Dr. Niyisabwa, Odette Tumwesigye

Dr. Odette Tumwesigye Niyisabwa, Ph.D., Lecturer Head, Department of Visual Impairment Studies

Dr. Niyisabwa, Odette Tumwesigye., Ph.D.

Lecturer
Head, Department of Visual Impairment Studies Email: todette@kyu.ac.ug Phone: (+256) 772 968 235

Biography:

Dr. Niyisabwa Odette Tumwesigye is a Lecturer and an Inclusive Education Specialist in the area of Visual Impairment Studies. She is the Head of the Visual Impairment Studies Department in the Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation at Kyambogo University, Uganda. She has nineteen (19) years of work experience, having joined the faculty in 2005.

Dr. Niyisabwa holds international responsibilities as a Ugandan Representative for the International Council for the Education of Persons with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) Africa, as well as an ICEVI Africa Board Member. She is currently spearheading the ICEVI-Visionary Learning Initiative in Uganda, an approach that encourages the collaboration of different agencies in providing quality education to learners with visual impairment.

Locally, she serves as a board member of Kyambogo College School, representing Kyambogo University Foundation Body, and she is the Chairperson of the Board Academic Committee.

Dr. Niyisabwa holds a Ph.D. in Special Needs Education from Kenyatta University, Kenya. Her Ph.D. study focused on “Strategies for Enhancing Access and Retention of Learners with Visual Impairments in Universal Primary Education (UPE) Schools in South Western Uganda.” She also has a Master of Philosophy in Special Needs Education from the University of Oslo, Norway.

Previously, between 1998 and 2000, she served as an Assistant Inspector of Schools in charge of Learners with Visual Impairment in schools under the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in Uganda.

Dr. Niyisabwa has provided a number of national and international consultancies in the field of visual impairment. Notably, she has worked with UNICEF on the LEGO Braille Bricks Pilot Project in Uganda: UNICEF Braille Bricks Project, the World Bank on the “Rwanda, Afghanistan Skills Development Project” by Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), and Humanity and Inclusion on inclusive education curriculum training in refugee settlements in the West Nile region of Uganda, among others.

Current Job Title

  • Lecturer, 2010-Present

Department

Visual Impartment Studies,
Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation, Kyambogo University, Uganda

Academic Qualifications:

  • D. Special Needs Education (Visual impairment), Kenyatta University, Kenya, 2011 – 2016
  • Phil. Special Needs Education (Visual Impairment), University of Oslo, Norway, 2002 – 2005
  • Bachelor of Education Special Needs Education, Makerere University, Uganda, 1999 – 2001
  • Certificate in Mobility and Rehabilitation (Visual impairment), Uganda National Institute of Special Education (UNISE), Uganda, 1997 – 1998
  • Diploma in Special Education (Visual impairment), Institute of Teacher Education (ITEK) and Uganda National Institute of Special Education (UNISE), 1994 – 1996

Past Work Experience:

  • Assistant Lecturer, Department of Community and Disability Studies, Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation, Kyambogo University, 2005 – May 2010
  • Inspector of Schools (In – charge of Special Needs Education), Kampala City Council (Now Kampala City Council Authority-KCCA), 1998 – 2000
  • Class Teacher, Chadwick-Namate Primary School, Entebbe District, Uganda,1992 – 1998

Additional Responsibilities Held:

Head, Department of Visual Impairment Studies, Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation, Kyambogo University, Uganda, 2021-Present

Research areas of Interest:

  • Inclusion of learners with visual impairment in mainstream educational settings
  • Teaching and learning for learners with low vision
  • Braille skills training for learners who are blind
  • Employment for persons with visual impairment

Research, Publications and Conference Papers:

Publications

  • Niyisabwa O. T., & Emong, P. (2024). Examining the Inclusion of Persons with Visual impairment in the formal Employment Sector in Uganda. Journal of Disability Studies INKLUSI, 11(1), 2024.https://ejournal.uin-suka.ac.id/pusat/inklusi/article/view/2851/2189
  • 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. Retrieved from https://thejhpb.com/index.php/thejhpb/article/view/293
  • 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
  • Niyisabwa, O.T., Munyi, C.W., & Muthee, J. (2018). Strategies for Enhancing Access and Retention of Learners with Visual Impairments in Regular Universal Primary Education (UPE) Schools in South Western Uganda. Journal of Education and Practice, 9(7) 144-156 https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke
  • Niyisabwa, O.T. (2004). Assessment of phonological awareness of school beginners. The Norwegian Universities’ Committee for Development Research and Education (NUFU), Norway. ISBN: 978 – 9970 – 103 – 06 – 5 EALN Graphics, Kampala – Uganda. Dissertation for M.phil. University of Oslo. http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-9613

