Elijah Mushemeza

Elijah Dickens Mushemeza
Born (1964-02-26) 26 February 1964
Uganda
Residence Kampala, Uganda
Nationality Ugandan
Ethnicity Munyankole
Citizenship Uganda
Education BA, Makerere University
MA, International Institute of Social Studies
PhD, Makerere University
Occupation Academic
Years active 1987 – present
Known for Academia, Politics
Religion Christian

Elijah Dickens Mushemeza (born 26 February 1964, in the Sheema District, Western Uganda) is an academic, author and a practical politician. Currently he is a Professor of Development Studies and the Dean, Faculty of Business and Development Studies at Bishop Stuart University in Mbarara, Uganda.

Education and career

Elijah Mushemeza holds a BA in Social Sciences, an MA in Development Studies, and a PhD in Political Science. He was previously a Coordinator of the MA programme in International Relations and Diplomatic Studies in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Makerere University[1] and a past alternate Executive Committee member of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA). He has also taught at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

Mushemeza is currently a Professor of Development Studies and the Dean, Faculty of Business and Development Studies at Bishop Stuart University. He is also an External Examiner at Kampala International University. In addition, Mushemeza is a consultant on conflict, security and development issues in the Great Lakes Region of Africa.

In his book, The Politics and Empowerment of Banyarwanda Refugees in Uganda, 1959–2001,[2] Mushemeza explores how Banyarwanda refugees achieved reasonable levels of integration in Ugandan society because of demographic, social, economic and cultural characteristics similar to that of the Ugandan population in the areas where they settled. If the Ugandan state had not “failed” in the late 1970s and 1980s, these refugees would perhaps have been naturalised. However, although almost all the Hutu and the Tutsi refugees achieved meaningful levels of integration (as some were treated badly and abused with derogatory language), their leaders and some of the elites never gave up the dream of returning home. The challenge was realising that dream. Indeed, the opportunity to return eventually emerged in the context of civil war in Uganda (1981–86). Banyarwanda refugees joined the NRM/NRA struggle that enabled them to acquire political, diplomatic and military skills, which they used effectively to achieve their empowerment ambitions.

Mushemeza has published widely in local and international journals including CODESRIA, ACODE[3] and CEWIGO.[4] He is also the Editor of the Journal of Development Issues.

Outside university, Mushemeza is active in Ugandan politics. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly (1994–95) that debated, scrutinised, enacted and promulgated the Constitution of Uganda, and a member of parliament of Uganda in 1996. He was formerly the Vice-Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of the National Resistance Movement,[5] the ruling party in Uganda.

Works

Personal life

Elijah Mushemeza is married to Irene Mushemeza since 1994. They are parents to five children.

References

  1. ↑ Elijah Dickens Mushemeza age, African Books Collective.
  2. ↑ Mushemeza, E. D. (2007), The Politics and Empowerment of Banyarwanda Refugees in Uganda 1959–2001. Kampala: Fountain Publishers.
  3. ↑ http://www.acode-u.org/documents/PRS_31.pdf
  4. ↑ "Monitor implementation of the National Action Plan for UNSCR 1325, 1820 and Goma Declaration", CEWIGO.
  5. ↑ Emmanuel Mulondo, "Uganda: Museveni Appoints New NRM Electoral Commission", The Monitor, 25 October 2010. AllAfrica.

External links

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