General
Mak Gender Mainstreaming Directorate Holds Reflective Workshop on Promoting Women’s Participation in Leadership
By Racheal Kanyi
“Position yourself and make yourself visible and known for something”, this was among the many takeaway points for participants at the reflective workshop for the women leaders at Makerere University. The workshop held on the 13th June 2024 in the Auditorium at the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility (CTF 2) was convened by the Directorate of Gender Mainstreaming (GMD) at Makerere University. It was one of a series of activities that have been conducted by the Directorate under a project titled: Enhancing women’s participation and visibility in leadership and decisionmaking in Universities in Uganda through action and evaluation research, 2019-2024. This is one of the multi-year research projects funded under the Makerere Research and Innovations Fund (MakRIF) and is led by the Director GMD, Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine. Participating Universities are: Makerere, Gulu, Busitema, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Kabale and Muni.
Purpose of the workshop
Held under the theme – Nurturing women in University leadership through mentorship and experience sharing, the purpose of the workshop was to provide a forum for experience sharing among female staff in middle and senior level leadership and management positions equivalent to M3-M5 salary scale.
Setting pace for experience sharing, the Director, Directorate of Gender Mainstreaming at Makerere University, Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine briefed participants on the mandate of GMD, outlining the policies and their role in promoting gender equality at the University. In her remarks, she noted that the mandate of GMD is derived from two main policies namely; i) the Makerere University Gender Equality Policy 2009, which envisions Makerere University to become a gender-responsive University in which substantive gender equality is reality, and ii) the Makerere University Policy & Regulations against Sexual Harassment of 2006, as amended in 2018 with a vision to coordinate, facilitate and monitor the integration of the gender dimension into the core functions of Makerere University including; Teaching and Learning, Research and Innovations, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, and Support Services.
Dr. Baine noted that the purpose of conducting the workshop was;
- In response to two strategic areas of the GMD Gender Equality Policy namely;
- Gender-responsive staff recruitment, training, promotion and recognition (eg numbers of women and their progression),
- And promotion of women’s participation in leadership and decision-making organs (numbers and visibility).
Other objectives included; Providing an opportunity for participants to understand the gender and leadership landscape in Higher education, enable them appreciate the gender-based challenges along women’s career path and how to overcome them, and to generate strategies on how women senior staff can position themselves for future leadership.
In her presentation, Dr. Baine who is also the project Principal Investigator, called upon women to gain confidence and stand out whenever leadership opportunities arise. “There is need for women to be on the discussion table, making decisions as opposed to keeping at the back. It is high time women gained confidence and took on these leadership opportunities. It all starts right from where you are,” she said.
Factors holding back women from taking up leadership roles
Presenting the research findings on behalf of the project team, Dr. Anna Ninsiima noted that despite all efforts at national and international levels, women were persistently fewer in leadership and decision-making organs in both public and private universities. The main objective of the study was to conduct a situational analysis of the gender terrain of the six public Universities to obtain baseline information encompassing: composition of governance and leadership organs by sex, composition of senior staff by sex, needs assessment and profiles of potential mentors and mentees, capacity to conduct gender-responsive research, exploration of men staff engagement in gender equality/equity interventions, and to establish a functional Uganda University Women Forum starting with the 6 universities.
Dr. Ninsiima revealed that according to the feedback collected, the main causes of low numbers of women in leadership in universities were;
- A strong disconnection between the laws and policies at national level and the Universities,
- Patriarchal traditional norms and perceptions regarding female leadership, where there is unacknowledged institutional bias against women leaders,
- Top positions in the University are political and require women to do more background work, and to lobby their way into leadership positions,
- Institutional-toxic, militaristic environment. Unsaid resistance by institutions,
- Personal – poor self-image and esteem, want soft landing- some fear judgment,
- And social/family background.
Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze on promoting women’s participation in leadership
The Dean, School of Public Health, Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze urged women to dedicate time to understanding themselves better, capitalize their strengths, acquire soft skills and competencies, and to rebuke toxic talk if they are to effectively participate in leadership. “Leadership starts with understanding yourself. Speak to yourself, identify good things in you, know you capabilities and work on your weakness. There is need for women to mentor each other, its one way of uplifting ourselves. We also need to know that not everyone can make it into leadership – some of us have to open doors for others to get there. Let’s sponsor each other and avoid toxic talk that holds us back and encourage each other into these leadership spaces,” she noted.
