General
Mak GMD Partners with MSU and MFAI to Build Capacity on Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct
In an effort to tackle the ongoing issues of Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct (RVSM) in higher education, Makerere University‘s Gender Mainstreaming Directorate, in collaboration with Michigan State University (MSU) and the Michigan Fellows Africa Initiative (MFAI) Uganda, organized a symposium aimed at raising awareness among university staff on how to address sexual harassment and related incidents. The workshop, held on September 10, 2024, at the Makerere University Telepresence Center in the Senate Building, focused on enhancing campus safety and providing increased support for RVSM victims and survivors.
Giving the opening remarks, the Director Makerere University Gender Mainstreaming Directorate Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine noted that Makerere University has two major policies related to RVSM; Policy and Regulations Against Sexual Harassment (PRASH) of 2006 as amended in 2018 and the Gender Equality Policy 2009 as amended in 2022. The policies are aimed at coordinating, facilitating and monitoring the integration of Gender dimension into core functions of the university. The Directorate is mandated to supervise the implementation of these policies through policy dissemination across all the university stakeholders, students and staff. This is conducted through orientation of new students, peer-to-peer training, and participating in the national and international campaigns against gender based violence (GBV) such as the ‘Me Too’ Campaign, and the 16 days of Activism against GBV, among others.
She further noted that the Directorate is supported by many University units such as the Directorate of Legal Affairs, the Office of the Vice Chancellor as well as the different college leaders and staff at various levels. These are represented through the Vice Chancellor’s Roster of 100 a committee of members from all colleges and departments of the university. The Members are appointed and trained on how to contribute to ending sexual harassment through various activities such as investigation of complaints and sexual harassment prevention education, in partnership with the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate to fight sexual harassment.
She explained that cases involving staff are forwarded to the Appointments Board, while those involving students to the Students Disciplinary Committee. If a student or staff is not contented with the ruling of either the Appointments Board or Students Disciplinary Committee, he or she has a right to appeal as prescribed in the Policy.
Dr. Mugisha Baine revealed that the Directorate finds challenges with handling cases in the social media era where often details about a given case go public before they reach the Directorate. This negatively affects the investigation process with regard to ensuring confidentiality, which discourages other stakeholders who face sexual harassment to come out and report. Additionally, cases where a survivor or victim is implicated as a bad person often lead to stigmatization. She called upon all stakeholders to make personal commitments to ending sexual harassment in the university and society at large.
Presenting on the RVSM survivor support, prevention and investigation reporting at MSU, the Vice President, Office of the Civil Rights (OCR) Title IX H.E Laura Rugless revealed that her unit is subdivided into different departments. These include; the investigative department, Support and Resolution system and Prevention Education. This facilitates the university’s ability to promote zero tolerance to RVSM including sexual harassment.
She revealed that the Prevention Education method is conducted through; best practice models, community needs, compliance, and empowerment programs that engage people. She added that MSU has a caring for identity system which breaks down stigmas. Through this system, survivors of sexual harassment have people to talk to through a flow of service that includes; survivors, helpers, advocates and therapists.
Laura noted that MSU has a sexual Assault Response Team (SART) which quickly responds to assault cases, thus providing survivor service centers across the university. These include safe spaces, Health Care programs for people with relationship problems among others.
Discussing the different ways MSU handles sexual Harassment, the Executive Director of the Prevention, Outreach and Education Department Ms. Kelly Schweda shared the three stages of; policies and investigations, Prevention Education and survivor support, that serve as a benchmark to address RVSM. MSU conducts sensitization of the RVSM policies to all new students and has a full time strong investigation system which enables fair ruling and also allows external investigators for cases involving high profile figures. She further noted that MSU has a full time prevention and education team making it easy for the sensitization to be conducted with a strong policy against retaliation, and ensures that everyone has access to information about a given case with consent from the people in charge.
Ms. Schweda also noted that MSU offers free training to people who are interested in understanding and navigating the policy of Relation Violence and Sexual Misconduct.
The Chief Guest, Prof. Julius Kikooma, Deputy Director Directorate of Research and Graduate Training at Makerere University appreciated GMD for opening up safe spaces for men to come out and share their challenges and fears on Sexual and Gender Based Violence and other gender-related issues. He noted this has fostered peer learning on ways of ending Sexual Gender Based Violence and Sexual Harassment in University.
Prof. Kikooma admitted that Makerere University still faces challenges on the question of masculinity and requested the Directorate to conduct trainings on the same. He called upon fellow staff members to proactively participate in the sensitization of the university students and staff on the Policy and Regulations against Sexual Harassment.
