Sub-Saharan Africa: Uganda “Teaching International Relations at Makerere University”

The teaching of International Relations at Makerere University reflects Uganda’s colonial education past, and the education backgrounds of persons teaching the course. Lecturers of International Relations have mostly been trained in Universities in the United Kingdom, United States, and other Commonwealth countries. However, rather than simply reproducing Anglo-American perspectives, lecturers focus on local contexts and realities. The policy of Africanization shaped the teaching of International Relations. Taught in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, since 1964, the prioritization of public Administration stifled International Relations. Political and economic turmoil of the 1970s affected teaching at Makerere University. The quality of teaching and research deteriorated, tutorials as a teaching method was dropped in favour of lectures and dictation of notes. Despite these challenges, Makerere remained resilient. Responding to World Bank reforms in the 1990s and demand for higher education, the Political Science curriculum was revised. Several undergraduate course units and a graduate programme in International Relations and Diplomatic Studies were introduced. Yet, challenges such as limited critical thinking and appreciation of theories and concepts remain prevalent because of cultural factors. To interest students in theory, it’s important to ground theory in local realities.