School of Social Sciences - Makerere University

Sociology Head Handover Report

ABRIDGED HEADSHIP HANDOVER REPORT FOR DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY

By Dr. Peter R. Atekyereza (Associate Professor)
Outgoing Head
February 2010

Introduction

I took over as Acting Head of Department of Sociology in September 2002 when Dr. Edward Kirumira, the Head then, was elected Dean of the School of social sciences. I was in acting capacity till September 2005 when I was officially appointed substantive Head of Department of Sociology for a contract of 4 years. This contract expired on 3rd October 2009 but was requested to stay in the Acting capacity until the new Head of Department was formally appointed. In total I have in total served 7 years and 4½ months.

During the time I have been the Head, the Department has continued to grow in strength academically in terms of teaching and learning, staff training, research projects and collaborations within and outside the country. This report explains each of these items.

At this moment, I wish to register my appreciation first to the members of the Department of Sociology – both support and academic- who have my headship a worthwhile experience.

Staffing

In order to understand the Departmental Establishment (the established, filled and vacant positions, Table 1 is useful.

Table 1: Staff Establishment between 2002 and Today

Position	Establishment		Filled		Vacant
Position	2002	Current	2002	Current	2002	Current
Professor	3	3	0	2	3	1
Associate Professor	4	4	1	1	3	3
Senior Lecturer	6	7	4	5	2	2
Lecturer	9	9	10	6	-1	3
Assistant Lecturer	2	4	3	5	-1	-1
Teaching Assistant	2	2	2	2	0	0

*Sub-total*	26	29	20	21	06	09
*Support Staff*
Personal Secretary			1	0
Copy Typist			1	2
Messenger/Cleaner			1	1
Total
FB Teaching Assistant*	0	7	0	5	0	0

As I leave office, I note that whereas the number of students has continued to increase, the staffing has not correspondingly increased. This has resulted in the recommended lecturer: student ratio of 1:20 very elusive. However, as I leave office the staffing is much stronger than I found it. During the time I have been Head of Department, the following staff developments or improvements for staff on establishment have taken place.

There were 4 new appointments:

Dr. Stella Neema was appointed Lecturer in 2004
Mr. Eria Olowo Onyango was appointed Assistant Lecturer in October 2004.
Mr. Chris Columbus Opesen was appointed Teaching Assistant in 2009
Mr. Gordon Ainebyona appointed Teaching Assistant in 2009

There were 11 Promotions:

The following were promoted to full professorship in the Department of Sociology

Dr. Charles Rwabulwali (January 2010)
Dr. Edward Kirumira (April 2007)

The following were promoted to Associate Professorship:

Dr. Peter Atekyereza (December 2009)
Dr. Edward K. Kirumira (August 2003)

The following were promoted to Senior Lecturer

Dr. Robert Kabumbuli (in July 2009)
Dr. Andrew Ellias State (in September 2008)
Dr. Mathias Ssamula (in September 2008)
Dr. Stella Neema (in July 2007)
Dr. Peter Atekyereza (in May 2004)

Dr. Doris Kakuru was promoted to Lecturer in July 2007.
The following were promoted to Assistant Lecturer

Mr. Anthony Mugeere (2007)
Mr. Innocent Royal Kamya (2007)

There were 4 confirmations into University Service

Dr. Stella Neema
Dr. Doris Kakuru
Mr. Dauda Waiswa
Mr. Fred Bateganya

There was one transfer of Mss Sarah Kaweesa (a personal secretary) out of Sociology in 2005 and replaced by Ms Sarah Wako Nassuna (a copy typist)
There were two retirements and Resignations: Dr. Rebecca M. Nyinyintono and Dr. Frank K. Mbaaga retired when they reached the age of 60 years. Dr. Nyonyintono was retained as a Part-time Lecturer but she resigned this position in 2008.
Deaths: The Department lost one member of staff during my time as Head. Mr. Gabriel Jagwe-Wadda died in September 2007 at the rank of Lecturer.
Faculty and Department-based staff: Due to 5 of lecturers that are away on PhD study leaves, the following persons are based at the Faculty filling in for staff on study leave.

