Prof. Kiwanuka-Tondo takes helm at UCU School of Journalism
Prof. Kiwanuka-Tondo took over in January from Prof. Monica Chibita, who had led the department and School of Journalism for over a decade.
Prof. James Kiwanuka-Tondo. (Courtesy photo)
John Masaba
Journalist @New Vision
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Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) newly appointed Dean of the School of Journalism, Media, and Communication, Prof. James Kiwanuka-Tondo, has outlined an ambitious plan to transform the school into a centre of excellence for journalism education in Africa.
Prof. Kiwanuka-Tondo took over in January from Prof. Monica Chibita, who had led the department and School of Journalism for over a decade.
Bringing decades of experience in academia and media research from the United States, where he served at North Carolina State University, Prof. Kiwanuka-Tondo has set his priorities on enhancing research, strengthening industry collaboration, and increasing student enrolment.
One of his key concerns is attracting more students to the UCU School of Journalism and the profession in general.
“We need to highlight the expanding opportunities in media beyond traditional journalism. There’s digital storytelling, content creation, and corporate communication. If we adapt, we will remain relevant,” he said.
Prof. Kiwanuka-Tondo graduated with a PhD in Communication Sciences at the University of Connecticut and taught there as a Visiting Assistant Professor for three years before joining NC State in 2002. His main area of research is health communication campaigns, with a particular emphasis on HIV/AIDS.
His major contribution has been the development of the first-ever qualitative model of the relationship between organisational factors, campaign planning, and campaign execution variables.
Prof. Kiwanuka-Tondo’s work on HIV/AIDS has been published as journal articles and book chapters.
Regarding the need to attract more students to the School of Journalism, Prof. Chibita echoed similar sentiments to Prof. Kiwanuka-Tondo, stressing that adapting to industry trends is essential for journalism schools to thrive.
“When we introduced new programmes, such as Strategic Communication, student enrollment automatically increased,” she noted.
“It’s about ensuring that journalism education aligns with the job market.”
While stepping down from administration, Prof. Chibita remains a full professor at the UCU School of Journalism, Media, and Communication, focusing on research.
The UCU School of Journalism, Media, and Communication is one of Uganda’s leading institutions for training journalism and communication professionals.
With a distinguished faculty that includes several full professors and doctorate holders, the school offers a PhD in Journalism, Media, and Communication.