Dr. Ocan Johnson

Lecturer-English

Johnson Ocan, Ph.D., is a distinguished literary scholar, academic leader, and researcher, currently serving as Lecturer in Literature and Coordinator of the MA Literature (MLT) programme at Kabale University. Since 2020, he has established a reputation for teaching excellence, intellectual leadership, and impactful academic mentorship. His prior appointments at Busitema University and the University of Bradford (UK) have shaped a strong global and comparative outlook. He holds a PhD in English Literature from the University of Birmingham (UK).
Dr. Ocan’s scholarship is defined by its originality and interdisciplinary reach, engaging postcolonial literatures, African oral traditions, queer romantic literatures, and poetics. He is particularly recognized for his pioneering work on the documentation and digitization of Acoli folklore, advancing the preservation and critical revaluation of indigenous knowledge systems within contemporary literary and digital discourse.
Working at the cutting edge of folklore, performance, and digital humanities, his forthcoming Routledge monograph, Dancing Markets into Being, builds on frameworks developed by Natalie Underberg-Goode to demonstrate how Acoli expressive systems actively shape game design and cultural economies in East Africa. This work positions him as a leading voice in rethinking the relationship between tradition, technology, and creative industries.
As an engaged and highly sought-after supervisor, Dr. Ocan welcomes MA/MPhil and PhD researchers in postcolonial studies, oral traditions, and African literary thought. His expanding body of work is widely visible across major academic platforms including Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Semantic Scholar, and Web of Science reflecting a growing international profile and scholarly influence.

Qualifications

 

  • Ph.D. (Literature in English) University of Birmingham UK
  • MA (TESOL) University of Leeds, U.K
  • BA (Hons.) Upper Second Class Makerere University Kampala, Lit & CSK

Research Interests

Dr. Ocan  foregrounds his interests in; African Oral Literature, Digital Humanities, and Postcolonial Ecocriticism as his core niche, while still exploring;

1. Postcolonial Ecocriticism and Environmental Humanities

  • Literature as a response to climate change, land displacement, and ecological crisis in Africa.

  • Oral traditions and indigenous ecological knowledge as sources of sustainable environmental ethics.

2. Memory, Trauma, and Conflict Narratives

  • Representation of war, genocide, and displacement in East African literature.

  • Literature as cultural memory and a tool of healing and reconciliation.

3. Migration, Diaspora, and Identity

  • Narratives of exile, displacement, and belonging in contemporary African writing.

  • How African literature negotiates hybridity and transnational identities

4. AI, Technology, and African Literary Futures

  • Speculative fiction and Afrofuturism in East Africa.

  • How AI and new media are influencing African storytelling traditions.

 

