Humanities & Social Sciences
School of Social Sciences Honors Three Retired Staff
On September 2, 2024, the School of Social Sciences at Makerere University held a farewell ceremony to honor three retired staff members for their exemplary service. The retirees -Ms. Doreen Anek, the Senior Assistant Registrar; Ms. Kitty Tweyanze, Senior Administrative Secretary; and Mr. Jackson Byamugisha, a security guard—were recognized for their outstanding contributions and unwavering commitment to the university. Each was presented with a plaque as a symbol of appreciation for their years of dedicated service.
The farewell party and handover ceremony took place in the school’s smartroom and was attended by heads of departments, academic and administrative staff, student representatives, and relatives of the retirees. Presiding over the event, Dr. Justus Twesigye, Dean of the School of Social Sciences, emphasized the significance of the ceremony in recognizing the invaluable roles these individuals played.
“Today, we are saying thank you to our distinguished, experienced, long-serving colleagues who have diligently served us. They have touched the lives of many in the school and the university at large. It is important that we stand with them and say, ‘Thank you so much,’” Dr. Twesigye remarked.
Reflecting on a Legacy of Support
Ms. Doreen Anek joined Makerere University in 2000 as a Senior Assistant Registrar, where she managed critical administrative functions, including the organization of university graduations. Ms. Kitty Tweyanze began her career at Makerere in 1978 in the School of Education and later transferred to the School of Social Sciences in 1998. She was praised for her integrity and meticulous work in academic administration. Mr. Jackson Byamugisha, who joined the university in 2001, was recognized not only for his role in security but also for stepping up in various capacities to support the school.
Dr. Twesigye, reflecting on his own journey as Dean, shared his initial apprehensions when he took office two years ago. He recalled, “I was scared and had sleepless nights about how I would organize examinations, manage the school board, and handle cases of malpractice. But the trio reassured me that I would manage, and their reassurance became true.”
The Dean spoke highly of Mr. Byamugisha’s dedication, saying, “Jackson loved his job. He would come, sit around, and ensure that he did his work diligently. We have sometimes called him during unordinary hours on Saturdays and beyond late hours. Jackson served as a custodian when we didn’t have one; he just stepped in and did two jobs. So, he is leaving as a very happy person.”
Dr. Twesigye expressed his admiration for the trio, describing them as irreplaceable servants whom he would have wished to retain if circumstances allowed. “But we can only know that they are not retiring from work; they are retiring to something. They have special callings, some of which they will discover soon. I can tell that they will remain useful and productive,” he said.
He encouraged the retirees to cherish the friendships and memories they created during their time at the university. “These memories and friends should be things that they reflect on whenever they feel they are on their own,” Dr. Twesigye advised.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Twesigye challenged current students and staff to maintain connections with the retired staff. “We should maintain such a culture. These are part of our families forever. We are not going to let it go,” he asserted.
The Dean also congratulated the retirees for leaving with clean records, highlighting the challenges and risks of public service. “Very few people go out of public service with their heads held high. Some people exit public service through backdoors. So, we should celebrate these two ladies and this gentleman for having been here for all this time and leaving without any blemish. It is a huge achievement. Your records are intact. You can always come back anytime, and you don’t have to feel ashamed.”
The Biggest Task Was Handling Graduation, Says Anek
Retired Senior Assistant Registrar Doreen Anek expressed her gratitude to all who attended the celebration marking her retirement, describing it as a day of joy and fulfillment. Reflecting on her career at Makerere University, Anek shared insights into the challenges and accomplishments she experienced, particularly emphasizing the demanding task of managing university graduations.
Anek acknowledged that September 2nd was a special day for her, one that symbolized the end of a significant chapter in her life. She humorously noted that she had always been mentally prepared for celebrations, especially since her young daughter shares her love for festive occasions. “Today is a day of celebration,” Anek said, “and I am grateful to end this tour on a good note.”
