Elijah Mushemeza

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 a Senior Research Fellow at ACODE. Previously he was the Dean Faculty of Business and Development Studies at Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara, Uganda. He is a Visiting Professor at Ankole Western University. He holds BA, in Social Sciences, an MA in Development Studies and a PhD in Political Science of Makerere University. He is also a consultant on Education, Governance, Poverty, Politics, Conflict, Forced migration, Security, Oil and Gas, and Development issues generally in the Great Lakes region of Africa. 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. He has taught at Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Professor Mushemeza is a past alternate Executive Committee member of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA). He has published widely in international journals. He is the Editor of the Journal of Development Issues. Outside academia, Prof. Mushemeza is active in Ugandan politics. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly 1994-95 that debated, scrutinized, enacted and promulgated the Constitution of Uganda, and a Member of Parliament of Uganda in 1996. He was a Presidential Advisor at the level of a Senior Cabinet Minister and the Vice-Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of the National Resistance Movement, the ruling party in Uganda (2010-2015).

In his book, The Politics and Empowerment of Banyarwanda Refugees in Uganda, 1959–2001,^[1] 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^[2] and CEWIGO.^[3] 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,^[4] the ruling party in Uganda.

Works

• Mushemeza E.D., (1998), ‘Refugees and International Relations: The case of Uganda and Her Neighbours,’ in Gingyera – Pinycwa, A.G.G (ed.) Uganda and the Problem of Refugees. Kampala: Makerere University Press.

• Mushemeza E.D., (2001), ‘Issues of Violence in the Democritisation Process in Uganda’ in Africa Development Vol. XXVI, Nos 1 & 2, 2001, Dakar, CODESRIA.

• Mushemeza E.D., (2004), ‘Policy Making, Implementation and the State: Challenges of Poverty Reduction/Eradication and Sustainable Development’ in Ssewakiryanga, R (ed.), The State and Policy Making. CBR/ENRECA OCCASSIONAL PAPER SERIES Vol. 6/2004, Kampala, Centre for Basic Research.

• Mushemeza E.D., (2005), ‘Beyond the Referendum 2000 (on Political Systems) in Uganda: Is the Movement a Political Party?’ In Mukama Ruth and Murindwa-Rutanga (eds.) Confronting Twenty-first Century Challenges: Analyses and Re-dedications by National and International Scholars. Volume Three, Kampala, Makerere University Printery.

• Mushemeza E.D., (2005), Globalisation and Violence in the Great Lakes Region of Africa: An Overview in Mukwaya, Aaron K. Kabweru (ed.) Uganda’s Fundamental Change: Domestics and External Dynamics of Conflicts and Development. Kampala, Makerere University Printery.

• Mushemeza, E.D., (2006), Monitoring Legislative Representation: Environmental Issues in the 7th Parliament of Uganda. ACODE Policy Research Series.
• Mushemeza E.D (2007), The Politics and Empowerment of Banyarwanda Refugees in Uganda 1959-2001. Kampala, Fountain Publishers.

• Mushemeza E.D., (2007), The Functioning of Multi party System in Local Governments: Challenges of Transition from a Movement System in Uganda. ACODE Policy Briefing paper no. 20

• Mushemeza E.D., (2008), “Policing in Post-Conflict Environment: Implications for Police Reform in Uganda”, Journal of Security Sector Management. Vol.6 Issue 3 November 2008, Shrivenham, UK, Centre for Security Management, Cranfield University

• Mushemeza ED (2009), The Politics of Government-Opposition Relations: Implications For Democratic Transition in Uganda, ACODE Policy Paper

• Mushemeza, E.D., and Mbabazi, P., (2009), The State and Media Relationship in Uganda’s Transitional Democracy, Nairobi: Africa Research and Resource Forum.
• Mushemeza, E.D., 2010, “Mechanisms for Handling Disasters and Humanitarian Assistance to Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in Uganda”, MAWAZO, Kampala: Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Social Sciences, Makerere University.

• Mushemeza, E.D, 2010, ‘The Contribution of Women in Influencing Legislation and Policy Formulation and Implementation in Uganda 1995-2005’, in Africa Development. Vol. XXXIV No. 3 & 4, Dakar: CODESRIA

• Mushemeza, E.D., 2010, “Democratisation and Leadership Succession in Uganda”, in REDET, Democracy and Political Competition in East Africa, Dar es Salaam: E & D Vision Publishing.

• Mushemeza, E.D., 2010, “The Presidential Term Limit (‘Third Term’) Debate: Implications for Regime Transition in Uganda”, in REDET, Democracy and Political Competition in East Africa, Dar es Salaam: E & D Vision Publishing.

• Mushemeza, E.D., 2011, “Elections, Democracy Challenge and Development in Africa” in Journal of Development Issues, Vol 3 No. 1 & 2, Mbarara: Faculty of Business and Development Studies, BSU.

• Mushemeza, E.D., (2015), The Legislature and Budget Oversight: A Comparative Study of Selected Countries in the East African Community, ACODE Policy Research Paper Series NO. 71, Kampala: ACODE

• Mushemeza, E.D., et.al. (2016), “Local Content Frameworks in African Oil and gas sector: Lessons from Angola and Chad”. www.ella.practicalaction.org/

• Mushemeza, E.D (2016), “In the Service of the Regime: Exploring the Relationship between Intelligence and the State in Uganda” in International Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Studies Vol. 3. Issue 6, June 2016. www.ijrhss.org/v3-16/5pdf

• Mushemeza, E.D, (2016), “Opportunities and Challenges of Academic Staff in Higher Education in Africa”, in International Journal of Higher education Vol. 5, No.3; 2016 www.sciedupress.com/ijhe

• Mushemeza E.D, (2016), “Role of Non state Actors (Political Movements, Militias, Civil Society) in Shaping Regional Security in Africa”, in Global Journals Inc. (US) Vol.16 Issue 3 https://globaljournals.org/papers/

Personal life

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

References

External links

• The National Resistance Movement website
• The Bishop Stuart University website
• The CODESRIA website
• The ACODE website