Mr. Herbert Arinaitwe
Mr. Nicholas Mugabi
Ms. Rita Nakanjako
Ms Constance Mudondo
Ms. Susan Gamwino

Staff Development

During my term of headship, human resource capacity of the Department has been strengthened. Four (4) staff completed their PhD training and three others completed the Masters level training However, there are still more 8 members of staff on PhD Training and one on Masters training. Of those on PhD training, two are waiting for their final examination and/or public defence.

Teaching- Graduate and Undergraduate Programmes

The Department now has two MA graduate programmes
i.e. MA in Sociology (started in 1997) and the MA in Rural Development (started August 2009). The Graduate programmes in the Department are being coordinated by Dr. Andrew Ellias State effective from 24th August 2009. The office is usually held for two years depending on availability of the appointed person and satisfaction with his/her performance by the Department.

The main challenges facing the graduate programmes relate to:

Rate of completion of students: A number of students stagnate when they come to their second year.
PhD students. The Department has already noted that many applicants for PhD in Sociology tend to disappear or fall out upon admission. The Departmental Higher Degrees and Research Grants Committee has recommended stocktaking of PhD students every end of year.
Programme Funding. The transfers from the Makerere University Central Administration have been relatively unpredictable and often do not reflect the payments made by the students. The issue is now being pursued with other Departments at the Faculty level. In particular, the funds from PhD students are never received.
The teaching space for the two programmes of MA in Sociology and Rural Development. Currently the lectures for the MA in Sociology are being held in Room 144, Faculty of Technology and for the MA in Rural Development in Room 4, Department of Food Science and Technology.

The teaching of the undergraduate programme remains the core business of the Department. In 2006, the Department of Sociology along with the other three Department of Political Science and Political Administration, Social Work and Social Administration and Women and Gender Studies reviewed the curriculum for the Bachelor of Arts (in Social Sciences). In this review, the Department of Sociology focused on making itself more relevant to the current needs of society. The curriculum for Sociology was reviewed and three areas of specialisation developed i.e. mainstream Sociology, Criminology and Social Anthropology and African Studies. The new curriculum is in the third year of implementation and a review of implementation is necessary to address some of the challenges that have been identified since it started. The Faculty has set April 2010 as the date for the meeting over the review process. The Department, therefore, needs to take stock of the reviews that are needed and submit them to the Faculty office in March 2010.

The Department of Sociology has established a record of being time conscious as far as teaching, examination and grading of students’ results are concerned. To this end, I truly appreciate the untiring efforts that the Undergraduate programme coordinators, especially the current and previous ones, have put in

the process of handling undergraduate concerns. The undergraduate programme is currently coordinated by Mr. Anthony Mugeere effective from 22nd April 2008. The office is usually held for two years depending on availability of the appointed person and satisfaction with his/her performance by the Department. Mr. Anthony Mugeere is likely to embark on his PhD programme in March 2010 under Sida/SAREC Phase 3 funding. The main challenges that face the teaching of the undergraduate programme relate to Implementing the new curriculum, increasing number of Sociology Majors, structure of submission of results under different codes for the students under the New and Old curricula and the revision of the curriculum.

Servicing Responsibilities

The Department of Sociology continues to teach the sociology discipline beyond the Department and School of social sciences particularly on the undergraduate programmes. In the School of social sciences, the Department of Sociology continues to service the Departments of Social Work and Social Administration, Political Science and Public Administration, Women and Gender Studies particularly in the area of social research. Beyond the School of social sciences, the Department of Sociology is servicing the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Economics and Management, Institute of Statistics and Applied Economics (Department of Population Studies), the college of Health Sciences, Faculty of Technology (Department of Architecture), Institute of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Food Science and Technology.

Departmental Book Bank

When I took over the headship of the Department of Sociology, there was a Departmental Book bank. However, during my term of office, the Faculty management made a decision to have all the books in the Faculty housed in the same place. This resulted in the present Faculty library located in the Department of Women and Gender Studies. All the departmental Book bank books were shifted to this library.

Research

During my term of office, three projects came to conclusion while seven others were implemented in the Department with collaboration and/or funding from different sources.

