Dr. Gilbert Gumoshabe is a distinguished academic at Makerere University, serving as the Head of the Department of African Languages within the School of Languages, Literature, and Communication. He earned his PhD in Social Anthropology from Makerere University in 2013, with a thesis titled "A Comparative Study of the Causes of Household Poverty in Bushenyi and Kamuli Districts: An Anthropological Analysis."
Dr. Gumoshabe's research interests are diverse, encompassing culture, poverty, journalism, local languages, and other socio-cultural disciplines. He has a particular passion for teaching qualitative research methods at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
In recognition of his significant contributions to Ugandan linguistics, Dr. Gumoshabe was awarded the Local Uganda Language Dictionary Writers/Publishers Medal during Uganda's 51st Independence Day celebrations. This honor was bestowed for his co-authorship of the first thesaurus of the Runyankore-Rukiga language, "Katondoozi y'Orunyankore–Rukiga," a 22,000-word thesaurus published in collaboration with President Museveni and other scholars.
Under his leadership, the Department of African Languages has expanded its curriculum to include advanced courses in Lusoga and Ateso, aiming to enhance the study and preservation of indigenous Ugandan languages. Additionally, Dr. Gumoshabe has been instrumental in initiatives to promote Kiswahili in Uganda, contributing to research that addresses challenges in popularizing the language and recommending strategies for its integration into the national agenda.
Beyond his academic and research endeavors, Dr. Gumoshabe has demonstrated a commitment to professional development within the university community. He has provided guidance on customer care and professional conduct, emphasizing the importance of time management, confidentiality, and respectful communication among staff. His dedication to service is further evidenced by his role as General Secretary of the Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA), to which he was elected unopposed.
Dr. Gilbert Gumoshabe's multifaceted contributions to academia, language preservation, and university governance underscore his influential role in advancing education and cultural heritage in Uganda.
a) Books
- Museveni Yoweri, Gumoshabe Gilbert, Muranga Manuel and Muhoozi Alice (2013), Katondoozi, A Thesaurus of Runyankore-Rukiga, Fountain Publishers, Kampala.
- Museveni Yoweri, Muranga, Manuel, Gumoshabe, Gilbert, Muhoozi Alice, and Mushengyezi, Aaron, (2009 – now undergoing second edition), Kavunuuzi: A Runyankore-Rukiga/English Dictionary, UNESCO Online Publications.
- Gilbert Gumoshabe, Josephine Ahikire and James Odongo (2024), The Evolution of Campus Jargon over the Years: A Window into Makerere University’s Student Culture, Makerere University Press. (Book chapter).
- Gilbert Gumoshabe and Oswald Ndoleriire, (2020), Verbal Morphology: Tense and Aspect in Runyakitara In Oswald Ndoleriire (ed) Runyakitara Language Studies: A Guide for Advanced Learners and Teachers of Runyakitara, Makerere University Press. (Book chapter).
- Oswald Ndoleriire and Gilbert Gumoshabe, (2020), Phonetics and Phonology of Runyakitara In Oswald Ndoleriire (ed) Runyakitara Language Studies: A Guide for Advanced Learners and Teachers of Runyakitara, Makerere University Press. (Book chapter).
- Gilbert Gumoshabe and Oswald Ndoleriire, (2020), The Orthography of Runyakitara In Oswald Ndoleriire (ed) Runyakitara Language Studies: A Guide for Advanced Learners and Teachers of Runyakitara, Makerere University Press. (Book chapter).
- Gilbert Gumoshabe (2020), Translation Processes and Constraints in Runyakitara In Oswald Ndoleriire (ed) Runyakitara Language Studies: A Guide for Advanced Learners and Teachers of Runyakitara, Makerere University Press. (Book chapter)
- Gumoshabe Gilbert, (2017), Language Situation in Uganda. Is it a case of Balkanization? in Deconstructing the African tower of Babel, Between the Harmonization and Fragmentation of African Languages Orthographies. CASAS, Cape Town. (Book chapter).
- Gumoshabe Gilbert and Tumwine Elly, (2015), The Achievements of the NRM Revolution, New Vision, Kampala.
b) Journal Articles
- Charles Kinyera Okeny, Elizabeth Kyazike & Gilbert Gumoshabe, (2020), Critical analysis of archaeological research trends in Uganda: 1920-2018, African Journal of History and Culture, Vol.12(1), pp. 14-27.
c) Publications Undergoing Printing
- Gilbert Gumoshabe, Shirley Byakutaga & Oswald Ndoleriire (2024), Marriage as a Cultural Institution among the Banyakitara In Ndoleriire and Natukunda (eds) The Cultures of the Banyakitara, Makerere University Press. (Book chapter).
- Gilbert Gumoshabe, Shirley Byakutaaga & Oswald Ndoleriire (2024), Forms of Address, Kinship and Time References In Ndoleriire and Natukunda (eds) The Cultures of the Banyakitara, Makerere University Press. (Book chapter).
- Gilbert Gumoshabe & Oswald Ndoleriire (2024), Death, Burial and Associated Rituals among the Banyakitara In Ndoleriire and Natukunda (eds) The Cultures of the Banyakitara, Makerere University Press. (Book chapter).
- Oswald Ndoleriire & Gilbert Gumoshabe (2024), Kingship among the Banyakitara In Ndoleriire and Natukunda (eds) The Cultures of the Banyakitara, Makerere University Press. (Book chapter).
d) Manuscripts
- Gilbert Gumoshabe & Josephine Ahikire (2024) Tonto – Archiving Memory of a vital socio-cultural Local Brew with a rich Vocabulary facing Extinction Mawazo, Makerere University Press.
- Gumoshabe Gilbert & Mushengyezi Aaron (2024), Processes and Challenges of Compiling an English-Runyankore/Rukiga Dictionary, Makerere University Press.
- Gumoshabe Gilbert; Kashoboorozi Ensya y’Orunyankore-Rukiga (New Runyankore-Rukiga Dictionary).
- Gumoshabe Gilbert; Standard English-Runyankore-Rukiga Dictionary.
