Position: Dean, School of Psychology
Phone: +256-752-811177
Email: grace.kibanja@mak.ac.ug

Qualifications:
PhD: Makerere University, Uganda
Msc: Rhodes University, South Africa
Honours: Rhodes University, South Africa
Bsc: Makerere University, Uganda
 

Research Interests
She is a Social Psychologists with research interests in Individual, Cultural and Political Values, Gender dynamics, Conflict studies, Negotiations, and Behavioral Poverty.

Projects Worked on:

• Embracing Soft Skills as the Building Blocks for the Realization of Decent Employment among Youth in Uganda) (RIF 1 and RIF 3).
• Exploring the potential of social media platforms in creating decent digital employment opportunities to the youths in Uganda (RIF 2).
• Investigating and Addressing Covid-19 Related Mental Health Challenges in Refugee Settlements and Host Communities in Uganda (RIF 2).
• Drug and Substance Abuse (DASA) in Primary and Secondary Schools in Uganda: Baseline Survey Implications for National Sensitization (RIF 1).
• Powering up participation: Photovoice as research and intervention with adolescents in East Africa (University of Mississippi)
• Longitudinal study on Values change amongst University students and teachers (Makerere University)
• Values and Development in Uganda (NIRP)

Academic Research & Publications

Atibuni, D.Z., Olema, D.K., Kibanja, G.M. & Ssenyonga, J. (2020). How work-life balance and research skills proficiency affect academic engagement. In D. Z. Atibuni (Eds.). Postgraduate Research Engagement in Low Resource Settings (pp. 115- 128). Hershey PA: IGI Global.

Atibuni, D.Z., Kibanja, G.M., Olema, D.K., Ssenyonga, J., & Steffens, K. (2017). Challenges and strategies of research engagement among Master of Education Students in Uganda. International Journal of Educational Policy, Research and Review, 4(3), 19 – 28.

Atibuni, D.Z., Olema, D.K., Ssenyonga, J., & Steffens, K. & Kibanja, G.M. (2017). Mediation effect of     research skills proficiency, on the core self evaluations – Research engagement relationship among Master of Education students in Uganda. Journal of Education and Practice, 8 (15), 103 – 108.

Atibuni, D.Z., Olema, D.K., Ssenyonga, J., & Steffens, K. & Kibanja, G.M. (2018). Enhancing work-life balance and research engagement among students in higher education institutions. In J. Keengwe & R. Byamukama (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Promoting Higher-Order Skills and Global Competencies in Life and Work (pp 148-165). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. Doi: 10.4018/978-1-5225-6331-0.ch010.            

Baluku, M.M., Kikooma, J.F., & Kibanja, G.M. (2016).  Does personality of owners of micro enterprises matter for the relationship between startup capital and entrepreneurial success? African Journal of Business Management ,10(1), 13-23. Doi 10.5897/AJBM2015.7738

Baluku, M.M., Kikooma, J.F., & Kibanja, G.M. (2016). Psychological Capital and the Startup Capital – Entrepreneurial Success Relationship. Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship. doi: 10.1080/08276331.2015.1132512.

Haruna, A., Kajumba, M.M., & Kibanja, G.M. (2021). Cultural Categorization of PTSD Symptomatologies, the Meaning of Symptoms, Healers and Healing Practice in Kanuri Community of Damaturu Nigeria. 

Haruna, A., Kajumba, M.M., & Kibanja, G.M. (2021). Cultural Response to PTSD Functional Adjustment: Impact of Religiosity and Spirituality among the Kanuri Community of Damaturu Nigeria. American Psychological Association https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000264

Johnson, L.R., Kibanja, G.M., Abdelkader, A., Dalley, M., Wu Ting, Akhurst, J., Banda, D., Scruggs, N., Correia, E., & Castanheira, H. (2013). African Perspectives on  Invasion. In K. Malley-Morrison, S. McCarthy, & D. Hines (Eds.), International Handbook of War, Torture and Terrorism (pp 421 – 441). NewYork: Springer

Kemeza, I., Kibanja, G.M., & Steffens, K. (2020). Assessment of self-efficacy beliefs and academic performance for sources and implications in high and low achieving secondary schools in Mbarara District, Uganda. International Journal of Advanced Research, Ideas and Innovation in Technology, 6(3), 1053-1057.

Kibanja, G.M., Johnson, L.R., Dalley, M., Scruggs, N., Akhurst, J., Famose, A., Castanheira, H., Correia, E. & Tastle, W. (2013). African perspectives on peaceful social protests. In K. Malley-Morrison, A. Mercurio, & G. Twose, (Eds.), International handbook of peace and reconciliation(pp 217 – 236). NewYork: Springer.

