Dr. Musenyente Elijah, Ph.D.

Dr. Musenyente Elijah, Ph.D., Lecturer

Dr. Musenyente Elijah, Ph.D.

Lecturer
Email: emusenyente@kyu.ac.ug Phone: (+256) 788 550 333

Biography: 

Dr. Musenyente Elijah is a Lecturer and disability inclusion specialist, having learned about unaddressed disability concerns in the community through extensive research and personal experiences as a person living with mobility impairment (uses a wheelchair for mobility). He is dedicated to embracing diversity as well as acknowledging the specific individual needs of persons with disabilities to ensure their full participation. He served as the Acting Head of the Department of Community and Disability Studies, Kyambogo University, Uganda in 2022. Prior to joining academia, he was the Director of the Uganda Society of Hidden Talents (HITS), a local Civil Society Organization advocating for disability inclusion.

Dr. Musenyente holds a Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Buea in Cameroon. His Ph.D. research focused on the ‘Physical infrastructure in secondary schools and the performance of students with physical disabilities in Cameroon.’ He also holds a Master of Arts in Special Education Needs (SEN) from Roehampton University, London, in partnership with Fontys University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands, and Charles University, Czech Republic. Additionally, he has a Post-Graduate Diploma in Special Needs Education (PGDSNE) and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance (BAF) from Kyambogo University, as well as a Uganda Diploma in Business Studies (U.D.B.S.) from Makerere University Business School (MUBS). He also completed a Certificate in the International Visitors Leadership Program for Community Service and NGOs.

His work experience and research interests include the inclusion of persons with disabilities, disability and ICT, disability and entrepreneurship, and the management of disabilities. Dr. Musenyente is passionate about societal transformation, evident in his role as a founder member of the Uganda National Action on Physical Disabilities (UNAPD). He also serves on the Advisory Panel for the Water, Engineering Development Center (WEDC) at Loughborough University, United Kingdom.

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:

  • Acting Head, Department of Community and Disability Studies, Kyambogo University (2022)

Academic Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. in Special Education, University of Buea, Cameroon, West Africa (2012–2015)
  • Master of Arts in Special Education Needs, Roehampton University, London, UK, in partnership with Fontys University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands, and Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic (2009–2010)
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Special Needs Education, Kyambogo University, Uganda (2007–2008)
  • Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance, Kyambogo University, Uganda (2003–2006)
  • Uganda Diploma in Business Studies, Makerere University Business School (MUBS), Uganda (1996–1998)

Past Work Experience:

  • Lecturer, Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation, Kyambogo University (2015–2024)
  • Director, Uganda Society of Hidden Talents (HITS) (2004–2014)

Research Interests:

  • Inclusion of persons with disabilities
  • Disability and Information Communication Technology
  • Disability, Poverty, and Entrepreneurship
  • Disability and Health
  • Management of Disabilities

Research, Publications, and Conference Papers:

Research Publications:

  1. Musenyente, E., & Wamanga, D. (2023). Bagwere Cultural Interpretation of Physical Disability Before and During Disability Inclusion. INKLUSI, 10(2), 135–158. https://doi.org/10.14421/ijds.100201
  2. Musenyente, E., Han, M.L., & Knigge, M. (2022). Implementation of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in public and private schools in three districts of Uganda, African Journal of Disability, 11(a908). https://doi.org/10.4102/ajod.v11i0.908
  3. Niyisabwa, O. T., & Musenyente, E. (2022). Orientation and Mobility Skills of Children with Visual Impairment in Low-income Families in Central Uganda. INKLUSI, 8(2), 101–112. https://doi.org/10.14421/ijds.080201
  4. Niyisabwa, O. T., & Musenyente, E. (2021). Accessing Government Eye Care Services: Experiences of Children with Eye Health Conditions in Mubende, Uganda. Journal of Health Promotion and Behavior, 6(2), 122–132. https://thejhpb.com/index.php/thejhpb/article/view/293
  5. Musenyente, E., & Eron, L. (2017). Access to Wheelchair Maintenance Services in Uganda: Maximizing User’s Functioning, Safety, and Prolonged Wheelchair Duration, Journal of Education & Entrepreneurship, 4(10), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.26762/jee.2017.40000001

Research Reports Written:

  1. Musenyente, E. (2015). Physical infrastructure in secondary schools and the performance of students with physical disabilities in Cameroon. Ph.D. Thesis. Supervised by Professor Therese Mungah Shalo Tchombe.
  2. Musenyente, E. (2010). Teachers’ practices in inclusive education: A case study of one primary school in Tilburg, the Netherlands. Master’s Dissertation. Supervised by Drs. Luuk den Hartog.

Research Supervisions (PhDs, Masters, and Bachelors)

  • Lukuru Rose (Reg. No. 17/U/GMSN/14812/PD). Factors Influencing Education Provision for Refugees in Bidi-Bid Refugee Settlement, West Nile, Uganda. Master of Special Needs Education, Kyambogo University, Uganda. Graduated in 2018.

  • Musimami Idd Mubarak (Reg. No. 15/15960/GMSN/PE). Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Teaching Learners with Dyslexia in an Inclusive Primary School in Uganda: A Case Study of Kyambogo Primary School. Master of Special Needs Education, Kyambogo University, Uganda. Graduated in 2018.

  • Kabaganja Hafisa (Reg. No. U/18/GMSN/19462). Learners with Autism in Inclusive School Settings: How Stakeholders Cope. A Case of Hill Preparatory Primary School in Kampala Capital City Authority, Naguru Division. Master of Special Needs Education, Kyambogo University, Uganda. Graduated in 2018.

  • Nakirijja Saudha (Reg. No. 19/U/GMSN/20986/PD). Bagwere Cultural Involvement of People with Physical Disabilities in Social Activities Before and During the Concept of Disability Inclusion. Master of Special Needs Education, Kyambogo University, Uganda. Graduated in 2018.

  • Amanya Wyne Yvone (Reg. No. 20/U/GMSN/13083/WKD). Access to Healthcare Information in Public Health Facilities by Women with Deafness in Kampala District. Master of Special Needs Education, Kyambogo University, Uganda. Graduated in 2018.

  • Achola Oliver (Reg. No. 19/U/GMSN/18716/PD). Inclusion of Persons with Hearing Impairment in Private Sector Employment in Lira City. Master of Special Needs Education, Kyambogo University, Uganda. Graduated in 2018.

Consultancy Services or Projects Undertaken

  • Principal Investigator. Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) in Uganda’s Universities after COVID-19 Pandemic Period. Funded by Kyambogo University Competitive Staff Research Grant. 2023-2024.

  • Principal Investigator. Bagwere Cultural Interpretation of Physical-Disability Before and During Disability Inclusion. Funded by Kyambogo University Competitive Staff Research Grant. 2020-2021.

  • Principal Investigator. Experiences of Persons with Disabilities’ Participation in Entrepreneurship in Mukono and Kibuku District, Uganda. Funded by Royal Holloway University of London, United Kingdom. 2019.

  • Principal Investigator for Uganda. An Assessment of the Social, Cultural, and Institutional Factors that Contribute to the Sexual Abuse of Persons with Disabilities in East Africa. Funded by International Foundation of Applied Disability Research (FIRAH) through ‘Advantage Africa’. 2014.

Membership of Corporate, Social, and Professional Bodies:

  • Member, Erasmus-Mundus Alumni Network
  • Member, Uganda–United States of America Exchange Alumni Association