Publications

Asanasio Mukobi1*, Johnson Ocan 2* & Francis Akena Adyanga3* . (2026) . Wildlife Crime and the Law: Effectiveness of Offender Prosecution in Queen Elizabeth National Park . East African Journal of Law and Ethics eajle.eanso.org , 9(1)
Keshab Sigdel, Alex Pausides, Achour Fenni, Saley Boubé Bali . (2026) . Poetry Planetariat . Medellin, Colombia : Publisher World Poetry Movement , pp. 2-137
Johnson Ocan, Alex Pausides Achour Fenni Saley Boubé Bali . (2026) . Poetry Planetariat . Medellin, Colombia : World Poetry Movement worldpoetrymovement.org , pp. 2-137
Johnson Ocan & Charles Nelson Okumu . (2025) . Utilisation of Acoli Folktales for Mindset Modification in Post-LRA Incursions: A Sociological Perspective . South African Journal of Folklore., 34(2). South Africa : © Unisa Press 2025, pp. 1-19
Ocan J, Eton M, Akena FA, and Ayiga N, . (2025) . Johnson, O., Marus, E., Adyanga, A. F., & Ayiga, N. (2023). The experiences and challenges of Doctoral Education in Public Universities compared. Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 3(3), 237-252.
Johnson Ocan 1* , Sharon Namara 2*, Gad Kwizera 3*, & Norah Ainemababazi 4* . (2025) . Constructs of Postcolonial Space and Identity in Women’s Fiction . East African Journal of Arts and Social Sciences, Volume 8, Issue 3, 2025, 8(3). Nairobi: EAST AFRICANNATURE &SCIENCEORGANIZATION, (EANSO), pp. 458-474
Grace Niwabiine and Johnson Ocan . (2025) . Post-colonial representation of women’s education in African novels . Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education (JSHE) ISSN 2746-623X, , 5(4, 2025). Kwala Lumpur, Indonesia : Goodwood Publishing , pp. 311-321
Johnson Ocan . (2025) . Depictions of activism at universities compared; Contexts for Political Engagement . International Journal of English Literature and Social SciencesVol-10, Issue-3; May-Jun, 202, 10(3), pp. 554-590
Johnson Ocan . (2024) . Experiences and challenges implementing Uganda’s revised English Literature curriculum: Problematization of colonization . Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education (JSHE) , 5(1). Kwala Lumpur, Indonesia : Goodwood Publishing , pp. 73-76
Olum S, Adyanga FA and Ocan J . (2024) . Theoretical Review of Pay Restructuring in Uganda’s Public Service Health Sector . International Journal of Advanced Research , 7(1), pp. 35-54
Nathan Otutu . (2023) . Boosting Service Delivery through Strengthened Local Government Assessments: Insights from Uganda’s LGMSD Framework . East African Journal of Business and Economics , 6(2), pp. 164-180
Johnson Ocan1*, Charles Nelson Okumu 2* & Denis Sekiwu 3* . (2022) . Depictions of Human Trafficking and Exploitation in Contemporary Africa Using Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo’s Trafficked and Apio Eunice Otuku’s Zura Maids . East African Journal of Arts and Social Sciences eajass.eanso.org Online ISSN: 2707-4285 , 5(1, 2022). Nairobi: , pp. 139-209
Francis Adyanga Akena, Norma R.A. Romm and Johnson Ocan . (2022) . Economic development for holistic wellbeing in the (post) COVID-19 Era . In: A. Fymat, N. R.A. Romm & Kapalanga J., Covid-19 pandemic: Perspectives across Africa. , pp. 333 - 351
Dr. Denis Sekiwu & Dr. Johnson Ocan . (2022) . Sociology of the COVID-19 Lockdown: Critical Analysis of Its Effects on Private School Teacher Wellbeing . In: , Title: Handbook of Research on Promoting Global Citizenship Education. Johannesburg : IGI Global Publisher of Timely Knowledge , pp. Pages: 22-57
Johnson Ocan, Constance Tukwasibwe & Oketch Chrysostom . (2021) . Analysis of Stakeholders Involvement in the Implementation of the M.A. Literature Curriculum at Kabale University Using E-Learning Approach . East African Journal of Education Studies(ISSUE Vol 3 No 1 (2021): ). Nairobi:
Johnson Ocan, Constance Tukwasibwe, Chrisostom Oketch . (2021) . Analysis of Stakeholders Involvement in the Implementation of the M.A. Literature Curriculum at Kabale University Using E-Learning Approach . East African Journal of Education Studies, [online] Volume 3(1). Nairobi: EAST AFRICAN NATURE & SCIENCE ORGANIZATION, pp. 199-210. Available at: https://journals.eanso.org/index.php/eajes/article/view/384
Dr. Johnson Ocan & Lillian Tindyebwa . (2020) . African Childhood “Reawakened”: Using Cultural Studies Theory in Understanding the Use of Symbolism in Camara Laye’s The African Child. . East African nature & Science Organization , 322021(ISSUE Vol 3 No 2 (2021): ). Nairobi: ENSO, pp. pp. 90-114 Oct. 2021
J. Ocan, F. Ssempala & D.K Olema . (2019) . Postgraduate Research Engagement in Low Resource Settings . In: D.Z. Atibuni. Johannesburg : IGI Global Publisher of Timely Knowledge , pp. Pages: 353

Projects

Teacher Transformation: “Wellbeing” of Private School Teachers in the post COVID-19 Pandemic In Kigezi in South western Uganda.

