General
Mak, MSU and MFAI Partner to Addressing Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct (RVSM)
By Rachael P. Kanyi
Makerere University Gender Mainstreaming Directorate (MakGMD), Michigan States University (MSU) and Michigan Fellows Africa Initiative (MFAI), held capacity building trainings for lecturers and students on Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct (RVSM). The two days’ symposium was held from 10th -11th October 2024 at the Makerere University Telepresence Center-Senate Building. Participants across different Colleges including lecturers, senior staff members and students were joined by experts from MSU and civil society organizations at Makerere University.
The keynote speaker who is the Cultural Affairs Officer at the US Mission in Uganda, Amy Petersen commended Mak Gender Mainstreaming Directorate for its great work in fighting against sexual harassment. Amy noted that Mak GMD has on several occasions contacted the U.S Embassy to support the Annual International 16 days of Activism with the goal of enhancing safe learning environments. She mentioned that the embassy has always supported higher institutions leading to a good relationship between the two parties.
She noted that sexual relationship violence is one of the biggest challenges hindering girls from meeting their goals. Amy advocated for more efforts in addressing sexual harassment not only at Makerere University, but also beyond the university pointing to Gender Based Violence (GBV) contribution to the spread of HIV/AIDs in Uganda.
Reiterating the impact of sexual harassment, the Guest of Honor Prof. Sylvia Tamale, a distinguished scholar and human rights defender called upon the Mak GMD to ensure that the sexual harassment policy is implemented. She emphasized the need to revisit the interpretation of the policies against GBV citing instances where the policy may be exploited by perpetrators to commit abuses outside the confines of the university.
“We have the policy and laws on sexual harassment, but we haven’t made them touch the root cause of sexual harassment. Many people haven’t felt its impacts and that’s why most perpetrators tend to intimidate the victims and go away with it. We need to implement every part of this policy and, have these laws enforced,” she said.
Prof. Tamale further disclosed that men too are violated, but the rate of women violation is overwhelming, a sign that women need more protection and education against sexual harassment and Gender Based Violence (GBV). She noted that the root causes of such injustices are anchored in colonial histories, patriarchy and sexuality.
Addressing the participants, the Director Mak Gender Mainstreaming Directorate Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine, pointed out that the Directorate has since 2019 handled many cases. She observed that majority of the cases are not reported because the victims fear to be victimized and stigmatized and some are intimidated by the perpetrators. She called upon all university staff and students who face sexual harassment to reach out and file complaints in those cases.
“Since 2019, the Directorate has registered a number of cases and action has been taken. However, some victims of sexual harassment fear to open up and file cases against the perpetrators for fear of being victimized and being intimidated by the perpetrators. So they keep it to themselves and some give up on the cases, while some victims leave the university and join other universities to continue with their studies,” said Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine.
She revealed that the Directorate’s desires to shift the institution from being a reactive to proactive institution when addressing issues of Gender Based Violence. Dr Mugisha Baine called upon staff and students to join the Directorate to campaign for a zero tolerance to sexual harassment culture in the university.
The Director GMD revealed that the directorate has a lot of programs to implement, but it lacks enough resources such as technical human resource and funds. She appreciated Michigan State University for offering the Directorate an opportunity to learn and engage with initiatives from a different context. She emphasized that the Directorate looks forward to implementing some of the knowledge it has acquired.
The Co- founder of Michigan Fellows Africa Initiative (MFAI) Raymond Musiima noted that partners are purposeful in addressing the persistent challenge of Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct (RVSM) within higher education institutions to enhance campus safety, increase support for RVSM victims and survivors through response to developing RVSM cases.
Musiima who is also a student at Michigan State University thanked the Mak Gender Mainstreaming Directorate for its efforts in fighting against sexual harassment in Makerere University pledging partnership continuity with MFAI.
Addressing the policy and regulations against sexual harassment, the Executive Director of the Prevention, Outreach and Education (POE) Department under the office of Civil Rights at MSU Kelly Schweda explained that sexual harassment conduct has the purpose or effects of unreasonably interfering with individual’s work or academic performance by creating an intimidating, threatening and hostile offensive working or learning environment.
When sharing the global impacts of gender based violence among men and women, Kelly highlighted that 1 out of 3 women worldwide have experienced gender based-violence and 1 of 10 men experience an instance of GBV during their lifetime necessitating a proactive response when handling the cases. She reminded the participants on the need for each and everyone’s intervention, and tipped the participants on the 5 steps of intervention.
Kelly acknowledged the challenge of power and authority where the perpetrator is in high position and takes that as an advantage over the victim and tipped participants on how to handle the situation and the reporting mechanism through use of the 5Ds cautioning them to be mindful of their body language as it speaks volume of what they intended to communicate.
Presenting about the health and unhealthy relationships, the Director for Employee and Graduate Students Programs within the Prevention, Outreach and Education department Mr. Michael Allensworth advised students to avoid toxic relationships. He tipped them on identifying and distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy relationships.
