Dr. Emong Paul, Ph.D.

Dr. Emong Paul, Ph.D., Lecturer

Dr. Emong Paul, Ph.D.

Lecturer & Head, Kyambogo University Disability Support Centre

Email: pemong@kyu.ac.ug
Phone: (+256) 772 444 405

Biography: 

Dr. Paul Emong, Ph.D., is a Lecturer in the Department of Community and Disability Studies at Kyambogo University, Uganda, and the Head of Kyambogo University Disability Support Services Centre. He has a physical disability and twenty-six (26) years of experience as a lecturer and in inclusive community development, advocating for human rights, social justice, and policy changes for marginalized people. Prior to academia, Dr. Emong worked for ten (10) years at a management level with disability rights advocacy organizations in Uganda.

Dr. Emong holds a Ph.D. in Human Rights from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom, a Master of Arts in Human Rights from Makerere University, Uganda, a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management from the Uganda Management Institute, and a Bachelor of Statistics from Makerere University. He also holds an International Postgraduate Certificate in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.

His research focuses on policy analysis and practice in disability inclusion, special needs and inclusive education, social justice, sexual and reproductive health rights, and gender and children’s rights. Dr. Emong is an expert in human rights advocacy, policy analysis, and program development and evaluation. He is the founding Chair of the East African Centre for Disability Law and Policy (EACDLP) and represents people with disabilities at Soroti University Council, Uganda.

Current Job Title

  • Lecturer, 2015- Present

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

Additional Responsibilities Held

Head, University Disability Support Services Centre, Kyambogo University, Uganda, 2019 – Present

 Academic Qualifications

  • Ph.D., in Human Rights, University of Leeds, United Kingdom, July 2014
  • Masters of Arts in Human Rights, Makerere University, Uganda, 2005
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management, Uganda Management Institute, Uganda, 2004
  • Bachelor of Statistics, Makerere University, Uganda, 1992 -1995

 Past Work Experience

  • Part-time Lecturer, Department of Community and Disability Studies, Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation, Kyambogo University, 2012 to 2015.
  • Lecturer in Human Rights, School of Arts and Social Sciences, Uganda Martyrs University, Rubaga Campus, September 2014 to September 2017
  • Programmes Manager, Action on Disability and Development (ADD) International Uganda Programme, 2003 to 2007.
  • Project Officer, Action on Disability and Development (ADD) International Uganda Programme, 1997 to 2002.

 Research Interests

  • Policy analysis and practice in disability inclusion
  • Special needs and inclusive education
  • Social justice, sexual and reproductive health rights for persons with disabilities
  • Gender and children’s rights among persons with disabilities

Research Publications

Journal Articles

  • Niyisabwa, O. T., & Emong, P. (2024). Examining the Inclusion of Persons with Visual Impairment in The Formal Employment Sector in Uganda. INKLUSI, 11(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.14421/ijds.110101

  • Margo, G., Bechange, S., Emong, P., Eron, L., Kyosaba, W., & Nsajja, D. (2023). Using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to explore economic empowerment for youth with disabilities in rural Uganda. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 8(1), 100647. ISSN 2590-2911. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100647

  • Emong, P., & Eron, L. (2016). Disability inclusion in higher education in Uganda: Status and strategies. African Journal of Disability, 5(1), 193. https://doi.org/10.4102/ajod.v5i1.193

  • Iyundhu, A., Karooma, C., & Emong, P. (2021). Complying with Reasonable Accommodation Requirements for Persons with Visual Impairment in Uganda Public Service Employment? Assumptions and Gaps. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(3), 632-651. https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.83.9877

  • Iyundhu, A., Emong, P., & Karooma, C. (2021). Coping with the Unfriendly Working Environment in Public Service Employment in Uganda: Voices of Employees with Visual Impairment. Global Journal of Human-Social Science, 21(A1), 15–26. https://socialscienceresearch.org/index.php/GJHSS/article/view/3535

Book Chapters

  • Emong, P., & Zeyen, A. (2023). “Chapter 36: Exploring equality and non-discrimination of disabled students in policy and practice in public universities in Uganda.” In Research Handbook on Disability Policy. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. Retrieved Apr 26, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800373655.00044

  • Eron, L., & Emong, P. (2017). Tackling Education of Girl Child with Disability in Urban Settings of Uganda. In Pink, W., & Noblit, G. (Eds.), Second International Handbook of Urban Education. Springer International Handbooks of Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40317-5_5

Selected Graduate Students’ Research Supervised

  • Iyundhu Andrew (Ph.D), Reg. No. 2017/PhD/035/PS. Access to and Inclusion of Persons With Visual Impairment in Public Service Employment: A Case of Selected Districts in Uganda. PhD, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Graduated 2024.

