Dear students, colleagues, partners, and visitors,
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the official website of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) at Makerere University. My name is Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala, and I am honoured to serve as the Principal of this vibrant and diverse college that lies at the heart of humanities and social science education and research in Uganda and the region.
CHUSS is one of the largest and most dynamic colleges at Makerere University, with a proud legacy of nurturing critical thought, cultural reflection, and transformative knowledge. We are home to a vibrant academic community of over 400 staff and more than 3,720 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, and PhD degrees.
Our College comprises four Schools, each offering a broad range of academic programmes and research opportunities:
School of Liberal and Performing Arts
School of Languages, Literature and Communication
School of Social Sciences
School of Psychology
Together, these schools house 14 departments and offer over 54 academic programmes spanning undergraduate degrees, postgraduate diplomas, master’s programmes, and doctoral studies. From disciplines such as History, Literature, Music, and Philosophy to Psychology, Sociology, Gender Studies, and Communication, CHUSS provides a space where students and scholars engage with complex global and local issues using critical, creative, and socially engaged lenses.
As Principal, my leadership approach is anchored in openness, collaboration, and inclusivity. I believe in leading with and through people. As I shared during my inaugural address, “The strength of CHUSS is not just in its history or numbers, but in the people—our staff, our students, and our partners.” Together, we are working to expand the research frontier, improve graduate student support and supervision, and increase the visibility of humanities scholarship within and beyond academia.
In recent years, CHUSS has made significant strides:
We have led in PhD and Master’s graduations across the University.
We continue to secure major research grants and partnerships, including with the Mellon Foundation, UN Women, MasterCard Foundation, and others.
We are investing in systems that strengthen graduate progress tracking and support.
Our commitment to public engagement is reflected in initiatives such as cultural festivals, language revitalisation projects, peacebuilding dialogues, and more.
We remain committed to deepening our impact through community engagement, high-quality teaching, and cutting-edge research that addresses the most pressing issues of our time—be it identity, mental health, gender justice, governance, or cultural heritage.
I warmly invite you to explore our website, visit our Schools and departments, and engage with our work. Whether you are a prospective student, a parent, a collaborator, an alumnus, or a curious visitor, you are most welcome to be part of the CHUSS story.
Let us journey together—toward a more thoughtful, informed, and humane world and remember CHUSS is the “Mine of Excellent Minds” as we build for the future
Warm regards,
Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala
Principal, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Makerere University