Humanities & Social Sciences
CHUSS Management and Staff trained in Leadership and Office etiquette
Published
5 months agoon
By
Jane Anyango
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) management team—including principals, deans, heads of departments, and administrative support staff—participated in a training retreat which included aspects of leadership and office etiquette. The retreat, held on November 1-2, 2024, at Nican Resort Hotel in Entebbe, was part of the college’s ongoing efforts to foster professional growth and enhance workplace culture.
The training featured sessions on Leadership for Hope led by Ivan Kalema, and Office Etiquette presented by Dr. Gilbert Gumoshabe.
Leadership for Hope with Ivan Kalema
Ivan Kalema is a seasoned trainer who works with boards, organizations, and senior management, offering a transformative program called Leadership for Hope. With a background in engineering and finance, he found his path into corporate governance through the mentorship of a gentleman named Japheth Cuttle, who introduced him to this vital subject.

As a certified trainer for Leadership for Hope, Ivan collaborates with emerging leaders from the UK and has partnered with Marks & Spencer, a global company with operations across various regions, including Africa. His program aims to inspire individuals at all levels, driven by the belief that the principles of leadership are universal. Just as the law of gravity applies to everyone, so too do the principles of leadership resonate, whether he is speaking to professors or schoolchildren. He often shares insights that can help students enhance their academic performance, illustrating that effective leadership principles are accessible to all.
Ivan emphasizes that sustainable change cannot occur without effective leadership. “You cannot create sustainable change or transformation wherever it is without leadership,” he asserts, highlighting the necessity of cultivating leadership in order to effect meaningful change. This is a cornerstone of his message, encouraging participants to envision and create the change they desire, especially when faced with chaos or stagnation.
“A leader is a dealer of hope. In leadership, you must encounter situations of hopelessness. In homes, workplace, you will encounter the wall of hopelessness manifested in different forms no matter where you come from, which association, faith, school you went to”
A common misconception about leadership is that it is merely a position held by those with the highest rank or specific family ties. Ivan challenges this notion, arguing that true leadership is not defined by one’s background but rather by the application of essential leadership principles. He advocates for a mindset transformation, explaining that adopting specific leadership mindsets is crucial for personal and professional growth. He likens these mindsets to railway tracks built in our minds, guiding how we navigate our lives and influence our stories.
“The ship is safest at the shore of the lake, but it is not built for the shores, it is built for the high seas. By the same means a leader is created for crisis. A crisis is what separates boys from men and girls from women. A leader is not meant for good times, but for hard times- It is called a defining moment”
Central to Ivan’s philosophy is the idea of ownership over one’s narrative. He believes that everyone has a unique story, shaped by various experiences and factors, some of which may be beyond their control. “Leadership is getting hold of the pen that is writing your story,” he tells his audience. If individuals do not take charge of their narratives, they risk allowing others to dictate their stories—often with selfish motivations. He echoes Chinua Achebe’s sentiment that “until the lions begin to write their stories, the stories of the hunt will always glorify the hunter,” reminding participants of the importance of sharing their truths.

Referring to story of David and Goliath in the Bible 1samuel 17, Kalema told attendees that the greatest challenge in leadership progress is your immediate territory friends and that every leader should be aware. Success, according to Kalema is 80% showing up. David showed up and overcame Goliath.
As he concluded his session, Kalema laid out the four levels of leadership that guide personal and communal development: leading oneself, leading relationships, leading teams, and leading organizations or communities. Each level builds upon the last, creating a framework for effective leadership that extends beyond individual success to encompass broader societal impact.
Through his Leadership for Hope program, Ivan Kalema empowers individuals to take ownership of their stories and inspire change in their communities. By fostering a culture of leadership rooted in universal principles, he believes that everyone can contribute to a brighter, more hopeful future.
He described a leader as person who has a vision, the ability to influence, a risk taker, problem solver and decision taker. He emphasized the need for all to uphold good leadership- the sacred trust held on behalf of others. He thus defined;
“Leadership as the ability to create a story that affects the thoughts, feelings and actions of others” Kalema challenged staff that no matter where they are born, status, rank,etc they can create a story to transform the world. Kalema refers to Martin Luther King and advises that:
If you cannot be the sun, be a star because it is not by design that we all fail. If you cannot be Vice Chancellor at least be the best in you department. If you cannot be a forest, be a bush so that rats hide there. If you cannot be a highway, be a path so that those looking for a short cut can pass there. If you cannot be a river, atleast be a stream so that a woman who cannot afford national water can get the water in this stream. If you cannot be a fridge, be a pot….
Office Etiquette: A Call for Professionalism and Transformation
Dr. Gilbert Gumoshabe advocated for professional conduct in the workplace and emphasized the importance of office etiquette during his training session aimed at fostering professionalism among employees. He reminded participants that while offices are permanent, those who occupy them are often temporary, underscoring the need for individuals to use their positions to drive societal transformation.