Kibanja, G.M., Johnson, L.R., & Kajumba -Mayanja, M. (2012). Ethno cultural conflict in Uganda: Politics based on ethnic divisions inflame tensions across the country. In R. Albert & D. Landis (Eds.), Handbook of Ethno political Conflict: International perspective (pp 403 – 435). NewYork: Springer 

Kibanja, G.M. & Munene, J.C. (2009). A Gender Analysis of bank loan negotiations in Uganda. Journal of African Business, 10(1), 105 – 120.

Kibanja, G.M. & Munene, J.C. (2011). Cultural and Gender dimensions in business negotiations. In L. Mafera & H. Musahara (Eds). Setting of New Social Science Research Agendas for Africa in the 21st century. Addis Ababa: OSSREA Publications.  

Kibanja, G.M. & Munene, J.C. (2015). Gender, Cultural Values, and Political Participation: A Comparison between Teachers and University Students in Uganda. African Review, 42(1), 79-99. 

Kikooma, J.F., Munene, J.C., Nyende, P. & Kibanja, G.M. (2005). Understanding and predicting student’s dishonesty: development of a measure of dishonest and unreliable behaviours. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 15(1), 81 – 87.

Kiyaga, A. & Kibanja, G.M. (2021). Towards Minimizing Cognitive Interference during the Learning Process: Efficacious Coping Strategies. In C. Ssebunga-Masembe & S. N. Siminyu (Eds.). Contemporary Issues in Educational Research, Policies and Practice in the Global South, (pp 1-16). Kampala: Makerere University Press.

Kobusingye, L. & Kibanja, G.M. (2020). The role of gender, age and religion in explaining the variations in selected sexual experiences of university teacher-trainees in Uganda and Tanzania. Journal of Education, Society and Behavioral Science, 33(11), 15-24.

Munene J.C., Schwartz, S. H, & Kibanja G.M (2005). Escaping from Behavioural Poverty in Uganda: The role of Culture and Social capital. Kampala: Fountain Publishers.

Munene, J.C., Schwartz, S., Smith, P., Kibanja, G.M, Akande, D. & Udwin, M. (2000). Culture and Productivity: Exploration into the cultural dimensions of African Productivity. In Prah, K.K.,& Ahmed, A.G (eds.). Africa in transformation (pp1-27). Addis Ababa: OSSREA Publications.  

Musisi, M., Kibanja, G.M. & Tumwebaze, C. (2021). Gender, Science Self-efficacy and Science Related Career Aspirations among Ordinary Level Students in Uganda: A Case of Wakiso District. International Journal of Applied Psychology, 11(1), 12-23. DOI: 10.5923/j.ijap.20211101

Rukundo, A., Ayebare, D.S., Kibanja, G. M, & Steffens, K. (2020). Family Factors Associated with Consumption of Spirits: A Comparative Gender-Based Study of Ugandan Students in Public Secondary Schools.  Education Research International, vol. 2020, Article ID 5432545, 6 pages, https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/5432545.

Rukundo, A., Kibanja, G.M., & Steffens, K. (2016).  Prevalence of Psychoactive Substance Use among Adolescents in Public Secondary Schools in Uganda.  International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research, IJADR)

Rukundo, A., Kibanja, G.M., & Steffens, K. (2017).  Factors influencing psychoactive substance use among adolescents in public secondary schools in Uganda. International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research, 6(1), 69-76 doi:10.7895/ijadr.v6i1.237
    
Rukundo, A. & Kibanja, G.M. (2015).Students’ Perceptions regarding Interventions to Reduce Substance Use and its Concomitant Impact on Competence among Adolescents in Public Secondary Schools in Uganda. Journal of Educational Science & Psychology, 5(67), 39-50

Rukundo, A. & Kibanja, G.M. (2015). Sources and Means of Obtaining Psychoactive Substances among Adolescents in Public Secondary Schools in Uganda: A Qualitative Approach.  International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 1(1), 57 – 67.

Rukundo, A., Kibanja, G.M., & Steffens, K. (2014).  Psychoactive Substance Use and School Performance among Adolescents in Public Secondary Schools in Uganda. Higher Education Studies, 4(6), 62-68.

Sendaula, K., Kimuli, S., Turyakira, P. & Kibanja, G. M (2022). Social Media Perceptions, Readiness and Usage in Fostering Sustainable Growth of Micro and Small Enterprises in Uganda. African Journal of Economic and Management Studies.

Wandera, R.O., Kibanja, G.M. & Mugaga, A.M. (2017a). Benefits of inclusive education for visually impaired students in public universities in Uganda. American Journal of Education and Practice (AJEP), 1(3), 30 -42.

Wandera, R.O., Kibanja, G.M. & Mugaga, A.M. (2017b). Challenges faced by visually impaired students at Makerere and Kyambogo Universities. International Journal of Theory and Practice, 9(1), 75- 86.

Wandera, R.O., Kibanja, G.M. & Nansubuga F. (2021). Stress, Gender and Coping Strategies among Secondary School Teachers in Kampala District. American Journal of Psychology, 3(1), 1- 10.