Humanities & Social Sciences
DGRT & CHUSS Commit to Address Bottlenecks to Graduate Studies
The Directorate of Graduate Research and Training (DGRT) and the Management of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) have reassured Graduate students and staff that they will improve the environment for Graduate Studies at Makerere University.
The assurance was made during the CHUSS Graduate Annual meeting that was held on 26th April 2023 in Yusuf Lule Auditorium. The workshop was organized by the CHUSS Graduate Coordination Office headed by Dr. Zaid Ssekito.
The purpose was to take graduate students through what is required of them, the status and future of graduate training at Makerere and the general university policies that guide graduate studies.
It also served as a platform for students, supervisors, coordinators and management to interact and share their experiences , opportunities and challenges along their graduate journey at Makerere and collectively get feedback and offer solutions. The college was also cognizant that due to CoVID, a significant number of students and specifically the international students could have missed the orientation exercise hence the need for this meeting to induct them.
The meeting was graced by Director Directorate of Graduate Research and Training Prof. Edward Bbaale who presented on the Status of Graduate Training at Makerere University. The Deputy Director, Graduate Training and Research Assoc. Prof. Julius Kikooma presented on the General Policies Governing Graduate Training at Makerere University.
The meeting was also attended by the Head of ICT in the Academic Registrars’ Department Dr. Mike Barongo who presented on ICT and Graduate Training at Makerere University and the Senior Assistant Registrar DGRT Ms. Prossy Nakayiki who presented on Graduate Registration Process, Requirements and Policies. Staff, Heads of Departments , Deans and coordinators form CHUSS also attended.
The workshop ended with a session on Graduate Student’s Experiences and Challenges at CHUSS- Makerere University. Issues raised ranged from supervision for example, the workload, who supervises the supervisors, facilitation for supervisors and conflicts among co-supervisors. Administrative challenges relating to accommodation, clearance and IDS were voiced. Student related issues included financial stress, relationships and broad health issues including mental health. Others were tracking students’ progress, improving communication with students and the need for the university to define the PhD by Research with specific attachment to field of study and streamlining the research agenda in line with national and societal needs.
We shall remove any pothole on the road to graduate training-DGRT
The Deputy Director, Graduate Training and Research Assoc. Prof. Julius Kikooma described the meeting as a forum where university stakeholders collectively work towards solutions to the problems both as students but also as teachers, the supervisors and program administrators
Prof. Kikooma described the students concerns as feed back in good faith not matter the expression on grounds that it was coming from where there is pain which requires a solution.
“Personally I have taken it positively that you want improvement and improvements we shall offer at least that is the commitment we can offer as DGRT. Whether that improvement is how we deal with online application so we are able to be responsive.
Those that are interested to come to us, we commit to remove the potholes. Graduate training roads must be freed of any potholes if the mantra of research-led is to be actualized.
As DGRT, we are going to employ all ways that we can to be able to be In the face of the students, to be in the face of the supervisors and also to be in the face of the teachers who teach graduate students”, Kikooma pledged.
Prof. Kikooma promised that graduate school will employ technology , digital systems and come up with quick information guides to improve the way they put information out there , the way people know what they offer as a commitment that plays to the realities on ground today .
Acknowledging the good brand of Makerere University Kikooma cautioned about complacency on reason that this brand cannot be forever with so many institutions that have come up and therefore the need for the university to up to game.
Kikooma urged students to read the Graduate Handbook 2013 which has clauses on how supervision and issues of conflict should be handled which also extend to students. He advised that irrespective of whether they are friends or not, what binds them with the supervisor is that they must complete their project.
Acknowledging that there are challenges in terms of available staff for supervision , Kikooma said as DGRT through the handbook, gives a guideline on how many PhD/Mater students a supervisor should have a at any one time as a matter of workload.
He however noted that while the supervisors may genuinely have many students , some of the workload is created by people who are stuck in the system. DGRT will do what is possible to remove any environment that makes people get stuck because of policy and so on, but students also will have to do their part by paying attention to the basics from day one to the last, keeping eyes on the ball and here the ball is only one;- for the PhD , the need for the thesis out of the way and for the masters students, the need to complete all the course works on the curriculum and the thesis.