Gumoshabe defined office etiquette as a set of unwritten rules that guide employees in practicing professionalism and politeness, noting that these norms can vary from organization to organization. He explained that respectable office etiquette is crucial for building strong relationships with subordinates, colleagues, and clients, including students and parents, ultimately helping employees advance their careers.
“First impressions matter,” Gumoshabe stated, cautioning that people are often judged more quickly for bad behavior than for good. He outlined several key behaviors essential for maintaining professionalism in the workplace, including effective time management, appropriate dress codes, managing expectations, and being mindful of others.
He encouraged employees to communicate politely and respectfully, reminding them to greet colleagues and respect each other’s workspaces. “Being professional includes maintaining personal boundaries,” he noted, urging attendees to keep personal issues private and to remain focused on their professional responsibilities.
Gumoshabe stressed the significance of punctuality, sharing anecdotes about past mentors known for their reliability. He challenged attendees to consider how often students are left waiting, sometimes for hours, due to poor time management. “Being punctual says a lot about your commitment,” he remarked.
He also advised employees to dress appropriately for their roles, explaining that the impression created in the workplace lasts long after first interactions. “When shopping, consider what you wear; it reflects your professionalism,” he said, encouraging attendees to be intentional about their appearance.
The training emphasized the importance of clear communication regarding job expectations. Gumoshabe encouraged employees to approach their supervisors directly, fostering transparency and minimizing misunderstandings. “Do not let rumors dictate your understanding of your role,” he advised.
Moreover, he urged attendees to avoid gossip and negative talk about colleagues or superiors, as this can create a toxic work environment. Instead, he advocated for maintaining a friendly and respectful demeanor towards all staff members.