Strategizing for leadership
Sharing on her leadership experience, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs, Bunyoro University, Prof. Grace Bantebya Kyomuhendo advised women to strategize and use every opportunity available in leadership by showing up, even when they know they will not win the race. “Mere showing interest is a visibility gate for you to be known and adopt good networks in the world. If you intend to be a leader, study the big picture. You have to prepare, get the skills, get collaborations, know what you want, be available and willing to take on responsibilities. Study the environment and be careful how you share your intentions with people. If there is an opportunity and you have interest in it, apply for it, if you go through, that’s great, if you don’t, you won’t die, other doors will still open,” she advised.
Genesis and mandate of GMD
The Chairperson Makerere Council Committee responsible for Gender Mainstreaming who also doubles as the Dean, School of Women and Gender Studies, Prof. Ssali Sarah revealed that the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate came to existence by visionary women who also contributed to the establishment of the School of Women and Gender Studies with mainly two objectives;
- To promote gender parity
- To monitor and hold people accountable
She reiterated the need to address the behavioral and structural barriers that limit women from rising and staying in leadership noting that this will help have more women occupy the leadership spaces in the universities.
The newly appointed Principal, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), Prof. Helen Nkabala urged women to acquaint themselves with the different university policies if they are to effectively compete and take on leadership positions. “Know what is required of the leadership space you are vying for. You need to do policy spotlighting and read the human resource manual well as you aspire for leadership,” she advised.
Emphasizing the need for women to support each other into leadership, she appreciated Prof. Wanyenze for looking out for her when she showed interest in taking up leadership in the Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA). “Prof Wanyenze reached out to me and encouraged me. This greatly motivated me. As women, we need to support each other into these positions.”
Remarks by the DVCFA
Representing the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe commended the Directorate for organizing the workshop to empower women leaders and pledged management to take action on the resolutions.
He thanked the Directorate for holding the Male engagement roundtable to discuss issues pertinent to them. He decried the dropping numbers of male graduates and called for an investigation into the causes.
Proposed objectives of a 4W Initiative Pilot at Makerere University
The Director for Africa 4W Women and Wellbeing Initiative at the School of Human Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, Ms. Deborah Kaddu-Serwadda noted that Uganda can leverage the successes of Makerere University’s gender mainstreaming policy to build a critical mass of university students, faculty, and staff, able to work together. She mentioned some of the proposed objectives of a 4W Initiative Pilot at Makerere University, Uganda as: piloting an interdisciplinary multigenerational higher education collaboration for the promotion of gender equality and women’s wellbeing. The pilot project would further initiate an academic women leaders’ South to North research-to-action network for gender equality and social transformation.
Giving the background on the women in leadership training workshops, a Principal Gender Officer at GMD, Ms. Susan Mbabazi noted that the programme had accomplished many activities such as ; 1) A situational analysis of the gender terrain of the 6 universities focusing on among others the gender composition of staff in leadership positions, 2) Development of training guides/manuals on women in leadership, mentorship, gender responsive research and male engagement, and 3) Findings of the situational analysis in the six participating universities were disseminated in each of them.
Ms. Mbabazi noted that that the programme still had pending activities such as conducting workshops using the developed training guides/manuals in all participating universities starting with Makerere University.
The Senior Gender Officer at GMD, Mr. Eric Tumwesigye commended women for being supportive and inspirational. “All the ladies I have moved and worked with in my life journey have really been inspirational,” he said.
The workshop was moderated by Mr. Tumwesigye and attended by senior academic and administrative female staff of Makerere University.
General
Minister Janet Museveni Lays Foundation Stone for School of Graduate Studies Building, Commissions the School of Law Building and the renovated Lumumba Hall
The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, has laid the foundation stone for Makerere University’s School of Graduate Studies building, whose construction is now underway.
The Minister laid the foundation stone for the USD8 million project during a brief function held on Wednesday 18th December 2024 at the site opposite Makerere University’s Lumumba Hall. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including the State Minister for Primary Education, Hon. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, University Council Chairperson Mrs. Lorna Magara, and Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe.
Others in attendance included Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration, Professor Henry Alinaitwe; Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Professor Buyinza Mukadasi; University Secretary Mr. Yusuf Kiranda; Dean of Students Winfred Kabumbuli; Guild President Vincent Lubega Nsamba; and the Vice Guild President, Joy Eve Serunjogi among others.
The building is a donation (in-kind) from the late Hasmukh Patel, an industrialist and former Chairman of Tororo Cement who passed away on August 29, 2024, after a short illness. The journey to this befitting donation to Makerere University started in December 2022, when Hasmukh Patel accompanied by some members of his family and friends visited the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe to declare his donation. From December 2022, a number of meetings were convened involving the Minister of Education and Sports, the University leadership, Mr. Hasmukh Patel, his family and Tororo Cement regarding this donation. Living true to his commitment during those meetings, his family and Tororo Cement are implementing his wishes to construct the building, which will house the School of Graduate Studies at Makerere University.