Prof. Kikooma clarified that although CoVID disrupted orientation for graduate students, the normal modus operandi for induction is that every new group must be inducted and graduate school together with colleges must provide time at the beginning of every year for each cohort.
DGRT to organize units to come up with a new Research Agenda
On the issue of ensuring that graduate research contributes to solving society problems, Kikooma explained that by their mandate as DGRT, they are supposed to organize the research agenda for the university.
“We have the research agenda however that research agenda is out of phase and should have ended 2018 . in a months’ time, we are going to organize all university unit so that we come up with a new research agenda and we are going to collaborate with the National Planning Authority so that the themes that will be defined as anew research agenda should speak to the national priorities”,
He stressed that even before this revision to the national agenda, a number of priorities in research have taken into consideration the issue of focusing university research practices towards NPA and national priorities, a case in point is the MaK -RIF funded by government is structured around NDP111.
On the title of PhD by research, Kikooma said, there are revisions that have been suggested and when the new guidelines come through, more suggestion will be taken on board so that there is some kind of specialization in the title of PhD eg PhD Educational Psychology although predominantly by research to provide details of what the PhD is about.
The Deputy Director also told participants that the DGRT has embarked on the project funded by Mak-RIF called ,” Research Information Management System(RIMS) to track the graduate and staff research processes in the university.
“We are going to be much more responsive to the information needs of the people who are interested in our graduate programs. We are going to do better and I am sure this are the things I am expecting for you to hold us accountable at the next CHUSS Graduate annual meeting”. Kikooma promised.
“You are the Premiere Customers” – CHUSS Management to Graduate students
While closing the seminar, Ag. Principal, who is also, Deputy Principal CHUSS Associate Prof. Eric Awich Ochen affirmed that the university takes the interest of the students as the single most important thing.
“You are the premier customers of Makerere University and the top management wants to see that the facilities and the teaching infrastructure including the preparedness of the lecturers are up to scratch to support you to complete your studies on time”, Dr. Awich assured.
Awich described the Annual Graduate Seminar as an important engagement saying the college management will ensure that they are done often.
On behalf of staff, the Principal apologized to students who might have had bad experiences with university officials adding that it is not their intention to be rude, pledging to engage the staff.
“If you experience any bad experience with some of our staff please feel free to come to your dean or the office of the deputy Principal, my door is always open. You come and talk to me or you can talk to the Principal so as to address the issues”.
The Principal encouraged students to be courageous whenever faced with challenges and to utilize the college structures to amicably address their problems.
“If you try to engage your supervisor for a very long time and you fail to get in touch with the person, go and talk to your coordinator at the departmental level if that does not solve the problem, talk to your head of department, if that does not solve the problem, go to the Dean or come to me. We shall find the best fit because our interest is to ensure you complete in time”.
Earlier during the opening session, Prof. Awich presented on the status and future Graduate training and initiatives being undertaken to enhance a robust graduate training environment in CHUSS in terms of the environment , structure and infrastructure.
Highlighting the number of graduate programmes in the college, Prof. Awich stressed that the university will be gradually reducing the number of undergraduate programs and enrollment and gradually increasing the graduate intake figures and programmes an initiative that has been embraced by many departments developing new programmes.
Graduate training he said, is anchored in the University Strategic 2021-2020 aiming to transform Makerere into a research-led university which works with industry, community and international partners.
Awich also noted that Graduate training also falls within the DGRT plan whose aim is promoting high quality research-led education coordinating and working with colleges with faculty at university level research led themes and strengthening inter-disciplinarities to respond to the market demand.
Prof. Awich reported that the college leadership in collaboration with the DGRT was trying to position itself to support the college to be more effective in delivering graduate training outputs.
Among the initiatives undertaken to improve graduate training, the Deputy Principal disclosed that the college has embarked on developing a college – based tool to track graduate training.
