info@ucu.ac.ug +256312350800
info@ucu.ac.ug +256312350800

Prof. Monica B. Chibita

Prof. Monica B. Chibita

Dean School of Journalism, Media and Communication

Date of Birth: 23rd February, 1963

Marital Status: Married

Contacts:

e-mail: mchibita@ucu.ac.ug ; cc: mbchibita@gmail.com

Tel.  +256-779-842135

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8398-138X?lang=en

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

  • Doctor of Literature and Philosophy (Communication) (University of South Africa). Thesis title: ‘Indigenous language programming and citizen participation in Uganda’s broadcasting: an exploratory study’. 2006 (Makerere University/Carnegie Corporation of New York research grant).
  • M.A. in Journalism (University of Iowa). 1992. (Fulbright Fellowship).
  • B.A/ Education (Makerere University). 1986. (Government of Uganda grant).
Career Growth
  • 1994: Appointed Lecturer Makerere University
  • 1994: Appointed Assistant Coordinator, Department of Mass Communication
  • 1996: Appointed Coordinator, Department of Mass Communication
  • 2000: Appointed Head, Department of Mass Communication, Makerere University. Served till 2004 when I took study leave.
  • 2004: Promoted to Senior Lecturer, Department of Mass Communication, Makerere University.
  • 2011: Promoted to Associate Professor, Makerere University
  • 2011: Appointed Chair, Department of Journalism and Communication, Makerere University.
  • Appointed Associate Professor Uganda Christian University (UCU) w.e.f. January 3, 2012.
  • Appointed Head of Department, Mass Communication, Uganda Christian University, March 2012
  • Appointed Dean Faculty of Journalism, Media and Communication, July 2018
  • Appointed Full Professor, May 2019
SELECT PUBLICATIONS Articles in peer-reviewed, internationally recognized journals
1

Chibita, M. & Fourie, P. J. 2007. A socio-history of the media and participation in Uganda, Communicatio, 33:1, 1-25, DOI: 10.1080/02500160701398938

Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/02500160701398938

2

Chibita M.B. 2009. The politics of broadcasting, language policy and democracy in Uganda. Journal of African Media Studies 1(2): 257-307.

3

Chibita M.B. 2010. The evolution of media policy in Uganda. African Communication Research. 3(1). Pp. 85-119. Link: Chibita_The evolution of media policy in Uganda_2010.pdf (786.6Kb)

Link: Chibita_The evolution of media policy in Uganda_2010.pdf (786.6Kb)  

4

Chibita M. B. 2010. Pecora, N., Osei-Hwere, E., and Carlsson, U. (Eds.) (2008). African media, African children. Nordicom. The International Clearinghouse on Children, Youth and Media. Gothenburg: University of Gothenburg, in European Journal of Communication Research (Communications)

URL: http://www.ejcr.eu/node/15/. [Book Review]

5

Miller, A. N.,* Kiyingi, E., Gabolya, C., Lagot, S., Mulwanya, R., Kiva, J., Nabasaake, G., &Chibita, M. B. 2016. Ugandan adolescents’ sources, interpretation, and evaluation of sexual content in entertainment media programming. Sex Education, 16:707-720.

6

Chibita M.B. and Mfaume, N. 2011. “Language policy in Uganda and Tanzania: public sphere or public sphericules? Mawazo: The Journal of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. 10(3): 236-256.

7

Miller, A. N.*, Lagot, S., Gabolya, C., Nabasaaka, G., Mulwanya, R., Kiva, J., Nalugya, E., &Chibita, M. B. 2016. The association between Ugandan adolescents’ viewing of specific television genres and their sex-related normative beliefs and behaviors. Communicatio:South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research. 42:221-237.

8

Chibita M.B. and Mfaume, N. 2011. “Language policy in Uganda and Tanzania: public sphere or public sphericules? Mawazo: The Journal of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. 10(3): 236-256.

9

Miller, A. N., Booker, N, &Chibita M.B., Napakol, A, (2017). Preliminary investigation into measurement of health-related media and information literacy among Ugandan and Kenyan high school students.

