The Politics of Sexual Harassment in Students’ Electoral Processes: A Case of Makerere University, Uganda

This research proposal is based on the findings from previous research examining the efficacy of institutional structures in addressing sexual harassment at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. While data on electoral gender-based violence at national and international level, there is a research gap in the context of electoral violence, particularly sexual harassment, at institutes of higher education. Exploratory in nature, this study seeks to investigate the prevalence of sexual harassment in student guild electoral processes, its impact on student leadership as well as structural processes responding to sexual harassment in students’ electoral processes. This research will take Makerere University as case study, using mixed methods of data collection, in an attempt to investigate the following questions: (1) What forms of sexual harassment occur in student guild electoral processes? (2) Under what circumstances does sexual harassment occur? (3) In what ways does sexual harassment affect students’ leadership aspirations? Surveys, in-depth interviews, and observations will be employed to collect and analyse data. Secondary data records regarding sexual harassment from the university and online will be studied and analysed.