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
Makerere Screens Tuko Pamoja, Scholars Call for Creative Arts to Be Recognized as Research Output
Kampala, Uganda – May 13, 2025
Makerere University on Tuesday screened Tuko Pamoja, a documentary by Dr. Cindy Magara, as part of a wider push by humanities scholars to have creative works recognized as valid academic research output.
The screening, held at the University Main Hall, drew senior university officials, faculty, students, and representatives from national education bodies. The event highlighted growing calls to integrate creative arts into the university’s research and promotion frameworks.
Speaking on behalf of the Dean of the School of Languages, Literature and Communication, Dr. Levis Mugumya emphasized that creative works such as documentaries should be formally considered during academic staff promotions.
“Creative art should be considered as input that contributes to staff promotion,” Mugumya said. “We need to rethink what counts as academic output.”
Tuko Pamoja—Swahili for We Are One—is a docuseries exploring Uganda’s ethnic diversity and shared historical experiences prior to colonial nation-state formation. Dr. Magara, a literature scholar and filmmaker, was praised for creating a culturally significant work that transcends traditional academic formats.
“This is a great tool for promoting patriotism. It contributes to national development and deepens our understanding of ethnicity and nationhood in Uganda,” Mugumya added.
The event was officiated by Professor Mukadasi Buyinza, who represented Vice Chancellor Barnabas Nawangwe. In his speech, Buyinza reiterated Makerere’s commitment to supporting research in the creative arts.
“We cannot promote research only in the STEM disciplines. Resilient communities need a sense of humanity—and creative arts are central to that,” said Buyinza. “Film-making and research are expensive, and we must find partners to support such initiatives.”
He also called for greater collaboration among faculty and students to promote and disseminate creative research outputs like Tuko Pamoja.
Associate Professor Helen Nkabala, Principal of CHUSS, stressed the importance of storytelling in shaping national consciousness and academic relevance.
“At the College of Humanities, we are telling you that we need to unite to tell our story if we are to make meaning to our communities,” she said. “This film shows how humanities research can be innovative, relevant, and impactful.”
Dr. Magara, a former student in the department, was commended by senior colleagues for bridging academic and artistic expression. The event follows a recent management dialogue on the role of humanities in nation-building.
“We need events like this to remind us who we are,” Buyinza concluded. “Unity is not given—it is built through conscious effort and shared history.”
Dr. Cindy Magara Traces Journey from Classroom to Cinema with Launch of Tuko Pamoja Docuseries
Dr. Cindy Evelyn Magara, a literature scholar and pioneering filmmaker recounted her two-decade journey into film-making at Makerere University during the screening of her latest documentary project, Tuko Pamoja. The event was part of a broader discussion on the role of creative arts in academia.
Dr. Magara shared her evolution from a student in Uganda’s first film studies class in 2005 to becoming one of the country’s most recognized female filmmakers. She credited her start to Professor Sister Dominic Dipio, who introduced artesian cinema at Makerere University.
“If it wasn’t for Sister Dipio, possibly I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be a filmmaker,” Magara said. “From the time I made my first film, I knew that was going to be my career path.”
After graduating in 2006, Magara founded Nyati Motion Pictures, a production company named after her clan totem—Mbogo (buffalo). Her first film, Fate, became a historic milestone as the first Ugandan film screened at Cineplex Cinemas and aired on Africa Magic.
She went on to direct Fair Play, an EU-funded project, and Windows of Hope, before pausing her film career to pursue advanced academic studies. “I had to juggle marriage, motherhood, and a master’s degree,” she explained. With mentorship from Professors Susan Kiguli and Dipio, she transitioned into academia and later earned a PhD.
After completing her studies, Magara returned to filmmaking with Tuko Pamoja (Swahili for We Are One), a 13-part documentary series exploring Uganda’s pre-colonial ethnic unity and shared cultural heritage. The project blends various documentary techniques—observation, exposition, interaction, and reflection.
“The documentary seeks to foster cohesion by examining our interconnected past,” she said. “If we were relating together, then we were one.”
Magara revealed that the idea for the series was inspired by the political intrigue of Game of Thrones, likening Uganda’s 19th-century power dynamics—particularly involving historical figures like Kabalega and Mwanga—to an epic African saga.
Originally intended as a single short film to attract funding for a full-length feature, the project evolved into a full series following extensive community research. Magara interviewed historians, cultural leaders, and opinion makers across Uganda. “This became my classroom,” she noted. “I learned so much—I think the Department of History should give me an honorary PhD.”
Tuko Pamoja was premiered in the very communities where the research was conducted, receiving support from local media houses and sponsors. Magara credited UBC, NBS, and Vision Group for providing extensive free media coverage. “UBC told me, ‘We are sorry you’re doing what we should have done long ago,’” she recalled.
The series, currently accessible via nyatimotionpictures.com and the upcoming Nyatiflix app, has also generated academic interest, prompting calls to recognize such creative works as legitimate research outputs.
“We must think of film not only as an art but as research and business,” Magara emphasized. “Film is the evening class. If we fail to tell our stories, someone else will do it for us.”
Magara expressed gratitude to her mentors, students, sponsors, and family—including her husband, who helped finance the production. Plans are underway for wider distribution on local television stations and digital platforms.
