Rosemary Nakijoba

Invited researcher of the 2026 DEA Programme

Assoc. Professor Rosemary Nakijoba is the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities at Muteesa I Royal University, Uganda, where she also coordinates Research and Graduate Studies. She holds a PhD in Development Studies from the University of the Western Cape and a Master’s degree from Uganda Martyrs University. She previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Victoria University, Uganda. Her research centers on Gender Justice and Disability Inclusion, addressing structural inequalities in contemporary societies. Her work also explores Climate Change, Migration, Leadership, and Policy Influence to promote inclusive and equitable frameworks. She has received prestigious international fellowships from institutions such as the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) in New York, Uppsala University’s School of African Studies, and the Nordic Africa Institute (NAI) in Sweden, reflecting her global scholarly recognition.

The project

Title: Colonial and Postcolonial Archives on Disability and Gender in French Colonial Africa

"This research project seeks to explore the complex interplay of disability and gender within the context of the French colonial empire. The focus is on understanding how these intersections were constructed, governed, and institutionalized during the colonial period. The legacies of colonial policies continue to shape contemporary social policies and identity politics in postcolonial Africa, particularly in countries such as Senegal, Cameroon, and Madagascar. By conducting extensive archival research in France, this study aims to analyze various sources, including administrative, medical, missionary, and educational records, to uncover how disability and gender were represented and managed during the colonial era. The significance of this research lies in its potential to contribute to a comparative, postcolonial interpretation of disability and gender. This will enrich global discussions on inclusion, care, and justice, as highlighted in the work of Barnes and Mercer (2010)."

Hosting institution: Institut des Mondes Africains, Campus Condorcet, Aubervilliers