10

Susanne Fengler , Mariella Bastian , Janis Brinkmann , Anna Carina Zappe , Veye Tatah , Michael Andindilile , Emrakeb Assefa , Monica Chibita , Adolf Mbaine , Levi Obonyo , Timothy Quashigah , Dimitris Skleparis , Sergio Splendore , Mathewos Tadesse & Monika Lengauer 2020: Covering Migration—in Africa and Europe: Results from a Comparative Analysis of 11 Countries, Journalism Practice, DOI: 10.1080/17512786.2020.1792333

 Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2020.17923332.3

11

Croucher S. M., Kelly, S., Rahmani, D, Burkey, M., Subanaliev, T., Galy-Badenas, F., Lando, A.L. Chibita, M, Nyiransabimana, V, Turdubaeva, E, N Eskiçorapçı N, & Kelsea J. (2020) A multi-national validity analysis of the self-perceived communication competence scale, Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, 13:1, 1-12, DOI: 10.1080/17513057.2019.1569250

Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17513057.2019.1569250

12

Croucher, S. M., Rahmani, D, Burkey, M., Subanaliev, T., Galy-Badenas, F., Lando, A. L, Chibita, M., Nyiransabimana, V., Turdubaeva, E., Eskiçorapçı N, & Kelsea. 2020. A multi-national validity analysis of the self-perceived communication competence scale, Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, 13:1, 1-12, DOI: 10.1080/17513057.2019.1569250

Book Chapters

Chibita, M. B. and Ugangu, W.  2017. Social Media Regulation in Africa, in Pieter J. Fourie (Ed.). 2017. Media Studies:Social (new) Media and Mediated Communication Today.  Volume IV. Cape Town: JUTA.(Media Theory textbook chapter).

Chibita, M. B. 2015. “Indigenous language media and freedom of expression in Uganda,”  in Abiodun Salawu and Monica B. Chibita (eds). 2015. Indigenous language media, language politics and democracy in Africa. London: Palgrave: 28-56.

Chibita M.B. and Salawu, A. 2015. “Introduction: language, structure and agency: optimisng media diversity in Africa  using the indigenous languages,” in Abiodun Salawu and Monica B. Chibita (eds).Indigenous language media, language politics and democracy in Africa. London: Palgrave: 1-9.

Chibita M. B. 2012. “Multiple publics, multiple languages: Radio and the contestations of broadcasting language policy in Uganda,” in Liz Gunner, Dina Ligaga, and Dumisani Moyo (eds). 2012. Radio in Africa: Cultures, publics, communities. Johannesberg: Wits University Press. Pp.27-285
https://muse.jhu.edu/chapter/1944817/pdf

Chibita M. B. 2011. “Policing popular media in Africa”, in Popular media, democracy and development, Herman Wasserman (ed). London: Routledge: 268-281.

Chibita M. 2006. Our tongues count: A Ugandan perspective on indigenous language, local content and democracy, in Indigenous language media in Africa, edited by A. Salawu. Lagos:  Center for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC).

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

I taught at the Mass Communication Department at Makerere University from 1994-2011(17 years) at the ranks of Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor and have taught at Uganda Christian University at the rank of Associate Professor both at undergraduate and graduate levels since 2012 (five years).

Edited Books

Salawu, A. and Chibita, Monica B. (eds.). 2015. Indigenous language media, language politics and democracy in Africa. London: Palgrave.

Printed books

Chibita M.B. 2004. The National Electronic Media Performance Study (2004). Kampala: Makerere University Press.

Non-refereed industry publications

Chibita M. B. 2010. Developing undergraduate journalism curricula: concerns and issues. Rhodes Journalism Review/Focus on FAME  (A special Rhodes Journalism Review feature) No. 30, July 2010: pp. 2-3.

Chibita M. B. 2009. Our story, our vision.Masscom@20:celebrating two decades of professionalising journalism.

Online publications

Chibita M. B. 2010. Ugandan radio as a political space and the regulation thereof. Online publication. URL: www.iese.ac.mz/lib/publication/proelit/Monica_Chibita.pdf.

Chibita, M.B. 2010. Media practitioners as a force for social change. URL: http://themediaproject.org/article/media-practitioners-force-social-change

RESEARCH

Principal researcher on a study titled “The National Electronic Media Performance Study: 2004”. (NEMPS I) This study formed the theoretical and empirical basis for public hearings and subsequently Uganda’s first draft National Broadcasting Policy (2004). Commissioned by the Uganda Communications Commission.

Principal researcher on a national study titled “The National Electronic Media Performance Study (NEMPS II) 2014. The report was adopted by the Uganda Communications Commission and formed part of the empirical  basis for a review of the National Broadcasting Policy and legislation, and specifically national broadcasting (content) guidelines

Lead Ugandan researcher for the Ugandan component of an 11 country study on the coverage of the migration crisis in African and European newspapers, under the umbrella of the Journalism in a Global Context project (jigc.media/research/)

Principal researcher on a post-doctoral study under the Makerere/SidaSarec research collaboration (2006-2009), titled “Media policy, indigenous language radio and diversity in Uganda” which yielded several publications and conference papers.

