General
Mak, HERS-EA Discuss Nurturing More Women Leaders
Professor Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza, Professor Maria Goretti Musoke, Professor Mary Okwakol, Dr. Ruth Muwazi, Professor Grace Bantebya, Ms. Catherine Kanabahita, Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga, among others are some of the notable alumnae of Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) that have gone on to blaze a trail of firsts for women leaders in higher education. Founded in 1972, the Denver, Colorado-based HERS has for the last 50 years been at the forefront of working for inclusive and equitable leadership in higher education by nurturing and empowering women leaders.
Following their own participation in a HERS academy, Dr. Naomi Lumutenga and Prof. Margaret Khaitsa in 2014 co-founded Higher Education Resource Services–East Africa (HERS-EA), as an educational non-profit organization to advance women leadership management in the region. On Tuesday 8th July 2025 the HERS-EA co-founders accompanied a delegation that paid a courtesy call on the Acting (Ag.) Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi ahead of the HERS-EA Eighth Academy due to be hosted by Kabale University from 14th to 18th July 2025.
The delegation included Prof. Marlene Rebori-Professor and Community Development Specialist at the University of Nevada, and Dr. Soraya Beukes-Chairperson of HERS‑South Africa (HERS-SA) and Lecturer in Law, Community Engagement, and Social Justice at Cape Peninsula University of Technology and the Dullah Omar Institute, University of the Western Cape.
In attendance were the Chief Gender Mainstreaming Officer-Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine, Dean of Students-Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli, Ag. Director Graduate Training-Assoc. Prof. Julius Kikooma, Ag. Director Research Innovation and Partnerships-Assoc. Prof. Robert Wamala, Head Advancement Office-Mr. Awel Uwihanganye, and staff from the Vice Chancellor’s Office.
Welcoming the delegation, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi expressed the University Top Management’s appreciation of the work HERS and HERS-EA do to improve the gender terrain, especially with regard to leadership in academics and research. “We are happy that you have sustained this interest in collaborating with us.”
He added that the bringing on board of facilitators from other HERS networks and partner institutions not only enriches the content but also underlines the value that the HERS-EA attaches to mentoring and inspiring more future women leaders in the region.
Making a presentation on behalf of the delegation, the Executive Director-Dr. Naomi Lumutenga sincerely appreciated the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, who during his term as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) offered unwavering support that enabled HERS-EA to get off to a flying start. This support, she added, has continued to-date.
The presentation titled “Gender inequality in leadership in Higher Education: a pervasive problem!” was a summary of a study undertaken in partnership with the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate (GMD) and the Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) across seven regional Universities. Published in 2024, the study observed that only two institutions had female Chancellors/Rectors, while only one had a female DVCAA and two had a female DVCFA.
Furthermore, the study reported some pipeline issues limiting women’s participation in leadership such as the PhD requirement for promotion, few universities running PhD programmes in some countries, further exacerbated by age caps on PhD scholarships. Career and socio-cultural issues identified included; demands on graduate women to get married and have children early, the tough work-life balance of raising children versus pursuing a career, and the subtle yet perverse finding that women were comfortable being led by men, an extrapolation beyond marriage of the need for women to submit to their husbands.
Findings classified under institutional culture and implementation noted that policies targeting recruitment of female graduates were either nonexistent or not institutionalized in regional universities. This was in addition to reported favoring of male leaders and their leadership style, insubordination of female leaders by their male colleagues, the need for women to work extra hard to be accepted as leaders, and the elephant in the room, sexual harassment.
Additional qualitative responses from the seventy-seven respondents identified networking issues such as absent or limited platforms for women to coalesce and encourage each other, as well as limited institutional exchange and learning opportunities. Under measurement and accountability issues, the study observed that policies despite existing in several institutions are not fully implemented, while the 30% gender rule only exists on paper in several countries. Finally, the study observed that the lack of a monitoring and evaluation frameworks for gender policies limits the generation of actionable data on women’s participation in research, funding and research outputs.
As gloomy a picture as the study findings painted, Dr. Lumutenga shared that collaboration with HERS-EA avails opportunities at both individual and institutional levels. At individual level, HERS-EA provides access to; formal and informal mentors at national, South-South and North-South levels, training and career opportunities, negotiated payment terms for webinars, review and tracking of alumni leadership projects with a view of turning them into grants, additional supervisors or advisors for research undertakings, leadership training, and ongoing workshops on grant writing, research and publishing.
