Dr. Amanda Tumusiime, PhD

amanda.tumusiime@mak.ac.ug / tumusiimeamanda@gmail.com
+256 782 884420 / +256 785 810196
Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Arts Makerere University, P. O. Box 7062, Wandegaya, Kampala Uganda,

Dr. Amanda Tumusiime , PhD

Associate Professor

Areas of Research Interest: Cultural Studies, Gender Studies, Visual communication Design, Design and Multimedia, Scholarly Writing,  Critical Thinking,  Art and Gender

Brief Biography

Associate Professor College of Engineering, Design, Art & Technology, Makerere University, Fulbright African Research Scholar, Rhodes University Senior Research Associate, Fellow of American Council of Learned Societies, African Studies Presidential Fellow, Maya Angelou Awardee, Fellow of the Next Generation of African Academics 

Dr. Tumusiime has linked dynamic teaching to creative and innovative research, and writing, to hone a multidisciplinary approach to discourse. This is the context in which she has taught graduate and undergraduate courses at MTSIFA for the period spanning May 1997 to date. She has been teaching for 25 years. She has supervised and mentored many undergraduate students at Makerere University and also supervised and mentored research projects at PhD and MA (Fine Art) levels in all disciplines at MTSIFA. She has maintained academic excellence at MTSIFA and CEDAT at large.

Dr. Tumusiime has vast experience in networking for research and resource mobilisation. As such, she has established strong networks at international and national levels for both academic and non-academic engagements. For example, she has had collaborations on art and health and art and disability. She has engaged in relationships between Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) and the Indian community in Uganda and Makerere University on skilling graduates via improving and mastering new skills of learning, innovativeness and mindset change.  

Education Background

  • Doctor of Literature and Philosophy, University of South Africa, Pretoria 2012. Department of Art History and Musicology. Thesis: Art and Gender: Imag[in]ing the new woman in Contemporary Uganda Art: Supervisor: Professor Bernadette Van Haute.
  • MA (Arts), University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2005. Department of Art History, with coursework and research report. Report title: Maria Naita and portraits of the woman elevation of women through art in Uganda. Supervisor: Professor Anitra Nettleton.
  • MA (Fine-Art), Makerere University, Kampala, 2001: School of Industrial and Fine Art, with coursework and guide book. Book title: Ebyenfuumu Zabakiga: A creative visual interpretation of Bakiga Proverbs. Supervisors: Professor Pilkington Sengendo and Professor George Kyeyune.
  • Bachelors of Industrial (Fine-Art), Makerere University, Kampala, 1997: School of Industrial and Fine Art. Research report title: Land degradation an inspiration to landscape a painter: Professor Naggenda and Professor Pilkington Sengendo.

Postdoctoral Research

  • At Princeton University, USA) 2017 The evolution of Uganda’s contemporary gendered art: institutions and actors. Funded by African Studies Association Host Professor Chika Okeke- Agulu.
  • At (UNC-Chapel Hill), 2015-2016 On beautiful bodies after Antiretroviral Therapy (ART): A challenge for HIV and AIDS prevention. Funded by Fulbright Programme. Mentors and Host: Professor Carol Magee, Professor Rovine Victoria, Professor Lydia Boyld, and Professor Barbara Anderson.
  • At (MUK) 2014-2015 Kampala’s Public Monuments/Allegories of Exclusion: Perspectives of gender equality, visual equality and Development funded by Next Generation of Africa Academics (NGAA II) The African Program of the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Supervisor: Professor George Kyeyune (Makerere University).
  • At (Rhodes University) 2013-2014 On Sexist art and women’s violence funded by American Council for Learned Societies African Humanities Program Carnegie Corporation of New York. Host: Professor Frederick Hendricks (Rhodes University).

