{"id":7380,"date":"2025-07-31T08:52:45","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T05:52:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuss.mak.ac.ug\/en\/?p=7380"},"modified":"2025-07-31T08:56:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T05:56:00","slug":"u-s-funded-great-lakes-center-at-makerere-holds-second-research-workshop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chuss.mak.ac.ug\/en\/u-s-funded-great-lakes-center-at-makerere-holds-second-research-workshop\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S.-Funded Great Lakes Center at Makerere Holds Second Research Workshop"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

KAMPALA, July 25, 2025<\/strong> \u2014 The Great Lakes Center for the Study of the United States convened its second research review workshop at Makerere University\u2019s School of Social Sciences Smart Room, marking another milestone in the institution\u2019s growing academic engagement on U.S.-Africa relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The workshop brought together research fellows, academic mentors, and U.S. partners to review and discuss findings from ongoing secondary data surveys. It forms part of the Center\u2019s broader goal of producing a scholarly publication on historical and contemporary U.S.-Uganda relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Launched in March 2025 with startup support from the United States Mission in Kampala, the Center aims to strengthen academic research, foster dialogue, and deepen mutual understanding between Ugandans and Americans. The current research initiative, centered around a forthcoming monograph, builds on the Center\u2019s first workshop held in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Sylvester Kaweesi, Principal Investigator of the project, opened the session by thanking participants and emphasizing the importance of the peer-review process in shaping strong academic publications. He acknowledged financial delays within the university system but reassured researchers that the initial funds were nearly ready and timelines could be adjusted accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are largely on track,\u201d said Dr. Kaweesi. \u201cThe real work begins now, and we must stay committed not just to speed, but to quality and inclusion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also revealed ongoing negotiations with three publishers, expressing a preference for a South African partner that had shown flexibility in supporting less-developed manuscripts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Paul Omach, the Center Director and Co-Principal Investigator, praised the researchers for remaining engaged despite academic workloads. He likened the research process to \u201cdigging,\u201d urging participants to sustain momentum through regular discussions and mutual support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWriting alone limits perspective,\u201d Prof. Omach said. \u201cThese conversations help clarify your work and will ultimately strengthen how your ideas are received.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He called for researchers to treat feedback constructively and emphasized that ideas evolve best through open intellectual exchange. Prof. Omach also welcomed U.S. collaborators, praising the role of international partnerships in enriching the project\u2019s scope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Partners Express Confidence and Continue Matchmaking<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Representing the American side, Veronica Ssempebwa commended the alignment between Makerere University and the U.S. Mission. She confirmed ongoing efforts to pair Ugandan researchers with U.S. counterparts and announced that pre-engagement calls had been scheduled to define joint research parameters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re building strong academic partnerships,\u201d she said, while acknowledging the challenge of matching some researchers. She also encouraged the Center to enhance its public visibility and engagement through broader participation and outreach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ssempebwa shared news of a planned cultural session featuring Ugandan researcher Dr. Ssempijja and a Latvian Grammy-winning jazz artist, underscoring the project\u2019s commitment to multidisciplinary collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Kasaija Apuuli, Co-PI and mentor, stressed the importance of moving from data collection to structured academic writing. Encouraging scholars to \u201cat least write a paragraph,\u201d he advised that the next phase would involve closer scrutiny of written drafts to assess progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In closing remarks, Prof. Omach reiterated the need for continuous reading and peer communication. \u201cDon\u2019t isolate yourselves,\u201d he urged. \u201cAcademic work grows in dialogue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Kaweesi wrapped up the workshop by outlining the upcoming steps: submission of full draft papers, pairing researchers with mentors for peer feedback, and organizing public dialogues to share research insights beyond academia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur chapters are beginning to speak to each other,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is the sign of a cohesive and promising project.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Kaweesi also noted that a project extension of two to three months may be sought to accommodate ethical review requirements and additional data collection, but he reaffirmed his confidence in the team\u2019s direction. The date for the next review session will be communicated in consultation with external academic partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Great Lakes Center for the Study of the United States was established within Makerere University\u2019s Department of Political Science with funding from the U.S. Mission in Kampala. The Center promotes interdisciplinary research and aims to strengthen academic and cultural ties between the United States and the Great Lakes region of Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The research<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Nicholas Sempijja presented progress on his work titled,  \u201cJazz Music and the Appropriation of Americanness in the Popular Music Culture in Uganda.\u201d While <\/em>Ms. Itah Patience Mbethki\u2019s presentation explored the Fulbright Scholarship through three interconnected lenses: education, culture, and relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Charlotte Mafumbo<\/strong> provided a brief recap of her team’s previous presentation and introduced the current focus: A relational analysis of Uganda\u2013USA counterterrorism cooperation<\/strong> since 1945 while  Dr. Bernard Luwerekera presented on Promoting Peace and Friendship: The US-Uganda  Relations Through the Lens of the Peace Corps Program. Mr. Lumumba Bwire research work is entitled, \u201c<\/a>The Politics of Democracy: The United States\u2019 Contribution to Democarcy in Uganda \u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n