In addition, the Principal said, the Graduate coordination unit has been established within the college to oversee and coordinate graduate activities while several partnerships had been established to position the college and show its relevance, increase enrolment and impact on the community.
The Deputy Principal also said the college boosts of nine centers of excellence which support the training function, and has signed over 25 MoUs with different institutions and universities to increase the number of graduate students.
Presenting the graduate graduation statistics for the recent past years, Prof. Awich noted that, the college was doing well in terms of production of graduate students and has been leading in last three graduation ceremonies.
Awich implored heads of units to aim higher and at least double the figures for Masters and PhD pledging to work with the DGRT to develop training programmes to promote first level and refresher training for staff to achieve better.
On the morning of Friday, February 27, when the academic procession winds its way across Makerere University’s Freedom Square for the last day of the 76th Graduation Ceremony, Whitney Najjuka will walk into history with a number beside her name: 4.46.
At Makerere, that number means First Class Honours. It means the Vice Chancellor’s List. It means she graduates as the only First-Class student in Journalism and Communication this year. But numbers, as Whitney has learned, rarely tell the full story.
Born on March 27, 2002, in Nabbingo, Kyengera Town Council, to Margaret Kusemererwa and Fred Kasirye, dreamt she would do Law, one of the disciplines, prestigious, almost inevitable next steps for a student who had excelled in secondary school. She had done everything correctly. Studied hard. Scored well. Followed the script.
But Makerere University had other plans. She missed the pre-entry mark, but found her name under Journalism and Communication, another prestigious course offered by the Journalism and Communication Department at Makerere University.
Najjuka began her academic journey at Muto Primary School in Buwama, earning 8 aggregates in the Primary Leaving Examination, a performance that positioned her strongly for secondary school.
She would later join St. Lucia Hill School, Namagoma, where she earned 20 aggregates at O-Level and 17 points in History, Luganda, and Divinity at A-Level.
Missing her dream course, Law, felt at first, like a detour. But Whitney was encouraged by Sanyu Christopher, her uncle, and she settled for a government-sponsored slot in the Bachelor of Journalism and Communication at Makerere, which she had applied for before.
She entered uncertain. But she graduates transformed.
The Pivot That Became a Purpose
Whitney speaks of her early university days with candor. She did not arrive at the Department of Journalism and Communication with a burning childhood ambition to be a journalist, but because another door had closed.
Then, Social and Behavior Change Communication happened. Applied Strategic Communication happened. She began to see media not as headlines and microphones, but as architecture, shaping how societies think, argue, and act.
The turning point came in her third year. The Female Journalist Foundation published her story on Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and its emotional toll on survivors. What startled her was not its publication but the reaction. Comments flooded in. Debates ignited, especially about the role of men in combating GBV.
“I realized media doesn’t just report,” she says. “It frames how society views a crisis.”
Her voice, once tentative, had entered a national conversation.
The Discipline Behind 4.46
At Makerere University, a First Class CGPA is not built on brilliance alone but on ritual.
Whitney’s ritual began with showing up, on time, every time. She treated lectures as appointments with her future self. She refused to confine her learning to the syllabus. While attending workshops at the Aga Khan Graduate School of Media and Communication and obtaining external certifications, she sought and was open to mentorship through the Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU).
She wanted theory anchored in practice. And then there was the commute.
From Nabbingo, a hill in Wakiso District, some 18.6 km to Kampala, where the Makerere Main campus is situated, and back, nearly 20 hours a week dissolved into Kampala traffic. Two-hour journeys before 8:00 a.m. lectures. Dust. Noise. Headaches. She learned to manage energy the way others manage time. Fatigue became a tutor in resilience.
“I had to be intentional with every remaining hour,” she says. “Excuses were not an option.”
Learning to Practice Communication
If classrooms taught her analysis, presentations taught her courage. Pitching projects, defending research, and standing before peers quick to critique forced her to think on her feet. She was no longer simply studying communication; she was practicing it.
