Phyllis Mbanje

Ugandan educator who transformed women's access to higher education through pioneering university reforms

Phyllis Mbanje (1925-2015) was a Ugandan educator who revolutionized higher education in East Africa. As Vice Chancellor of Makerere University (1970-1975), she implemented policies that increased female enrollment from 12% to 35%, establishing childcare facilities and scholarships specifically for women. Her 1968 report on gender disparities in education became a blueprint for African universities. Mbanje also co-founded the East African Women's Journal and served as Uganda's first female ambassador to Canada. Her advocacy led to the creation of the African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET). Read her biography at Makerere University and view her archival papers at MSU Library.