Kabale University Hosts RESPECT 1 Workshop on Interdisciplinary Approaches to Human Rights
Kabale University has taken a significant step toward strengthening its leadership in human-rights education and research after successfully hosting the inaugural RESPECT Workshop 1: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Human Rights. The workshop is part of the wider Responsible Critical Thinking (RESPECT) project, a collaborative academic initiative between Lund University (LU) in Sweden and Kabale University (KAB) in Uganda.
The RESPECT project, funded by the Swedish Institute (2024 – 2026), aims to enhance KAB’s institutional capacity to establish and sustainably manage a postgraduate programme in Human Rights. Central to this effort is the project’s commitment to advancing human-rights scholarship, fostering interdisciplinary research, and addressing the needs and experiences of marginalized communities in East Africa. The initiative contributes directly to Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16): Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
The workshop opened with an engaging and informative session led by Mr. Ivan Mugabi, an Assistant Lecturer in the Faculty of Law and Head of the Department of Human Rights and Peace at Kabale University. Drawing from his extensive academic and research experience, he delivered two presentations titled Human Rights and Marginalised Groups: International Perspective and Human Rights and Marginalised Groups: Ugandan Perspective.
Mr. Mugabi highlighted the historical development of human rights, the legal instruments protecting vulnerable populations, and the complex challenges faced by marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities, slum dwellers, refugees, children, women, and communities living with HIV. His presentations invited participants to think critically about how law, policy, and society either reinforce or dismantle marginalization.
The international team from Lund University, led by Prof. Eva Brodin and Dr. Karin Steen, guided participants through interactive sessions on interdisciplinary research, its growing global relevance, and its application in advancing human-rights scholarship.
Prof. Brodin’s session on Interdisciplinary Research: Theory and Practice emphasized the importance of blending academic disciplines to respond to complex societal challenges. She underscored that interdisciplinary collaboration is central to achieving the ambitions of Agenda 2030, particularly for research touching on human dignity, equity and social justice.
Dr. Steen facilitated a hands-on session where postgraduate students formed interdisciplinary teams, selected marginalized groups of interest, and linked their discussions to multiple Sustainable Development Goals. These group activities encouraged teamwork, problem-solving, and the formulation of research-driven responses to real-world human-rights challenges.
Participants included postgraduate students from across five faculties at Kabale University:
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences
- Faculty of Computing
- Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Students examined real-life marginalization scenarios, reflected on the root causes of exclusion and explored interdisciplinary solutions through action-oriented group discussions.
Through these activities, the workshop promoted critical thinking, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of the structural and social barriers that shape human-rights outcomes.
Beyond student engagement, the RESPECT project seeks to strengthen the capacity of academic supervisors at KAB. The project promotes a rights-based, non-authoritarian approach to postgraduate supervision, emphasizing mentorship, dialogue, and shared responsibility for academic success.
By enhancing supervision quality and embedding human-rights principles into academic processes, the project aims to create a strong foundation for a future postgraduate programme in Human Rights one that is sustainable, research-driven, and responsive to East Africa’s societal needs.
The successful delivery of RESPECT Workshop 1 marks an important milestone in Kabale University’s journey toward becoming a regional leader in human-rights education and interdisciplinary research. Through strategic partnerships, student-centered learning and continuous capacity building, the University is steadily positioning itself at the forefront of scholarly and societal transformation.
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