RESEARCH SUPERVISION AND MENTORING

Knowledge-sharing

My research interests have been in the related areas of media history; broadcast media and democratization; media policy, law and regulation; media diversity; indigenous language radio; media, migration and recently the media and xenophobia, Journalism/Communication training and Journalism/Communication curriculum development. Lately, I have also worked in the broad area of Communications, focusing on media influence and organizational communication

Graduate students

  • I have supervised several graduate students at postgraduate level to completion, including three PhDs.
  • I am a trainer and mentor on AfriChild’s inter-university child-focused research methods training programme.

Undergraduate students

I have been actively involved in undergraduate supervision since 1995 both at Makerere University and Uganda Christian University.

 

Networking/Membership to Professional Associations

  • Member, East Africa Communication Association (EACA)
  • Member International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR)
  • Member, International Communication Association (ICA) and ICA-Africa

Quality Assurance

Internal examiner
  • Served as internal examiner for several MA theses in the Arts and Humanities at, Makerere University and at Uganda Christian University.
  • Chief Internal examiner for undergraduate and graduate level for Makerere University and Uganda Christian University for over 10 years.

CONSULTANCY

  • Associate Consultant, Leading Boards Africa.
  • Principal Investigator on a national review of the electronic media sector in preparation for policy review. (2012-2014), Commissioned by the Uganda Communications Commission.
  • Lead Ugandan researcher for the Ugandan component of an 11 country study on the coverage of the migration crisis in African and European newspapers, under the umbrella of the Journalism in a Global Context project (jigc.media/research/). (2016-present). Commissioned by the Erich-Brost Institute, Germany.

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION

  • Aga Khan Graduate School of Media and Communication (Masters’ Level)
  • Mandela National University, South Africa (PhD level)
  • Maseno University, Department of Communication and Media Technology (undergraduate and graduate levels)
  • Moi University, Kenya (Masters Level)
  • NLA University College, Norway, (MA Level)
  • Rhodes University, South Africa, Department of Journalism and Media Studies. (Masters level).
  • University of Fort Hare (Masters’ level)
  • University of Johannesburg, South Africa (PhD level)
  • University of KwaZulu-Natal, (PhD Level)
  • University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa (Masters; Phd. level).
  • Been invited several times by the National Council for Higher Education in Uganda and Namibia to review certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the area of Journalism and Communication for accreditation.

Curriculum development/academic leadership

As Head of Department, led a team to develop a grant proposal in 2012/2013. This was submitted to NORAD. The team (with representatives from UCU, UKZN and NLA University College) won the grant worth nearly two million USD. This has enabled the establishment of a Masters’ programme in Journalism and Media Studies, the acquisition of six MA scholarships and five PhD scholarships, and a post-doctoral grant for the Department’s capacity building. It has also made available equipment and library resources. The project is on course. The same team in 2020 won the NORHED II grant worth.

As Ag. Head of Department at Makerere University, led a team in a process of curriculum review of the undergraduate curriculum of the Makerere University Mass Communication Department to, among other things, make a clear distinction between the teaching of journalism and of communication, and bring the courses up to date in light of changes in the media/communication industry. The implementation of the revised undergraduate Mass Communication curriculum started in August 2010. A change of programme name from “Bachelor of Mass Communication” to “Bachelor of Journalism and Communication” arising out of the curriculum review exercise was also approved by the relevant university organs and has taken effect.

Participated in development of curricula for the Regional Training Programme in Environmental Journalism and Communication sponsored by the Sida Lake Victoria Programme and jointly run by Makerere University, National University of Rwanda, Daystar University, Press House of Burundi and St. Augustine University in Tanzania. The courses run between 2002 and 2008. Participants in the programme were drawn from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. Curricula subsequently offered at the Department of Mass Communication included short courses and a postgraduate diploma in Environmental Journalism and Communication

Participated in the development of curricula for short courses in the Basics of HIV/AIDS and Communication in collaboration with the Health Communication Partnership/Johns Hopkins University School of Communications/AfriComNet. The courses have been offered at partner Universities in Kenya (University of Nairobi), Uganda (Makerere University), Namibia (University of Namibia) and South Africa (Stellenbosch University) under the AfriComNet partnership.