“There is a big challenge with toxic masculinity, not only within but also outside the university. One of the things that needs to be done is to conduct sessions that entirely interrogate toxic masculinity.” He echoed.
Prof. Kikooma who is also a member of the Makerere University Men’s hub called upon fellow men to learn how to work and support women, noting that everyone is important in the functioning of the university. He decried the act of labelling men as perpetrators all the time, and advocated for both genders work towards creating an environment that is conducive for work and academic excellence.
“When women are not okay, men are also not okay and therefore we need each other. Let’s end the act of blaming men for being the wrong doers all the time and try to adopt measures to create a good working environment for both genders.” Prof. Kikoma said.
The symposium was moderated by the Programs Manager at Michigan Fellows Africa Initiative (MFAI) Ms. Dorcus Asiimwe.
Staff and students at the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) have been sensitized on Makerere University’s Gender Equality Policy (GEP) and the Policy and Regulations Against Sexual Harassment (PRASH), in an engagement aimed at strengthening awareness of staff rights and responsibilities and promoting a safe, inclusive and respectful University environment.
The two-hour sensitization session, held on Friday, 30th October 2026 in the Chemistry Boardroom, was organized by the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate (GMD) and led by its Director, Dr Euzobia Baine.
The engagement provided staff with an opportunity to understand the purpose and scope of the two policies, their role in promoting gender equality and preventing sexual harassment, as well as the mechanisms available for reporting and addressing cases of sexual harassment within the University.
Sensitization on the Gender Equality Policy
The Makerere University Gender Equality Policy, originally adopted in 2009 and amended in 2022, provides a broad institutional framework for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. It seeks to integrate gender considerations into the University’s core functions, including teaching and learning, research and innovation, institutional management, recruitment, staff development and leadership.
The policy also promotes equal opportunity and non-discrimination, equitable participation and progression of students, increased participation of women in leadership and decision-making, and a gender-responsive, inclusive and secure University environment.
The Policy Against Sexual Harassment
Staff were also sensitized on PRASH, which provides the institutional framework for preventing and responding to sexual harassment at Makerere University. The policy establishes mechanisms for sensitization, reporting, investigation and management of complaints, while providing for accountability and protection of members of the University community.
The policy applies to members of the University community, including academic, administrative and support staff, students, contractors, partners and visitors to University premises. Sexual harassment encompasses unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours and other unwanted physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature.
The sensitization highlighted the complementary role of the two policies. While the GEP provides the broader framework for gender equality, equity and inclusion across the University, PRASH specifically addresses sexual harassment and establishes measures for its prevention and response.
Implementation and Institutional Commitment
Mr. Eric Tumwesigye, Principal Gender Officer in Makerere University’s Directorate of Gender Mainstreaming, briefed staff on progress in implementing MakPRASH, sharing experiences and lessons learned, as well as the consequences of persistent sexual harassment.
On behalf of CoNAS, the Deputy Principal, Prof. Godwin Kakuba, welcomed the initiative and called for continued sensitization of staff and students on the policies.
Prof. Kakuba pledged support towards ensuring that the policies are understood and observed, noting that regular awareness and engagement are important in creating a respectful and safe working and learning environment.
The sensitization forms part of the University’s ongoing efforts, through the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate, to strengthen implementation of its gender-related policies and promote a University community where all members can participate, work and learn in an environment free from discrimination, harassment and other forms of gender-based harm.
Staff and students at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) were encouraged to embrace gender-responsive practices as a key step towards building an inclusive, equitable, and productive academic environment.
The call was made during a gender sensitization workshop held on October 28th, 2026, organized by the Directorate of Gender Mainstreaming, which brought together members of the CoVAB community to deepen their understanding of gender issues and their relevance in higher education institutions.
Principal Calls for Active Participation
A section of the participants that included academic and administrative staff listen attentively
Welcoming participants to the workshop, CoVAB Principal Prof. Clovice Kankya thanked the Directorate of Gender Mainstreaming for choosing the College to host the engagement and encouraged staff and students to take advantage of such learning opportunities.
He described the meeting as one of his first major engagements with members of the College community since assuming office and emphasized the importance of continuous learning and participation in institutional programs.
“Opportunities such as these should not be taken for granted. When experts come to share knowledge and experiences, it is important that we make time to attend, listen, and learn,” he said.
Prof. Kankya noted that he was one of the staff training gender in the past and noted that to date, there were many gender experts who together work towards ensuring the student community gains the needed knowledge and skills to mainstream gender concerns in the college activities.