Being available and considerate of others in shared workspaces is another crucial aspect of office etiquette highlighted by Gumoshabe. He cautioned against being inconsiderate, such as playing loud music in shared offices or keeping colleagues waiting unnecessarily.
Access to information was also a key topic, with Gumoshabe stressing the importance of confidentiality in the workplace. “Do not share sensitive information outside the office,” he warned, noting that such breaches can lead to serious repercussions.
He concluded his session by highlighting the need for employees to actively engage with colleagues, remember their names, and communicate effectively. “Be a good listener and take the time to understand the issues at hand before responding,” he advised, reinforcing the idea that professionalism in the workplace not only fosters personal success but also contributes to a positive and productive organizational culture.
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Humanities & Social Sciences
Call for Abstracts: International Social Work and Social Development Conference
Published
1 month agoon
March 5, 2025By
Mak Editor
International Social Work and Social Development Conference
Call for Abstracts
Extended Deadline for abstract submission | Conference registration now open!!
Theme: Building Resilient Communities to Promote Equity and Social Inclusion for the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs)
16th to 18th June 2025, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda
Makerere University’s Department of Social Work, in partnership with the East African Social Work Regional Resource Centre (EASWRRC) and the Association of Schools of Social Work in Africa (ASSWA) will host an International Conference on social work and social development from 16th – 18th June 2025 at Makerere University, Kampala. The Conference seeks to galvanise academic knowledge, debate and critical inquiry and engagements on the topical issues of equity, social justice and inclusion within the framework of attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while foregrounding practice knowledge as experienced by development actors across the globe. This conference is organised under the auspices of the NORAD-supported RESILIENT Project, implemented since January 2021 by a consortium comprising Makerere University, the University of Rwanda, the Institute of Social Work, Tanzania and the University of Agder Norway. The project seeks to enhance the participation of the vulnerable and marginalized members of society in the south in the development process itself. For more details on the conference and the ongoing project please visit the following website: https://resilient.uia.no/about-resilient/.
The Conference further seeks to enhance local content and scholarship through the applicability of generated knowledge to addressing local and regional development problems, within the confluence of the greater agenda for social work and social development and its emphasis on social change. This no doubt has ramifications for the application of good practices in social development interventions in other contexts within Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas and contributes to the evolution of global social work/social development practice which promotes contextual specificity and relevance without removing the need for international networking and collaborative engagement.
We are now pleased to invite you to submit abstracts to be presented at the International Social Work and Social Development Conference. We are particularly interested in presentations and contributions that reflect perspectives on social justice, equity, and inclusion within the framework of attaining the SDGs within developing countries.
Conference Justification
The proposed conference is conceptualised within the indigenisation and decolonisation model of social work which seeks to promote social development through culturally and contextually relevant interventions from the grassroots. The major thrust of the indigenisation and decolonisation perspective is based on the notion that the process of social development can only be meaningful and effective if it provides context-specific and tangible responses to the given social problems in a particular local or regional context (whether it be Africa, Asia, Latin America or any other setting). These responses must be related to the socio-cultural realities in that region (Twikirize and Spitzer, 2019[1]). The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (United Nations, 2007[2]) unequivocally recognises that respect for indigenous knowledge, cultures and traditional practices contributes to sustainable and equitable development and proper management of the environment.
The Declaration of the United Nations World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen in 1995 and the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000, and their successor SDGs in 2015[3] all call out the need for role players such as social work and social development practitioners to review their strategies in addressing social injustices, poverty, social exclusion and inequalities. Within this context, social work is well positioned to explore more innovative ways to reach out to the poor and vulnerable and in doing so contribute more efficiently to addressing social exclusion and social inequality and to directly contribute to the realization of several SDGs (3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 13, 16 and 17). Moreover, SDG progress monitoring reports seem to suggest that much work needs to be done to attain these targets by 2030 (Halkos and Gkampura, 2021[4]).
Conference objectives
The conference aims to:
- Bring together social work and social development practitioners, researchers, students, educators and policy makers in order to interact, learn and share each other’ experiences on pertinent social development issues.
- Generate topical resolutions that can be utilised by local and central governments and institutions in the global South and North to further advance the debate/efforts regarding the attainments of SDGs.
Conference Themes
We welcome submissions on any of the following themes, broadly conceived:
- Child Wellbeing and Child Protection
- Youth Participation and Inclusion
- Older Persons, Social Protection and Socio-economic Participation
- North-South and South-South Partnership and Collaborations in Social Development
- Green Social Work and Environment
- University and Community Engagement/ Role of Universities in Community Transformation
- Migration, Refugees and Development
- Civil Society, NGOs, Social Work and Development Practice
- The role of Social Work in Emergencies, Pandemic Crises and Conflict
- Climate change
- Rights Equity and Social Justice
- Technology and social development
- Mental Health
- Creative features, languages literature and social transformation
Conference level
This is an International Conference targeting academics, development practitioners, policy makers, students, researchers and the general public from all continents across the global North and South. We however strongly encourage participants from the global South and the Africa region to submit abstracts and papers for the conference.
Specific instructions to authors:
- The abstract submitted should not be more than 250 words
- Nature of presentation:Poster presentations, oral presentations, panels and workshop formats