As Head of Department, I led a team from UCU, University of KwaZulu-Natal and NLA University College in the development of the curriculum for an MA in Journalism and Media Studies at Uganda Christian University. This was accredited by the National Council for Higher Education in 2014.

Served on a UNESCO-sanctioned team to develop a curriculum for UNESCO’s “Reporting Africa” project. The project aims to indigenize journalism education on the continent. I contributed a course on indigenous language media in Africa which has been adopted by UNESCO (see http://journalismschools.unesco-ci.org/pg/pages/view/12053/)

Served as a consultant to develop a programme document for UNESCO’s “In-service Training Programme for Media Development in Southern Sudan.” The programme includes a short course in Media Management, a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism and a Bachelors’ Degree in Journalism.

As Head of Department, led a team in a curriculum review exercise of the undergraduate Mass Communication programme at Uganda Christian University, aligning it with current industry needs. This curriculum was accredited by the National Council for Higher Education in 2013.

I oversaw the establishment of an MA in Strategic Communication in 2018 at Uganda Christian University and the Faculty has not obtained funding from NORHED to set up a PhD programme starting 2022.

GRANTS

Large grants

2021-2026 Co-lead-NORHED- “Preparing Practitioners for a Resilient Media in Eastern Africa” –     19.9 million  NOK

2013-2020 Lead-NORHED- “Capacity building for a changing media environment in Uganda” -NOK 12.8 million NOK

2002-2006 ; Lead-Sida Sarec- Swedish Support to a Regional Environmental Journalism and Communication Programme in Eastern Africa 30,500,000 SEK

Other grants

1990-1993   Junior Fulbright Fellowship;

2005-2006 Lead- Carnegie Corporation;

2019- Co- lead Erasmus+ Staff and Student Mobility Grant-NLA University College, Norway;

 

Awards

  • Junior Fulbright Fellowship, 1990-1992
  • 2003-2006- Carnegie Corporation of New York research grant
  • In 2018, awarded the Sudreau Global Justice Program of Pepperdine University (in recognition of influence on women in Journalism).

EDITORIAL RESPONSIBILITIES/VETTING OF PUBLICATIONS

And other journals

SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

University community Membership to standing committees

  • Member, Senate, Uganda Christian University (2012-present)
  • Member, Staff Tribunal, Uganda Christian University (2012-present)
  • Member, Communications Committee, Uganda Christian University, (2012-2018).
  • Chair, Academic Promotions Committee, Uganda Christian University (2013-2017)
  • Member, Administration Selection Committee of the Appointments Board of the Makerere University Council (2008-2010).
  • Member, Public Relations and Communication Advisory Board, Makerere University (2010)
  • Member, Senate, Makerere University (2000-2002; 2011)

Other

  • Co-moderator for World Vision International Triennial Council (November 2019)
  • Moderator for Tri-ennial Council, November 2022
  • Member, Scientific Committee for Family Conference hosted by Uganda Christian University (21-22 May 2018).
  • Co-convenor, 5th EACA conference, (with Makerere University), Uganda, August 2016.
  • Conference Convener, 3rd East African Communication Association (EACA) conference, 2014.
  • Co-ordinator, NORHED capacity-building project (Uganda Christian University, NLA University College, Norway and University of Kwa-Zulu Natal) 2013-present.
  • Served on the organizing committee for two consecutive Research and Innovations Conferences of Makerere University, and Chaired the publicity sub-committee (2009, 2010).

Broader Community National

Broader Community National

  • Board Member, AMREF (Uganda) 2020-
  • Board Member, World Vision (Uganda) (March 2011-present);
  • Chair, 2016-2019
  • Vice-Chair, 2013-2016.
  • Member, Ministry Committee 2016-present
  • Member, Governance Committee 2011-present;
  • Member, Board of Directors, New Vision Printing and Publishing Corporation (2010-present);
  • Board Chair, 2017-2019
  • Chair, Editorial Board Committee 2010-2017
  • Member, Human Resource Committee (2010-2014; 2016-2018),
  • Member, Nominations and Remuneration Committee (2015-present).
  • Board Chair, African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) (2009-present).(Seehttp://www.acme-ug.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=5). 2012-2020
  • Honorary member, FEMRITE (See http://www.femriteug.org/?view=21 ).

International

  • Member, Board of Directors, World Vision International, 2015-present; Vice-Chair of the Board; Chair, Ministry Strategy Committee 2019-present. Member of the WVI Board Executive Committee (See www.wvi.org/directors)
  • President, East Africa Communication Association (EACA) (2014-2018).
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