As the event concluded, Magara left a message for aspiring creatives: “Film is powerful. It’s how we entertain, educate, and decolonize the screen.”
“Lighting the Screen: A Story of Art, Identity, and Nation”
“We need to cultivate an audience. We need to teach our people that consuming art is not luxury—it is culture. It is growth.” Prof. Sr. Dipio Dominica
It was a warm afternoon, and the hall was alive with quiet anticipation. At the front sat three figures who had long walked the corridors of Uganda’s most prestigious institution—each one a torchbearer in the creative arts. Professor Abasi Kiyimba, long known for his eloquence and firm grasp of literature, stood to open the conversation. His voice, familiar and thoughtful, welcomed the audience into a dialogue not just about film, but about the soul of a nation.
“In the Department of Literature,” he began, “we’ve always believed in crossing boundaries. We have mothered other departments—film, drama, music. And now, here we are, watching Uganda retell herself through the lens of the camera.”
He turned to Professor Dominica Dipio, a former student of his who had become a pioneer in Ugandan film. With a soft smile, he asked, “At what point did you realize that film had to be added to the menu of your literary journey?”
Professor Dipio’s response was part memory, part reflection. She traced her path back to the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where she had gone to study literature. But to her surprise, there was no African literature course. Instead, she was nudged by wise Jesuit professors toward film—a medium they described as an art form closely tied to literature.
“It made sense,” she said. “Storytelling is at the heart of both. Writing with a camera—this is what film allows us to do. It was as though I had been prepared for this all along.”
When she returned to Uganda, she found a generation of students hungry for a new kind of expression. They weren’t waiting to be told what to do. They were already calling themselves filmmakers.
“I had taught them just the basics,” she chuckled, “and they were already making films and introducing themselves as directors. I thought, ‘Please, let’s be humble.’ But inside, I was proud. They had vision.”
From there, Makerere’s halls began to echo not only with poetry and novels but with the buzz of editing software, the click of cameras, and scripts written in digital ink. Film festivals like Maisha, Amakula, and Zanzibar became essential spaces of collaboration. The National Theatre turned into a second campus.
And sitting beside Dipio was another creative soul with his own journey—Dr. Milton Wabyona, a man who had nearly disappeared from the education system.
“I’m a school dropout,” he confessed quietly. “Few people know that. I was studying physics, economics, and math. But I couldn’t pay fees.”
It was music—specifically a dance troupe—that pulled him back. A woman named Dr. Jessica Kawa recognized his talent and gave him a chance.
“I told her, ‘I don’t care what I study. I just want to go back to school.’ That’s how I entered the creative arts.”
Music, he argued, is more than melody. It teaches collaboration, humanity, and interdependence.
“No matter how gifted I am, I can’t sing harmony alone,” he said. “I need others.”
He quoted Plato, reminding the room that the arts were once central to shaping good citizens and preserving culture. The arts, he said, are not just subjects—they are the soul of education.
As the discussion deepened, Prof. Kiyimba asked a profound question: What is this film we just watched? Is it literature? History? Art?
Professor Dipio leaned back and explained that film, as the “seventh art,” gathers all other forms—literature, painting, music, theatre, sculpture—and weaves them into one cohesive experience. She invoked Aristotle to explain how literature and history are both rooted in reality, but art reshapes that reality, making us see it anew.
“Film is a representation,” she said. “It tells history not by simply stating facts, but by shaping them, giving them voice and character.”
Characters like Queen, Mwanga, Kabelega, and others in the film weren’t just historical names—they had become people with motivations, fears, and contradictions. That was the power of art.
Then Dr. Wabyona took the floor once more.
“Music speaks in ways plain words never can,” he said. “You don’t need to understand Lingala to dance to Congolese music. That’s how powerful rhythm and pitch are.”
But behind the excitement lay a persistent concern—money. Could Ugandan cinema be self-sustaining?
Dipio paused before answering. She didn’t sugarcoat it.
“We are not yet consuming enough art,” she said. “We don’t have the culture of going to the cinema like in Burkina Faso, where the whole country stops for the FESPACO film festival.”
Comedy, she admitted, was one area where Ugandans paid. But serious artistic films struggled.
“We need to cultivate an audience. We need to teach our people that consuming art is not luxury—it is culture. It is growth.”
Wabyona agreed. He shared how many Ugandan productions, like Ndere Troupe, offer free shows, yet the audiences are overwhelmingly foreign.
“When your own people don’t show up,” he said, “you begin to understand the kind of crisis we’re in.”
Then, quietly, the conversation turned to the political dangers of art.
“Have you ever censored yourself?” Kiyimba asked Dipio.
She smiled.
“So far, my films have been harmless. But make no mistake—art is political. Even saying it’s not political is a political act.”
She quoted a colleague: “Art disturbs.” And that’s what makes it powerful—and dangerous.
“Where the state seeks to unify, art challenges. It asks hard questions. It stirs the water.”
And yet, art also carries hope.
As the discussion ended, the audience was left with a simple but profound idea: A society can be judged by the art it consumes. In that sense, the future of Uganda’s creative arts isn’t just about budgets, scripts, or shows—it’s about whether its people choose to see themselves on the screen, in the music, in the dance, in the story.
And that choice, perhaps, is the most powerful act of all.
Jane Anyango is the Principal Communication Officer, CHUSS
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