I am honoured to receive Makerere University’s “Best PhD Thesis Award”, 2026, a recognition of the intellectual rigor, sustained labor, and resilience underpinning my research, as well as the critical guidance provided by my supervisors.
The award validates the scholarly significance of research on the representation of women’s agency in selected fiction by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It recognizes the analytical richness of the women writers’ literary works under study, whose representations of women’s agency position these texts as a significant intervention in broader debates on African literature, gender, and power. The award demonstrates that scholarship grounded in African realities can foreground women’s agency, challenge dominant narratives, and potentially reshape discourse and policy.
My success in completing this study, and the subsequent recognition through the “Best PhD Award”, was made possible by interconnected forms of support. Foremost, my faith in God provided the moral resilience, clarity of purpose, and endurance necessary to navigate the intellectual and emotional demands of doctoral research. Equally significant was the rigorous mentorship of my supervisors, Rev. Sr. Prof. Dominica Dipio and Assoc.Prof. Edgar Nabutanyi, whose critical insight, sustained guidance, and intellectual generosity consistently sharpened the direction and quality of this work. Equally instrumental was the CHUSS/ Gerda Henkel Stiftung Foundation, which financed my tuition, supported my research, and enabled engagement with local and international scholarly communities. Similarly, the Erasmus Plus Fellowship that facilitated a six-month residency at the University of Turin, Italy, significantly advanced the development of this study.
Furthermore, I am grateful to the Directorate of Graduate Training for the thoughtful decision to award the Best PhD. I also thank the Principal of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Assoc.Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala, and the Deputy Principal, Assoc.Prof. Eric Awich Ochen, as well as the Dean of the School of Languages, Literature, and Communication, Assoc.Prof. Saudah Namyalo, for their administrative and academic oversight throughout this journey and for recognizing my work through this distinguished selection. In addition, the collegial environment within the Department of Literature at Makerere University, enriched by the support of Dr. Susan Kiguli, Dr. Eve Nabulya, Prof. Abasi Kiyimba, Dr. Isaac Tibasiima, and Dr. Cindy Magara fostered critical engagement, access to scholarly resources, and sustained intellectual stimulation. Finally, the emotional and practical support of my family – particularly my husband Mr. JB Katende; Ssenga Mary Musoke Serufusa; and sons Gabriel Mutyaba Ddembe and Michael Katamba Kitiibwa – provided the stability and motivation necessary to sustain this academic endeavour.
Julian Namiyingo outside the academia and Makerere University
Namiyingo is a wife and a mother. Since 2018, I serve as the Treasurer of Christ the King Catholic Church, Bugujju Parish. I am also a member of Living Hope Family, a group of about ten members dedicated to loving and caring for the elderly in our community. In addition, I belong to Blessed family, a SACCO operating in the parishes of Jinja Kalori and Kawanda Catholic parishes.
Academic Journey
Julian Namiyingo is a scholar of Literature with a strong academic foundation rooted in Uganda’s leading institutions. She holds a PhD in Literature from Makerere University, a Master’s degree in Literature, and a Bachelor of Arts with Education (English Language and Literature in English) from Kyambogo University. Her academic journey began at St. Achileo Naluggi Primary School (PLE), continued through St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, Jinja Kaloli, Kawempe (UCE), and St. Maria Goretti Katende (UACE), reflecting a consistent commitment to academic excellence. With extensive training in literary studies and education, Julian brings a wealth of knowledge and analytical insight to the field of literature and language education.