At institutional level, HERS-EA facilitates student and faculty exchange between universities and links senior administrators to mentorship opportunities. In addition, HERS-EA fosters access to specialist academic institutions such as the Ethiopian Academy of Science and their regional networks, as well as to a pool of external examiners for PhDs.
Concluding the presentation, Dr. Lumutenga expressed the HERS-EA’s willingness to present study findings to the University Council and/or Senate so as to help the aspirations to empower more women leaders gain more traction. Supplementing the presentation, Prof. Margaret Khaitsa- Professor at Mississippi State University and Chairperson HERS-EA Board said preparations were underway to hold a conference for academy alumni to touch base and network. She added that HERS-EA had also held talks with the Makerere University Press (MakPress) to produce a journal of research work conducted by alumni.
Discussions on the way forward proposed that:
- Whereas their participation has been largely virtual, more female staff from Makerere should be facilitated to participate in HERS-EA academies as residents by incorporating the activity in the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate (GMD)’s annual budget.
- GMD may work with the Directorate of Graduate Training to develop a foundational crosscutting course for PhD students to better appreciate the gaps in women leadership and empowerment beyond the Advanced Gender Research Methodology.
- GMD may work with academic units to conduct more seminars and trainings on gender mainstreaming and leadership especially for entry-level positions with a view of building a critical mass for the next mid to long-term period.
- Makerere’s existing MoUs with partners such as Michigan State University (MSU) should be leveraged to link Emerging/Early-Career researchers/administrators, students and other special categories to professional mentors in relevant disciplines.
- HERS-EA’s milestones and achievements should be disseminated and popularized more so as to appraise future leaders of the limitless possibilities that exist. Existing platforms such as Annual Doctoral Seminars should particularly be taken advantage of.
- More South-South collaborations should be forged and encouraged so as to secure more of Africa’s Intellectual Property on the continent.
- More men should be brought on board as champions of the targets being set to empower more women leaders in society.
- A HERS-EA alumni network should be founded with an annual gathering to share best practices and explore how to further goals of the programme.
The two-week training programme aims to equip government officers with practical skills to assess project viability, manage investment risks and ensure public resources deliver value for money.
The Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE) is strengthening the capacity of government officers to undertake financial appraisal and risk analysis of public investment projects through a two-week training programme designed to improve the quality of project preparation, appraisal and decision-making in Uganda.
The training, which started in Fort Portal on October 19, 2026, brought together participants from various government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), alongside facilitators from Makerere University, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Cambridge Resources International (CRI), the National Planning Authority and the Uganda Development Bank.
Officially opening the training on behalf of the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury, Ms Esther Ayebare, Acting Assistant Commissioner in the Project Analysis and Public Investment Department of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, emphasised the importance of rigorous project appraisal in strengthening Uganda’s public investment management system.
She noted that projects admitted into the public investment plan must be aligned with national priorities, technically sound, financially viable and capable of delivering value for money.
“Government must be able to compare investment alternatives and ensure that only viable projects proceed through the public investment process,” she emphasised.
Ms Ayebare explained that sound appraisal enables government to make informed investment decisions, maximise returns on public expenditure and ensure that limited public resources are directed towards projects with the greatest potential to deliver development outcomes.
Building practical skills for better investment decisions
The training builds on the Public Investment Management course conducted in June, which introduced participants to Uganda’s public investment management framework, including project conceptualisation, stakeholder analysis, project costing, implementation action plans, the Integrated Bank of Projects, and monitoring and evaluation of public investment reforms.
The current programme advances this foundation by equipping participants with technical competencies in financial appraisal, financial modelling and risk analysis.
Participants will explore integrated investment appraisal, alternative investment criteria, cash-flow statements, inflation and exchange-rate movements, asset valuation, project financing, project scale and timing, risk-sharing arrangements and cost-effectiveness analysis.
Through practical exercises and case studies, participants will apply these concepts to investment scenarios in sectors such as roads, health, education and water. The programme will also examine how climate change, social considerations and other risks can be integrated into project preparation and appraisal.
Ms Ayebare encouraged participants to engage actively with the facilitators, question the practical application of the tools and consider how the skills acquired could improve investment decisions within their respective institutions.
She also reminded participants that the programme includes an examination and that certification requires more than attendance. Participants are expected to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and acquire practical skills that they can apply in their work.
Reducing dependence on externally prepared studies
A key objective of the training is to strengthen the ability of government institutions to undertake high-quality project appraisal studies using their own technical teams.
