By Frederick Womakuyu

Makerere University will, this weekend, celebrate the success of women in higher education, an achievement that had, until recently, remained a preserve of men.

“We want to honour 11 female professors in Uganda,” says Catherine Kanabahita, the deputy registrar and head of the Gender Mainstreaming Division at Makerere University.

“We recognise the great achievement these women have made in breaking the glass ceiling of the ‘male-dominated club’ of professors, the highest level of academic achievement.” The ceremony will take place on March 27, at Sheraton Kampala Hotel at 6:00pm. A dinner dance will be held, during which the female professors will get gender equality awards.

The female professors are role models who have inspired other women into leadership, especially the younger generations. Celebrating women achievers will go hand in hand with investing in the lives of girls who need support in order to access higher education. The Female Scholarship Initiative, established by the Gender Mainstreaming Division in 2001, with support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, has supported 691 girls from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.

So far, 600 of the Female Scholarship Initiative beneficiaries have graduated. Their stories of success are phenomenal and yet the number constitutes 8% of the eligible beneficiaries, signifying the unmet need and adverse situation of those girls who may have missed access to higher education due to poverty.

Therefore, in order to take on this challenge and continue the spirit of giving girls in similar conditions an opportunity to access higher education, the event will also double as a scholarship fundraiser to support these future leaders and sustain the gender equality campaign.

The proceeds from the dinner will be used to enable female students from disadvantaged socio-economic background to access higher education.

“Makerere University has seven female professors compared to their 55 male counterparts in the same institution. We need to celebrate this achievement and reward them,” says Kanabahita.

Professors to be recognised
Prof. Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza, the Ag. deputy vice-chancellor of Academic Affairs, Makerere University.

Prof. Joyce Kikafunda of the Department of Food Science and Technology, Makerere University.

Prof. Harriet Mayanja of the Department of Internal Medicine, Makerere University.

Prof. Grace Bantebya Kyomuhendo, the Department of Women and Gender Studies, Makerere University.

Prof. Ruth Mukama, Institute of Languages, Makerere University

Prof. Joy Constance Kwesiga, vice-chancellor of Kabale University

Prof. Josephine Namboze, Public Health, Makerere University

Prof. Mary Okwakol, the vice-chancellor, Busitema University

Prof. Victoria Mwaka, Makerere University

Prof. Maria Musoke, Makerere University Library

Prof. Florence Mirembe of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University

Kanabahita says guests will be drawn from the following categories; members of civil society (Women’s Movement), professional associations, government ministries and the private sector.

Other guests include Members of Parliament, Makerere University community (staff and students), the Female Scholarship Initiative alumni, development partners and Media.