Elijah Dickens Mushemeza (born 26 February 1964, in the Sheema District, Western Region of Uganda) is an academic, an author, and a practical politician. He is a professor of development studies and a senior research fellow at ACODE. Previously, he was the dean of Faculty of Business and Development Studies at Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara, Uganda. He is a visiting professor at Ankole Western University.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in social sciences, a Master of Arts (MA) degree in development studies, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in political science at Makerere University. He is a consultant on education, governance, poverty, politics, cvonflict, forced migration, security, oil and gas, and development issues generally in the Great Lakes region of Africa.
He was previously a coordinator of the MA programme in international relations and diplomatic studies in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Makerere University. He has taught at the Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Mushemeza is a past alternate executive committee member of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa. He has published widely in international journals. He is the editor of the Journal of Development Issues. Outside academia, Mushemeza is active in Ugandan politics. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly 1994-95 that debated, scrutinized, enacted, and promulgated the Constitution of Uganda, and a Member of Parliament of Uganda in 1996. He was a presidential advisor at the level of a senior Cabinet minister and the vice-chairperson of the Electoral Commission of the National Resistance Movement, the ruling party in Uganda (2010-2015).
In his book, The Politics and Empowerment of Banyarwanda Refugees in Uganda, 1959–2001, Mushemeza explores how Banyarwanda refugees achieved reasonable levels of integration in Ugandan society because of demographic, social, economic, and cultural characteristics similar to that of the Ugandan population in the areas where they settled. If the Ugandan state had not "failed" in the late 1970s and 1980s, these refugees would perhaps have been naturalised. Although almost all the Hutu and the Tutsi refugees achieved meaningful levels of integration (as some were treated badly and abused with derogatory language), their leaders and some of the elites never gave up the dream of returning home. The opportunity to return eventually emerged in the context of civil war in Uganda (1981–86). Banyarwanda refugees joined the NRM/NRA struggle that enabled them to acquire political, diplomatic, and military skills, which they used effectively to achieve their empowerment ambitions.
Mushemeza has published widely in local and international journals including CODESRIA, ACODE and CEWIGO. He is also the Editor of the Journal of Development Issues.
Outside university, Mushemeza is active in Ugandan politics. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly (1994–95) that debated, scrutinised, enacted and promulgated the Constitution of Uganda, and a member of parliament of Uganda in 1996. He was formerly the Vice-Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of the National Resistance Movement, the ruling party in Uganda.
Mushemeza, E. D., (1998), "Refugees and International Relations: The case of Uganda and Her Neighbours", in Gingyera – Pinycwa, A.G.G (ed.) Uganda and the Problem of Refugees. Kampala: Makerere University Press.
Mushemeza, E. D., (2001), "Issues of Violence in the Democritisation Process in Uganda", in Africa Development / Afrique et Développement, Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, Vol. 26, Nos. 1 & 2, Dakar.
Mushemeza, E. D., (2004), "Policy Making, Implementation and the State: Challenges of Poverty Reduction/Eradication and Sustainable Development in Ssewakiryanga", R (ed.), in The State and Policy Making. CBR/Enreca Occasional Paper Series, Centre for Basic Research, Vol. 6.
Mushemeza, E. D., (2005), "Beyond the Referendum 2000 (on Political Systems) in Uganda: Is the Movement a Political Party?" in Confronting Twenty-first Century Challenges: Analyses and Re-dedications by National and International Scholars, Makerere University Printery, edited by Mukama Ruth and Murindwa-Rutanga, Volume 3, Kampala.
Mushemeza, E. D., (2005), "Globalisation and Violence in the Great Lakes Region of Africa: An Overview", in Uganda's Fundamental Change: Domestics and External Dynamics of Conflicts and Development, Makerere University Printery, edited by Aaron K. Kabweru Mukwaya, Kampala.
Mushemeza, E. D., (2006), "Monitoring Legislative Representation: Environmental Issues in the 7th Parliament of Uganda", Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), Policy Research Series.
Mushemeza, E. D., (2007), The Politics and Empowerment of Banyarwanda Refugees in Uganda 1959-2001, Kampala, Fountain Publishers.
Mushemeza, E. D., (2007), "The Functioning of Multi party System in Local Governments: Challenges of Transition from a Movement System in Uganda", Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), Policy Briefing Paper No. 20.
Mushemeza, E. D., (2008), "Policing in Post-Conflict Environment: Implications for Police Reform in Uganda", Journal of Security Sector Management, Centre for Security Management, Cranfield University, Shrivenham, UK, Vol. 6, Issue 3, November 2008.
Mushemeza E. D., (2009), "The Politics of Government-Opposition Relations: Implications For Democratic Transition in Uganda", Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), Policy Paper.
Mushemeza, E. D. and Mbabazi, P., (2009), "The State and Media Relationship in Uganda's Transitional Democracy", Africa Research and Resource Forum, Nairobi.
Mushemeza, E. D., (2010), "Mechanisms for Handling Disasters and Humanitarian Assistance to Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in Uganda", Mawazo, Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Social Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala.
Mushemeza, E. D., (2010), "The Contribution of Women in Influencing Legislation and Policy Formulation and Implementation in Uganda 1995-2005", in Africa Development / Afrique et Développement, Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, Vol. XXXIV, Nos. 3 & 4, Dakar.
Mushemeza, E. D., (2010), "Democratisation and Leadership Succession in Uganda", in Democracy and Political Competition in East Africa, REDET, E & D Vision Publishing, Dar es Salaam.
Mushemeza, E. D., (2010), "The Presidential Term Limit (‘Third Term’) Debate: Implications for Regime Transition in Uganda", in Democracy and Political Competition in East Africa, REDET, E & D Vision Publishing, Dar es Salaam.
Mushemeza, E. D., (2011), "Elections, Democracy Challenge and Development in Africa" in Journal of Development Issues, Vol 3, Nos. 1 & 2, Faculty of Business and Development Studies, Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara.
Mushemeza, E. D., (2015), "The Legislature and Budget Oversight: A Comparative Study of Selected Countries in the East African Community", Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), Policy Research Paper Series No. 71, Kampala.
Mushemeza, E. D., et. al., (2016), "Local Content Frameworks in African Oil and gas sector: Lessons from Angola and Chad", www.ella.practicalaction.org/
Mushemeza, E. D., (2016), "In the Service of the Regime: Exploring the Relationship between Intelligence and the State in Uganda" in International Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Studies, Vol. 3, Issue 6.
Mushemeza, E. D., (2016), "Opportunities and Challenges of Academic Staff in Higher Education in Africa", in International Journal of Higher Education, Vol. 5, No. 3.
Mushemeza, E. D., (2016), "Role of Non state Actors (Political Movements, Militias, Civil Society) in Shaping Regional Security in Africa", Global Journal of Human Social Science Research, Vol. 16, Issue 3.
Elijah Mushemeza has been married to Irene Mushemeza since 1994. They are the parents of five children.
