Mary Okwakol

Last updated
Mary Okwakol
Born1951 (age 72–73)
Iganga, Uganda
NationalityUgandan
CitizenshipUganda
Alma mater Makerere University
(BSc in Zoology)
(MSc in Zoology)
(PhD in Zoology)
Occupation(s) University Professor, Administrator and Scientist
Years active1974 — present
Known for Scientific knowledge, Administrative skills, Leadership
Title Chairperson of Uganda National Examinations Board and executive director of Uganda National Council for Higher Education

Mary Jossy Nakhanda Okwakol (born 1951) is a Ugandan university professor, academic administrator, zoologist and community leader. She is the current chairperson of the Uganda National Examinations Board. [1]

Contents

Before that, from October 2006 until May 2017, served as vice chancellor of Busitema University, one of the nine public universities in Uganda. [2]

Background and education

She was born in Namunyumya Village, Iganga District, Eastern Uganda, circa 1951. She attended Namunyumya Mixed Primary School, for her elementary schooling. Mary Okwakol attended Mount Saint Mary's College Namagunga for her high school education. [3]

She holds the degree of Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Zoology, obtained in 1974, from Makerere University, the oldest university in East Africa. She also holds the degree of Master of Science (MSc), in Zoology, obtained in 1976, also from Makerere University. Her degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Zoology was also obtained from Makerere University, in 1992. [3]

Career

After graduating from Makerere in 1974, Mary Okwakol was invited back to the Faculty of Science as an assistant lecturer. She immediately embarked on her Masters studies and graduated in 1976. She was appointed lecturer. In 1988, she became a senior lecturer. She enrolled in the PhD program at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, but was unable to continue due to family responsibilities in Uganda. She transferred to Makerere and graduated in 1992. She has since been awarded full professorship by Makerere. At the formation of Gulu University in 2004, she was appointed deputy vice chancellor, serving in that capacity until her appointment as vice chancellor of Busitema University in 2006. [4] In 2019, Mary was appointed as the Executive Director of National Council of Higher Education, a position she holds as of 2021. [5]

Other responsibilities

Professor Okwakol is a member of the Forum for African Women Educationalists, a pan-African non-governmental organisation, founded in 1992, that is active in 32 African countries. The forum aims to empower girls and women through gender-responsive education. Its members include human rights activists, gender specialists, researchers, education policy-makers, university vice-chancellors and ministers of education. The organisation maintains its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, and has regional offices in Dakar, Senegal. [6] Professor Okwakol has published widely in professional journals and has written chapters in scientific books pertaining to her fields of specialization. In May 2014 she was appointed to serve as the chairperson of the Uganda National Examinations Board. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Makerere University</span> Public university in Kampala, Uganda

Makerere University is Uganda's largest and oldest institution of higher learning, first established as a technical school in 1922, and the oldest currently active university in East Africa. It became an independent national university in 1970. Today, Makerere University is composed of nine colleges and one school, offering programmes for about 36,000 undergraduates and 4,000 postgraduates. These colleges include College of Natural Sciences (CONAS), College of Health Sciences (CHS), College of Engineering Art & Design (CEDAT), College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies (CAES), College Of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), College of Humanities & Social Sciences (CHUSS), College of Computing and Information Sciences (COCIS), College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources & Bio-security (COVAB), College of Education and External Studies (CEES) and Makerere University Business School (MUBS). In addition, Makerere has onother campus in Eastern Uganda Jinja City.

Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire is a Ugandan academic and politician. She is the Chancellor of the Uganda Management Institute. She was minister of education from 1979 to 1980 and again from 2005 to 2011. She also served as the member of parliament representing Mpigi District women in the Ugandan Parliament from 2001 to 2011.

Mt. St. Mary's College Namagunga is an all-girl boarding secondary school located in Mukono District in Uganda. The school is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lugazi.

As of 2021, 11 universities in Uganda offer medical schools. Admission to medical school requires the candidate to have attained a Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) as well as proficiency in Biology or Zoology, Chemistry and Physics at A-level standards. Training leading to the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) lasts five years. Major examinations are conducted after the first, second and fifth year, with additional evaluations after each clinical rotation. After successful completion of the fifth year, candidates complete a year of internship under the supervision of specialists. Postgraduate training is available at Makerere University School of Medicine and other Public and Private Universities in a number of medical and surgical disciplines. The training takes three to four years and leads to the Master of Medicine (MMed) degree. The East, Central and Southern Africa College of Health Sciences is nowadays another alternative postgraduate training pathway in Uganda, such as Membership [MCS (ECSA)] and Fellowship [FCS (ECSA)] of the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA); as well as in Internal Medicine through the East, Central and Southern Africa College of Physicians (ECSACOP) and the College of Obstetrics and Gynecology of East, Central and Southern Africa (ECSACOG) for Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Christine Dranzoa was a Ugandan university professor, academic administrator, biologist, terrestrial ecologist and community leader. She was, at the time of her death, the Vice Chancellor of Muni University, one of the public universities in Uganda.