- All abstracts should be submitted in Microsoft word format
- The font type should be Times New Roman 12pt, 1.5 spacing
- The presenting author should be presented first and underlined
- Indicate the institutional affiliation and the country
- Indicate the email address of the presenting/corresponding author
- All abstracts should be submitted in English
- Themes of the submission should also be indicated.
- Abstracts can be sent via Email to: resilientconference2025@mak.ac.ug copied to ainembabazi.dorynn@gmail.com or submitted online at https://resilientconference.mak.ac.ug/submit-abstracts
Potential benefits and impacts of the conference
- International networking and benchmarking on social development issues generally
- Opportunity to influence social agendas within the global development landscape and social programming through impacting the regional and international social work associations and the United Nations agencies .
Conference Keynote Speakers
- Prof. Antoinette Lombard, IASSW President and Professor of Social Work at University of Pretoria.
- Prof. Jeannette Bayisenge, former Minister of Gender and Family Protection in Rwanda and Professor of Gender Studies, University of |Rwanda.
- Prof. Ann Christin E. Nilsen, PI of the RESILIENT project and Professor of Sociology at the University of Agder, Norway.
- Dr. Zena Mnasi Mabeyo, Head of the Department of Psychology at the Institute of Social Work, Tanzania.
Registration
Online: https://resilientconference.mak.ac.ug/conference-registration
Or in person: With $100 registration fees for non-Africa-based participants; Students $10 or UGX 30,000; National applicants $30 or UGX 100,000.
For Registration
Extended Deadline for abstract submission: 30th April 2025
Date for confirmation of acceptance of abstracts: Given on a rolling basis effective 15th of March 2025. This will continue up to the 15th of May 2025.
Chair Local Organizing Committee
Prof. Eric Awich Ochen
Tel: +256 772 352 887
Email: eric.ochen@mak.ac.ug
Conference Secretariat
Ms Doreen Ainembabazi
Tel: +256 774 468 902
Email: ainembabazi.dorynn@gmail.com and
Ms Prisciline Aciro
Tel: +256 778 549 669
Email: resilientconference2025@mak.ac.ug
[1] Twikirize, Janestic and Spitzer, Helmut (2019) Social work practice in Africa: indigenous and innovative approaches. Kampala: Fountain Publishers
[2] https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2018/11/UNDRIP_E_web.pdf
[3] See https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
[4] Halkos, George & Gkampoura, Eleni-Christina, 2021. “Where do we stand on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals? An overview on progress,” Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, 70(C), pages 94-122.
Humanities & Social Sciences
Call for abstracts on relationality between the US and Uganda
Published
3 months agoon
January 6, 2025By
Mak Editor
Background
This call for abstracts is under the new U.S. Studies Center in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration supported by the U.S. Mission Uganda. As part of the startup grant for the Center, funds were earmarked for the initiation of the research agenda on the Study of the United States. The research agenda is pitched on how Uganda’s civilizational experience—related to progress in culture, economy, peace, science, and technology; can be strengthened by leveraging fraternal relations between the people of Uganda and the United States. Therefore, the Department of Political Science invites contributions to a special publication on, “Relationality Between Uganda and the US since 1945”.
The sense of “Relationality”
We take “Relationality” to connote encounters between civilizations. It speaks to the debate on how civilizations can transform each other through engagement. Where civilizations are suggestively transformed on account of relationality, the outcome is “relational interdependence”— relating to how the aspects drawn from other civilizations become constants in the national life of a people. Relational interdependence is a debate and it is sufficient to note that its generative power is drawn from “cross-fertilization—relating to enriching the existing ways of knowing and understanding life in general and “sharing”—relating to forms of exchange among people from different civilizations.
We, therefore, invite researchers from the disciplinary boundaries of humanities and social sciences to engage with the notions of “cross-fertilization” and “sharing” to examine how Uganda-United States relations have impacted Uganda’s civilizational experience as reflected in the different domains of (our) Uganda national life, including:
- Peace and Security
- Development/Foreign Assistance
- Public Health
- Education
- Press and media
- Socio-economics
- Political organization
- Arts, Music
- Literature, Language
- Visualization of national history and heritage
The researchers should interrogate the extent to which relations between Uganda and the United States have impacted one of the domains of Uganda’s national life (as listed above) since 1945.
The Plan
- We plan to commission researchers to undertake studies on the domains of Uganda’s national life and how Uganda-US relations have impacted them since 1945. We shall publish an edited book volume with Routledge Publishers as part of the dissemination of the findings.
- We thus ask interested researchers to submit 500-word abstracts proposing a paper contribution to the research agenda. The abstracts should revolve around one of the domains of Uganda’s national life. Researchers should also provide the titles of two recent publications on related topics.
- Selected researchers will receive a research grant of USD 4000, to facilitate data collection and writing.
The Process
A. Abstracts should be submitted by 15th January 2025, to the investigators:
- Dr. Edward S Kaweesi (PI) edward.kaweesi@mak.ac.ug
- Prof. Paul Omach (Co-PI) paul.omach@mak.ac.ug
- Prof. Phillip Kasaija(Co-PI) phillip.kasaija@mak.ac.ug
B. The selection process will be concluded on 20th January 2025, and the results will be communicated on 22nd January 2025
C. The meeting between the selected researchers and the investigators will take place on 30th January 2025.
D. Launch of the research agenda will take place on 21st February 2025.
E. Data Collection will take two months, from 1st March to 1st May, 2025
F. Review meeting, 9th May 2025
G. Writing process to take two months, from 15th May to 15th July
H. Peer Review of the first drafts (August)
I. 15 August, 2025, U.S Studies Center Public Dialogue on “Relationality Between Uganda and the United States since 1945”.
J. Revision of the drafts to take one month (September)
K. Peer review of the second drafts (October)
L. Revision of the drafts to take one month (November)
M. Submission of the final paper, 1 December 2025
N. Editorial Review and Proof Reading (January 2026)
O. Submission to the Publisher (February 2026)
Please direct inquiries to the investigators listed above.
Humanities & Social Sciences
Mak Reviews Bachelor of Chinese and Asian Studies Program to Address Key Gaps
Published
4 months agoon
December 16, 2024By
Jane Anyango
The School of Languages, Literature, and Communication at Makerere University held a stakeholders’ workshop to review the Bachelor of Chinese and Asian Studies (BICAS) program. The workshop, held on 5th December, 2024 aimed at refining the curriculum to meet the evolving academic and professional needs of students and employers.