Dr. Johnson Ocan, Dr. Businge Phelix Mbabazi and Prof. M.J. K Muranga August, 2022 → September, 2023

Supervision

 

  • 2022: Mucunguzi Innocent: Effects of psychological stress on employee performance; A case f Higher Institutions of learning in Kabale and Gulu District, PhD
  • 2022: Kwesiga Gerald; Managing Wetland evictions for the sustainability of projects established by cooperative socities in Grater Kabale, PhD
  • 2021: Alice Jossy Kyobutungi: Representations of the Young adult in the fiction of selected Ugandan women writers. PhD
  • 2021: Natukunda Jesca: Instructional Materials and pupils’ performance in English in selected Primary schools in Katuna Town Council, Kabale District.MA
  • 2021: Nalule Hadijah: Examining the Influence of Covid-19 pandemic on female students’ education in secondary schools in Kisoro Municipality.MA
  • Niwabine Violah (2021) Superstitious Beliefs and Happiness in Uganda; A case of Young Adults in Bushenyi District in Ankole.(MA)
  • Ashimwe Racheal (2021) The significance of Proverbs in the Development of Cultural values among the Bafumbira Society in Kisoro District in Uganda.(MA)
  • Muhanguzi Amos (2021) The Effectiveness of Diction in Contemporary Poetry in Uganda; A case of “Building The Nation”, by H. Barlow. (MA)
  • Ariho Isaac (2021) The Role of Blood Pact in the Development of Oral Literature in Uganda: A case of “The Curse of The sacred Cow”. (MA)
  • 2022: Kabuya Allen Lydia, “Impact of Teaching Lumasaaba on Learners’ Performance in English Writing Skills in Lower Primary, Mbale City, Uganda” Award of the degree of Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics of the Islamic University in Uganda. (MA)
  • 2022: Kitimoi Anne,“Lexical Borrowing of Nouns in Ateso Language Word Stock; A case Study of Ngora District, Eastern Uganda” the degree of Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics of the Islamic University in Uganda.(MA)
  • 2022:Kipchumba Martin, “Correlating Students’ Written English Language Proficiency With Academic Performance at Ordinary Level in Arts Subjects in Uganda: A case of Mbale City” the award of the degree of Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics of the Islamic University in Uganda.(MA)
  • 2022:Nakheya Stella Esther, “The Influence of Lubuuya and Ludadiri Dialectal Differences on Communication in Bugisu, Eastern Uganda” the award of the degree of Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics of the Islamic University in Uganda.(MA)
  • 2022: Wakoko Taibu, “The Effect of Advertising Language on Consumer Perceptions of Beauty Products in Uganda: A Case Study of Movit Beauty Products.” the award of the degree of Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics of the Islamic University in Uganda. (MA)
  • 2021:Natukunda Jesca: Instructional Materials and pupils’ performance in English in selected Primary schools in Katuna Town Council, Kabale District.MA)
  • 2021: Nalule Hadijah: Examining the Influence of Covid-19 pandemic on female students’ education in secondary schools in Kisoro Municipality.(MA)
  • 2021: Rugumambaju Vicent: Challenges of using Instructional Materials in the Teaching of Mathematics in secondary Schools in Rukungiri Municipality. (MA)
  • 2021: Tekali Jane Alupo: Effect of Task based teaching and learning on pupils’ academic performance in English in selected schools in industrial division of Mbale City. (MA)
  • 2021: Njunwoha Laborn: Depictions of Human trafficking in selected African novels. (MA)

Presentations

  • Role of supervisors and students in the supervision process PhD research supervisors’ workshop for the SOPAM staff of Mzumbe University-Tanzania held on 10th February 2022, virtually
  • Curriculum for Master of Arts Degree in Literature of Kabale University, December, 2020.
  • Curriculum for Master of Arts in Translation and Creative Writing of Kabale University, January, 2021.
  • Figurative thought and the teaching of languages for specific purposes. Invited keynote speech, Makerere University school of Education, March 2004.
  • The use of metaphor in three university Lectures (With Almut Koester and Graham Low) Paper presented at the BAAL CUP Workshop on listening, Warwick University, May, 2006.
  • Figurative thinking and foreign language learning: Metaphor and metonymy in institutional discourse. Invited plenary lecture given at the LAUD symposium on Cognitive Approaches to Second/Foreign Language Processing: Theory and Pedagogy, Landau, Germany, March 2008.

More Information

He serves as the convener of the following courses:

  • ENG 9103: Scholarly Writing and publication skills, Ph.D.  class.

  • LIT 7103: Advanced Literary Theory and Practice, MLT class.

  • LIT 7102: Literary Linguistics, MLT class.

  • LIT 1101: Survey of African Literature, BAED class.

  • LIT 2102: African Oral Literature, BAED class.

  • LIT 212: Special Author, BES class.

  • ELS 1102: Communication Skills (KMS/KAN/BNS/BENV)

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