{"id":8496,"date":"2026-01-23T08:34:55","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T05:34:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuss.mak.ac.ug\/en\/?p=8496"},"modified":"2026-02-05T14:16:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T11:16:22","slug":"dr-pamela-khanakwa-honored-for-steering-record-18-phd-candidates-for-the-mak-2026-graduation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chuss.mak.ac.ug\/en\/dr-pamela-khanakwa-honored-for-steering-record-18-phd-candidates-for-the-mak-2026-graduation\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Pamela Khanakwa Honored for Steering Record 18 PhD Candidates for the Mak\u00a0 2026 Graduation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Six personally supervised, three completed in record time, as School of Liberal and Performing Arts sets a historic milestone.<\/em> Dr. Pamela Khanakwa got the Award as Best PhD Supervisor and Dean<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DVC (AA) Prof. Sarah Ssali hands over  the award to Dr. Pamela Khanakwa during CHUSS End of year  party on 12th<\/sup> December 2025<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A Historic Academic Milestone for SLPA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS)  recognised the Dean of the School of Liberal and Performing Arts (SLPA), Dr. Pamela Khanakwa, for outstanding academic leadership that has seen the School field 18 PhD candidates for the next 2026 Makerere University Graduation Ceremony scheduled for 24-27th<\/sup> February. Remarkably, six of these doctoral graduates were directly supervised by Dr. Khanakwa, with three completing within the official three-year timeframe, an exceptional achievement in graduate training. The recognition was announced during the CHUSS End-of-Year Get-Together, where staff applauded Dr. Khanakwa\u2019s dedication, humility, and relentless commitment to postgraduate supervision and timely completion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Message to Academic Staff<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Q: What message do you have for your staff following this achievement?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Khanakwa:<\/strong>
First, I celebrate my staff and thank them for their dedication to supervision and student support. Academic work is demanding, and material rewards are often limited, but the true satisfaction comes from seeing students succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I encourage my colleagues to remain committed. Yes, the workload is heavy, but many things are possible with dedication and teamwork. Let us continue working for the good of our students, our School, and Makerere University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leadership Rooted in Humility<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Many colleagues describe you as humble, down to earth, and hardworking. What shapes this character?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Khanakwa:<\/strong>
I think it is largely my upbringing. My mother was a primary school teacher from the 1950s until the mid-1980s. She worked extremely hard to raise us, combining teaching with farming to ensure we had school fees and basic needs. From her, I learned humility, discipline, and the value of hard work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also learned that leadership positions are temporary. You occupy them today, and tomorrow you move on. So humility is essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My graduate training also shaped me significantly. My PhD supervisor emphasized that graduate study is a full-time job and that results matter more than noise. Let people see your work through outcomes, not announcements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supervision as a Two-Way Commitment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Q: How would you describe your supervision style?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Khanakwa:<\/strong>
I read my students\u2019 work thoroughly, word by word. Sometimes my comments are tough, but they are honest. Supervision is a two-way commitment. I give feedback, but students must also respond and remain engaged. When that relationship works, progress happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Balancing Leadership, Scholarship, and Family<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: How do you balance being a Dean, scholar, wife, mother, and daughter?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Khanakwa:<\/strong>
Honestly, I am not sure I balance perfectly. My mother lives far away in Bukwo, so visiting requires careful planning. My children grew up understanding the demands of academic life. I pursued my PhD in the United States and spent long periods away, but we adapted as a family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work has become part of my lifestyle. I use weekends to read dissertations, review manuscripts, and write. Sometimes my children ask if I ever sit without working, but this is the commitment I made. As we often say jokingly, \u201cWe humbly applied for the job, so let us do the job.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scholarship Beyond Supervision<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Khanakwa is also an active scholar and editor. In the past year alone, she has:<\/p>\n\n\n\n