{"id":9930,"date":"2026-09-07T20:00:21","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T17:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuss.mak.ac.ug\/en\/?p=9930"},"modified":"2026-09-07T20:01:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T17:01:16","slug":"the-2026-gerda-henkel-phd-fellows-oriented-three-year-phd-completion-target-emphasised","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chuss.mak.ac.ug\/en\/the-2026-gerda-henkel-phd-fellows-oriented-three-year-phd-completion-target-emphasised\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2026 Gerda Henkel PhD Fellows Oriented: Three -Year PhD Completion Target Emphasised"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) at Makerere University has oriented 10 new Gerda Henkel Foundation fellows, urging them to complete their PhD studies within 36 months and take full advantage of the financial and academic support provided under the fellowship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2026 cohort was oriented on Monday, September 7, 2026, at the CHUSS Smart Room in an event attended by college management, deans, heads of departments and administrative units, graduate coordinators, and students from the 2024 and 2025 cohorts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new fellows, drawn from Uganda and other countries, were encouraged to begin their doctoral work immediately, maintain close contact with their supervisors and meet the academic milestones outlined in the fellowship programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fellows must make the most of prestigious opportunity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CHUSS Gerda Henkel Project Coordinator Dr Levis Mugumya congratulated the 10 fellows, stressing that their selection was highly competitive after more than 200 applications were received for the available places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Project Coorditor, Dr. Levis Mugumya addressing the new cohort during the orientation<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe had about 200 plus applicants, so to get the table of you means a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He urged the fellows not to take the scholarship for granted, but instead work hard to maximise the opportunity and complete their doctoral studies within the agreed timeframe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou shouldn’t take this for granted. We hope you will work hard to ensure that you get the best out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mugumya said the fellowship would provide financial and related support, while the academic and technical aspects of the PhD would remain the responsibility of the respective departments, supervisors and doctoral committees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the fellowship provides for tuition, medical insurance, stipends and other approved forms of financial assistance, including research-related support as fellows progress through the programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mugumya also challenged the new fellows to work towards submitting their theses for examination within 36 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt the end of the 36 months, we require you to submit your thesis for examination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the Gerda Henkel programme would require fellows to complete their research proposals within six months, compared with the university’s general expectation of completion within one year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fellows were also informed that compulsory scholarly writing and philosophy of method courses would begin during the opening weeks of the programme, alongside library training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mugumya further advised fellows to establish contact with their supervisors immediately rather than waiting for formal admission letters, which he said were expected to be available by the end of the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs you start on these courses, make sure you are in touch with your supervisors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three-year completion is achievable<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acting CHUSS Deputy Principal Associate Professor Eric Awich Ochen described the Gerda Henkel fellowship as a prestigious programme that has influenced doctoral training at Makerere University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ochen said the cohort-based approach adopted by the fellowship had provided a model for broader changes in the university’s PhD training system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Deputy Principal, Assoc. Prof. Erich Awich welcoming the students<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis fellowship is a very prestigious fellowship for the university, not just for the quality of students, but for the university.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the university and CHUSS would provide the support necessary for fellows to complete their studies, but warned that students must equally commit themselves to the programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey will support you to the best of their ability, of course, and they also expect you to give your best to the programme so that you can finish.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ochen said completing a PhD within three years was achievable, citing a case of a doctoral student who had completed the process within the period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He challenged the fellows to consider submitting their theses even earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is possible. Actually, the principal would prefer that after two and a half years, you will be able to submit for examination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond academics, Ochen urged the international students to explore Uganda while prioritising their personal safety, physical health and mental wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTake care of your mental health. Take care of your physical health. Socialise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He encouraged the fellows to build friendships, visit different parts of the country and make the most of their time in Uganda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fellows urged to monitor tuition and stipend payments<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CHUSS Bursar Michael Mbaine explained the financial arrangements for the new fellows, saying tuition would be paid annually while stipends would be disbursed quarterly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said fellows should regularly check their student accounts to confirm that tuition payments have been properly reflected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt any point, it is your responsibility to check on the student account to ensure that all tuition fees have been paid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The College Bursar, Mr. Micheal Mbaine giving his remarks<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mbaine also instructed the students to provide correct personal bank account details to the fellowship coordination team to facilitate stipend payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe cannot pay any money that is not under your correct bank account.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said students facing financial or payment-related challenges could seek assistance from the college finance office and the designated support staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Registration is key to student status<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CHUSS College Registrar Abigaba Vincent urged the new fellows to take the registration process seriously, explaining that admission alone does not complete their formal status as university students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said students must first enrol on the university system before proceeding with registration and other processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is the registration that authenticates you to be taken as a student of the university.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abigaba explained that once students are registered, they become eligible to process university identification cards and access other services associated with student status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The College Academic Registrar giving his remarks<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUpon registration, then you can now go ahead and process your identity card.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also warned the fellows against plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct, saying violations could result in cancellation of examinations, suspension or dismissal depending on the severity of the offence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The registrar urged the students to familiarise themselves with the university’s academic and examination policies and to use proper academic writing and referencing practices throughout their doctoral studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also said communication about training, registration and other academic activities would largely be conducted through email and WhatsApp platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senior fellows urged to mentor new cohort<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closing the workshop , the Dean of the School of Liberal and Performing Arts, Dr Pamela Khanakwa, welcomed the new fellows and congratulated them on securing the competitive scholarships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said the selection process was rigorous, with more than 200 applicants competing for only 10 places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Dr. Pamela Khanakwa giving closing remarks during the orientation<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy the time you zero down from over 200 to get to the best 10, it will have taken a lot of time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Khanakwa urged the fellows to take care of their physical and mental wellbeing, saying a stable environment was important for successful doctoral research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGraduate studies need a settled mind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She called on the new fellows to seek assistance whenever they encounter academic, health, accommodation or other challenges instead of waiting until the problems become difficult to manage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you’re experiencing any challenges, please let us know. Don’t wait until things are out of hand before you cry out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Khanakwa also called on students from the 2025 cohort to mentor the incoming fellows and help them navigate challenges they had already experienced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTeam Cohort 25, please hold the hands of the incoming group and support them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She encouraged the new fellows to familiarise themselves with the university’s graduate handbook, academic procedures and their new environment as they begin their doctoral journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
A section of the students in the new cohort during the orientation<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The 2026 Gerda Henkel fellows will now proceed with registration, library training and compulsory academic courses as they embark on their PhD programmes, with the fellowship setting a target of thesis submission within 36 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n