The Dean of the School, Associate Professor Saudah Namyalo emphasized the significance of engaging stakeholders in the curriculum review process. She noted that feedback from students, employers, and academia is crucial for identifying gaps and improving the program.
“It’s a very important stage in our curriculum review to ensure that we have stakeholders’ workshops. This is an opportunity to hear from potential employers, students, and academic experts. Today, for example, we’ve learned that many of our graduates are not fully grounded in the science of the language, and because of that feedback, we are going to improve on it,” she said.
The Dean highlighted gaps in the current curriculum, such as limited focus on linguistic aspects like syntax, morphology, phonology, and semantics, which are essential for students pursuing advanced degrees. Additionally, the cultural component of Chinese language education was found to be inadequate.
“There’s no way you can teach a language detached from its culture. We are going to introduce courses emphasizing the culture of the Chinese so that the two go hand in hand,” she added.

The review aims to address these gaps by incorporating courses that build linguistic competence and cultural understanding. The program will now cater to both beginners and advanced learners, allowing graduates to pursue academic careers, including master’s and PhD programs, in Chinese linguistics. It will also strengthen the Asian Studies strand, enabling students to specialize in either Chinese language or broader Asian studies.
Dr. Enock Sebuyungo: Aligning Uganda’s Needs with Global Opportunities
Dr. Enock Sebuyungo, Head of the Department of European and Oriental Languages, underlined the growing importance of Chinese proficiency in Uganda. He noted that China’s rise as a global economic superpower has strengthened ties with Uganda in trade, education, and infrastructure development.
“Chinese companies dominate Uganda’s major infrastructure projects, and increasing numbers of Ugandans engage in trade and studies in China. Proficiency in Chinese offers competitive advantages for accessing the Chinese market,” he said.

Despite this, students under previous programs faced challenges achieving desired proficiency levels in international tests like HSK3. Employers expressed dissatisfaction with graduates’ language skills, and scholarships for study in China remained underutilized. The proposed BICAS program aims to bridge these gaps by producing graduates proficient in Chinese, knowledgeable about Asia’s economic and geopolitical landscape, and skilled in business, tourism, and diplomacy.
The BICAS program aligns with Makerere University’s expertise in foreign language instruction and supports Uganda’s strategic need to engage with Asia’s rapid development. It is expected to attract students from Uganda and East Africa, where Chinese is currently offered only as a short course. The program projects an annual revenue increase of UGX 865 million from an estimated 200 enrolled students. Partnerships with Chinese companies will provide scholarships for 10-15 students per intake, ensuring financial sustainability and accessibility.

Uganda joins a growing list of countries incorporating Chinese studies into higher education, with similar programs established in Botswana, Australia, and the United States. Makerere University, which already trains secondary school Chinese teachers, is poised to create a critical mass of experts to sustain Chinese language education and strengthen Uganda-China bilateral relations.
Dr. Sebuyungo expressed gratitude to Associate Professor Helen Nkabala, Principal of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), for her moral and financial support in organizing the workshop. He also thanked the Confucius Institute and Xiangtan University for their invaluable contributions to the program.
“Confucius Institute and Xiangtan University sent us professors who reviewed this course. What we are looking at is a revised course done by professors from Xiangtan University, and we deeply appreciate their support,” he said.

The Bachelor of Chinese and Asian Studies program positions Makerere University as a regional leader in language and cultural studies. It prepares graduates to address gaps in trade, diplomacy, and cultural exchange while enhancing Uganda’s ability to benefit from China’s global influence. The workshop marked a pivotal step in ensuring the program aligns with both local and international demands.

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