Before laying the foundation stone for the School of Graduate Studies building, Hon. Janet Museveni first unveiled a plaque to officially open the new building for the School of Law. She then headed to Lumumba Hall, where she unveiled another plaque marking the completion of its renovation.
The First Lady, who had initially laid the foundation stone for the School of Law building on May 17, 2022, returned to the main campus to officially open the completed structure. Funded by the Government of Uganda to the tune of UGX 7.3 billion, the new three-storeyed building features lecture rooms, tutorial and seminar rooms, a library, a moot court, offices, a cafeteria, a lactation room, and other teaching and learning facilities. Construction was undertaken by M/S CK Associates, with Symbion serving as a consultant.
The renovation works for Lumumba Hall commenced in June 2023, with the site handed over to the contractor, National Enterprise Corporation (NEC). Funded by the Government of Uganda to the tune of UGX 9 billion, the project involved extensive renovations to restore Lumumba Hall to its original splendor. Lumumba Hall now accommodates about 725 students.
Lumumba Hall was the first hall of residence to undergo renovation, followed by Mary Stuart Hall, which has also been handed over to NEC for refurbishment. These renovations, which began last year, are a result of the Government of Uganda’s efforts to improve the nine (9) halls of residence at the main campus.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Janet Museveni thanked the University Council and management for their dedication to rebuilding the institution. She expressed confidence that the physical restoration efforts would also rebuild the character of young people.
“There is a restoration of dignity that comes to an institution or a community when we choose to rebuild and it is not only physical, there is a spiritual restoration that comes as well. For Nehemiah, it was not just the rebuilding of a physical wall it was the rebuilding of broken lives and a broken covenant. It was the rolling away of the reproach they had suffered as a nation,” she said.
Adding; “I therefore salute the Council and the management of Makerere for your dedication to the rebuilding of this University. I am confident that as you rebuild physically, you are rebuilding the character of our young people. My prayer is that the physical restoration is translating into the spiritual restoration of this great institution.”
The first lady, Hon. Janet Museveni recalled her earlier visit to Makerere University, where she observed the dilapidated state of the halls of residence, which prompted her to initiate the renovation works.
“I remember taking a tour of the halls of residence in this University and Kyambogo University in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic. My heart bled when I saw the state of the halls of residence. Like Nehemiah, I took my burden to the Lord and now see what the Lord has done! Commissioning of the refurbished Lumumba Hall today is a testament to the faithfulness of our God. It is even more gratifying to know that other projects are ongoing and these include: the renovation of Mary Stuart Hall, the construction of the Perimeter Wall, and improvements at the University Hospital, including setting up an operating theatre and ICU.” She said.
Hon. Janet Museveni also expressed gratitude to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, for his leadership, which facilitated the realization of the Tororo Cement project. “This Project would not have been possible without the guidance and leadership of the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Nawangwe, who drew my attention to this offer by Tororo Cement, and requested me to endorse this Project, which will be named after Mr. Hamukh Patel,” she said.
Adding: “I am informed that the construction of this building is estimated to cost 8 Million US dollars and will consist of: lecture and seminar rooms, smart classrooms, laboratories, an innovation space, a conference hall, offices and other facilities. We remain forever grateful for this donation, which will increase access and contribute to improving the quality of postgraduate education.”
Speaking at the event, Vice Chancellor Prof. Nawangwe commended Hon. Janet Museveni for prioritizing the development of Makerere University, which has seen remarkable progress under her leadership. “Hon. Minister, from the time you took over the Office of Minister of Education and Sports and the Higher Education Sector, Makerere University in particular has transformed tremendously. Most notable is the infrastructure revolution at Makerere. On several occasions, you have come to Makerere to lay the foundations for new buildings and to open completed buildings, including our iconic Main Administration Building,” he said.
“When you inspected the halls of residence in 2021, I could see the frustration in your eyes, looking at the dilapidated state the halls were in, especially Lumumba, part of which had been condemned for 2 years,” Prof. Nawangwe said.
“Hon. Minister, I am sure that today, after seeing the glamorous new building for the School of Law and the glittering renovated Lumumba Hall, you are in a completely different mood compared to that visit in 2021. We are as delighted as you must be and your efforts are the reason for our happiness today. Our law students and professors can now comfortably study, work and conduct research in the best building for any school of law that I have seen,” Prof Nawangwe added.
Reflecting on the Graduate School Building, Prof. Nawangwe recalled when he received a proposal from Mr. Hasmukh Patel in 2022 who had initially intended to donate the Main Administration Building, which had been destroyed by fire, but opted to donate School of Graduate Studies Building after finding that the main building reconstruction had already started.