Anek highlighted the immense responsibility of organizing graduations as one of the most challenging aspects of her role. She described the process as demanding, involving coordination with various departments and faculty members. “What we have been doing is not an easy task, but by God’s grace, we have always been able to accomplish it,” Anek reflected.
She emphasized the collaborative nature of the work, acknowledging the vital role played by heads of departments and other staff members. “The biggest task we have been handling is graduation—having to chase around staff, heads of departments—but at the end of it, we always come together and say, ‘We have done it.’ It has not been a personal contribution; it is a collective responsibility,” Anek remarked. She expressed her appreciation to the heads of departments, noting, “There is not a single day you would go to their offices and request something, and they don’t act. They would run around to ensure everybody plays their part.”
Anek also took a moment to thank the lecturers, acknowledging that while there were occasional clashes, the focus was always on fulfilling the school’s requirements. “So where I have wronged you, especially on the issues of results, please forgive me,” she said. “But I know it was a responsibility that you had to undertake, and sometimes I harassed you a little, but I am glad you responded.”
During her speech, Anek gave special recognition to her colleague, Ms. Kitty Tweyanze, whom she referred to as her boss and mentor. She recounted how, when she joined the School of Social Sciences in 2011, Ms. Tweyanze was working in the Dean’s office, handling marks on a locally programmed system. “Kitty taught me how that system works,” Anek shared. Their professional relationship quickly evolved into a strong friendship, particularly after Ms. Tweyanze moved to the Faculty office. “We became great friends,” Anek added, reflecting on the close bond they formed over the years.
Anek concluded her remarks by thanking all her colleagues for their support and collaboration, which she credited for the school’s continued success. Her words underscored the importance of teamwork and mutual respect in achieving shared goals, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended the ceremony.
“I Have Not Conflicted Nor Harmed Anybody,” Says Kitty Tweyanze
Ms. Kitty Tweyanze, one of the three retired staff members honored, reflected on her decades-long career during the retirement ceremony.
Having initially joined the university at the Faculty of Education, Kitty shared that she worked there for five years before leaving to pursue other opportunities. However, she was always welcomed back by the university, and in 1999, she returned to serve in the School of Social Sciences. “I was given an opportunity to come back and was posted in Social Sciences,” she recounted. “At that time, the Bachelor of Arts was a large program, with around 100,000 students in the day and 600 in Social Work.”
Kitty, who handled student results in the Dean’s office, emphasized the harmonious working relationships she had maintained throughout her tenure. “Since I joined Social Sciences many years ago, I have not found any problem with staff or students,” she said. “Staff have not had any issues with me, and students have been like colleagues to me. I am so grateful for everyone—the ones I found here and others who joined later.”
She expressed pride in the fact that she had never conflicted with or harmed anyone during her time at the university. “The work starts with me, with raw data, and I have worked closely with registrars and deans. We had to learn from one another, working on semester marks. The system then was not as advanced as today’s, and we would cross-check every complaint. All this made me work closely with deans, registrars, and heads of departments.”
Kitty also appreciated the Dean of the School of Social Sciences, Dr. Justus Twesigye, for recognizing their contributions, describing the recognition as a rare and valuable opportunity. “This could be the beginning of a new culture within the school,” she noted.
As she steps into retirement, Kitty expressed her willingness to continue supporting the school whenever needed. She encouraged colleagues to visit her at her home in Kyebando, a suburb of Kampala, assuring them that her door would always be open.
“I Am Going to Teach the Word of God,” Says Jackson Byamugisha
Jackson Byamugisha, who joined Makerere University in 2001 as a security guard, has officially retired from his position at the School of Social Sciences, where he served faithfully for many years. During the farewell ceremony Byamugisha shared his plans for the future, expressing his gratitude and faith.
“I am not here to hand over anything because I have nothing to hand over. I have just come to say farewell to all of you,” Byamugisha said, addressing his colleagues and friends at the school. “But one beautiful thing is that I am proud of having met all of you, and we shall still meet here and there.”
