Aisha Nakiwala

Dr. Aisha Sembatya Nakiwala is a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Journalism and Communication at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. With a Ph.D. in Communication earned jointly from Makerere University and Örebro University in Sweden (2017), her specialization encompasses strategic, social, health, and behavior change communication .

Dr. Aisha Sembatya Nakiwala is a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Journalism and Communication at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. With a Ph.D. in Communication earned jointly from Makerere University and Örebro University in Sweden (2017), her specialization encompasses strategic, social, health, and behavior change communication .

Her research portfolio is robust, including evaluations of Uganda’s malaria public communication campaigns, gender dynamics in health messaging, COVID-19 response strategies in East Africa, and the professional safety of women journalists. She has published 13 journal articles and book chapters, including recent works on crisis communication, depatriarchalizing science reporting, and fostering health-promoting campuses.

Dr. Nakiwala has held prestigious fellowships and training, including the Salzburg Academy, a postdoctoral fellowship at UConn via the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and visiting research positions in Sweden and the U.S.. She collaborates extensively with international institutions such as SIDA, UNICEF, WHO, Deutsche Welle, and the Rockefeller Foundation.

Under her leadership, the department has launched two new Master’s programs—Strategic & Corporate Communication and Journalism & Multimedia—and is seeking elevation to school status. She also spearheaded partnerships for practical training facilities, including campus FM, and promotes cross-disciplinary initiatives like a one-month health communication course in collaboration with the School of Public Health.

As an engaged scholar and advocate, Dr. Nakiwala has significantly influenced communication education and practice in Uganda and the broader East African region.