Causes Taught

Graduate

  • MAF 8122 Art as a Social Practice
  • MAF 7101 Research Method
  • MAF 7223 Scholarly Writing and Communication skills
  • MAF 7121 Contemporary Art in Uganda
  • MAF 7110 History of Graphics Design
  • MAF 7222 Introduction to Cultural Studies
  • MAF 8123 Research Seminar Series
  • MAF 8201 Guide Book
  • MAF 8225 Major Project

Undergraduate

  • IAD 1201 Art and Design Theory
  • UNV 1002 Art and Gender
  • BFA 2201 Research Methods

 

Other key skills training (Certification)

Short Courses

    • In preparation to take course in leadership at Havard University in August 2023
    • Certificate in Leadership skills from HERS East Africa Fourth Academy, 2021
    • Certificate in Sign Language, 2017
    • Certificate in Sign Language for The Deaf, 2016
    • Certificate in Braille writing for the blind at Enabling Services Kyambogo, 2015
    • Certificate in Scholarly Writing and Communication Skills, 2014
    • Certificate in Strengthening Arts in Medicine, 2013
    • Attended audited courses in law at Law Development Centre, Kampala, 2012
    • Audited courses in Law, 2011
    • Certificate in in scholarly writing and communication skills, 2010
    • Certificate in Public speaking, 2006
    • Attended public culture course at the University of Witwatersrand, 2003
    • Certificate in French language Intermediare A at the Institute of Languages, Makerere University, 2001
    • Certificate in World initiate looking at the World through women’s eyes, 2001
    • Certificate in French language Niveau-Debutant at the Institute of Languages, Makerere University, 1999.
    • Certificate in All Artists Exhibition, 1998
    • Certificate in Uganda National Artist’s Workshop, 1996
    • Attended audited courses in Literature at the Department of Literature, Makerere University, 1998-2000
    • Certificate in a micro-computer training course in introduction to electronic spreadsheets at Rank Information Technology Centre, Kampala, 1994
    • Certificate in a micro-computer training course in dBase IV at Rank Information Technology Centre, Kampala, 1994
    • Certificate in Introductory Data Management, 1994
    • Certificate in Introductory electronic spread sheets, 1994
    • Certificate in Standard First AID, at Mary Hill High School, Mbarara, 1993
    • Certificate in Standard First Aid Course, 1991
    • Outstanding role and contribution during the preparation for and hosting of the Rotary International President from Rotary Peace center, Makerere University 2022.Diploma in Religious studies, Norway, 1990

      DISTINGUISHED AND SCHOLARLY AWARDS

      • African Humanities Programme (ACLS), 2021  African Humanities Programme (ACLS), 2020
      • Maya Angelou Award, 2019
      • African Studies Association Presidential Award, 2016.
      • Next Generation of African Academics (NGAA II) An Award from Carnegie Corporation of New York, 20132015
      • Fulbright African Research Scholar, 2015
      • SIDA-SAREC Grant from the Swedish International Development Cooperation, Agency (SIDA) and Swedish Agency for Research Cooperation with Developing Countries (SAREC), 2008
      • WITS University Post Graduate Merit Award, 2004
      • WITS University Post Graduate, 2003
      • International Red Cross and Red Crescent, 1992
      • Makerere University Staff Development Fund, 20052012
      • Postgraduate merit    award, University        of         the

        • Maya Angelou award from Native Voices at NationalTheatre Uganda, 2019

        • Rhodes University Senior Research Associates 2016+
        • African Studies Association Presidential award from ASA USA 2016
        • Fulbright African Research Scholar at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, 2015
        • American Council for the Learned Societies- African Humanities Programme (AHP) Fellowship Award from Carnegie Corporation of New York, 2013-2014

              GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS

      • African Humanities Programme (ACLS), 2021  African Humanities Programme (ACLS), 2020
      • Maya Angelou Award, 2019
      • African Studies Association Presidential Award, 2016.
      • Next Generation of African Academics (NGAA II) An Award from Carnegie Corporation of New York, 20132015
      • Fulbright African Research Scholar, 2015
      • SIDA-SAREC Grant from the Swedish International Development Cooperation, Agency (SIDA) and Swedish Agency for Research Cooperation with Developing Countries (SAREC), 2008
      • WITS University Post Graduate Merit Award, 2004
      • WITS University Post Graduate, 2003
      • International Red Cross and Red Crescent, 1992
      • Makerere University Staff Development Fund, 20052012
      • Postgraduate merit    award, University of  the Witwatersrand, 2004
      • Postgraduate merit    award, University of  the Witwatersrand, 2003
      • Received a prized from University women, as the best female art student for 1993-1996; 1997
      • Received an award from International Red Crescent Movement EXPO’92 Seville, Spain,1992
      •  

Conferences/workshops papers presented

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

  • Dar es Salaam African Humanities Programme, 2019
  • Ghana African Humanities Programme, 2018
  • Telling our stories of home, North Carolina USA, 2016
  • African studies Association in San Diego, 2015
  • Uganda-Sweden Art in conference in Sweden, 2001
  • Presented a paper at 28th IFUW conference in Perth titled Empowerment or Banishment: How some unties and others have disempowered their daughters. A case study in central and western Uganda,

LOCAL CONFERENCES

  • Celebrating womanhood Festival at National theatre, 2019
  • Language and translating, Food Science and Technology, Makerere University, 2016
  • Presented a paper at a Regional Sida conference Ettebbe titled On Uganda’s Sexist Art: Its Institutions and Actors, 2014
  • Participated in a conference, Gendered worlds: Gains and challenges; Presented a paper titled Uganda women artists engaging tangible visual feminist discourse on gender disequilibrium in Uganda, 2002

LOCAL ACADEMIC WORKSHOPS

  • Mentoring hearing and non-hearing in Art, Rights
  • Advocacy at Makerere University, 2022
  • Academic writing and mentoring due in July 2019
  • Mentoring PHD candidates at MSIFA, 2016Mentoring Deaf students on Art at MSIFA, 2016
  • African Humanities      Programme      Manuscript Development workshop at Humura Uganda, 2014 
  • Attended a workshop with UNICEF Uganda and UNICEF Finland on WASH Project at UNICEF Head Office Kampala, 2013
  • New artistic innovations at College of Engineering Design Art and Technology. presented to School Engineering, University of Texas Permian Basin, USA, 2016
  • The Uganda National Artists Workshop  at Namasagali,1997.
  • Ngoma international workshop at Buluba,1998
  • Participated in workshop to review BIFA curriculum, 2010
  • Women movements and women’s empowerment in Uganda presented at Colorado Heights University USA presented at Colorado Heights University USA, 2016.
  • Coordinating a painting workshop on 8th March women’s day at Sheraton Hotel, 2012

SEMINARS/OUT REACH LECTURES

  • Making connections between Art and medicine in Uganda through Margaret Trowel presented to Bio Medical Engineering Students. Duke University USA, 2016
  • Evolution of gendered art in Uganda presented to the Art school University of Texas Permian Basin; USA, 2016
  • Art History and Art Practice presented at JB Shepherd Public Archives and Leadership Institute Library, USA, 2016
  • Linking Art and Business presented to the Business School University of Texas Permian Basin, USA, 2016
  • New artistic innovations at College of Engineering Design Art and Technology. presented to School

  •   Engineering, University of Texas Permian Basin, USA, 2016

  • Women movements and women’s empowerment in Uganda presented at Colorado Heights University USA presented at Colorado Heights University USA, 2016

  • Trowel a mother of Contemporary Art in Uganda, 2016

  • Unshackling Women’s Sexuality? Miniskirts, the Law, and the Media in Uganda presented to graduate students class at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 2015

  • Reclaiming Djenne-jeno Terracotta statuettes: a complex venture. Seminar paper presented at Witwatersrand, South Africa, 2004

