The six candidates vying for the position of Principal and Deputy Principal, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) successfully delivered their public presentations on 25th April, 2017. The candidates for the position of Principal are Prof. Edward K. Kirumira, current Principal of CHUSS; Prof. Peter K. Baguma, former Dean, School of Psychology; Assoc. Prof. Patrick Mangeni, Dean School of Liberal and Performing Arts; Assoc. Prof. Godfrey Berinde Asiimwe, Head Department of Development Studies and Assoc. Prof. Umar Ahmed Kasule from the Faculty of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language, Department of Islamic Studies, Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU). Assoc. Prof. Josephine Ahikire, Dean School of Women and Gender Studies is the only candidate vying for the position of Deputy Principal.
Profiles of the candidates for the position of Principal
- Prof. Edward Kirumira
Prof. Edward K. Kirumira is the current Principal of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Makerere University. He was the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences since 2003 for eight years and before that was the Head of Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, for five years. Prof. Edward K. Kirumira trained at Makerere University, Exeter University (UK), the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and the University of Copenhagen Denmark in collaboration with Harvard University USA. Prof. Kirumira specialized in Population and Reproductive Health with extensive research work in HIV/AIDS, emergent diseases and international health issues, family relationships, health seeking behaviour, poverty and rural development studies. He is a Professor of Sociology.
At University level, Prof. Kirumira has served as a member of Makerere University Senate and varied sub-committees of Senate including Quality Assurance, Academic Programmes and Library Committee. He has also served on the University Council and Vice Chancellor and Deputy Vice Chancellors’ Search Committees. He was a member of the Steering Committee for Sida/SAREC Programme Support to Makerere University between October 2002 to October 2010. Between 2005 to August 2006 he served as a member of the Makerere University HIV/AIDS Policy Development Committee. And the Chair, Makerere University NUFU Programmes Assessment Committee from 2006 to date. From July 2009 to September 2010, Prof Kirumira served as Chair, The Makerere-Mazruiana Organising Committee (charged with the establishment of a Chair and Endowment Fund and the East African Ali A. Mazrui Centre for Global Studies).
He is a founder member and chair of the Programme for African New Generation of Academics (PANGeA) network currently involving Makerere University, Stellenbosch University, University of Nairobi, Dar es Salaam University, University of Malawi and University of Botswana. He is a member, Board of Directors (representing Makerere University) on the Makerere University Private Sector Forum. He is also a member, NORHED Institutional Development Committee for the new Norwegian support programme proposal.
At National and International level, Prof. Kirumira is a member of the Partnership Committee for HIV&AIDS, Malaria and TB National Response of the Uganda AIDS Commission; Government Representative, Board of Governors Uganda Management Institute (UMI); and member of the UMI Appointments Board and Quality Assurance Committee. He is the Government Representative, Board of Governors Makerere College School – and Chairman Finance & Planning Committee.
Prof. Kirumira is the Treasurer, Uganda National Academy of Sciences (UNAS), UNAS Fellow and Council member, and Chairperson of the Uganda National Academy of Sciences Forum on Health and Nutrition. He chairs the Resource Mobilization and Planning Committee of Uganda Central Coordinating Mechanism for the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria country programme and has offered technical advisory role to national, regional and international bodies.
In June 2016, the Principal of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof. Edward K. Kirumira was appointed to the panel of experts for the Volkswagen Foundation for their African Livelihood Management Post Doctoral grant programme.
2. Assoc. Prof. Patrick Mangeni
Dr. Mangeni is an Associate Professor of Applied Theater. He holds a Master of Arts in theatre Studies from the University of Leeds, UK and a PhD in Applied Theatre from Griffith University, Australia. He is currently the Dean of the School of Liberal and Peforming Arts. His research and publications have been in a number of areas including; gender and theatre, community theatre or theatre for development addressing issues ranging from health, to human rights and development; education and drama as well as children’s theatre play. He has written more than 5 community theatre plays and has hosted a series of programs as well as written plays for both radio and television. He has directed more than seven theatrical productions in Uganda, Kenya, and Norway.
Dr. Mangeni has served on many boards and committees including: the International Editorial Board, Research in Drama Education (RIDE Journal) Routledge; The Projects Working Committee- International Drama and Educational Association (IDEA); Member, Review Committee for the American History Month essay writing competition Organized by the American centre; Secretary to the Executive Committee of The International Drama/Theatre and Education Association (IDEA); Member National Committee for the Schools’ Music, Dance & drama Festival and the National committee for the 13th World festival of Youth and students held in Pyongyang North Korea, Member Organising Committee for the 1st Edition of the East African Community Arts and Culture Festival and Coordinator Youth Theatre Projects Uganda . He has received a number of fellowships and awards including: the Certificate of recognition for his contribution to the Development of Literature and Writing in Uganda by FEMRITE, Kampala.