Gender Concerns Everyone
Some energizers to keep the participants fully engaged
Addressing common misconceptions about gender-related discussions, the Principal emphasized that gender is not exclusively a women’s issue but one that concerns all members of society.
“Gender is not all about women. It is about the social roles, responsibilities, and relationships that shape our lives and workplaces. Understanding these issues helps us create a more supportive and inclusive environment for everyone,” he explained.
Drawing from his academic experience, Prof. Kankya noted that gender considerations cut across disciplines and sectors and remain an important component of sustainable development efforts worldwide. He urged participants to appreciate the role of gender mainstreaming in fostering equal opportunities, promoting respectful working relationships, and enhancing institutional effectiveness.
The College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) recently hosted a gender sensitization session aimed at increasing awareness of Makerere University’s gender policies and gathering stakeholder feedback to support their effective implementation.
Organized by the Directorate of Gender Mainstreaming, the engagement brought together staff and students to discuss gender equality, prevention of sexual harassment, gender-responsive planning and budgeting, and the role of university stakeholders in fostering an inclusive academic environment.
Principal Welcomes Gender Mainstreaming Directorate
Prof. Clovice Kankya, Principal CoVAB – made welcome remarks, acknowledging the importance of gender in all areas
The session was officiated by the new CoVAB Principal, who thanked the Directorate for selecting CoVAB to host the engagement and encouraged staff and students to take full advantage of opportunities that contribute to professional and personal growth. While challenging the common misconception that gender discussions are solely women’s affairs, he emphasized the importance of participation in university activities, noting that such engagements provide valuable opportunities to learn, share experiences, and contribute to institutional development. “Gender is not all about women. It is about the social roles and responsibilities that shape our interactions and work environments. Understanding these issues is important for all of us.”, he stated.
Disseminating University Gender Policies
R-L: The Director of the Gender mainstreaming Directorate at Makerere University Dr. Euzobia Baine, and Mr. Eric Tumwesigye facilitated the session.
Facilitators from the Directorate of Gender Mainstreaming led by Dr. Euzobia Baine explained the purpose and scope of Makerere University’s Gender Equality Policy and the Policy and Regulations Against Sexual Harassment. Dr. Baine said the sensitization session aimed to increase awareness and understanding of the University’s gender policies and to obtain feedback from stakeholders to guide their implementation and continuous improvement.
Participants were informed that the policies apply to students, academic staff, administrative staff, and all other individuals who study, work, or undertake activities within university spaces. The Directorate also highlighted its mandate to coordinate policy implementation and provide technical support to colleges, schools, departments, and administrative units across the University.
Promoting Gender Equality across University Functions
The meeting highlighted the broad scope of the Gender Equality Policy, which seeks to integrate gender considerations into teaching, learning, research, outreach, partnerships, and institutional management.
Participants learned that the policy promotes the integration of gender perspectives into curricula and research activities, equitable access, participation, retention, and progression for students and staff, increased participation of women and other underrepresented groups in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields and leadership positions, Gender-responsive community engagement and university partnerships and a university culture founded on respect, inclusion, equity, and equal opportunity. The facilitators emphasized that gender mainstreaming is not a stand-alone activity but a responsibility that should be incorporated into all university programs and operations.
Addressing Sexual Harassment in University Spaces
A key component of the sensitization focused on the University’s Policy and Regulations against Sexual Harassment. Participants were informed that the policy was developed in response to evidence showing that sexual harassment was affecting members of the university community and that stronger preventive and response mechanisms were needed.
It was explained that the policy provides guidance on prevention, reporting, investigation, and management of sexual harassment cases while promoting safe and respectful learning and working environments for all and that the was commited to supporting colleges and administrative units in implementing the policy and creating awareness among staff and students.
Gender and Equity in Planning and Budgeting
The session also highlighted the growing importance of gender and equity considerations in institutional planning and resource allocation. Participants were informed that the Public Finance Management Act requires public institutions to mainstream gender and equity concerns in their plans and budgets. They also learned that the Equal Opportunities Commission assesses institutional performance in implementing gender and equity commitments. The discussion prompted reflection on how colleges can strengthen compliance with these requirements and address existing gaps in implementing gender-responsive activities.
Fostering an Inclusive University Community
The sensitization session provided an opportunity for participants to share experiences, ask questions, and provide feedback on the implementation of the University’s policies. Participants welcomed the engagement, noting that it enhanced their understanding of gender issues and underscored their role in promoting a respectful, inclusive, and supportive environment for both staff and students.
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