Humanities & Social Sciences
Gerda Henkel Evaluators commend CHUSS PhD Cohort System for Reviving Humanities at Mak
A team of Evaluators from the Gerda Henkel Foundation has commended the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) for implementing the Lisa Maskel Fellowships saying, it has revived the Humanities at Makerere University.
The Evaluators led by the program Coordinator Gerda Henkel Foundation Dr Joyce Nyairu, had a three days engagement (26th-29th May 2023) with university top management, the Directorate of Graduate Research and Training, the CHUSS project steering committee, current fellows and alumni as well as the heads and Graduate studies coordinators in CHUSS
The reason for these engagements was that this programme has been in existence for ten years starting at the university Stellenbosch, then Makerere University and the University of Ghana which has been the last to join.
The lead evaluator Dr. Joyce Nyairo said, Gerda Henkel evaluates their projects after 10 years and the issue has been to go round to each one of the universities and Makerere has been the last one after Ghana and Stellenbosch.
Dr. Nyairo accompanied by Prof Andreas Eckert and Ms. Jane Frey was meeting the CHUSS Heads of Departments and graduate Studies Coordinators on 29th May 2023.
“We are here now to find out how Makerere is doing on this program not because the funding must be brought to an end but because all funding projects have the capacity for improvement”.
“What we were interested in were the lessons that have been learnt, where are the challenges, where have you made some innovations, how you are trying to overcome those challenges you are struggling with, what lessons can also be shared with other universities and where you need stronger collaboration”, Dr. Nyairo explained.
The interactions focused on aspects like supervisors and student’s needs, the need for expertise and sufficient capacity for multidisciplinary research, students’ foundational knowledge that can enable them undertake quality PhD, how the university is dealing with plagiarism, students health and ability to complete within the prescribed study period and solutions.
Dr. Nyairo described the conversation with the faculty, coordinators and supervisors as fairly candid. Besides giving extensive gratitude for the scholarship, Dr. Nyairo said they expected the students to be more expressive.
“I have had fantastic conversation with the faculty talking about the intellectual scoop, how it has impacted by a program like this what are the implications for expansion, what is sacrifices and what can be gained. So, it has been a good three days of engagement. From here we make our report as evaluators to Gerda Henkel and then they decide what changes to make”.
We want to see students who have the capacity for criticism and critical judgement.
Money is one problem. It does not solve everything. so, where are the more problems. I would have loved to hear something more critical from students”, She added
Dr. Nyairo commended CHUSS for implementing the project.
“It is gratifying to see how the humanities have been revived at Makerere. It is great that the university is bench-marking other programmes based on what CHUSS is doing in this programme”.
I want to see Makerere University take on the burden of this PhD programme and begin to support some of the things and not rely on donor funds that’s how we will know that the program has been entrenched and has great impact”, The main evaluator said.
CHUSS Projects Coordinator Dr. Edgar Nabutanyi said, by the time the project closes, it would have trained 58 PhDs in historical Humanities and Humanistic Social Sciences
Dr. Nabutanyi said the CHUSS-Gerda Henkel Foundation PhD Training partnership sought to achieve three goals namely: – to assist the college reclaim the tattered image of the Humanities in the public and private tertiary institutions in the region. Second, to train the next generation of Humanities scholars to replenish the disciplines lest they die out and third, to equip the next generation of Humanities scholars with intellectual and investigative skills that can be deployed in studying the human condition in their respective societies in order to delineate the elusive concept of what it takes to ensure a good life.
“The above broad aims of the partnership have been actualised in form of the recruitment of 6 cohorts or 60 PhD Fellows from different Historical Humanities and Humanistic Social Sciences disciplines from various universities in Uganda and Sub-Saharan Africa”, Nabutanyi explained
He said from 2017, the college received funding to train a total of 60 PhD fellows for four major cost items related to PhD training in the Historical Humanities and Humanistic Social Sciences such as tuition, stipend, medical insurance, laptop computer, books, travel to take up the fellowship, conference attendance and field work funds. The partnership also funded travel, personnel costs and research or PhD training costs such as buy-in-time, research workshops, retooling seminars and the CHUSS symposium.