Byamugisha recounted a significant personal transformation he experienced during his time at the School of Social Sciences. “While I was here, I became saved,” he shared, prompting the audience to break into a joyful rendition of the popular Luganda praise song, “Tukutendereeza Yesu.”
Reflecting on his time at the university, Byamugisha revealed that he discovered what he believes to be his true calling. “While here, I asked God to reveal my calling, and He told me I am an apostle,” Byamugisha said. “When I left Makerere two months ago, I asked God what I should do next. He told me to start teaching the Word of God.”
As a qualified adult educator, Byamugisha acknowledged that his new path in ministry might require additional qualifications. He appealed to his former colleagues for support as he embarks on this new journey. “This ministry work I am going into may require other qualifications, so I ask you all to assist me where needed,” he said.
Byamugisha’s announcement was met with encouragement and well-wishes from those present, who appreciated his dedication both to the university and to his newfound spiritual mission.
Retirees Among the Few to Witness Both Manual and Digital Systems – Dan Kiganda
The incoming School Registrar, Dan Kiganda, praised the retirees as invaluable resources who can continue to provide guidance and counseling even after their official retirement. Speaking at the farewell ceremony, Kiganda emphasized the unique experience and knowledge these retirees possess, having worked through both the manual and digital eras at Makerere University.
Kiganda described Ms. Kitty Tweyanze and Ms. Doreen Anek as “mothers” of the university’s administrative staff, noting that they played a crucial role in mentoring younger colleagues. “When I started working in the Academic Registrar’s office in 2010, Anek was one of the senior staff members guiding us in curriculum management,” Kiganda recalled. “Her level of wisdom and experience is something the school can still borrow from.”
He highlighted the significance of Anek and Tweyanze’s careers, pointing out that they are among the few who have had the opportunity to witness and work with both the university’s manual and digital systems. “Back then, when the university still had some funds, they would send non-teaching staff like Anek to South Africa to train on systems management,” Kiganda explained. “She has seen it all—from the manual systems to the current digital transformation.”
Kiganda expressed gratitude to both Anek and Tweyanze for their dedicated service, acknowledging the invaluable role they played in the Registrar’s department. “They are not so many who have had this dual experience. When I started in 2010, I was fortunate to have mentors like them, who could compare the manual and digital systems and help elevate the level of service we provide to this institution,” he said.
Kiganda concluded by thanking the retirees for their contributions and expressed confidence that their expertise would continue to benefit the university community even after their retirement.
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
Humanities & Social Sciences
Makerere Probes Climate Change–Migration Links: Calls for Protective Policies for Vulnerable Communities
A three-day workshop examining the historical relationship between climate change and migration in Uganda has opened at Makerere University, bringing together academics, government officials, refugee-community representatives and postgraduate students to examine how environmental and climate factors have shaped population movements across the country’s history.
The workshop, running from September 8 to 10, 2026, is hosted by the Department of History, Archaeology and Heritage Studies in the School of Liberal and Performing Arts under the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS).
The event is being held under a joint project between Makerere University and the University of Cambridge on the Histories of Climate and Migration in Uganda.
The project is funded by the Mastercard Foundation’s Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund in partnership with the Cambridge Africa Programme at the University of Cambridge. It has received a grant of £49,800 and seeks to expand knowledge on how environmental and climate factors have influenced Uganda’s long history of migration, both in recent times and in the deeper historical past.
The workshop has attracted officials from government ministries and agencies, principal and co-principal investigators, heads of departments from CHUSS and other colleges, senior academics and professors, organisations working with refugees, refugee-community members serving as change agents and CHUSS graduate students.
Over the three days, participants are expected to consider 32 research papers and three keynote addresses, alongside roundtable discussions and a field visit to the Uganda National Archives.