In 2024, the AGMES Fellowship at the Aga Khan Graduate School of Media and Communication pushed her further. She received funding to produce a capstone project on the mental impact of gender-based violence on survivors. She identified sources, conducted interviews, handled trauma with care, and worked with professional editors.
The Communication, she learned, is logistics and ethics as much as eloquence.
The Future She Sees
Whitney is optimistic about Uganda’s media landscape. The digital shift, she believes, has democratized influence. Young communicators are no longer confined to legacy newsrooms or offices.
Yet she sees a gap in the absence of structured research on sustainable, ethical, profitable independent media ventures in Uganda. Her ambition is not only to practice communication, but to study it. To produce data-backed frameworks that help young Ugandans transition from graduates to media entrepreneurs.
She wants to make the impact scalable.
What Remains
As the only First-Class graduate in her cohort, she is careful not to mythologize herself. “Success isn’t brilliance alone,” she says. “It’s a daily commitment when nobody is watching.”
Even before graduation, Whitney had stepped into the industry through a mentorship internship at Capital One Group (COG EA Ltd), a strategic marketing communications agency operating across East Africa.
At Capital One Group, we spoke to Paul Mwirigi Muriungi, the Managing Director and Head of Strategy, who spoke of Najjuka as a progressive and intentional young professional who approaches her work with curiosity, maturity, and responsibility.
“Her attitude is exemplary. She is teachable, receptive to feedback, and eager to grow. While technical skills can be taught, character, work ethic, and mindset determine long-term success, qualities that Whitney consistently demonstrates. Given her academic excellence and professional application, we believe she has a bright future both at Capital One Group and within the wider communications industry. She represents the kind of talent the profession needs: thoughtful, adaptable, and committed to excellence.
“We look forward to seeing her next chapter unfold,” says Mwirigi.
Najjuka’s gaze extends beyond her own trajectory. She speaks of what the Department could become. Furnished and equipped with industry-standard equipment, newsroom simulations, and deeper investment in data journalism as prayers. Her excellence is not self-congratulatory, but it is forward-looking.
“The University should support the Department to procure industry-standard equipment. Access to high-quality cameras, sound booths, and updated editing software like Adobe Creative Suite is critical to our learning environment,” she says.
Adding that, “We need a newsroom simulation, a physical or digital space where students work under real-time deadlines to produce content for the public. That would prepare us for industry and even strengthen the University’s own media platforms.”
In an era defined by metrics, algorithms, and digital traceability, data journalism is no longer a niche skill but a sine qua non of credible reporting. “There should also be more focus on data journalism and search engine optimization. These are no longer optional skills. Students would benefit immensely from stronger training in these areas.”
Dr. Aisha Nakiwala, the Head, Department of Journalism and Communication, says the faculty are very proud that she is graduating with a First Class—the only one in this year’s cohort.
“This achievement reflects not only exceptional intellectual ability but also discipline, resilience, and sustained dedication to the highest standards over four years. Graduating with first-class honors is no small feat; it requires consistent outstanding performance.
“Her accomplishment sets a powerful example for continuing students and reaffirms our department’s commitment to nurturing excellence. We are confident she will make meaningful contributions to the communication profession and society at large,” says Dr. Nakiwala.
On graduation day, applause will crest and recede. The gowns will fold back into wardrobes. The transcripts will be filed away in cabinets. But something quieter will endure; a young woman from Nabbingo who once missed her Law mark, who spent 20 hours a week on the road, who discovered that storytelling is power, and who now walks into Freedom Square not by accident, but by intention.
Life, as she has come to understand it, lives on.
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.
-
General1 week agoCall for Applications: Diploma Holders under Government Sponsorship 2026/2027
-
General1 week agoAdvert: Admissions for Diploma/Degree Holders under Private Sponsorship 2026/27
-
General1 week agoExtension of Application Deadline for Diploma/Degree Holders 2026/2027
-
General2 weeks agoMakerere University commemorates 13 transformative years of partnership with Mastercard Foundation
-
General1 week agoMakerere University and World Bank Sign Partnership to Strengthen Environmental and Social Sustainability Capacity