By Carol Kasujja Adii

Any young working mother who decides to go back to school will testify that balancing career, family and school does not come easy. 

However, Dr Lillian Mbabazi, who teaches at the department of Performing Arts and Film, has successfully balanced the many hats on her head as a wife, mother, researcher and PhD student.

During the 76th graduation ceremony, the Freedom Square erupted in cheers as Mbabazi was recognised by the Vice Chancellor as one of the staff members who had completed her PhD studies on time. She received a Makerere University timely doctorate completion award.

“The award was basically to recognise my commitment and dedication to complete my doctoral studies within time without the benefit of a study leave,” she says.

When the principal read her name, Mbabazi, who was smartly dressed in her academic gown, stood up and walked on the red carpet to the Chancellor’s seat to get conferred upon. On her way back, her family members were waiting to receive her with ululations and flowers. She hugged everyone with a big smile on her face. 

Mbabazi is an Arts Educator, creative practitioner, and a social practice artist who uses theater and performance with people in communities to discuss a range of social issues with a goal to transform their human conditions. She is also now a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) holder after attaining the qualification after two years and five months of studying. 

Her PhD topic was, “Storytelling among the Bakiga of Uganda: Changing Form, Applications, and Performance Contexts, 1930 – 2009”. She examined the changing form, applications, and performance contexts for Bakiga storytelling in a period of 79 years. Bakiga have always employed storytelling to respond to their everyday needs and challenges. Contrary to the view that storytelling among them is declining, the study shows that storytelling endures as a socially engaged expression that fosters communal action and epistemic plurality. The study argues that Bakiga storytelling was a dynamic performance whose form, function, and contexts changed to respond to people’s realities.

Mbabazi had her education in Bushenyi and Mbarara. She had her O-Level education at Bweranyangi Girls S. S and later at Mbarara Secondary School. For her A-Level, she joined Kyeizooba Girls Secondary School and later Makerere University to pursue a degree in drama.

The PhD journey

Asked to describe her PhD journey, Mbabazi, smiles while noting that she finds it hard to describe it because hers was shaped by sleepless nights, discoveries, sacrifices, health challenges, tough choices and long working hours.

“I took a bit of time to get onto the PhD for several reasons. Majorly, being a mother impacted my decisions. I had one child, so I felt that as a mother, having left her at two years to do my master's in the UK, I had that psychological challenge. I always thought my child did not bond with me and I didn’t want to leave her again,” she says.

Years back, when she received a scholarship from Ford Foundation International Fellowship to pursue her Masters in Theatre and Global Development at the University of Leeds, she left her two-year-old and only child with her husband.

“It is not easy for women. When I came back, I decided to be deliberate by not starting on the PhD to allow my daughter to grow, and experience my presence as a mother. I decided that I will start my PhD when she is done with her primary education and indeed that is what happened,” Mbabazi shares.

A stellar performer and one who is passionate about excelling and inspiring others, Mbabazi believes everyone can excel with the PhD as long as you are committed and determined. She also believes that having a supportive husband and family members is what helped her finish her PhD.

“The journey was challenging because as a teacher, I wanted to give my students ample time; most of the classes in performing Arts are practicals but at the same time I had deadlines with my supervisors. So a number of times I slept at 3am. In the process, I developed hypertension. I started in February 2023 and I was diagnosed with hypertension in August 2023,” she notes.

Completing in close to three years

After observing the lifestyle of her colleagues who were pursuing a PhD, she knew that for her to complete on time, she needed commitment and to avoid things that would distract her. She explains that studying for a PhD is not for brilliant people but for those who are willing to be humble.

“When I started my PhD my daughter had joined the boarding section so I knew I would not be rushing to drop her and pick her from school. I had to bring myself down to be able to learn from my supervisors,” Dr Mbabazi, said.

She explains that one of the things that helped her finish in two years and five months, was that she set milestones for herself.

“Within 6 months, I had submitted my proposal and defended it within 7 months at the school level. I set my own milestones and that put me on pressure to make sure that I finish on time. I agreed with my supervisors what I will be achieving at what stage. Also, the nature of the scholarship I had got, required that we finish after three years,” she shares.

Mbabazi also knew, having waited for 10 years to embark on her PhD journey, that if she took her time without listening to her supervisors, she would spend another 10 years to complete it.

“As a teacher, I have so many people who look up to me, so I am supposed to inspire them to also finish their studies on time. Imagine telling an undergraduate student that your name should not miss on the graduation list, then I also miss… That alone motivated me to work hard,” she says.

When asked whether it is advisable to do one’s PhD in the very subject they have studied at undergraduate and master’s level, Mbabazi is in agreement.

“Continuity in the same field is important because all this knowledge then builds on to whatever you are going to be writing about. Knowledge is iterative, even that which you learned at undergraduate somehow finds its way into your PhD, even when you least expect it,” she advises.

Mbabazi also attributes her timely completion to the support of her mentors and supervisors at the department (Assoc. Prof. Patrick Mangeni and Dr. Pamela Khanakwa), and colleagues who allowed her the flexibility to teach twice a week. She drew a lot of motivation from the support her and her cohort received from the Gerda-Henkel Stiftung Fellowship Coordination Office headed by Assoc. Prof. Edgar Nabutanyi and Dr. Levis Mugumya. Also the CHUSS leadership team and SLPA Dean's office worked tirelessly to ensure that we complete on time. She adds that attending seminars regularly gave her confidence that she was on the right track. 

She also ensured to get enough resources to support her studies. 

“One thing that I did with my stipend was to buy books. Whenever I came across any material that I thought would help me with my studies, I had to buy it. I would even sometimes order online,” she recalls.

Advice to others

Her advice to fellow women is that a PhD is not a mountain to climb.

“I thought a PhD was hard and impossible but it is doable. It is difficult when you are a mother, so do not take long to decide. You can manage; just get on it on time. A PhD is an investment and there is always a return on that investment. If you can manage being a woman in Africa and in this country, you can manage the PhD. It is a journey of resilience and many women are resilient. It's about multitasking, so you can do your job as you are studying,” Dr Mbabazi, says.

She also advises that to be able to complete, one needs to be sure of their funding opportunities, “Otherwise you do not want to be trying to get a topic when you are thinking of school fees, because three months go by very fast.”

She adds, “You need to be committed to your studies. I had so many family gatherings which I did not attend because I had presentations, I had relatives who died and I did not bury, and many times you are not understood, but you do not need to listen to those opinions.”