  • Kaingo Richard Maarifa, Reg. No. 20/X/GMSN/13094/WKD. Inclusion of Students with Hearing Impairment in Universities in Dodoma City, Tanzania. Masters in Special Needs Education, Kyambogo University, Graduated 2023.

  • Ahiadu Sangoda, Reg. No. 19/U/GMSN/18719/PD. Inclusion of Learners with Hearing Impairment in Vocational Skills Training Programmes: A Case Study of Tabora Municipality, the United Republic of Tanzania. Masters in Special Needs Education, Kyambogo University, Graduated 2023.

  • Twinomujuni Eria Samuel, Reg. No. 19/U/GMSN/19455/PD. Provision of Reasonable Accommodation to Employees with Visual Impairment by Organizations of and for Persons with Disabilities in Kampala Metropolitan Area. Masters in Special Needs Education, Kyambogo University, Graduated 2023.

  • Achieng Christine, Reg. No. 18/U/GMSN/19466/PD. Disability Inclusion for Students with Disabilities in Institutions of Higher Education in Uganda: A Case of Kyambogo University. Masters in Special Needs Education, Kyambogo University, Graduated 2019.

Selected Consultancy Services or Projects Undertaken

  • Lead Consultant, UNICEF FairChance Programme supporting Kyambogo University, Show Abilities Uganda, Katalemwa Cheshire Home for Rehabilitation Services, and Spinal Bifida and Hydrocephalus Awareness Network to empower 100 young people with disabilities with employability skills, 2023 – Present.

  • Research Advisor, Inclusive Early Childhood Education in Uganda: Exploring Context, and Learning for Children with Disabilities. A research commissioned by Uganda Society for Disabled Children (USDC), 2023 – 2024.

  • Lead Consultant, Exploring the compliance of the Government MDAs on disability inclusion in the Gender and Equity requirement through document analysis of the MDAs’ Budget Framework Papers (BFPs), Ministerial Policy Statements (MPS), Local Government Budget Framework Papers, and the National Budget from 2015 to 2023.

  • Technical Team Member, Developing Capacity for Youth Disability Advocacy through Networking in East Africa. A project coordinated by Prof. Dan Jackson of Bournemouth University, 2023 – 2025.

  • Technical Team Member, Research on Stigma and Disability: Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Disabled People in Rural and Urban Settings in South Africa and Uganda (UKRI/AHRC GCRF Urgency Covid19 Innovation Awards 10 Nov 2020). Researchers were from Royal Holloway, University of London, Kyambogo University, University of Johannesburg, University of Sacred Heart Gulu, and University of Cape Town. The Principal Investigator was Dr. Anica Zeyen, Royal Holloway, University of London, 2021 – 2022.

  • Research Team Member, African Higher Education Leadership in Advancing Inclusive Innovation for Development (AHEAD) Project ref. no.: 585919-EPP-1-2017-1-RO-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP funded under the Erasmus + Programme of the European Union. The programme aimed to build capacities of staff of participating universities in East Africa (9) and Europe (3) to lead and manage innovation for inclusive and sustainable development, 2017 – 2020.

  • Team Member, Developing Training Manual for the National Union of Persons with Disabilities (NUDIPU) on training Councillors Representing Persons with Disabilities in the Local Government Councils, 2022.

  • Lead Consultant, Developing a CBR Programme for Humanity and Inclusion (HI) in the Imvepi, Ofua, and Omugo Refugee Settlements in West Nile, Uganda. The work involved identifying trainees, writing the 5 training manuals, training the CBR volunteers, and writing the final report, 2019 – 2022.

  • Lead Consultant, Reviewing Booklets on Home-Based ECE Written by LABE to be Disability Inclusive. A project supported by USDC and Able Child Africa, 2022.

  • Lead Consultant, Disability Assessment and Training of Teachers in Disability Inclusion in the Cotton On Foundation Uganda’s supported 20 primary schools and their communities in Rakai and Lwengo districts, 2019.

  • Team Member, Training Teachers in Primary Schools in Kampala City Capital Authority (KCCA) in Disability Inclusive Teaching and Learning, a programme supported by Cheshire Services Uganda, 2016.

  • Module Developer, Child Rights Protection for Children with Disabilities and Other Special Needs. The module is for training PTC Tutors for an Award of Certificate in Special Needs and Inclusive Education, 2016.

  • Research Team Member, Investigation on the Model for the Economic Empowerment of Youth with Disabilities in Rural Uganda. A collaboration between Sight Savers, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, and Kyambogo University, 2016 – 2019.

Membership of Corporate, Social and Professional Bodies

  • Founder & Chairperson, East African Centre for Disability Law and Policy (EACDLP)
  • University Council Representative, Representing People with Disability, Soroti University Council, Uganda.
  • A Member of Skilling Uganda Reform Task Force, representing people with disabilities.  A government of Uganda task force for skilling Uganda.