Makerere’s CHUSS launches five books and a new academic journal
“If these books and journals make their way into schools and classrooms, young people will be encouraged to read. Knowledge must not remain idle. It must be used, discussed and applied,” Ireeta said.
Presiding over the launch, Professor Winston Tumps Ireeta, the acting deputy vice-chancellor (finance and administration), who represented the deputy vice-chancellor for academic affairs, commended CHUSS for becoming the first college to successfully roll out its own academic journal, an important step long encouraged by vice-chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe. (Courtesy Photo)
KAMPALA - Makerere University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) has launched five new books and one academic journal. The development, according to the university, is a major stride in strengthening homegrown scholarship, community-rooted research and African-centred knowledge production.
The December 11, 2025, ceremony in the Senior Common Room of the university's Main Administration Building brought together senior university leaders, scholars/ authors, editors, students and partners to celebrate what they described as a significant milestone for humanities publishing in Uganda.
Presiding over the launch, Professor Winston Tumps Ireeta, the acting deputy vice-chancellor (finance and administration), who represented the deputy vice-chancellor for academic affairs, commended CHUSS for becoming the first college to successfully roll out its own academic journal, an important step long encouraged by vice-chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.
Work to reach all concerned
Ireeta said the new publications would help ensure that scholarly work produced by Makerere academics does not remain on shelves where no one can access or benefit from it, but instead reaches communities, institutions, and policy spaces that can make meaningful use of it.
He acknowledged Africa’s long-standing challenge with low reading culture but said the solution lies in producing knowledge that is accessible and relevant.
“If these books and journals make their way into schools and classrooms, young people will be encouraged to read. Knowledge must not remain idle. It must be used, discussed and applied,” he said.
He emphasised that the Makerere University Press is working to expand accessibility with all the new works available online, free to students and staff, including those at the Jinja campus, who share the same institutional network rights.
Speaking to the communities
CHUSS principal Dr Hellen Nambalirwa said the launch reflects the university’s core mandate of publishing research that speaks directly to community realities and national academic needs.
She added that one of the published books directly addresses Uganda’s competence-based curriculum, offering practical insights for teaching in higher education.
“Many of the books you see today come from research carried out in our communities. As academics, it is our responsibility to bring these voices out. If we do not publish, then we are not speaking,” she said.
She added that many of the works launched are already being used in teaching and that several publications are co-authored with graduate students, a model that amplifies mentorship, academic visibility and knowledge transfer.
Nambalirwa also emphasised inclusivity, explaining that group reading sessions, reminiscent of traditional storytelling, ensure that even those who struggle with reading can still access the knowledge.
The five books launched included:
Reclaiming Learning: Pedagogical Struggles and Innovations in Higher Education in Uganda, edited by Prof. Andrew Elias, State and colleagues a significant contribution to ongoing curriculum reforms and the quest for student-centred university teaching.
Reading Archives, Memory and Method from Makerere University, edited by Assoc. Prof. Edgar Fred Nabutanyi and team work emphasising archives, institutional memory, and African narrative reclamation.
Living with Others: Ethnic Conflict and Pluralism in Uganda’s Greater Kibaale Region, by Dr Jimmy Spire Ssentongo a timely exploration of identity, conflict and co-existence in Uganda.
The Makerere Historical Journal (Vol. 6, No. 1, 2025) is a continuation of Makerere’s distinguished tradition in historical and heritage scholarship.
Makerere Journal of Languages, Literature and Communication (Vol. 1, Issue 1). An inaugural issue marking a new era of cross-disciplinary debate within the School of Languages, Literature and Communication.
Partners, including the Mellon Foundation, the African Humanities Foundation, the Centre for Languages and Communication Services, and Makerere University Press, were recognised for their financial and technical support.
Low funding challenge
Despite celebrating major academic progress, both Prof. Ireeta and Nambalirwa pointed out the persistent challenge of limited funding for publications. They called for greater government investment to support printing, distribution, community reading groups and the expansion of Makerere University Press infrastructure.
“The Government has done much through the Makerere Research and Innovations Fund, but more support is needed for us to fully bring out the voices of our communities,” Nambalirwa said.
The launch ended with Ireeta officially declaring the five books and new journal published.
He lauded the authors, editors, reviewers and research teams whose intellectual labour made the milestone possible, saying that these works will shape debates, influence teaching, and guide policy for years to come.