John Pancras Mukasa Lubowa Ssebuwufu, commonly known as John Ssebuwufu is a Ugandan chemist, academic and administrator. He is a former chancellor of Kyambogo University, Uganda's second-largest public university serving between 2014-2022 having served for 2 terms. He was installed as chancellor on 19 February 2014, replacing Eric Tiyo Adriko, who had completed his two term tenure. The correct spelling of his last name is Ssebuwufu. However the literature contains many instances where the name is spelled with a single "s".

Charity Basaza Mulenga is a Ugandan electrical engineer and academic administrator. She was the founding vice chancellor of St. Augustine International University (SAIU), a private institution of higher education that the Uganda National Council for Higher Education accredited in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maud Kamatenesi Mugisha</span> A Ugandan natural scientist and academic administrator.

Maud Kamatenesi Mugisha is an Ugandan natural scientist and academic administrator. She is the former Vice Chancellor of Bishop Stuart University, a private chartered higher education institution in Uganda, accredited by the Uganda National Council for Higher Education. Since 1st March 2023, she has been serving as the chairperson of University Council at Kampala International University.

Joy Constance Kwesiga is a Ugandan academic, academic administrator, gender specialist, and community activist. She is the vice chancellor of Kabale University, a public institution of higher education in Uganda and accredited by the Uganda National Council for Higher Education in 2005.

Frederick Ian Bantubano Kayanja is a Ugandan veterinarian, academic, and academic administrator. He has been the chancellor of Gulu University, a public institution of higher education, since October 2014, replacing Martin Aliker. He is a former vice chancellor of the Mbarara University of Science and Technology. He assumed that position in 1989 and stepped down in October 2014. Before that, he served as the deputy vice chancellor of Makerere University, the oldest and largest public university in Uganda.

John Chrysostom Maviiri is a Ugandan theologian, academic and academic administrator. He is the former Vice Chancellor of Uganda Martyrs University, a private university affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church in Uganda. He assumed office in January 2015 and retired in 2021, replacing Professor Charles Olweny, who retired.

Jack H. Pen-Mogi Nyeko is a Ugandan veterinarian, academic and academic administrator. He is the vice chancellor of Gulu University, a public university in northern Uganda.

Eli Katunguka-Rwakishaya is a Ugandan veterinarian, academic and academic administrator. He is the Vice Chancellor of Kyambogo University, one of Uganda's public universities. He was appointed to that position in February 2014. Prior to that, he served at the Director of Postgraduate studies at Makerere University, the oldest and largest public university in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josephine Nambooze</span> Ugandan physician, public health specialist, academic

Josephine Nambooze is a Ugandan physician, public health specialist, academic, and medical researcher. She is an emeritus professor of public health at Makerere University School of Public Health. Nambooze was the first female East African to qualify as a physician circa 1959.

Jane Nambakire Mulemwa is a Ugandan chemist and educator. She is the chairperson of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda.

Ziria Tibalwa Waako is a Ugandan electrical engineer and corporate executive, who serves as the executive director and chief executive officer of the Electricity Regulatory Authority, since November 2016. She replaced Benon Mutambi, who was appointed the Permanent Secretary of the Uganda Ministry of Internal Affairs. For the first four months, from November 2016 until March 2017, she served in an acting capacity, until her confirmation on 27 March 2017.

Uganda National Academy of Sciences is a nonprofit, scientific organization in Uganda, that brings together scientists from the behavioral, biological, physical and social sciences. These scientists work together to promote excellence in sciences by "offering independent, evidence-based advice for the prosperity of Uganda", according to the academy's brochure.

George Ladaah Openjuru, also George Ladaah Openjuru, is a Ugandan educator, academic and academic administrator, who serves as the Vice Chancellor of Gulu University, a public university in the Northern Region of Uganda, since 13 January 2018.

References

  1. ↑ Mathias Mazinga (25 March 2017). "Namagunga Holds Platinum Jubilee Charity Walk". New Vision . Kampala. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  2. ↑ Nathan Etengu (6 October 2006). "Uganda: Okwakol To Head Eastern Varsity". Kampala: New Vision via AllAfrica.com . Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  3. 1 2 Talemwa, Moses (4 April 2010). "Female professors tell their long story: Professor Mary Nakhanda Okwakol, Vice Chancellor, Busitema University". The Observer (Uganda) . Kampala. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  4. ↑ Womakuyu, Frederick (30 March 2010). "A Feat Born Out of Diligence: MUK Honours Female Professors". New Vision . Kampala. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  5. ↑ "Higher institutions of learning to open after three months -Circular". The Independent Uganda. 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  6. ↑ "FAWE: Who We Are". Forum for African Women Educationalists. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  7. ↑ Ahimbisibwe, Patience (5 May 2014). "Busitema's Okwakol Replaces Mandy As UNEB Chairperson". Daily Monitor . Kampala. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.