Concerted Action for Quality of Reproductive Health Care (Ghent Project), funded by European Union under Ghent University coordinating. Belgium-Sociology Department 1999 – 2004 Closed

The second phase of Voluntary Counseling and Testing for Youth (VCT Project), Diagnostic Study in Uganda – Kampala and Masaka Districts. Funded and commissioned by United States of America Population Council – HORIZONS House, and executed by the Department of Sociology, Makerere University 2001-2003 Closed

Nature, Society and Water funded by the Norwegian Research Council for three years (July 2000-June 2003). Closed

Projects initiated and implemented under my term of office

Impact of Banana improvement on livelihoods in East Africa (INIPAP Project) collaboration between Makerere University School of social sciences and International Plant Genetic Resources Institute in the Framework of the INIBAP Programmes. 2003 -2004 Closed

Towards a Health Kasensero (SOMANET Project) Collaboration between Sociology Department, SIDA-SAREC and SOMANET-Kenya. 2006 Closed

Scaling up Access to the HOMAPAKS through the Private Sector in Uganda: An Interventionist research to strengthen private community based distribution of Antimalarials (Homapaks) in Uganda. Funded by WHO-Geneva 2007 closed

Feasibility acceptability and safety of ACTs in Home based management (HBM) of fever/malaria among U5s in rural Uganda. Funded by WHO-Geneva 2006 – 2008 closed

FAO Uganda Poultry Livelihood Study. 2007 Closed

Strengthening Home Management of Malaria (HMM) in Urban Areas in Uganda: An exploratory intervention study project in Masindi Urban Authority Masindi District, Uganda. Funded by WHO-Geneva in Partnership with Department of Sociology, National Malaria Control Program Ministry of Health Uganda and District Directorate of Health Services Masindi District 2006- ongoing

Managing HIV/AIDS in the Workplace’ Factors contributing to successful development and implementation of HIV and AIDS workplace policies in SAN! Project partner organizations in Uganda. 2006- ongoing

The WHO gave the Department an Award of Recognition for supporting Malaria research (kept in Room 8). The Department has encouraged members of staff to channel individually funded projects through the Department for institutional support and also contributed 4% of the budget as institutional overhead. The 4% overhead was agreed upon by the Departmental Finance Committee and out of these funds the Department was able to purchase items like the Refrigerator, three computers and also to finance the publication of the Special edition of MAWAZO Vol. 8 Number 2 of December 2007.

Publication and Innovations

Publications by Department:

The Department solicited for articles, facilitated and produced a special issue of MAWAZO Journal (Volume 8, Number 2, 2007) on Social Structure and Social change with eleven articles.
There is also an upcoming book publication which is already in its last stages on New Frontiers of Socio-Political Challenges in Uganda with Eight chapters.

Publications by Departmental staff: Academic members of staff have produced a number of publications in their areas of specialisation.
However, the staff continue to face the challenge of lecturer: student ratio which makes it constraining in sparing time for concentrating on research and publications.

Conferences, Seminars and Workshops

During my tenure, the culture of lunchtime seminars has continued and these have mainly been presentations from the on-going research by members of staff or proposed research and research findings from the PhD students.

There have also been conferences organised by Department and/or Staff. The Department has organised one regional conference and one international workshop. The regional conference was on New Frontiers of Socio-Political Challenges in Uganda and was held at the Conference Hall, Department of Women and Gender Studies, Makerere University Kampala in 2006. The international workshop on Gender and Sexuality was held at Hotel Africana in 2007. This workshop drew participants from Denmark, Kenya, Botswana, Tanzania and Uganda.

The members of staff continue to attend international, regional and national conferences on their own behalf and sometimes representing the University.

Internet connectivity

During my term of office, the offices of the Department of Sociology were all connected to the internet and to date internet access is not a problem but there is need for more or better computers in the offices and the Departmental Computer lab to particularly service our graduate students. However, there is need to purchase new computers as most offices have very old computers that are not fully functional.

Internships and Outreach activities.

During my term of office, the Department of Sociology was mandated to coordinate the student internships in the School of social sciences under the coordination of Dr. Robert Kabumbuli (the in-coming Head). After the close of funding from I@Mak.com, the Department has continued to write introductory letters to students at the end of their 2nd year for field or institutional attachment and the reports from some of the students indicate that the Department needs to continue its administrative support to this activity.

