Afya Na Haki supports Makerere University School of Law to Produce a Special Issue of the EAJPHR
Afya na Haki (AHAKI) handed over Thirty-Nine (39) Million Uganda Shillings to support production of a Special Issue of the East African Journal of Peace and Human Rights (EAJPHR); the special issue to be released in October 2022 will cover Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR). Mr. Moses Mulumba, Executive Director – AHAKI handed over the cheque to Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor – Makerere University at a ceremony held on the 13th July 2022 in the Human and Rights Peace Centre (HURIPEC) Boardroom, Makerere University School of Law (SoL).
AHAKI is a leading African Institute that generates knowledge and builds advocacy capacities in Health, Human Rights and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). The institute uses Afrocentric approaches within a national, regional, Pan-African and global context to achieve its aims.
The EAJPHR is an international bi-annual production of HURIPEC, a semi-autonomous department established in 1993 under the Makerere University School of Law, the first human rights center of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa. The EAJPHR publishes original contributions in the form of articles, comments, case notes, book reviews and reporting on important developments on a wide range of issues relating to law, human rights, and peace and conflict other aspects of International Human Rights Law, especially in Uganda and East Africa.
The Director – HURIPEC, Dr. Zahara Nampewo welcomed everyone to the handover ceremony. She highlighted that the special issue of the EAJPHR is dedicated to Makerere celebrating 100 years, she thanked the Vice Chancellor for making the time to attend the event and grace this special occasion. Dr. Nampewo thanked AHAKI for the support and expressed hope that this is only the beginning of a long-term collaboration with HURIPEC and SoL.
The Principal – SoL was represented by the Deputy Principal, Dr. Ronald Naluwairo (Associate Professor). In his remarks, he reiterated that the partnership between HURIPEC/SoL fits with the mission of SoL of imparting quality legal knowledge and skills within an inter-disciplinary framework inspired by legal scholarship, outreach and a commitment to justice for all; as well as Makerere University’ strategic direction to become a research-led University. Dr. Naluwairo thanked HURIPEC under the leadership of Dr. Nampewo for producing the EAJPHR which is a flagship of the SoL. He also invited AHAKI to formalize the partnership because there is a lot of work that AHAKI and SoL can accomplish together.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Moses Mulumba, Director General – AHAKI who is an alumnus of the SoL/Makerere University expressed his appreciation of the knowledge receive while a student. “I wish to thank Makerere University in the presence of the Vice Chancellor”, he said. He noted that Law is usually looked at with narrow lens of legal representation of clients in court yet there is so much more to do. Mr. Mulumba noted that this issues will unpack African stories adding, “I am excited that we get to produce this special issue with an Afri-centric focus; usually the sexuality and reproductive stories out of Africa are negative and produced by international organisations”. Mr. Mulumba called on the University to introduce taught programmes/courses of civil society as a practice, adding that it is good to have a strategic partnership between academia and civil society. He thanked HURIPEC, the authors and editors for the work that will produce the EAJPHR. “AHAKI hopes to take this forward, this is only the beginning”, he added.
In his remarks, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe thanked the Principal, HURIPEC and AHAKI for cultivating this partnership. He said he is happy to be here at the invitation of HURIPEC. “In Uganda, we think about law as going to court but lawyers do much more. I am happy to see that SoL is taking this direction of applying the law in many areas including Public Interest Law Clinic (PILAC), Refugee Law Project, HURIPEC, Environmental Law Centre and many more”, the Vice Chancellor noted. Professor Nawangwe highlighted the convening power of a University and the position of Makerere University as a researcher leader where 80% of the doctoral degrees in the country are based. He commended HURIPEC for producing the EAJPHR as a home grown journal and encouraged other units to re-invigorate their journals. “Continue publishing because it keeps knowledge afloat”, the Vice Chancellor added.
