Josephine Ssirimuzaawo, a lecturer at Nkumba University, is set to graduate with a Doctor of Philosophy in Education. She will receive the prestigious award on October 25, 2025, during Nkumba University’s 27th Graduation Ceremony.
When Ssirimuzaawo began her first teaching job in a rural primary school, she encountered pupils who “behaved differently” those who couldn’t sit still, easily lost focus, or appeared restless. But what disturbed her most was how these children were treated.
“They were often labelled as ‘stubborn,’ ‘possessed,’ or ‘disruptive,’” she recalls. “It felt dismissive and unhelpful. I knew there had to be a better way to understand and support them.”
That early classroom experience sparked what would become a lifelong mission to understand and help children with learning and behavioural challenges.
Today, Ssirimuzaawo, a lecturer at Nkumba University, has completed her PhD in Education (Psychology), focusing on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Her research explored practical solutions for learners with ADHD, Autism, and Dyslexia.
Her quest for knowledge began in the most humble of settings, at internet cafés, where she would spend hours reading about learning disabilities. Later, as a tutor at Ggaba Teacher Training College, she saw the same challenges among pupils and the same lack of understanding among teachers and parents. “My commitment deepened during that time,” she says. “I realised that to truly make a difference, I needed to generate new knowledge and practical solutions.”
So when she enrolled for her doctoral studies at Nkumba University, her research direction was clear. “My passion for reading and my desire to help children with different learning and behavioural challenges made this a natural calling,” she explains.
Her PhD study has since produced strategies that teachers, parents, and caregivers can use to improve learning outcomes for children with disabilities. “We can no longer afford to label them, we must learn to support them,” she adds.
Ssirimuzaawo’s doctoral journey spanned five years, including fifteen months of field research. She describes it as “a bumpy road” that demanded both intellect and emotional endurance. “PhD life requires not just academic rigour, but also diplomacy and resilience,” she says with a laugh. “You must stay in your supervisors’ good books and face the viva with humility.”
Balancing her studies with family, work, and entrepreneurship was equally taxing. “It was tough being a wife, mother, employee, and student at the same time. But giving up was never an option.”
Ssirimuzaawo’s educational journey began at Kasambya Primary School in Kyotera District, followed by St. Maria Goretti Katende in Mpigi District for secondary school. She later joined Makerere University, pursued postgraduate studies at the Uganda Management Institute (UMI) and Nkozi University, before completing her PhD at Nkumba University.
With her doctorate in hand, Ssirimuzaawo is looking to the future with optimism. “I have many ambitious goals for the next ten years,” she says. “With God’s will, I hope to achieve them excellently. As we say in Luganda, ‘Gakyali mabagga,’ the struggle continues.”
She encourages aspiring PhD students to fully engage with their research. “Be genuinely involved in every stage, even the data analysis. When you’re deeply immersed, the feeling of accomplishment is profound,” she advises.
Dr. Ssirimuzaawo attributes her success to faith, family, and mentorship. “I thank Almighty God for the gift of life,” she says. “I’m deeply grateful to Nkumba University, and especially to my supervisors, Prof. Miph Musoke and Dr. Pio Kiyingi, for their guidance.”
She also pays tribute to her late parents, uncle Mr. Mugenyi Mathias, aunt Josephine Mutagubya, and grandmother Ssirimuzaawo Mericiano for their investment in her education. Above all, she credits her husband, Mr. Baziwane David, and their children “for their constant love and care.”
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