Professor Joy Constance Kwesiga is an experienced academic, researcher, university administrator, social development analyst with special focus on gender issues, a trainer, mentor, as well as a woman’s rights activist.
Joy Kwesiga started her career in University Administration, rising to the level of Deputy Registrar at Makerere University in Uganda. She later specialized in Public Administration, Higher and Further Education, Education and Gender, at Masters and Ph.D levels in addition to a host of related short-courses. She then moved into the academic arena where she served as Head of the Department of Women and Gender Studies, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, and founding Director of the Gender Mainstreaming Division – all at Makerere University. Joy Kwesiga is current Vice-Chancellor of Kabale University. She has already delivered at this level, as the University attained the highest level of accreditation (Charter) in November 2014, and has now been taken over by the Central Government as a public university.
She has widely researched into the Ugandan society, both at professional and consultancy levels – for different national and international organizations. Her involvement in both academic and activist work has widened her scope and exposure into the different areas of development, both at the local, national, African and international levels. Her Ph.D work in gender and education opened avenues into wider areas of operations, including public policy, governance, social development, management and gender analysis and training. Her book on Women’s Access to Higher Education in Africa: Uganda’s Experience (2002) is widely used within and outside Africa. She has published widely on the African women’s movement (s), including co-editing of a book on The Uganda Women’s Movement: Constraints and Future Prospect, (2002) and co-authored the African Women’s Movements—Changing Political Landscapes (2009).
She is often invited to vet research competitions and/or publications such as The Organisation for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA), the African Academy of Sciences, the African Journal of Health Sciences, the International Women’s Forum, the Uganda Journal, Teaching in Higher Education (UK), Partnership for African Social and Governance Research, etc.). She is a member of many professional organizations. She has led many research projects. Her most recent pieces of research focused on (a) Participation of Vulnerable Groups in Politics in Uganda (for UNDP (U) (b) Financing of Universal Primary Education in Uganda (for ActionAid International), (b) The participation of women in the National Advisory Agricultural Services (NAADS) in Kabale District (Uganda). She was team leader in all the above. She currently works with women’s groups in Rwamucucu Sub-County and Kabale Municipal Council on an advisory level.
Joy C Kwesiga co-authored a Project on Upgrading Teachers of Science in Uganda and serves on its Steering Committee. This Project was won through competition, under the World Bank/Government of Uganda Millennium Science Initiative. Through this project, Kabale University has been able to improve the teaching of Science in schools, deliberately “fishing out” qualified female teachers for inclusion. This project was worth US $ 1,180,000.
Professor Joy Constance Kwesiga is an experienced academic, researcher, university administrator, social development analyst with special focus on gender issues, a trainer, mentor, as well as a woman’s rights activist.
Joy Kwesiga started her career in University Administration, rising to the level of Deputy Registrar at Makerere University in Uganda. She later specialized in Public Administration, Higher and Further Education, Education and Gender, at Masters and Ph.D levels in addition to a host of related short-courses. She then moved into the academic arena where she served as Head of the Department of Women and Gender Studies, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, and founding Director of the Gender Mainstreaming Division – all at Makerere University. Joy Kwesiga is current Vice-Chancellor of Kabale University. She has already delivered at this level, as the University attained the highest level of accreditation (Charter) in November 2014, and has now been taken over by the Central Government as a public university.
She has widely researched into the Ugandan society, both at professional and consultancy levels – for different national and international organizations. Her involvement in both academic and activist work has widened her scope and exposure into the different areas of development, both at the local, national, African and international levels. Her Ph.D work in gender and education opened avenues into wider areas of operations, including public policy, governance, social development, management and gender analysis and training. Her book on Women’s Access to Higher Education in Africa: Uganda’s Experience (2002) is widely used within and outside Africa. She has published widely on the African women’s movement (s), including co-editing of a book on The Uganda Women’s Movement: Constraints and Future Prospect, (2002) and co-authored the African Women’s Movements—Changing Political Landscapes (2009).
She is often invited to vet research competitions and/or publications such as The Organisation for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA), the African Academy of Sciences, the African Journal of Health Sciences, the International Women’s Forum, the Uganda Journal, Teaching in Higher Education (UK), Partnership for African Social and Governance Research, etc.). She is a member of many professional organizations. She has led many research projects. Her most recent pieces of research focused on (a) Participation of Vulnerable Groups in Politics in Uganda (for UNDP (U) (b) Financing of Universal Primary Education in Uganda (for ActionAid International), (b) The participation of women in the National Advisory Agricultural Services (NAADS) in Kabale District (Uganda). She was team leader in all the above. She currently works with women’s groups in Rwamucucu Sub-County and Kabale Municipal Council on an advisory level.
Joy C Kwesiga co-authored a Project on Upgrading Teachers of Science in Uganda and serves on its Steering Committee. This Project was won through competition, under the World Bank/Government of Uganda Millennium Science Initiative. Through this project, Kabale University has been able to improve the teaching of Science in schools, deliberately “fishing out” qualified female teachers for inclusion. This project was worth US $ 1,180,000.
Joy Kwesiga has been an active member of the Uganda Women’s Movement. She is a founder member of Action for Development (ACFODE) – national women’s rights NGO. She has participates actively in many other women’s’ organizations in Uganda, including official government fora on gender issues. In summary, Joy Kwesiga combines both the academic, managerial, and advocacy work in Uganda and internationally. Joy Kwesiga has won many national awards and medals all relating to her contribution to gender studies, promotion of women and girls education and leadership in the education sector
Joy Kwesiga has been an active member of the Uganda Women’s Movement. She is a founder member of Action for Development (ACFODE) – national women’s rights NGO. She has participates actively in many other women’s’ organizations in Uganda, including official government fora on gender issues. In summary, Joy Kwesiga combines both the academic, managerial, and advocacy work in Uganda and internationally. Joy Kwesiga has won many national awards and medals all relating to her contribution to gender studies, promotion of women and girls education and leadership in the education sector