Keynote speaker Anthony Mugeere calls for climate-migration policies that protect vulnerable communities
Uganda needs to rethink its policies on migration by recognising climate change as a growing factor influencing where, when and why people move, Dr. Anthony Mugeere, a sociologist and climate policy researcher, has said.
Mugeere made the call while delivering a keynote address on Climate and Migration in Uganda .
Mugeere argued that migration should not automatically be interpreted as a crisis or solely as a consequence of climate change because movement has historically been one of the ways communities respond and adapt to changing environmental and economic circumstances.
He challenged researchers to examine whether people who leave their homes because of failed rains, floods, disappearing crops or scarcity of pasture are necessarily being displaced, or whether their movement can also constitute an adaptation strategy.
“Migration is not simply a consequence of climate change,” Mugeere said, arguing that mobility can also be a way through which households respond to climate stress.
Mugeere said climate has always influenced where and how communities live and move, although the environmental dimension was not always explicitly recognised in earlier explanations of migration.
He said traditional explanations of historical migration often focused on wars, tribal conflicts, the search for land, cattle, women, slaves and other social or political factors, without adequately considering environmental pressures.
According to Mugeere, a historical examination of migration reveals that movement was often connected to access to water, pasture, fertile land and other environmental resources.
He cited pastoral communities that moved in search of water and pasture and agricultural communities that moved in response to land and environmental conditions.
Fishing communities, he added, have historically developed around lakes, while trade routes and settlements have also been influenced by patterns of human mobility.
He said factors such as epidemics, famine, environmental changes and the availability of resources have long contributed to population movements.
Mugeere argued that contemporary research therefore needs to connect historical migration patterns with the changing climate rather than treating climate-induced migration as an entirely new phenomenon.
Mugeere cited landslides and flooding in Bududa as examples of how climate and environmental conditions are altering the circumstances under which people move.
He also pointed to rising water levels in Lake Victoria and other water bodies as factors that have displaced communities and changed settlement patterns.
Drought, livestock losses, flooding, landslides and rising water levels, he said, are among the environmental pressures that can force people to leave places they have traditionally occupied.
He warned that some forms of movement may easily be overlooked because they do not fit conventional definitions of migration.
These include temporary movement, rural-to-urban migration and movement by communities seeking alternative livelihoods when agricultural production becomes increasingly difficult.
Mugeere said the increasing movement of Ugandans to cities and abroad, including to the Gulf region, should also be examined against a broader range of economic, social and environmental factors.
The sociologist said migration can provide important benefits to households affected by climate stress.
People who move can diversify household income, reduce exposure to climate-related risks, access employment and send remittances back to their families.
Migration can also help households recover from shocks and strengthen their resilience, particularly when migrants find employment and are able to support relatives who remain behind.
However, Mugeere cautioned that migration can also create serious social and economic challenges.
He identified social disruption, vulnerability, difficulties with integration, exploitation, overcrowding and pressure on host communities among the potential consequences of climate-induced movement.
He particularly highlighted the pressure placed on resources in areas hosting refugees, noting that receiving communities can experience additional demands on land, firewood and other natural resources.
This, he said, creates a need for better planning to ensure that both displaced populations and host communities can access essential services and resources.
Mugeere called for climate change, mitigation and adaptation to be incorporated into government programmes and policies dealing with livelihoods and migration.
He said programmes such as the Parish Development Model would struggle to achieve their intended objectives if they do not take climate-related risks into account.
He also urged policymakers to consider migration as part of Uganda’s adaptation strategies rather than treating every movement as a failure or emergency.
The researcher said Uganda must prepare both people who move and communities that receive them.
He noted that Uganda has a strong record of hosting refugees from neighbouring countries but questioned whether the country is sufficiently prepared to provide services and support to growing populations in receiving communities.
He also called for policies that protect people who may be unable to migrate, including persons with disabilities, women and young people.
According to Mugeere, these groups must be incorporated into planning for climate-related migration because not everyone has the ability or resources to move when environmental conditions deteriorate.
