Hon. Steven Masiga, spokesperson of the Bamasaba Cultural Institution and an interdisciplinary scholar, has emphasized the importance of a good thesis in securing employment. According to Masiga, scholars undertaking advanced studies at Master’s and PhD levels must publish or perish. He has reviewed several theses and cited those of Dr Paul Mwambu and Dr William Ruto as examples of academic excellence. Both Dr Mwambu and Dr Ruto are scientists who studied the same course during the same period but at different universities.
Dr Paul Mwambu, a Commissioner in the Ministry of Agriculture and Prime Minister of the Bamasaba Cultural Institution, undertook his studies in Zoology and Botany at Makerere University. His MSc thesis, titled “An Assessment of Farmer Involvement in NAADS Implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case of Uganda,” was rated by the World Bank as the best in the history of academic studies in Zoology and Botany. The thesis has attracted immense citations from both postgraduate and undergraduate academic communities.
Dr Mwambu’s scholarly investigations aimed to establish the role of farmers in implementing Government- and World Bank-funded programmes designed to address poverty issues in Sub-Saharan Africa. His research was non-doctrinal and attempted to establish the role of beneficiaries in World Bank- and Government-funded programmes. He formulated deliberate research hypotheses to test several existing hypothetical situations and convert them into theoretical knowledge.
Dr William Ruto, the current President of Kenya, completed his MSc in the same field as Dr Mwambu and later pursued his PhD studies. His thesis investigated the influence of anthropogenic activities on land, focusing on Saiwa Swamp in Trans Nzoia. Dr Ruto’s research examined the impact of human activities on land use. Both Dr Mwambu and Dr Ruto used hypothesis testing during their scholarly investigations, alongside research questions.
Masiga notes that Dr Mwambu’s excellent Magna Cum Laude thesis led to his recruitment by the World Bank for assignments in several African countries. After his contract expired, the World Bank paid him Shs1 billion as a token of appreciation. Dr Ruto, on the other hand, worked as a world-class teacher before joining politics. Masiga emphasizes that Ugandan universities must encourage students to publish their Master’s and PhD theses.
According to Masiga, a student who has not published should not be allowed to graduate because they have not communicated with the outside world or demonstrated their potential to employers as serious scholars. He believes that any university that does not help students publish should be avoided. Masiga holds a BA in Education, a Master’s in Administration, an LLB, and an LLM, and is also a PhD candidate.
Masiga’s comments highlight the significance of academic publishing in securing employment. He encourages students to prioritize publishing their research to increase their chances of employment. The cases of Dr Mwambu and Dr Ruto demonstrate that a good thesis can lead to automatic employment.
Key points
- A good MSc and PhD thesis can lead to automatic employment for scholars.
- Dr Paul Mwambu and Dr William Ruto are examples of scholars who secured employment through their excellent theses.
- Ugandan universities must encourage students to publish their Master’s and PhD theses to increase their chances of employment.
