Gulu Becomes First University to Formally Adopt More Women in Research Manifesto

Gulu University has formally adopted and started implementing a manifesto that aims to increase the number of women in research and leadership.

It is among the first universities to do so following the More Women in Research Manifesto (MWIRM) launch in November 2024 in Arusha-Tanzania.

MWIRM, developed by women researchers from 12¹ African countries, with support from Danida Fellowship Centre (DFC) and the MS Training Centre for Development Corporation (MS TCDC), aims to create awareness of the inequalities and challenges women face in research and facilitate the process of breaking barriers that impede the progress and prosperity of women in research.

Globally, just a third of researchers are women. Family demands, workloads, and a lack of role models are reported among the factors responsible for fewer women in research.

Affirmative action

While launching the MWIRM at Gulu on February 7, 2025, Prof. David Okello Owiny, the Gulu University Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of academics, research and graduate studies wondered why at entry into university women are many but get fewer at levels beyond the first degree.

Prof. David Okello Owiny addresses participants during the launch of the MWIRM at Gulu University

“We need to find out not where they go but why do women go where they go,” he said.

“We need an environment that encourages women to study. We need affirmative action for ladies, especially in STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics],” he added.

Prof. Josephine Ahikire, the Principal of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Makerere University, who gave the keynote address, blamed the situation on systems that have been in place for a long time.

Prof. Josephine Ahikire gives the keynote address

“It is not that men sit and connive to exclude women [from research]. These are systems in which we all participate. Even women participate to exclude themselves. We can change these systems”, she said.

Agenda for more women in research

Dr. Agatha Alidri, the BSU Coordinator, said women needed to be fearless to break the barriers in research and leadership.

Workshop convenors Dr. Agatha Alidri (l) and Dr. Doreen Chemutai (Coordinator of the Gulu University Gender Mainstreaming Unit ) listen to participants

“During our interactions at project and programme levels with DFC we realised that women were not visible. Even when we are given at least 30 percent of participation we hardly raise the numbers. While more women are getting into academia they are less visible at the research level. Our agenda is to grow more women in research,” she said.

“The research environment has been known to be patriarchal and quite hostile [to women]. We want to declare our intentions, motives, and views concerning women in research. We need both men and women in research. We cannot bring more women into research without the men – to work together. The men invited to present [at the MWIRM workshop] had to give us a shared perspective on why there were few women in research and how more women could be brought in. We are looking at these men as righteous friends in research and academia,” she added.

More Women in Research Implementing Committee

Prof. David Okello Owiny (r) accompanied by Prof. Josephine Ahikire, officially launches the implementation of the MWIRM at Gulu University 

Focal persons were elected at the end of the workshop to champion the Gulu University cause for more women in research. These are at faculty, institute and directorate levels. They form what is known as the More Women in Research Implementing Committee (MWIRIC), headed by the Coordinator of Gulu University’s Gender Mainstreaming Unit.

Members of the committee include: Ms. Margaret Nyafwono (Faculty of Agriculture and Environment), Ms. Kevin Aber (Faculty of Science), Tina Aciro (Faculty of Education and Humanities), Ms. Esther Asio (Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies), Ms. Susan Bodi (Faculty of Business and Development Studies), Ms. Daisy Aciro (University Library), Ms. Stella Akumu (Directorate of Research and Graduate Training), Ms. Scholastica Amito (Academic Registrar’s Department), Dr. Francisca Akello (Faculty of Medicine), Ms. Pamela Okwir (Office of the Dean of Students), Ms. Monica Ajok (Department of Finance), and Ms. Judith Max Adong (Faculty of Law)

“The strategy is to institutionalise the MWIRM. This committee is a tool for advocacy. It will influence decision-making. There will also be subcommittees. The role of BSU is to support the process at the initial level,” said Dr. Alidri.

Assoc. Prof. Tabitha Mulyampiti of Makerere University’s School of Women and Gender Studies encouraged the workshop participants to promote the MWIRM.

“What we are doing today is a rebirth. Let’s confront those issues that are pulling back women [from prospering in research],” she said.

The workshop attracted 65 participants including professors, senior lecturers, lecturers, graduate students and Gulu University administrators, with men comprising 30 percent.

1. Burkina Faso, Burundi, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Somaliland, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania and, Uganda