He elaborated on the importance of having boundaries such as time, physical, emotional, conversational, social among other boundaries guiding that its one way to help them keep safe in the university spaces. He stressed to the participants the power of their consent in everything advising them on how to make restrained consents to avoid making wrong decisions.
The workshop was moderated by the Programs Manager Michigan Fellows Africa Initiative Dorcus Asiimwe who reminded the participants that they have a key role to play in ending the sexual violence in their communities.
In a vibrant celebration of youth leadership and African unity, Makerere University hosted the Second Annual Guild Leaders’ Summit, an event that brought together high-profile dignitaries, student leaders, and international partners for a powerful dialogue on the future of the continent. The summit, organized by the Guild Presidents Leadership Academy, served as a rallying point for East Africa’s young leaders to confront Africa’s most urgent challenges—on their own terms and with their own solutions.
A Warm Welcome and Reflections on Makerere’s Legacy
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, welcomed the distinguished guests, who included Former President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo, former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, Justice Simon Byabakama, Hon. Mathew Rukikaire, and European Union Deputy Ambassador Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, among others.
In his address, Prof. Nawangwe reflected on Makerere’s deep historical ties to East Africa’s liberation and development movements. He reminded the audience that Makerere University has been a crucible for the continent’s leadership, stating:
“Jomo Kenyatta was the first person to receive a degree from Makerere when, in 1963, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by then Chancellor Julius Nyerere. All freedom fighters in East Africa studied at Makerere.”
Building on this rich history, Prof. Nawangwe affirmed the university’s current mission to tackle pressing continental issues. “Today,” he said, “Makerere is committed to addressing Africa’s challenges—climate change, disease, poverty, food security, conflict resolution, and economic development. But we cannot do this alone.”
He echoed sentiments later shared by the keynote speaker, stressing that Africa must no longer depend on external interventions:
“Foreign agencies will not solve all Africa’s problems. It is our young people who must step forward and lead the change.”
Uhuru Kenyatta: “You Are the Last Line of Defence”
In a keynote address that resonated deeply with the students and delegates in attendance, Former President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a bold and urgent call to action for Africa’s youth.
“No one is coming to save us,” Kenyatta declared. “You are the last line of defence in the battle to rescue the heart and soul of Africa.”
Positioning today’s youth as the heirs of the continent’s freedom fighters, Kenyatta described the current moment as a new “independence era”—not of political liberation, but of economic and intellectual sovereignty. He urged students to think critically about intra-African trade, which currently accounts for less than 2.5% of global commerce, and to advocate for the removal of internal barriers to trade, innovation, and mobility.
“You are the freedom fighters of this generation,” he said. “Universities must be incubators of change, and students must be the trustees of tomorrow’s Africa.”
Pan-Africanism, Leadership, and Action
Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo encouraged students to take up the mantle of Pan-Africanism with unwavering commitment. She acknowledged that while the rhetoric of African unity is inspiring, real progress demands more than words:
“You must embrace the spirit of Pan-Africanism. But it is easy to say these words—the challenge lies in collective implementation.”
She emphasized the importance of action-oriented leadership and urged the youth to harness their creativity, energy, and education for the benefit of the continent.
European Union’s Message: Leadership with Integrity
Representing Team Europe, the EU Deputy Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, gave a passionate speech on the values of authentic leadership, integrity, and inclusive development. He praised Makerere University as a space where “intellectual ambition meets civic responsibility” and emphasized that leadership is not about prestige, but purpose:
“Be a leader because of what you want to be—not because of what you want to have,” he said.
Citing former Makerere alumni such as Julius Nyerere and Wangari Maathai, Chartrain called on students to model courage, resilience, and humility:
“True leadership emerges in moments of loss—when resilience, not triumph, becomes the measure of one’s character.”
The EU, he said, remains committed to supporting youth through programs like Erasmus+, the EU Youth Sounding Board, and partnerships with organizations like Faraja Africa Foundation and Restless Development. These initiatives empower youth not as symbols, but as active participants in shaping policy and governance.
The Legacy Continues
Throughout the summit, speakers highlighted the importance of legacy and long-term impact. They challenged young leaders to think not just about the present, but about the systems and institutions they will leave behind. In the words of Former President Kenyatta:
“Leadership is not about the next election. It’s about the next generation.”
The summit ended on a high note, with students invigorated and inspired to lead with purpose. As global support grows less predictable and Africa stands at a crossroads, the message from Makerere was clear: the future of the continent is in the hands of its youth. And as the Guild Leaders’ Summit demonstrated, they are ready.
-
General2 weeks agoGovernment Sponsorship Undergraduate Admission Lists 2025/26
-
General1 week agoApplications for Admission to Undergraduate Programmes 2025/26 AY
-
General3 days agoMakerere Alumnus Named 2025–2026 Schwarzman Scholar
-
Research1 week agoARUA Early-Career Research Fellowships 2025
-
General2 days agoAdmission Lists for Diploma Holders under Government Sponsorship for 2025/2026 AY