Makerere University has recorded significant progress in addressing sexual harassment through its Kicking Sexual Harassment Out of Higher Education Institutions (KISH) project. Findings from the project’s endline dissemination, held on December 5, 2024, revealed the positive impact of interventions designed to create a safer academic environment.
Launched in 2020, the KISH project was a collaboration between the School of Women and Gender Studies, the School of Psychology, and the School of Computing and Information Technology at Makerere University. Funded by Uganda’s Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (RIF), the project adopted a whole-university approach to tackle sexual harassment holistically by involving all stakeholders and implementing diverse interventions tailored to different groups.
The project introduced several key components, including KISH Student Clubs for female students, an online sexual harassment course for students and staff, the Men’s Hub targeting male participants, and an innovative online reporting and response system. The initiative aimed to empower students and staff with life skills, increase awareness of sexual harassment policies, and establish accessible channels for reporting and addressing harassment.