezaho and Annet Kashumbusha(both administrative secretaries in the Principals office), Farouq Lule (IT Officer), Godfrey Kakooza (cleaner), Charles Sebuguzi (driver) and Jane Anyango (Communications officer) were recognise with awards for outstanding service. Dr. Mohamed Mayanja Kajumba was from the School of Pyschology was recognised as the person with an outstanding talent in Handwriting.
The celebrations held in the Arts quadrangle were graced by the Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs Prof. Sarah Ssali and the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Finance and Adminstration Prof. Ireeta Tumps.
Humanities & Social Sciences
Ugandan Journalists Trained on Peace and Gender-Sensitive Reporting Ahead of 2026 Elections
Kampala, Uganda – January 9, 2026
Ahead of the January 15 general elections, Ugandan journalists have undergone specialized training on peace and gender-sensitive reporting to ensure responsible media coverage during the election period. The two-day training, held from 8th to 9th January 2026 at Makerere University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences Smart Room, was organized by the Women’s Situation Room (WSR) in partnership with various stakeholders and brought together journalists from across print, broadcast, and online platforms.
The main objective of the training was to strengthen the capacities of media in reporting and documenting electoral processes in a responsible and gender-sensitive manner. The specific objectives included: strengthening journalists’ skills to cover the 2026 elections in a fair, balanced, gender-sensitive, and non-violent partisan way; enhancing the role of media to enable citizens to be well-informed and actively participate in the election process; ensuring focused and balanced reporting on peace during and after elections; and strengthening partnerships between the WSR and media houses during the election period.
The training covered multiple critical modules. Day one focused on responsible conflict-sensitive reporting, emphasizing principles such as balance, impartiality, and accuracy. Participants explored the role of media as a relayer of the population’s voice, election monitor, catalyst for social cohesion and reconciliation, contributor to the accountability of political actors, and a platform for detecting and debunking digital media misinformation and hate speech.
Day two addressed responsible and gender-sensitive reporting. Key aspects included the definition of gender-sensitive reporting, how to become a gender-sensitive reporter, critical elements in reporting with gender awareness, packaging gender-sensitive stories, and a checklist for detecting and avoiding gender-insensitive reporting.
Her Lordship, retired Judge Justice Mary Mayitum, emphasized the importance of peace as the foundation of development and democratic engagement. “Because we value peace more than anything. Without peace, really, you can do nothing. But where there is peace, you can have time to reflect, discuss with others, and join in meaningful dialogue,” she said. She warned that the country’s past conflicts, such as those in Gulu, underscored the necessity of maintaining national harmony.
Justice Mayitum also urged other key election stakeholders to uphold peaceful conduct. “Being peaceful is the very heart of life. We have spoken to police, security personnel, political parties, and the Electoral Commission. We want politicians to have a code of conduct and to understand that it’s okay to think differently without fighting or hating one another,” she added.
Dr. William Tayebwa, lead facilitator and senior lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Communication at Makerere University, said, “This training is about conflict-sensitive reporting, peace journalism, and gender-sensitive reporting in the context of the elections. The emphasis was on giving female political candidates a voice while ensuring journalists report responsibly on election-related matters.”
Participants described the training as timely and impactful. Tony Banizengabo of CBS Wakiso District said, “We’ve benefited a lot. We’ve been trained to write stories which bring peace, not conflict. Ahead of the elections, we are very ready to be part of peacemakers.”
Dorcas Kimono of UBC TV Kampala added, “It was so timely and rich. We learned how to report without promoting or fueling violence, giving voice to victims without angering them or encouraging violators. This is very vital, especially as we approach the 2026 elections.”
The training aims to equip media personnel with the knowledge and skills to uphold professional ethics while contributing to a peaceful, inclusive, and gender-sensitive electoral process.
Humanities & Social Sciences
CHUSS Invests Over UGX 100 Million in Interactive Smart Screens, Upgrades Teaching Infrastructure
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) has invested over UGX 100 million in the acquisition and installation of state-of-the-art interactive smart screens, marking a major step in strengthening digital teaching and learning at Makerere University.
Under the investment, 86-inch interactive 4K smart screens have been installed in major lecture rooms across the college’s schools, replacing traditional projectors and whiteboards. The upgrade is intended to modernise instructional delivery, enhance student engagement, and support blended and hybrid learning models.
The touch-sensitive smart screens enable lecturers to write, draw, and annotate content directly on the display, while simultaneously integrating multimedia resources such as videos, presentations, and online materials. The screens support wireless screen casting from laptops, tablets, and smartphones, allowing for smooth, cable-free presentations and real-time sharing of students’ work during lectures and group discussions.
Designed to promote interactive and learner-centred pedagogy, the smart screens feature multi-touch capability that allows several users to interact with the board at the same time. This functionality supports collaborative learning, problem-solving exercises, and group presentations, making lessons more engaging and inclusive for students with diverse learning styles.
The boards are equipped with built-in cameras, microphones, and speakers, enabling seamless hybrid teaching through platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. This allows lecturers to conduct virtual and physical classes simultaneously, record full lectures, and share them with students for later review, revision, or catch-up purposes.
Running on dual Android and Windows operating systems with full internet connectivity, the smart screens provide direct access to online academic resources, digital libraries, and learning management systems. Their AI-powered features further enhance lesson organisation, content clarity, and efficient, paper-free instruction, contributing to a more sustainable learning environment.
To ensure safety and prevent misuse, the smart screens are secured in fabricated metallic safety boxes installed in the lecture rooms.
Beyond digital infrastructure, CHUSS has also undertaken additional physical improvements. The Russian Lecture Room in the School of Languages, Literature and Communication has been furnished with new chairs, tables, and a projector screen, significantly enhancing its teaching environment.
The college has further improved staff working spaces, with the School of Psychology renovating office space and classrooms in Block A, while similar renovations have been carried out in the School of Social Sciences.
The infrastructural upgrades underscore CHUSS’ commitment to improving the quality of teaching, learning, and staff working conditions in line with Makerere University’s digital transformation agenda.
-
General1 week agoPress Statement: Makerere University Congratulates Former Staff and Students on Successful Election to Public Office
-
General7 days agoPress Statement: Makerere 76th Graduation Ceremony
-
General1 week agoRe-Advert for the Position of the Second Deputy Vice Chancellor
-
General2 weeks agoMak Hosts NCHE Competence-Based Education Standards Validation Meeting
-
Health2 days agoCall For Applications: MakNCD Masters and PhD Training Opportunities