Ms Ayebare observed that many studies submitted to the Development Committee have traditionally been prepared by external consultants, often at considerable cost. Building the capacity of public officers to conduct these studies independently can help institutions strengthen their technical expertise and improve the quality of project proposals presented for consideration.
She urged participants to take full advantage of the facilitators’ expertise and return to their institutions equipped to undertake sound financial appraisals and provide evidence-based advice to decision-makers.
She further emphasised that project approval requires thorough preparation, analysis and justification, rather than simply identifying available funding and proposing a project to utilise it.
Strengthening public investment management through capacity development
In his remarks, Prof. Edward Bbaale, Director of the PIM CoE, thanked the Ministry of Finance for its financial support and for identifying participants from government institutions. He also recognised the contributions of the facilitators and partner institutions in delivering the programme.
Prof. Bbaale noted that the Centre’s work extends beyond training to include research and advisory services aimed at improving public investment management practices. He encouraged continued collaboration with government institutions and other partners to advance research, knowledge sharing and capacity development.
Speaking during the training, Dr John Sseruyange, Manager of the PIM CoE, highlighted the importance of commitment, active participation and punctuality throughout the programme. He encouraged participants to engage with the facilitators, ask questions and apply the knowledge gained to the projects they support.
Dr Sseruyange also acknowledged the Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, for financing the training, and appreciated Cambridge Resources International for its continued support towards improving public investment preparation and analysis in Uganda.
The training reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen Uganda’s public investment management system by equipping public officers with the knowledge and practical competencies needed to assess projects rigorously, identify potential risks and make informed investment decisions.
By developing in-house expertise across government institutions, the programme seeks to contribute to better-prepared projects, more efficient use of public resources and improved delivery of Uganda’s development priorities.
President Yoweri K. Museveni while officiating as Chief Guest at the Julius Nyerere Annual Symposium 2026: Nyerere-Museveni Dialogue at Makerere University called upon the audience not to merely hold Nyerere’s Legacy as a historical footprint but as a masterplan for the future that remains unfinished. Organised by the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC), the symposium was a two day event that started with “ekyooto” on 13th October at the JNLC gardens and climaxed on 14th October in Freedom Square. The second day hinged on the theme: Borrowing from the Past, Building the Future.
In the President’s message delivered by Rt. Hon. Dr. Crispus Walter Kiyonga the Second Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of Makerere University, the president spotlighted, “Mwalimu Nyerere as the greatest African that ever lived in terms of contribution to the African people’s efforts for freedom, human rights, and dignity.”
This greatness, he notes, spilled not just to political ideals but also to economics and security. The President agreed with him and warned that “freedom without economic transformation and economic prosperity, without a robust strategic security, remains incomplete.”
Reaching out to the younger generation of scholars and leaders, the President issued a strong warning to move beyond simply remembering Nyerere to action. He said, “you must carry forward the torch of pan-Africanism, reject sectarianism and tribalism, build our regional markets, and champion the total political integration of our motherland.”
He appreciated Mwalimu for his; unwavering support for the struggle of the East African Federation, courageous backing of the armed anti-colonial struggles in the southern half of Africa, principled and decisive support for the anti-Idi Amin struggle, pro-people and pro-unity policies that kept Tanzania peaceful for decades, and ensuring that Tanzania remained a strategic rear base for the entire African resistance.
As a believer in Nyerere’s ideals, the President urged the audience to honor Mwalimu “not merely through commemorative speeches, but through completing the historical task of uniting, defending, and prospering our motherland,” for the motive is to ensure that the independence wars won by our predecessors were not in vain.
To this note, he reiterated the case for Uganda, saying “we shall never forget his profound contribution” to Africa.
Professor Nyamsenda’s Keynote Unparked Pan-Africanism
During the Nyerere-Museveni Dialogue symposium at Makerere University, Professor Sabatho Nyamsenda, a lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam delivered the Keynote Address titled “The Unfinished African Project: From Liberation Legacies to a New Generation of Transformation” during the symposium”.
He started on a lighter noticing “Nyerere is being Ugandanised.” This he said looking at the annual Public Lectures dedicated to his name and felt like challenging his home institutions to follow suit.
At the calm of the room, he presented a critique of the current state of Pan-Africanism, arguing that it has been grabbed by the ruling elites, a challenge Professor Nyamsenda identifies to have started in the period of 1960 -1980.
He explained that it was around this time period that Pan-Africanism was snatched away from the masses and it became a state project. Currently, he said the ideology exists in two forms: Boardroom and Street Pan-Africanism.