Mugeere further called for comprehensive planning when communities are relocated from areas exposed to disasters.
He cited communities affected by landslides and flooding, arguing that relocation should not simply involve moving people from dangerous locations to safer areas without planning for their long-term livelihoods and social needs.
He said policymakers should consider rehabilitation, awareness, settlement, access to services and livelihood opportunities as part of relocation programmes.
Mugeere argued that the contribution of social scientists extends beyond academic research because disciplines such as sociology, history and social work can provide evidence to guide policy and programme management.
In his concluding message, Mugeere said climate change should be understood as a force that is transforming the geography of opportunity, risk and human mobility.
“Climate change does not simply change Uganda’s climate. It changes the geography of opportunity, risk, and human mobility,” he said.
He urged researchers to adopt a human-centred approach that considers how individuals and communities perceive climate risks and how those perceptions influence decisions to remain, move or adapt.
He also stressed that Uganda’s history demonstrates that mobility is not new and has long been part of how communities respond to livelihood opportunities and changing circumstances.
However, he warned that climate change is intensifying these pressures and will increasingly affect poverty, land, infrastructure, urbanisation and governance.
Mugeere said Uganda’s preparedness for climate-related disasters must therefore be questioned despite the existence of government ministries, budgets, teams and equipment.
He observed that the country often discovers gaps in preparedness only when disasters occur, underscoring the need for proactive planning before climate-related displacement reaches crisis levels.
Historians must trace the roots of climate-related migration
Dr. Charlotte Mafumbo, Head of the Department of History, Archaeology and Heritage Studies, said the workshop provides an opportunity for historians and other scholars to critically examine two interconnected global challenges—climate change and migration—and understand how they have evolved over time.
Mafumbo said the scale of displacement globally makes historical research on migration increasingly important, noting that people have been forced to move for different reasons, including war, ethnicity, political and international complications and environmental pressures.
She referred to estimates that about 250 million people were displaced during and around the period of the Second World War, with some forced into settlements, deported, imprisoned or driven from their homes because of their ethnicity or other circumstances.
She said the world is now witnessing another major displacement challenge associated with climate change, with an estimated 112 million displaced people affected by climate-related pressures.
Mafumbo argued that the current situation requires historians to go back into the past and establish when and how climate-related migration emerged, how it has manifested itself and whether there are similarities or differences between historical and contemporary patterns.
“There is no better time than now for us to reflect on these issues,” Mafumbo said.
She said the workshop should go beyond presentations and academic debate by encouraging participants to establish partnerships that can continue after the event.
Mafumbo encouraged participants to exchange contacts and develop collaborations, particularly because the three-day programme may not provide enough time to exhaust the issues under discussion.
She also said the Department of History, Archaeology and Heritage Studies is committed to ensuring that the research and discussions produce practical outcomes for government and other stakeholders.
According to Mafumbo, the department hopes the workshop will generate key talking points that can be shared with relevant ministries and contribute to the development of policy briefs.
“We do hope that out of the workshop, we shall have some talking points we shall be sharing with the relevant ministries after here,” she said.
She welcomed keynote speakers, officials from the Ministry of Water and Environment and the Office of the Prime Minister, as well as other participants, to the Department of History, Archaeology and Heritage Studies, the School of Liberal and Performing Arts and CHUSS.
Research project links academics with refugee communities
Dr. Pamela Khanakwa, Dean of the School of Liberal and Performing Arts and a Principal Investigator on the project, said the initiative was made possible through the support of Makerere University and Cambridge, with the project housed in the Department of History, Archaeology and Heritage Studies.
She thanked the department and CHUSS leadership, as well as the university’s Directorate of Legal Affairs and the Office of the Vice Chancellor, for their support in making the project possible.
Khanakwa also used her remarks to recognise Professor Asiimwe Godfrey, whom she described as an important figure in her intellectual development dating back to her undergraduate years.
