Kabale University Professor appointed as an Extraordinary Professor in a top South African Business School

Professor Benon Basheka, who recently joined Kabale University as a Professor of Governance has been appointed to a prestigious position of an Extra-Ordinary Professor at the NWU Business School in the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences in South Africa. An Extraordinary Professor is appointed for a specific purpose to teach a particular course at the University, to initiate and/or to carry out a specific research project, etc. and for a specific term of up to three (3) years at a time. An Extraordinary Professor renders a specific service to the University. Extraordinary simply means ‘beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable’. Basheka’s appointment therefore signifies his remarkable contribution and standing to the academic community of governance and public administration.

In a formal communication of this appointment dated 18^th November 2019, Professor Basheka is expected to start on this new role from 1^st January 2020 and the appointment goes up to 31^st December 2023. The Director of the School of Business and Governance-Professor F.G Netswera is expected to discuss the modalities and arrange with Professor Basheka part of the activities to be engaged in during this period. Professor Basheka is also a Visiting Professor and Research Fellow at the School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy at the University of Johannesburg. He has previously served as a Visiting Professor at the Turfloap’s Graduate School of Leadership at the University of Limpopo.

Basheka’s appointment was expected having excelled in research and publications and graduate supervision. He has supervised to successful completion over 500 graduate students throughout his career. He has supervised over 20 PhD students to successful completion and has externally examined over 40 doctoral dissertations across the world. He is an accomplished scholar, research and professor. He has also done commendable work in the consultancy industry where his services are used by the government and a number of multinational agencies.

The above extraordinary appointment is of immense significance to Professor Basheka’s meticulous academic rise but also offers huge benefits between the two partnering Universities. Kabale University will significantly boost its internationalisation and networking agenda through such initiatives. The joint research projects will be useful for the two sister institutions. Professor Basheka is the Chair of the 1st International Conference in Governance and Leadership to be held at Kabale University in May 2020.  The conference is expected to be one of the major events in the history of the University. It is expected to attract a number of international delegates and will be used as an occasion to launch the African Journal of Governance and Public Leadership. In his recent partnership visit to the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, Professor Basheka secured funding for the journal for the next one year. The conference will also be affiliated to the  ‘Africa’s Public Service Delivery & Performance Review’ journal where a special issue in honour of the Kabale conference will be edited.

The conference will also have a doctoral session for graduate students and another special session for effective supervision. There will also be a session on how to publish which will be spearheaded by Prof Daniel, the Editor in Chief of Administration Publica-one of the respected Journals in South Africa in the field of Public Administration. Professor Auriacombe will be leading the session on effective supervision by supervisors while Professor Dominic Uwizimana will be leading support the special sessions. Professor Jarbandhan, Vain; the former editor of the Administration Publica will also be making a presentation on how to get published. Professor Betty Mubangizi of the University of Kwazul Natal is expected to lead a special session on rural livelihoods and as a leading Editor of the African Journal of Governance and Development, she will be a useful resource on how to publish and effective doctoral supervision. The conference details can be found at: https://kab.ac.ug/icglst/.