From Academy learning to lasting collaboration
July–September 2026
A leadership programme’s value continues to unfold after its closing session. Participants return to their institutions with ideas to apply, research to develop and relationships to maintain. HERS-EA’s third quarter of 2026 brought these stages together through the Ninth Leadership Academy, university engagements, writing support and alumnae exchange.
Learning across 16 institutions
Women leaders from 16 higher education institutions attended the Ninth HERS-EA Leadership Academy at Mbarara University of Science and Technology from 13–17 July.
The programme explored governance, research management, negotiation, mentorship and resource mobilisation. Peer learning allowed participants to connect these subjects with experiences from their own institutions.
MUST Vice Chancellor Prof. Pauline Byakika-Kibwika welcomed participants, while HERS-EA Executive Director Dr Naomi Lumutenga outlined the programme’s objectives. Board Chair Prof. Margaret L. Khaitsa joined remotely to share HERS-EA’s history and mission.
Keynote speaker Prof. Rose Clarke Nanyonga, Vice Chancellor of Clarke International University, encouraged women to take a stronger role in research, institutional policy and strategic decision-making.
University conversations lead to hosting partnerships
July’s engagements involved Uganda Christian University, Makerere University, Ndejje University, Uganda Martyrs University and Bishop Stuart University.
Discussions addressed research collaboration, mentorship, institutional participation and male allyship. They also produced hosting partnerships for future programmes.
A stopover at Uganda Martyrs University developed into a partnership for the inaugural PhD Research Support and Scholarly Writing Bootcamp, scheduled for 15–25 November 2026 at Nkozi.
Makerere University will host the Tenth Leadership Academy from 13–17 July 2027 and the inaugural International Conference on 19–20 July 2027.
Supporting the work beyond the Academy
From 27–31 July, researchers met at Athena Hotel, Bugolobi, and online for the Academic Writing, Publishing and Grant Writing Workshop.
Participants worked on identifying their research stories, developing introductions and sharpening research questions. Sessions also addressed publishing, proposal development and collaboration.
Alumnae Day on 1 August continued the exchange across cohorts. Discussions covered employment, leadership project implementation, higher education HR policies and continued engagement. The Community of Practice provides an ongoing space for research, writing and grants support beyond the workshop.
Celebrating scholarship and informing policy
The quarter brought achievements across the alumnae community. Prof. Elizabeth Balyejusa Kizito was promoted to Professor of Plant Breeding at UCU, while Prof. Elizabeth Kyazike was promoted to Full Professor of Archaeology at Kyambogo University. Ms Comfort Mpiriirwe won the Overall Best Paper Award at the 2026 CARISCA Supply Chain Research Summit.
In September, HERS-EA Research Assistant Ms Susan Namara joined FAWE Uganda to present emerging Tuseme evidence to the Ministry of Education and Sports’ Gender in Education Technical Working Group.
These milestones show the range of work within the HERS-EA community—from developing research and sharing evidence to taking on new academic responsibilities. Continued collaboration will help carry that work forward.
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