“Hon. Minister, in the morning of 13th December 2022, a miracle happened in my office in the Frank Kalimuzo Building. General David Muhoozi and Major General Apollo Gowa walked into my office with the Late Hasmukh Patel. Gen. Muhoozi introduced Mr. Hasmukh Patel as the Chairman of Tororo Cement, who after learning about the destruction by a fire of our Main Administration Building, expressed the wish to reconstruct that iconic building. On reaching Makerere, Mr. Hasmukh Patel found a contractor already on site, and he told us, that he would all the same donate a building to Makerere University as a gift on our 100th anniversary,” Prof Nawangwe said.
“He said it in such a simple way, that I thought I was dreaming. That evening, at the invitation of Mr. Patel, I visited the building that Mr. Patel had built for a school at Bukoto and I told him that a similar building for Makerere would be just what we needed for our School of Graduate Studies and Research that we needed. The University Council unanimously voted to thank Mr. Patel for his magnanimous offer and, you, Maama Janet graciously endorsed the project. I later visited Mr. Patel in Mombasa and was amazed at the humanitarian work he was doing among the communities. He was such a rare human being,” Professor revealed.
“Today we are here to witness the laying of the foundation stone for this, the largest academic building at Makerere University, and the first such donation I know by an African philanthropist to a university in Africa. The building will have lecture and seminar rooms, a conference hall, innovation spaces, PhD student rooms, computer and other laboratories, a restaurant, staff offices and other facilities. I thank Tororo Cement and the family of the Late Hasmukh Patel for honoring his wish and I wish to assure Mr. Patel, who must be in heaven smiling at us, that we will honor his legacy in this building and that we will put the building to its best use in the service of humanity, which is what Mr. Patel lived for,” Prof Nawangwe added.
On her part, the state Minister for Primary Education, Honorable Joyce Moriku Kaducu acknowledged Hon. Janet Museveni for prioritizing the Education sector in her leadership, which has led to the tremendously development of the sector.
“On behalf of the education sector, we want to thank you as the mother of the nation, indeed you are a big gift and a blessing to the nation and education at large, all this achievement would not have been possible if it was not under your visionary leadership and the guidance you have offered,” Minister Kaducu said.
Hon. Kaducu also hailed Makerere University for playing a very critical role in sensitizing, disseminating knowledge, and raising awareness to the public on the message of the Parish Development Model, which is intended to create wealth among citizens.
“As President Museveni is preaching the message of wealth creation, I want in a special way to thank Makerere University for playing a very critical role in sensitizing, disseminating knowledge, and raising awareness to the public on the message of the Parish Development Model (PDM), and they have a committee that monitors and informs government. They are indeed part of the team promoting wealth creation in this country,” she said.
Mrs. Lorna Magara, the Chairperson of the Makerere University Council said that the construction of the Graduate studies building speaks to the University’s mission of being a research-led institution because it comes as a dedicated building to house the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, which marks the resolution of a critical gap in our institutional framework
“At the heart of Makerere University’s current strategy is the promotion of a research-led institution, with a strong focus on graduate training. The establishment of a dedicated facility for the School of Graduate Studies, which also houses the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, marks the resolution of a critical gap in our institutional framework. The late Patel’s timely and generous contribution will undoubtedly advance graduate training and research for generations to come. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your exceptional support,” she said.
Mr. Manish Varsani who represented the Patel family took the first lady through how Mr. Hasmukh Patel started the idea of donating the building to Makerere. He explained that, Mr. Patel intended to present a gift that was coming from the bottom of his heart, and he teamed up with General Muhoozi who led him to Prof. Nawangwe’s office.
He also recalled when Mr. Patel met H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Museveni in Bukoto where he (Patel) had donated a building to a school and told the President that he would want to donate the same building to Makerere University as a gift to the First Lady Janet Museveni because he loved her so much, and in response, the President said he would take the message back to the First Lady.
The Guild President Lubega Vincent Nsamba asked the First Lady to consider constructing another hall of residence for the female students to solve what he described as an accommodation imbalance.
“Maama Janet Museveni, allow me to report to you that we still have only three halls of residence gazetted for female students against the six halls of residence gazetted for male students. These halls of residences were built back in colonial and independent times when the female students were fewer compared to their male counterparts, and to me Maama, this accommodation imbalance is something that should be addressed,” he stated.
“To me Maama, this speaks to the sense of how there is a dire need to invest in another additional hall of residence for the girl child here at Makerere University, and Maama, without any fear of contradiction, we humbly request that you consider building an additional hall of residence named after you in recognition of the contribution and honor of the service you have made for this country as a mother and as an educator,” he said.
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