She recounted her longstanding academic relationship with Dr. Samuel Meyerson, the project’s Cambridge-based Principal Investigator, explaining that she first encountered him as one of the students she supervised at Makerere.
She said their relationship subsequently developed from a student-supervisor relationship into an academic collaboration, eventually leading to the current project.
Khanakwa recalled assisting Meyerson with applications for PhD study in the United States, including submitting one recommendation letter at the last minute while travelling through Atlanta.
She said Meyerson later continued his research on Karamoja, including through his master’s research, which she described as an extensive study.
Their collaboration continued when Meyerson participated in a 2022 Humanities International Conference at Makerere University, where he presented research in the same room in which the current workshop is being held.
Khanakwa said Meyerson eventually returned with the idea of developing a collaborative project, choosing to approach Makerere’s Department of History, Archaeology and Heritage Studies to develop the proposal.
“It started like a small conversation, small ideas, but we put our efforts together and we are able to be where we are today,” Khanakwa said.
She credited co-principal investigators Dr. Charlotte Mafumbo and Dr. Edgar Taylor for their contribution to shaping the project, while also praising administrative staff Duncan Muhanguzi and Esther Namitala for handling budgeting, communication and logistical preparations.
Khanakwa said the project is designed to bring together researchers from different disciplines and members of refugee communities in Uganda.
She explained that its focus is not limited to recent climate-related migration but also examines the deeper historical relationship between environmental conditions and migration.
The project is expected to run through March or April next year and contains several components, including the three-day workshop and a seed-funding programme.
Under the seed-funding component, five graduate students have each received £2,000 to conduct empirical research with a historical orientation. Three additional grants have been awarded to researchers from refugee communities.
Khanakwa said the seed funding was intended to expand the range of voices and evidence informing research on climate and migration, while also giving graduate students and refugee researchers an opportunity to contribute directly to knowledge production.
She noted that securing research funding is highly competitive and said the £49,800 grant was an achievement that should be recognised, while clarifying that the entire amount would not be spent on the workshop.
Khanakwa said discussions during the workshop should contribute to intellectual debates while also producing ideas that could have practical value and inform policy.
“We hope that we can be able to come up with very meaningful discussions that can inform not only intellectual debates, but also ideas that can be of great value in practical terms and perhaps also in ways that they can inform policy,” she said.
She urged participants to make full use of the workshop to exchange ideas and develop collaborations that can continue beyond the three-day event.
Refugee voices central to understanding migration history
Dr. Samuel Meyerson, a Research Fellow in History at the University of Cambridge and Principal Investigator of the project, said the objectives of the initiative had already been clearly outlined by the other speakers, allowing him to focus on welcoming participants and acknowledging those who made the workshop possible.
Meyerson, who is a former student of Makerere University’s Department of History, said he was particularly pleased to return to the institution as a researcher and project leader.
He extended a special welcome to participants from Nakivale Refugee Settlement, saying their involvement was important because the project seeks to incorporate perspectives from refugee communities into discussions about migration.
“We very much appreciate you coming all this way to contribute your perspectives to the workshop,” Meyerson said.
Meyerson acknowledged the support of the Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund, managed jointly by the Mastercard Foundation and the University of Cambridge, which is financing the project.
He thanked his fellow Principal Investigator, Dr. Pamela Khanakwa, as well as co-principal investigators Dr. Charlotte Mafumbo and Dr. Edgar Taylor, for helping transform the initial idea for a collaborative project into the workshop.
According to Meyerson, the idea began as a relatively undeveloped concept that he brought to his Makerere colleagues in October last year before the partners worked together to develop it into the current research project.
He also praised the administrative team of Duncan Muhanguzi and Esther Namitala for their work in handling the numerous logistical details required to organise the workshop.
Meyerson further recognised administrative personnel at both Cambridge and Makerere universities whose time and expertise contributed to bringing the event together.
