Monica Balya Chibita is an Associate Professor and Dean, Faculty of Journalism, Media and Communication.
She has twenty-three years’ teaching experience at graduate and undergraduate levels in the area of Mass Communication/Communication. Before joining UCU, she served as Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, and Head of Mass Communication Department, Makerere University between 1994 and 2011.
Prof Monica Balya Chibita has supervised over 50 undergraduate and graduate students to completion, three of these at PhD level (the third is under examination) since 1994.
Professor Monica Balya Chibita’s research areas
Her research interests are in the areas of media history; broadcast media and democratization; media policy, law and regulation; media diversity; indigenous language radio; Journalism/Communication training and Journalism/Communication curriculum development.
Lately, she has also worked in the broad area of Communications, focusing on media influence.
Some of her works have been published by Palgrave, Routledge, Howard Journal of Communications, European Journal of Communication, Rhodes Journalism Review, Journal of African Media Studies, African Journal of Communication, Wits University Press, Mawazo, Sex Education, Communicatio, and website Uganda Communications Commission, among others.
Professor Chibita wears another hat as Associate Editor, Journal of African Media Studies (2009-present); Member, editorial boards of Ecquid Novi: African Journalism Studies and Communicatio: South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research.
She holds a DLitt et Phil (Communication) of University of South Africa, an M.A in Journalism (University of Iowa), and B.A/ Education (Makerere University).
She has undergone additional training in finance for non-finance managers, research administration and management, coaching and mentoring in Journalism, Pedagogics, Corporate Governance, Scholarly Writing and Publication, E-Learning, Doctoral Supervision, Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methodology, International Computer Drivers’ Licence, and Transformational Leadership.
Professor Chibita’s leadership roles
She is the reigning President, East Africa Communication Association, and a member and mentor, International Communication Association (ICA) and ICA-Africa.
She led and or participated in curriculum development for both undergraduate and graduate programmes at Makerere University, Uganda Christian University and as part of African Network for Strategic Communication in Health and Development (AfriComNet), a consortium of universities in East and Southern Africa to develop a curriculum for HIV/AIDS Communication.
She has also served as internal examiner for several MA students in the areas of Mass Communication, Peace and Conflict Studies, Literature and Music, Dance and Drama, and Child Development and Public Health Leadership at Makerere University and at Uganda Christian University.
Professor Monica Balya Chibita has also served as External Examiner for Rhodes University, University of the Witwatersrand, Maseno University, University of Fort Hare, Moi University, NLA University College (Norway) and University of Johannesburg.
She has on several times been invited by Uganda’s National Council for Higher Education in Uganda and Namibia’s of the same name to review certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the area of Journalism and Communication for accreditation.
In terms of service to the community, she served on the senate, University Staff Tribunal, Communications and Marketing Committee, Academic Promotions/Selection bodies at Makerere University and Uganda Christian University.
To the wider society, she is a chairperson, Board of Directors, New Vision Printing and Publishing Corporation; Board Chair, African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME); honorary member, FEMRITE (The Uganda Women Writers Association); and a member, Board of Directors, World Vision International.
She has been convener or co-convener for several conferences including Makerere’s Annual Media Convention, the East Africa Communication Association conference and the upcoming World Vision International Triennial Council 2019.