Professor, characterised Boardroom Pan-Africanism as a State Project. He said “boardroom Pan-Africanism sits comfortably with imperialism and elite-centered accumulation.” While Street Pan-Africanism to which Professor advocates, he emphasised that historically, this approach “united the African liberation movement and liberated the African continent from the most barbaric colonial powers.”
As he concluded, Professor Nyamsenda joined Mwalimu and the President of Uganda in urging youth to consider joining and leading the struggle for a better Africa.
Role of JNLC in Realising Nyerere’s Ideas
Professor Saturninus Kasozi Mulindwa, the JNLC Board Chair highlighted the primary objective of the center as “imparting knowledge and sharing experiences from the old generations to the new generations.” Therefore, JNLC contributes to the actualisation of Nyerere’s ideas by focusing on the development of the next generation of African leaders.
To supplement this, Dr. Nansozi K. Mwanga the Executive Director at JNLC said that the center is committed to “nurturing ethical, conscious, and transformative leaders inspired by Mwalimu’s ideas of service, human dignity, self-reliance, and Pan-African solidarity.”
She explained their focus is on several key areas with training as core. They have “trained over 1,500 young people and young leaders from across Uganda.”, and developed leadership programs “grounded in ethical decision-making, civic responsibility, public service, and action.”
In her remarks, it was observed that training alone is not enough; they are also doing mentorship, to provide opportunities for networking and learning from experienced leaders. There are already testimonies when you visit the Centre wall of fame. To which Dr. Nansozi revealed “leadership development matters when learning becomes service and meaningful action.”
The Centre remains proud of those they have touched and are eager to support as many cohorts.
Julius Nyerere Family Pour their Heart out
Mama Maria Nyerere, addressed the Symposium virtually and commended the Centre for keeping Mwalimu’s values alive.
As a memory of her husband, she reminded the audience that his greatest legacy was anchored on the values by which he lived: service, humility, integrity, unity and love for Africa and its people. She also urged the young people to take up leadership responsibilities and lead with humility, integrity and always remember the people they serve.
Mama Nyerere also advised the youth to learn from those who came before them like her husband with courage to build a better Africa for their generation and those who will come after them.
Joining Mama Nyerere, on behalf of the Nyerere family was Ms. Julia Nyerere, a granddaughter, who attended physically and thanked H.E. Kaguta Museveni for supporting the establishment of the Julius Nyerere Centre at Makerere University and also commended the Keynote Speaker Professor Nyamsenda for Critiquing Nyerere’s ideas.
Julia further shared an understanding of her grand-father’s interest in preserving humanity as a moral.
As a family they are happy that his (Nyerere) values and legacies continue to inspire Africa and beyond.
Appreciation for All who Made the Symposium Possible
Addressing the symposium, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, represented by Professor Henry Alinaitwe the Deputy Vice Chancellor in Charge of Finance and Administration expressed the University’s appreciation and commitment.
He thanked “the government of Uganda for the support they are giving to the Julius Nyerere Leadership Center,” and requested Dr. Kiyonga to “convey the message to the fountain of honour for this initiative that Makerere University is happy for, and is going on well.”
To the leadership of the Center, he specifically thanked the Director Dr. Nansozi for her focused leadership. He stated, “I commend my friend, Dr. Nansozi, for the work that you are doing.”
Professor Alinaitwe also emphasized “we” value these symposiums, saying, “as a university, we acknowledge that such activities create great visibility.”
Dr. Kiyonga was also thanked for delivering the President’s message, together with veterans like Professor Kabwegyere, among other distinguished guests and partners that attended.
Professor Tarsis Bazana Kabwegyere as well appreciated all and emphasised the collective duty of the youth in building the next generation.
He advised “your responsibility is to identify and build Africa forward, building on the legacies and foundations of our forefathers,”.
The Professor also argued that “being young on its own is not a virtue. It is what you are when you are young.” He challenges the audience to avoid being ignorant and claim that you are young.
Background of the Nyerere Symposium
The Julius Nyerere Annual Symposium is an intergenerational gathering hosted at Makerere University. For more than six years now, it has been connecting past leadership legacies of Nyerere and other revolutionaries with current regional and continental priorities under the (JNLC) centre.
The Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC) serves as a training ground and research hub designed to mentor the next generation of African leaders. Co-hosted by Makerere University and the Uganda Management Institute (UMI), the Centre bridges the gap between older statesmen and youth by focusing on Pan-African ideals, ethical governance, and social transformation.
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