Conference Papers:

  • The dilemma of Visual Assessment for learners in mainstream schools in Mubende District, Central Uganda. The 7th African Forum on Visual Impairment 2019: Achieving the SDGs through innovation, access and lifelong learning. 7th – 11th October 2019. Elilly International Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. https://afri-can.org
  • Enhancing Mobility skills among blind children in Resource-Constrained communities: Experiences from Uganda. The International Council for the Education of People with Visual Impairments (ICEVI). (The East Asia Regional Conference, 16th – 18th 2018). NOVOTEL Manila Araneta Center, Manila -Philippines. https://icevi.org 2019/09

Selected Graduate Research Supervised:

Master of Special Needs Education, Kyambogo University

  • Twinomujuni, E.S., 18/U/GMSN/19455/PD. Provision of reasonable accommodation to employees with Visual impairment by Organizations of and for Persons with disabilities in the Kampala Metropolitan Area. Graduated in November 2023
  • Odong, D.N., Reg. No: 17/U/14823/GMSN/PE: Access to low vision devices by learners with low vision in Inclusive Primary schools in Lango Sub-Region, Uganda. Graduated in November 2021
  • Obany, S., Reg. No. 17/U/14621/GMSN/PE Provision of Reasonable Accommodation for Teachers with Visual Impairment in Soroti District. Graduated in December 2019.
  • Hozza M. S., Reg. No: 16/X/13581/GMSN/PE: Access to Assistive Technology by University Students with Visual Impairment in Tanzania. Graduated in November 2018.
  • Firuah, A., Reg. No: 15/U/15952/GMSN/PE: Teacher’s competencies in conducting functional assessments of Teacher’s with low vision in inclusive Primary Schools in Arua District, Uganda. Graduated in December 2018.

Consultancy Services:

  • Technical Consultant (Braille): The LEGO Braille Bricks Pilot Project in Uganda, by Ministry of Education and Sports, Uganda funded by UNICEF, 2023 https://www.unicef.org/uganda/stories/braille-bricks-transform-learning-children-visual-impairment
  • Curriculum Design & Training: Developed training manual for volunteers in refugee settlements of Omugo, Ofua and Imvepi,  West Nile region of Uganda funded by Humanity Inclusion        and Plan International Uganda, 2020
  • Training Programme Specialist: Developed a training programme for the Education and Rehabilitation of persons with visual impairment in Orientation and Mobility, for the Afghanistan Skills Development Project (ASDP), sponsored by the World Bank, Add 2013 – 2014
  • Inclusive Education Specialist: Developed a training programme in Inclusive Education for teacher’s primary schools in Rwanda, funded by Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA),2008 – 2009
  • Curriculum Developer: Developed curriculum and training manuals for Personal Assistance for Persons with Disabilities who are in employment, funded by Light for the World, 2000
  • Inclusive Education Specialist: Developed modules for a certificate in Special Needs and Inclusive Education course for tutors and teachers in Primary Teachers Colleges (PTCs) in Bunyoro sub-region, Uganda, Funded by Sight Savers, Uganda, 2006
  • Special Needs Education Specialist: Developed Guidelines for Special Education Teachers (SNECOS) in Uganda, funded by Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) Uganda, 2000

Membership of Corporate, Social and Professional Bodies:

  • Interim Representative, International Council for the Education of Persons with Visual impairment (ICEVI), Africa, Uganda, 2019 – Present
  • Board Member, International Council for the Education of Persons with Visual impairment (ICEVI), Africa, Uganda, 2022 – Present
  • Board Member, Kyambogo College School, Uganda, 2023- Present
  • Chairperson Academic Committee, Kyambogo College School, Uganda, 2023- Present
  • Member, Association of Special Needs Education Teachers of Uganda (ASNETU), 2017- Present