Dr. Busuulwa Abdul, Ph.D.

Dr. Busuulwa Abdul, Ph.D., Lecturer

Dr. Busuulwa Abdul, Ph.D.

Lecturer
Linkedin
Email: abusuulwa@kyu.ac.ug
Phone: (+256) 772 492 131

Biography: 

Dr. Abdul Busuulwa, Ph.D., is a Lecturer in the Department of Community and Disability Studies at Kyambogo University, Uganda. He holds additional roles in the department as the Coordinator of the Master of Disability Studies and Inclusive Development program, Undergraduate Research Coordinator, and a Member of the Faculty Appointment and Appraisal Committee. Dr. Abdul is a person with a visual impairment (Blind) and has an illustrious 24 years of work experience with non-governmental organizations serving persons with disabilities. He has held various roles, including Executive Director of CBR Africa Network and program management positions at the East Africa Centre for Disability Law and Policy, Action on Disability and Development (ADD), the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), and the Uganda National Association of the Blind (UNAB).

Dr. Abdul holds a Ph.D. in Accessible Information and Communication Technology for Persons with Visual Disability from the University of Twente, Netherlands, a Master’s in Management Studies, a Postgraduate Diploma in Community-Based Rehabilitation, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication. His research interests focus on disability, rehabilitation, inclusive development, human rights for persons with disabilities, and assistive technology and ICT solutions for persons with disabilities.

Dr. Busuulwa is an expert and consultant with several achievements in the fields of capacity building, inclusion and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities, development of ICT accessibility and disability indicators, basic ICT manuals for women with disabilities, and vocational training options for persons with visual impairments. He is a passionate advocate for the interests of persons with disabilities, evidenced by his membership on the boards of organizations such as Sense International, the National Population Council of Uganda, and IncPart Services Limited, Uganda.

Current Job Title:

Lecturer, 2021–Present

Department:

Department of Community and Disability Studies
Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation
Kyambogo University, Uganda

Additional Responsibilities Held:

  • Programme Coordinator, Master of Disability Studies and Inclusive Development, Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation, Kyambogo University, Uganda (2021–Present)
  • Undergraduate Research Coordinator, Department of Community and Disability Studies, Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation, Kyambogo University, Uganda (2021–Present)
  • Member, Faculty Appointment and Appraisal Committee, Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation, Kyambogo University, Uganda (2021–Present)

Academic Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. in Accessible Information and Communication Technology for Persons with Visual Disability, University of Twente, Netherlands (2011–2015)
  • Master’s in Management Studies, Uganda Management Institute (UMI), Uganda (2004–2006)
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Community-Based Rehabilitation, Institute of Teacher Education Kyambogo, Uganda (1998–1999)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, Makerere University, Uganda (1993–1996)

Past Work Experience:

  • Part-time Consultant / Lecturer, Department of Management, Uganda Management Institute (UMI), Uganda (2015–2020)
  • Executive Director, Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Africa Network (2017–2020)
  • Programmes Manager, East Africa Centre for Disability Law and Policy (2014–2017)
  • Programme Development Manager, Action on Disability and Development (ADD), Uganda Programme (2013–2014)
  • Project Officer – Capacity Building, National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU) (2003–2008)
  • Development Worker, Uganda National Association of the Blind (UNAB), Uganda (2001–2003)

Research Interests:

  • Disability, rehabilitation, and inclusive development
  • Human rights for persons with disabilities
  • Assistive technology and ICT solutions for persons with disabilities

Research, Publications, and Conference Papers:

Publication:

  • Busuulwa, A. (2020). Access Denied: How Telecom Operators in Africa Are Failing Persons with Disabilities. From Disparity to Parity: Understanding the Barriers to Inclusion of Persons with Visual Impairment in the Digital Revolution of Uganda. Link

Research Reports Written:

  • Busuulwa, A. (2015). From Disparity to Parity: Understanding the Barriers to Inclusion of Persons with Visual Disabilities in the Digital Revolution of Uganda. Ph.D. Thesis. Supervised by Prof. Jon C. Lovett and Elain C.J. van Oos.
  • Busuulwa, A. (2006). Performance Factors for Disabled Employees in Uganda: The Case of NUDIPU and UNISE. Master’s Dissertation. Supervised by Dr. David Ssonko and Dr. Ayub Ali Baguwemu.
  • Busuulwa, A. (1996). Exploring Sex Coverage in the Traditional Media. Bachelor’s degree Dissertation. Supervised by Mr. Ouma David Balikowa.

Selected Graduate and Undergraduate Student Research Supervised:

Graduate:

  • Ochen Nixson Peter, Reg. No: 19/U/GMSN/18736/PD, Examining the Use of ICT in Enhancing the Academic Performance of Learners with Hearing Impairment in Lira City, Master’s in Special Needs Education, Kyambogo University, Graduating in 2024.

Undergraduate:

  • Ggaliwango Edwin, Reg. No. 18/U/CSE/17587/PE. Substance Abuse Among the Youth in Bukasa Parish, Makindye Division, Kampala District, Bachelor of Community Development and Social Justice, Kyambogo University, Graduated in 2022.
  • Onyang Stephen, Reg. No. 18/U/CBD/17603/PD. Rethinking the Factors Responsible for Maintaining the Girl Child in School: A Case Study of Soroti City, Bachelor of Community-Based Rehabilitation, Kyambogo University, Graduated in 2022.
  • Tigatege Mark Brian, Reg. No. 19/U/CSE/4145/PE. Exploring Participation of Persons with Disabilities in Government Poverty Eradication Programs in Nansana Municipality, Bachelor of Community Development and Social Justice, Kyambogo University, Graduated in 2023.
  • Nyakahima Isabella Lucky, Reg. No. 19/U/CSE/4133/PE. The Role of Entrepreneurship Skills Training on the Performance of Micro Enterprises of People with Disabilities in Kira Municipality, Bachelor of Community Development and Social Justice, Kyambogo University, Graduated in 2023.

Selected Consultancy Services or Projects Undertaken:

  • Lead Consultant, Assessment of Ways of Strengthening the Capacity of OPDs in Designing Effective Advocacy Strategies and Clear Theories of Change; and Effectively Communicating with Local Authorities. Funded by ZOA International (2023).
  • Lead Consultant, Capacity Building and Training of Personnel and Employers in the Inclusion and Reasonable Accommodation for Persons with Disabilities in the World of Work. Funded by Cyber School Technology Solutions Uganda (2023).
  • Consultant, Development of a Basic ICT Training Manual for Women with Disabilities, National Union of Women with Disabilities of Uganda (2020).
  • Consultancy Team Member, Development of ICT Accessibility and Disability Indicators. Funded by The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) (2019).
  • Consultant, Scoping Study on Exploring Vocational Training Options for Persons with Visual Impairment in Uganda. Funded by Sight Savers (2018).

Membership of Corporate, Social, and Professional Bodies:

  • Member, Board of Directors, IncPart Services Limited, Uganda (2019–Present).
  • Member, Board of Directors, Sense International, Uganda (2019–Present).
  • Member, National Population Council of Uganda.