Joy as female professors are recognised

Kampala

In 2008, the ratio of female to male professors at Makerere University was at a staggering 1:43.
Two years down the road and it is at 1:9 thanks partly to the spirited work by Makerere University Mentoring Initiative that nurtures and motivates their 94 female staff to advance in their career path and personal growth.

And well, Makerere University is not just sitting back, watching and taking stock of the improving female numbers. They decided that the Gender Equality Awards this year would go to the six female professors at the university and to some four others who have been nurtured by the institution, but that they are so proud of nevertheless.

The Gender Equality Award was inaugurated last year and saw Her Highness the Nnabagereka of Buganda, Lady Sylvia Nagginda, the patron of Female Scholarship Initiative and Prof Joyce Kwesiga, who championed its implementation receive awards. This year, it was these 10 female professors.

Only six
The six professors who are currently lecturing at Makerere University are Prof. Lilian Tibatemwa Ekirikubinza, Prof. Harriet Mayanja, Prof. Ruth Mukama, Prof. Maria Musoke, Prof. Grace Bantebya, and Prof. Joyce Kikafunda.

Others are Prof. Mary Okwakol- (the Busitema University vice chancellor) Prof. Joy Kwesiga- (vice Chancellor, Kabale University) Prof. Victoria Nakiboneka Mwaka- (retired) and Prof. Josephine Nambooze (retired).
Of the 61 professors at Makerere University, only these six are female. Although much is still desired, there’s reason for celebration. And the celebration was at Sheraton’s ballroom last week at a dinner organised by the university for the recipients.

The event was full of life, ululations and celebration as the dons gave their life testimonies about those that inspired them, the hurdles and discouragement they have had to go through, the price they have had to pay for the achievement and joy of being referred to as “professor”.

Prof. Mwaka for example said at some point, she left behind a five-month old baby to go and study and when she came back, her baby could not recognise her.
Ms Catherine Kanabahita Guma, the deputy registrar and head of gender Mainstreaming Division said: “It is not because women have different capabilities but because most women have to carry out a delicate balance of the private and public world and endeavour to fit into an arena that is historically a preserve for men. And unlike men, women are sometimes forced to make a cruel choice between career and family.”

The event was attended by various ministers, MPs, company executives, entrepreneurs, academicians, and dignitaries representing foreign countries that sponsored their education and family.

But even amid the merriment, Makerere made sure that some female somewhere was profiting from the party; the proceeds of the dinner went to enabling girls from disadvantaged backgrounds that would otherwise not have been able to access higher education.

“The journey to becoming a professor is a long winding and demanding career path that calls for sacrifices,” remarked Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba, Makerere University’s acting vice chancellor.

He said to become a professor involves a teaching period of between 11-21 years, a total of 11-21 publications, supervision of at least five to nine graduate students and evidence of having contributed to community development.