  • The legacy of ‘looting’ African treasures: A case of Benin’s material culture. Seminar paper presented at Witwatersrand, South Africa, 2003

  • Re-envisioning Arenddieperink museum in portgiersrus (Mukopane ) to the trio mukopane cradle museum. Seminar paper presented at Witwatersrand, South Africa, 2003

  • The Apartheid Muse um: a social development project or a capitalistic ritual. Seminar paper presented at Witwatersrand, South Africa, 2003

  • Women’s monument in South Africa a future beyond contents. Seminar paper presented at Witwatersrand, South Africa, 2003

  • The different but one: the different-ness and one-ness at

  • MTSIFA from 1930’s to 2003. Seminar paper presented at Witwatersrand, South Africa, 2003

  • The art of a continent: a contested exhibition. Seminar paper presented at Witwatersrand, South Africa, 2003
  • The legacy of ‘looting’ African treasures: A case of Benin’s material culture. Seminar paper presented at Witwatersrand, South Africa, 2003
  • Re-envisioning Arenddieperink museum in portgiersrus (Mukopane) to the trio mukopane cradle museum. Seminar paper presented at Witwatersrand, South Africa, 2003

 

Published books

  1. Tumusiime, A and others, 2022. Art and the Brain. Shark Printers LTD Kampala Uganda. ISBN:978- 9970612-055.

  2. Tumusiime, A and others, 2018. A voice of Africa is complete with the womans voice through visual communication and multimedia.  Shark Printers LTD Kampala Uganda. ISBN:978- 9970-612-02.

  3. Tumusiime, A 2018. Another time another Place, Shark Printers LTD Kampala Uganda. ISBN:978-9970612-00-0.

  4. Tumusiime, A 2018. Advocating for full inclusion with sign language through art for the Deaf Community Shark Printers LTD Kampala Uganda. ISBN:9789970-612-01-7.

Published Book Chapters

  1. Tumusiime, A. 2015. Unshackling Women’s Sexuality? Miniskirts, the Law, and the Media in Uganda in Contested intimacies: sexuality, gender and the law in Africa / edited by Derrick Higginbotham, Victoria Collis-Buthelezi. Published in Cape Town

Published Journal Articles

ACCREDITED JOURNAL: SINGLE AUTHOR

  1. Tumusiime, A, 2018 “Our Voice of Africa”: It Is Less Than Our Voice Without a Woman’s Voice
  2. African Arts, The MIT Press Volume 51, Number 2, Summer 2018pp. 1-2.
  3. Tumusiime, A 2017. Alex Baine’s Women’s Emancipation in Uganda a Visual Archive of the History of a New generation of Women in Uganda. African Arts Volume 50 | Issue 2 | Summer 2017. p.58- – MIT Press Journals.
  4. Tumusiime, A 2017. Re-reading the Warps and Wefts in Trowell’s Mother and Child Print: Debates and Contests, Start Journal of Arts and Culture.

ACCREDITED JOURNAL: JOINT AUTHOR 

  1. Simbao R &Tumusiime, A 2017. Reaching sideways, writing our ways: The orientation of the arts Africa discourse African Arts Volume 50 | Issue 2 | Summer 2017. p.26-27 MIT Press Journals.
  2. Kakande A, &Tumusiime, A. 2016. “Ceramics as a Voice for the Protection of the Environment: On Art, Eco-activism and the Flower in Ceramic Art in Uganda” in CPAN: Journal of Ceramics ISSN: 0189-8833

  3. Tumusiime, A.2015. “Feminizing HIV/AIDS pandemic? Contemporary Ugandan art and the construction the new woman as a seropositive vampire” in The humanities and Africa’s contemporary challenges. Nigeria: Delta State University Press.

  4. Tumusiime, A. 2014. On Uganda’s Sexist Art: Its Institutions and Actors in Sida Regional collaborations. Kampala: Makerere University.

Publications citations