Assoc. Prof. Helen Musanabera. Byamugisha

Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance & Administration)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Helen Musanabera Byamugisha is a highly accomplished academic, administrator, and information science professional currently serving as the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance & Administration) at Kabale University. With over four decades of progressive experience in higher education, she has built a distinguished career grounded in academic leadership, institutional governance, and the advancement of knowledge systems. She joined Kabale University in June 2023 as an Associate Professor in Library and Information Science before assuming her current leadership role in April 2026.

Dr. Byamugisha previously served as the University Librarian at Makerere University from 2018 to 2023, where she provided strategic direction in the management of library services, research support systems, and access to academic resources. Her tenure was marked by a strong focus on innovation, digitization of information services, and strengthening institutional capacity to support teaching, learning, and research. She also served in several other senior roles at Makerere University, including Acting University Librarian and Deputy University Librarian, demonstrating her long-standing commitment to academic excellence and service.

She holds a PhD in Information Science, a Master of Science in Information Science, a Postgraduate Diploma in Librarianship, a Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation, and a Bachelor of Science in Botany and Zoology. Dr. Byamugisha is widely recognized for her expertise in information access, knowledge management, and the use of information systems to address societal and institutional challenges.

A strategic thinker and results-oriented leader, she possesses strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills, and has a proven ability to lead and inspire multidisciplinary teams. She is deeply committed to mentorship, research, and community service, and continues to contribute to national and international academic discourse through publications, conference engagements, and professional associations.

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Qualifications

Dr. Byamugisha holds:

  • PhD in Information Science – Makerere University
  • Master of Science in Information Science – Makerere University
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Librarianship – Makerere University
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation – Uganda Management Institute
  • Bachelor of Science (Botany & Zoology) – Makerere University

Research Interests

  • Information access, utilization, and knowledge management in higher education
  • Academic library systems, services, and innovation
  • Digitization and digital preservation of information resources
  • Information literacy and user education in academic institutions
  • Virtual information services and e-learning support systems
  • Information behavior and information needs of communities
  • Knowledge organization, retrieval, and dissemination
  • Scholarly communication and research support services
  • Library management, leadership, and policy development
  • Gender and inclusivity in information access and knowledge systems
  • Monitoring and evaluation of information services and educational programmes
  • Role of information systems in socio-economic development and problem-solving

Publications

Projects

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Presentations

PAPERS PRESENTED AT CONFERENCES/WORKSHOPS

  • Libraries “Break Bricks” to Build Collections: Makerere University Book Bank Print Books de-selection Experience.
  • Book Bank System, a model for enhancing access to reading materials in academic libraries with low budgets: an experience from Makerere University in Uganda.
  • Applying quantitative and qualitative methods in identifying agricultural information sources used by Urban Farmers in Kampala Capital City Authority in Uganda
  • Digitizing library resources for new modes of information use in Uganda
  • Information needs and use among urban farmers in Kampala City in Uganda
  • Information seeking and use among urban farmers in Kampala District in Uganda
  • State of Funding of National and University libraries in the context of COVID 19 – Makerere University Experience
  • Barriers to information seeking among urban farmers in Kampala Capital City Authority in Uganda
  • Information sources consulted by prospective university students: Selecting higher education institutions in Uganda
  • Makerere university Klaus wachsmann audio-visual archive.
  • Open access initiatives in Uganda
  • Information science: past, present and the future.
  • Pricing of information in academic libraries
  • The role of the library in the university
  • Writing a good research paper

More Information

Academic and Research Contributions
Assoc. Prof. Byamugisha has made significant contributions to research and scholarship in information science. Her research interests include:

  • Information access and utilization
  • Digitization of library resources
  • Academic library services
  • Information support systems in higher education
  • Virtual information services during crises such as COVID-19

She has published in peer-reviewed journals and presented papers at numerous local and international conferences. She has also supervised graduate students, served as an internal examiner at Makerere University, and as an external examiner at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Projects and International Engagement
She has played a key role in major research and development initiatives, including:

  • Principal Investigator for the Sida-funded project on “Information Support for Quality Higher Education and Research in Uganda” (2015–2022), which supported library development and postgraduate training
  • Project Team Leader for a Carnegie-funded initiative that enhanced library collections at Makerere University
  • Member of the Carnegie Corporation Advisory Board (MIT Programme, University of Pretoria, South Africa)

Her work has contributed to strengthening academic resources and research capacity across institutions.

Professional Attributes
Assoc. Prof. Byamugisha is widely regarded as a proactive, self-driven, and performance-oriented leader. She demonstrates:

  • Strong strategic and analytical capabilities
  • Excellent leadership and team-building skills
  • High adaptability to emerging technologies and environments
  • Commitment to integrity, professionalism, and service

She is passionate about using information and knowledge systems to address societal challenges and improve institutional effectiveness.

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