He also highlighted the role of the refugee researchers and Makerere postgraduate students who successfully applied for the project’s seed-funding grants.
Meyerson said members of the selection committee were impressed by the quality of the applications and expected the supported research to generate new evidence and perspectives on climate and migration.
“We, as the members of the selection committee, were deeply impressed by these applications and we all greatly look forward to the insights that your projects will yield,” he said.
The workshop is expected to provide a platform for sustained discussion between academics, policymakers, researchers and communities affected by migration.
Through presentations, keynote addresses, roundtable discussions, seed-funded research and engagement with archival materials at the Uganda National Archives, the organisers hope to deepen understanding of the historical forces behind migration and the role environmental and climate factors have played in shaping population movements in Uganda.
Climate-migration research strengthens Makerere’s global academic partnerships
CHUSS welcomed a new research project examining the historical links between climate change and migration, describing the initiative as an opportunity to strengthen interdisciplinary scholarship and connect academic research with the experiences of refugee communities.
Speaking on behalf of the CHUSS Principal, Associate Professor Eric Awich Ochen said climate change is an issue that increasingly affects everyday life and requires sustained research and collaboration.
Ochen said the Principal was unable to attend the workshop because of other commitments and had sent him to represent her and convey her greetings to participants.
He described CHUSS as the largest college at Makerere University, with more than 225 full-time academic staff and close to 300 staff when support personnel are included.
He said the college makes a significant contribution to the university through its humanities, liberal arts, social sciences, performing arts and other academic programmes.
Ochen defended the importance of the humanities and social sciences in understanding complex social challenges, saying the disciplines are essential to understanding how human beings respond to changes in their environment and society.
He highlighted the College’s Department of Performing Arts and Film and the School of Liberal and Performing Arts, where history and other disciplines contribute to academic and cultural development.
He said Makerere-trained artists and scholars have contributed to Uganda and beyond, demonstrating the wider contribution of humanities and social sciences to society.
“The liberal arts, the humanities and social sciences are very important for us human beings,” Ochen said.
He praised the keynote speaker, Dr. Anthony Mugeere, describing him as a scholar with a distinctive sense of humour and resilience, while also welcoming participants to the workshop.
Ochen said the research project is important because it examines environmental and climate factors that have influenced Uganda’s long history of migration, both in recent times and in the deeper historical past.
He thanked Dr. Pamela Khanakwa and Dr. Samuel Meyerson for developing the project and noted that although the current project is relatively short, the researchers are already exploring ways of expanding it to create further learning around climate and migration.
The project brings together scholars from multiple disciplines as well as members of refugee communities in Uganda.Ochen said the inclusion of refugee communities was particularly significant because it allows research to incorporate experiences and perspectives from people directly affected by migration.
He also welcomed the project’s collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation’s Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund and the Cambridge Africa Programme at the University of Cambridge.
Ochen outlined the longstanding relationship between Makerere University and the Mastercard Foundation, noting that the Foundation has supported several major initiatives at the university.He said one of the major programmes has provided scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds and has increasingly extended opportunities to graduate students.
He noted that members of refugee communities have also benefited from the opportunities created through the partnership.
Ochen also highlighted the African Climate Collaborative, another Mastercard Foundation-supported initiative focused on climate change and advanced academic training.
He said the programme is expected to support the training of up to 200 PhD researchers over a 10-year period through the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
He encouraged possible collaboration between the Histories of Climate and Migration project and other climate-focused initiatives supported by the Foundation.
Ochen said Mastercard Foundation had continued to demonstrate its commitment to supporting African universities and research.
Ochen also traced the long-standing relationship between Makerere University and the University of Cambridge, saying the partnership has involved both institutional cooperation and individual research collaborations.
He cited his own experience at Cambridge, where he spent time at the Centre of African Studies under the Cambridge Africa Programme. He said the experience enabled him and other Makerere academics to establish relationships with researchers at Cambridge and other institutions.