Furthermore, the Makerere University Sociology Students Association (MUSSA) has been very active and demonstrated that these student associations can organise themselves beyond night discos or beach bashes. I have during my term encouraged the students in MUSSA to coalesce their efforts on activities with sociological meaning. Consequently, I am happy to report that MUSSA has organised a number of outreach activities with the support of the Department and Faculty office. These activities include the MUSSA visit to Open Doors in 2006. Open Doors is an organisation that looks after orphans and Vulnerable children; the MUSSA-organised Public Seminar on the Sociological Perspective on Garbage Collection in 2007 at Makerere University; the visit to Banakateyamba Home in Nalukolongo in 2008. The home looks after people with disability, the aged and homeless; the visit to Open Door Family in Mengo in 2009. The Open Door Family looks after

abandoned children and children picked from the street; and, finally the orientation to First Year Sociology students by the current MUSSA executive.

Institutional Collaborations and Linkages

When I took office, I found quite a number of institutional linkages with the Department of Sociology and during my tenure I have tried my best to keep old friends and sought for new ones. The Department of Sociology has continued and made links with local regional international partners, government and non-government institutions to promote a wide range of collaborations which include staff and student exchange, student attachment, Graduate training and funding (especially at PhD and Masters level), graduate student supervision, external examination, joint graduate programme development, Library and information access, graduate fellow support and support with technical support in areas of competence e.g. in criminology. The Department of Sociology appreciates the contributions of these partners and the collaborations should be strengthened.

Appreciation

As I leave the office of the Head of Department of Sociology, I wish to register my appreciation to the offices and persons that have supported me to hand over peacefully to my successor. In a special way, I wish to register my appreciation to the members of staff in the Department of Sociology and more especially the support staff in Room 7 for their support in the seven years. I am also grateful to the unwavering support I have had with the programme coordinators for both Graduate and undergraduate programmes. Furthermore, I appreciate the support and guidance I have received from the Dean and Deputy Deans of the School of social sciences and my fellow Heads of Department in the Faculty. I truly appreciate your support and advice. What has been achieved by the Department during my tenure of office has been a result of collective effort.

However, we are all human beings and in the execution of my duties as Head of Department of Sociology, I may have displeased some members. I ask for forgiveness from anybody I have unintentionally wronged and I also forgive anybody who could have wronged me in the official execution of my duties. May God Bless us all as we continue to Build for the Future for God and my Country!

Dr. Peter R. Atekyereza Dr. Robert Kabumbuli

Out-going Head In-coming Head

___________________ Date ________ ___________________ Date ________

Prof. Edward K. Kirumira Mr. Henry Duku

Dean, School of social sciences Internal Auditor

___________________ Date ________ ___________________ Date ________

On this 23rd day of February, Two Thousand and Ten.

Appendix 1: List of Members of Staff in the Department

Academic Staff

Position	Name	Qualification
Professor	Edward Kirumira	B.A (Mak), MA (Exeter), PhD (Copenhagen)
	Charles B Rwabukwali	B.A(Mak), Dip P.R. (Exeter), MPA (Arizona), MA, PhD (Case Western)
*Associate Professor*	Peter R. Atekyereza	B.A (Mak), Dip. and MSc (UZ), Dip. (Univie), PhD (JKU Linz)
*Senior Lecturer*	Robert Kabumbuli	B.A (Mak), MSc (Dublin), PhD (Mak)
	Christine Kisamba-Mugerwa	B.A (Mak), MA (Nairobi)
	Stella Neema	BA (Mak), MA (Mak), Ph.D (Copenhagen)
	Andrew E. State	B.A (Mak), MA (Mak), PhD (Minnesota)
	Mathias Ssamula	B.A (Mak), Dip. (Cairo), MA (Exeter), PhD (Mak)
*Lecturer*	Doris Kakuru Muhwezi	Dip. (ITEK), B.A (Mak), Mphil (Bergen), PhD (Wageningen)
	Achilles Ssewaya	B.A (Mak), MA (Hull)
	Florence A. Asiimwe	B.A (Mak), Dip. (R-dam), MA (Hague) PhD (Cape Town)
	Igeme Katagwa	Dip. ((ITEK), B.A (Mak), Mphil (Sussex) (Study Leave)
	Dauda B. Waiswa	B.A (Mak), MA (Mak) (Study Leave)
	Steven Arojjo Obbo	B.A (Mak), MA (Mak), PGPPM (UMI) (Study Leave)
*Assistant Lecturer*	Fred H. Bateganya	B.A (DAR), Mphil (Bergen) (Study Leave)
	James Wasike Mangeni	B.A (Mak), MA (Mak) (Study Leave)
	Eria Olowo Onyango	Dip. ((ITEK), B.A (Mak), Mphil (Bergen)
	Anthony Mugeere	B.A (Mak), MA (Mak)
	Innocent Royal Kamya	B.A (Mak), MA (Mak) (Study Leave)
*Teaching Assistant*	Chris Columbus Opesen	B.A. (Mak), MA (Agder)
*Teaching Assistant*	Gordon Ainebyona	Dip. ((ITEK), BA (Mak)
*Relief Teaching Assistants*	Rita Nakanjako	B.A. (Mak)
	Nicholas Mugabi	B.A. (Mak)
	Susan Gamwino	Dip. ((ITEK), B.A. (Mak)
	Herbert Arinaitwe	B.A. (Mak), MA (Leeds)
	Constance Mudondo	Dip. ((ITEK), BA (Mak), MA (KDSC Dublin), MA (UCB Norway)
Graduate Fellow	Alexander Kagaha	BA (Mak), MA (Mak) Graduate Fellow supported by Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Visiting Scholars	Janne S. Savolainen	PhD Fellow
Visiting Scholars	Nanna Throsteinsson Schneidermannn	PhD Fellow