Dr. Nabutanyi also reported that 9 Fellows of the 2017 cohort did complete their studies and graduated during the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Makerere, Similarly, 6 Fellows of the 2018 cohort did complete and graduated during the 2022 and 2023 Graduation ceremonies. 2 Fellows have submitted their theses and await examination.
3 Fellows of the 2018 cohort, are expected to submit during the second half of this year and only one fellow among the 2019 cohort, has submitted his thesis for examination while the remaining 9 have not yet completed their studies 6 months after the lapse of their funding.
Nabutanyi partly attributed the poor rate of completion among the 2018 and 2019 cohort to the impact of COVID-19 of their studies adding that the 2018 cohort got supplementary covid funding hoping to organise a similar intervention for the 2019 cohort.
The funding according to Dr. Nabutanyi had an indicative budgetary component of USD 55,600 that was earmarked for material, equipment, and renovations expenses for the college.
The funding as reported by Dr. Nabutanyi has also supported and/or allowed the college to innovate regarding an intellectual/scholarly infrastructure.
CHUSS & Funders discuss possible extension of the PhD study period
Dr. Nabutanyi noted that the college and funders have noted the challenges that come with the time of three years to complete the PhD and going forward, the timeline is going to be reviewed so that the interests of the students and the funders and the college are taken care of.
Speaker after speaker commended the program for the positive attributes
“The funded students have a specific time within which to complete their programme and the work is scheduled. With these funds, students are given seminars where academic writing, research methodology and other aspects of their PhD are taught”, Dr. Charlotte Mafumbo.
Dr Elizabeth Kyazike expressed gratitude for the Gedah Henkel funding on grounds that it has opened up opportunities for funding non- priority program like archaeology and that it has been difficult to find archaeologists with PhDs in Uganda.
“Archaeologists do a lot of experiments and to do an internationally recognised PhD within three years is not possible. In archaeology, the pressure is immense and the sacrifice is the health of students who are almost running crazy given the university requirement that they must publish in order to graduate” Dr. Elizabeth Kyazike.
“The period given is 3-5 years and indeed some people have done it in 3 years but bear in mind that it has impact on the quality of the product because we have year 1 of proposal writing, so we have 2 years so it is likely to have impact on the quality of the PhD”. Another lecturer submitted.
Dr. Lutwama – Rukundo Evelyn noted that although the project has a strong coordination unit ensuring that students meet the deadlines, submit progress reports and organise seminars, the 3-year scholarship limit also affects the mental health of supervisors.
“The 3year constraint also impacts on the mental health of supervisors who have to balance supervision of the PhDs, teaching masters and undergraduate students, conducting research, publications, community services and attracting funding, and meeting social life needs and obligation inclusive”, Dr. Lutwama – Rukundo Evelyn.
To Dr. Zaid Sekito, it is possible to complete a PhD in 3 years because many have made it but the only challenge is that students abscond and forget they are full time and fully funded. “We need to change the mindset of students to know that they are full tine irrespective of whether they are nationals or foreign” Dr, Sekito said.
Dr. Orikiriza Celestino noted that although the program has brought on board PhD students for faculty for mentorship and an almanac that is followed including seminars, conferences, workshops where students are encouraged to present that have led to improvements, the sacrifice that comes with the 3-year limit is the scope of the study.
“From my students experience, we are supposed to do three dimensions of the scope of the study but we ended up doing only one because the student had to finish within the funding period” Prof. Wamala said.
Prof. Peter Atekyereza commended Gerda Henkel for providing funds for the most neglected areas but noted that there is a challenge of completing in 3years when one is a fully funded student at home with many competing needs resulting into mental illness but noone declares.
Citing his student conducting a study on engendering military on peace missions from different states, Atekyereza said it was challenging to get interviews from states to produce data worth a PhD within the three-year study time.
“There are social and emotional risks that is why students suffer in silence and are not willing to declare that they are mentally ill because it has implications for work, the family and public image” Dr. Atekyereza added
Dr. Roscoe submitted that very few people finish PhD in three years and those that succeed go through mental stress and are unhappy
.“The sacrifice is the mental health of the student. I want a scholar to discover and explore who they are. Sometimes they should be granted breaks. I always don’t see people who are happy because there is too much pressure. Context is key but what about the well-being of the student and the stress experienced by the supervisor. We want to restore the dignity of the scholar and let us make academic writing fun”
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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