Ochen also mentioned his continued research collaboration with Professor Adam Branch, an academic at Cambridge who has an affiliation with Makerere University.He said the existing relationships provide a foundation for further cooperation between Makerere, Cambridge and other African universities.
Ochen said the climate and migration project demonstrates Makerere University’s position as a leader in interdisciplinary research in the humanities and social sciences. He said the research has the potential to generate knowledge that will be useful not only in Uganda but also to scholars and policymakers across East Africa and internationally.
The project, he noted, brings together Makerere University, the University of Cambridge and the Mastercard Foundation in a collaboration that links academic research with community experiences. He said the project’s focus on climate, migration and history was particularly relevant because environmental change is increasingly affecting communities and patterns of human mobility.
Ochen applauded the project’s seed-funding component, which provides research grants to Makerere postgraduate students and members of refugee communities. Under the programme, five postgraduate students and three members of refugee communities are expected to receive funding to undertake independent, historically oriented research.
He said the initiative would help empower emerging researchers while ensuring that refugee communities participate in knowledge production rather than simply being subjects of research.
“By empowering both Makerere postgraduate students and refugees to conduct independent research and share their ideas, this project bridges the gaps between academic knowledge production and grassroots concerns,” Ochen said.
The funded researchers are expected to conduct their studies between the workshop and February 2027. Ochen said the findings are expected to contribute to a special issue of the Makerere Historical Journal, which he described as an increasingly vibrant platform for historical scholarship. He said publication of the research would provide an opportunity to preserve and share new knowledge emerging from the project while extending the impact of the workshop beyond its three-day programme.
Ochen concluded by thanking the organisers and encouraging continued collaboration among Makerere University, Cambridge, the Mastercard Foundation, researchers and refugee communities. He said partnerships of this nature are important for generating research that is academically rigorous while remaining relevant to communities and policymakers.
By Jane Anyango, Peninah Nalubega and Joseph Buwule
Humanities & Social Sciences
Dr. Olive Lomokol Receives Honorable Mention for the Lynne Rienner Award for Best Dissertation in African Politics, 2026
The Director of Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR) is delighted to announce that MISR Postdoctoral Fellow, Olive Lomokol, has received an Honorable Mention for the prestigious Lynne Rienner Award for Best Dissertation in African Politics, 2026.
Awarded by the African Politics Conference Group (APCG) at the American Political Science Association (APSA), the Lynne Rienner Award is one of the leading international prizes that recognizes outstanding scholarship in African politics. The award carries a prize and honors work that makes a significant contribution to the field. Olive was recognized for her dissertation titled, “Shifting Perspectives on ‘Pastoral’ Violence: The Persistence of the ‘Karamoja Problem’ in Uganda” completed at the Makerere Institute of Social Research, Makerere University, 2026.
Her study offers a critical re-examination of the long-standing construction of the ‘Karamoja Problem’ in Uganda, interrogating how narratives of ‘pastoral’ violence have been produced, sustained, and deployed within colonial and post-colonial statecraft. By shifting perspective from a predominantly security lens to a historical and political one, the dissertation contributes to broader scholarly debates on the state, violence, and marginality in contemporary Africa.
Congratulations to Dr. Lomokol on this remarkable academic achievement and recognition.
-
General6 days agoUndergraduate Admissions: Students allowed to Change Programs/Subjects 2026/27
-
Computing & IS7 days agoProf. Engineer Bainomugisha Takes Over as Principal of CoCIS, Pledges Focus on Excellence, Research and Innovation
-
General2 weeks agoJICA, Makerere University Explore New Frontiers in AI and Research Collaboration
-
General4 days agoProf. Sarah Ssali urges the Makerere University Community to embrace local philanthropy
-
Engineering, Art & Tech7 days agoMakerere & Partners Kick Off FLOWERS Project to Turn Restaurant Waste into a Regenerative Resource