Support Staff

Principal Copy Typist	Ruth Nyirandikumwami	Cert. (Nakawa), BA (Mak), MA (Mak)
Senior Copy Typist	Sarah W. Nassuna	Cert.
Cleaner / Messenger	Yunia Ndwadde	-

Appendix 2: List of Departmental Equipment

No.	Item	Quantity	Location
	Toyota Land cruiser LJ95 S/Wagon (UAA 094F)	1	Department
	Typewriter (Brother Handy Typer PX-50)	2	Room 8
	Cassette Tape Recorder (SONY TCM-333)	1	Room 8
	Cassette Tape Recorder (Goldy GT-611)	2	Room 8
	Video Tape Recorder (Panasonic NV-HS950AM)	1	Room 8
	Digital Video Tape Recorder (NV-DS99EN)	1	Room 8
	Video Editing Controller (Panasonic VW-EC500)	1	Room 8
	Video Tilter (Panasonic VW-VTIE/A/B)		Room 8
	Personal Computer (Toshiba Satellite 2100CDS) (They are very old)	3	Room 8
	Desktop Computers	14	Offices
	Printer HP LaserJet 1100 (MS)	3	7, 8 and 3
	Printer HP LaserJet 8150 Series PCL	1	7
	Printer Epson Lx-300	1	Room 8
	Refrigerator LG and its Electricity Guard.	1	7
	UPS Jacobs MN-500W	2	7 and 8
	Manual Data Switch	2	Room 8
	Unit Lanier 4250 Fax System	1	Room 8
	Unit Lanier 7335 Photocopier	1	Comp Lab
	Elite Overhead Projector	1	Room 8
	Sasco Desktop Slide Projector	1	Room 8
	Sasco Tripod Screen	1	Faculty CL
	Multi-media Projector (GEHA Compact 101)	1	Room 8
	Filing Cabinets	4	Room 8
	Filing Cabinets	9	offices
	Office Tables	26	Offices
	Office Chairs	50	Offices
	Office Swing Chair	1	Room 8
	Manual Typewriter	1	Room 8
	Plastic Tray (for IN, OUT and PENDING work)	1	Room 8
	Examination Results up to 2008/09 Semester 2		Room 8 &3
	Unused Voucher Books (From No. 1551 to No. 1600)	1	Room 8
	Unused Voucher Books (From No. 1851 to No. 2650)	14	Room 8
	Unused Voucher Books (From No. 151 to No. 500)	7	Room 8
	Fourteen Departmental Offices i.e. Rooms 1-8, 11, A1, A3-A5 and B6
	The WHO Award of Recognition for support to Malaria research	1	Room 8

Details are found in the video and photo gallery on the Sociology department’s page plus a detailed report on the outgoing head of department’s term of office.

Congratulations Dr. Robert Kabumbuli
Thank you Assoc Prof Peter Atekyereza

Total

Out-going Head In-coming Head

Dean, School of social sciences Internal Auditor

Position

Professor