3. Prof. Peter K. Baguma
Prof. Peter K. Baguma holds a BSc, MSc, PhD in Occupational Psychology and 16 certificates in Psychology and related fields. In 1982, he started working as a Teaching Assistant in the School of Psychology. He has won 9 competitive research grants, written 24 articles in refereed journals, 2 book reviews, 13 book chapters, published 7 books, participated in at least one international book writing project, written 2 policy briefs, 4 departmental manuscripts, 3 ephemera, and held interviews with the media on the subject of Psychology. He has conducted/convened/organised, or attended at least 90 public events including seminars, workshops, conferences and congresses. He has initiated 17 international research collaboration and linkages and short trainings for Makerere Community and co-produced a tool to assess Corruption and Integrity. Regarding community service, he has won 11 consultancies, led the community in various capacities including holding various posts in the local community and now being the Local Council Chairperson of Makerere Sub County. He has participated in fundraising for Makerere University where about 500 books and journals have been collected. He has supervised over 120 masters’ level students, 5 PhDs. He has evaluated/advised 4 international PhD candidates and has received 3 honours. He is a reviewer for 15 international journals and a member to 19 past/present Senate/college committees. He is an external examiner to 9 local/international universities and member to 12 past and 12 present professional organisations. Regarding academic administration, he served as the first elected Director for the Institute of Psychology in 2003, served as a Head of Department of Organisational and Social Psychology from 2005 -2011. He was Dean School of Psychology between 2011-2015.
Research Profile – Prof. Baguma is known for applying psychology, with inter-related disciplines, to poverty reduction, health, environment, organizations, individuals, families, groups and communities. His research ‘breaks through’ into world-class applied journals: Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, International Journal of Eating Disorders, Psychology Health and Medicine, Mental Health, Religion and Culture, North American Journal of Psychology, Journal of Psychology in Africa, International Bulletin of Political Psychology, Personality and Individual Differences, International Bulletin of Political Psychology, International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, Educational Psychology, Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology and Journal of Personality and Social Psychology Current interests These include: health behaviour, environmental behaviour and attitudes, social science and health, appetitive and addictive behaviour, stress and trauma, leadership, OD, HIV/AIDS, children and adolescent mental health.
4. Assoc. Prof. Godfrey Asiimwe
Dr Godfrey Asiimwe is Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Development Studies, Makerere University. He obtained his PhD from ISS – Erasmus and is a coordinator of the Water is Life project supported by Irish Aid.
5. Assoc. Prof. Umar Ahmed Kasule
Dr Umar Ahmed Kasule is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language, Department of Islamic Studies at the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU).
Profile of candidate for the position of Deputy Principal
- Assoc. Prof. Josephine Ahikire - She is currently the Dean of the School of Women and Gender Studies and Acting Deputy Principal,
College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Dr. Ahikire is an Associate Professor of Gender Studies and the Executive Chair, Centre for Basic Research (CBR), a leading research centre in Kampala which has over the years conducted cutting edge research and nurtured many intellectuals in Uganda and beyond. She has over the years worked in the area of feminist political theory and has extensively published works on women and politics, labour and urban culture. She has led various research teams on gender and land, elections, women and parliamentary performance, gender and the politics of Access and many other areas connected with livelihood and social justice. Her recent publications include; “Localised or Localising Democracy: Gender and the Politics of Decentralisation in Contemporary Uganda”, published by Fountain Publishers Kampala, Uganda and “Gender, Poverty and Social Transformation: Reflections on Fractures and Continuities in Contemporary Uganda”. She is an active member of the Uganda Women’s Movement and is also member of regional bodies such as Council for Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) and African Gender Institute (AGI)University of Cape Town.
Candidate’s pledges
All candidates pledged to deal with issues of sexual harassment, alteration of marks (create a system that avoids manipulation of results), staff and students welfare and academic growth as well as funding for the college.
Assessment Process
The candidates for the position of Principal and Deputy Principal have so far gone through three phases of assessment. The first phase involved comprehensive assessment of the candidate’s credentials followed by oral interviews conducted by the Search Committee. The third phase was the public presentations held on 25th April, 2017. The Search Committee will now submit a report to the University Senate that will subsequently recommend candidates to the University Council on 10th May, 2017 for appointment.
Composition of the Search Committee
The Humanities and Social Sciences Search Committee comprises of five members of the University Council namely; Dr Steven Maloba, Prof. Umar Kakumba, Dr Sarah Ssali, Dr Tanga Odoi and Dr Baine Uzobia.