Assoc. Prof. Judith Akello Abal
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- Assoc. Prof. Judith Akello Abal
Associate Professor Judith Akello Abal is a Ugandan academic, researcher, and gender specialist currently serving as Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences at Lira University. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Makerere University under the DAAD scholarship program and completed her Post-Doctoral Research at Technische Universität Dresden, Germany. She also holds a Master of Arts in Education and International Development from the University of London (Commonwealth Scholar), a Master of Business Administration from Makerere University, a Bachelor of Education, and a Diploma in Education (Business Education).
With over two decades of teaching, research, and academic leadership experience, Prof. Akello has served in various capacities including Senior Lecturer, Head of Department, Dean of Students, and Research Ethics Committee Member. Her teaching portfolio includes Gender in Business, Research Methodology, Public Finance, and Principles of Management. She has supervised numerous Master’s students across Business Administration and Public Health programs.
Her research focuses on gender, women’s economic empowerment, functional adult literacy, entrepreneurship, reproductive health, and socio-economic development in Northern Uganda. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed international journals and has secured competitive research grants from IDRC, Erasmus+, Horizon Europe (M-CARE), and other funding bodies.
She actively contributes to academic governance as a Senate Member and Research Ethics Committee member at Lira University and serves on several regional and international professional networks.
Qualifications
- Post-Doctoral Research Degreee (2021). Dresden University of Technology (Technische Universität Dresden)- DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Scholarship. Research Report: Unlocking the Socio- Economic Development Potentials: Women’s Experiences of Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) In Northern Uganda
- Doctor of Philosophy (2020). Makerere University Kampala – DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Scholarship. Thesis: Unlocking the Socio- Economic Development Potentials: Women’s Experiences of Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) In Northern Uganda
- Master in Business Administration (2010). Makerere University Kampala. Master’s Dissertation: Community- Managed Micro-Finance: A New Technique to Sustainably Tackle Extreme Poverty in Uganda; A Case Study of Oribcing Women’s Co-Operative Savings and Credit Society
- Master of Arts in Education and International Development (MAEID) (2009). Institute of Education, University of London, United Kingdom -Commonwealth Scholarship. Master’s Dissertation: What happens to Universal Primary Education (UPE) dropouts in Uganda? Case Study: Lira District-Northern Uganda
- Bachelor of Education (2003). Makerere University Kampala. Research Report: The Effects of Office Practice on the Performance of O’Level Students: Case Study: Aduku Secondary School
- Diploma: Education (1996). Institute of Teacher Education, Kyambogo, Kampala-Uganda
SELECTED PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
- Akello, J. A., Lutwama-Rukundo, E., & Musiimenta, P. (2017). Literacy: An alternative gateway to grassroots women’s improved income generation in Lango Subregion, Northern Uganda. Adult Education Quarterly, 67(2), 79–96. https://doi.org/10.1177/07417136166851
- Akello, J.A., (2021). Functional adult literacy and vocational training: Women’s opportunity for socio-economic development in Uganda: A case study of Apac District Northern Uganda (ERIC No. ED617723). ERIC.
- Akello, J. A., & Lutwama-Rukundo, E. (2022). Functional adult literacy levels: Relevance to women’s improved income generation in Apac District, Northern Uganda. International Journal of Education, Training and Learning, 6(1), 17–25.
https://onlineacademicpress.com/index.php/IJETL/article/view/524 - Akello, J. A., & Lutwama-Rukundo, E. (2022). Adult learning: An alternative gateway to women’s improved participation in children’s education in Lango Region, Northern Uganda. International Journal of Education, Training and Learning, 6(2).
https:/doi.org/10.33094/ijetl.v6i2.671 - Akello, J. A., & Musiimenta, P. (2022). Women’s functional adult literacy and access to community participation in Apac District, Northern Uganda. International Journal of Education, Training and Learning, 6(1), 1–10. http://onlineacademicpress.com/index.php/IJETL/article/view/485
- Adong, M. R., & Akello, J. A. (2023). The impact of financial benefits on employee productivity: A case study of the Joint Clinical Research Centre in Lango Region, Northern Uganda. International Journal of Social Sciences Perspectives, 13(1).
- Kabunga, A., Acanga, A., Akello Abal, J., Kambugu Nabasirye, C., Namata, H., Mwesigwa, D., Auma, A. G., Kigongo, E., & Udho, S. (2023). Phenomenology of induced abortion in Northern Uganda among HIV-positive women following an unintended pregnancy. Open Access Journal of Contraception, 14, 73–82. https://doi.org/10.2147/OAJC.S407547
- Abal, J. A., Ebila, F., Ayo, H., Acio, C., & Kabunga, A. (2024). The influence of Uganda women’s entrepreneurship program on livelihoods and cultural dynamics in Amolatar, Northern Uganda. International Journal of Social Sciences Perspectives,
14(2), 44–51. https://doi.org/10.33094/ijssp.v14i2.1895 - Akello, J. A., Ebila, F., Ejang, M., Acanga, A., Ayo, H., Acio, C., & Kabunga, A. (2024). Gender-specific entrepreneurship programs: Understanding the lived experiences of rural women entrepreneurs in Amolatar Sub-Region, Uganda. Researchjournali’s Journal of Entrepreneurship, 10(2).
- Kabunga, A., Kigongo, E., Acanga, A.,Tumwesigye, R., Auma, A. G., Musinguzi, M., Kambugu, C. N., Okalo, P., Abal, J. A., Namata, H., & Mwesigwa, D. (2024). Qualitative study on stigma as a barrier to emergency contraceptive pill use among
university students in the Lango subregion, Uganda. BMJ Open, 14(2), e079478. - Kigongo, E., Ekungu, E., Edmonton, A., Auma, A. G., Ongom, M. C., Samson, U., Anyolitho, M. K., Kabunga, A., Murara, O., Akello, J. A., & Omech, B. (2025). Bridging participation gaps: A community-led inception for integrating comprehensive
adolescent-friendly family planning and post-abortion care (CAFFP–PAC) into primary healthcare facilities in Northern Uganda. Open Access Journal of Contraception, 16, 81–96. https://doi.org/10.2147/OAJC.S550132 - Ejang, M., Apio, S. O., Obote, D., Okuna, V., & Akello, J. A. (2025). An analysis of gender and political glass ceiling in Apac District local governance, Northern Uganda. East African Journal of Arts and Social Sciences, 8(4). https://doi.org/10.37284/27074285
SELECTED PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Her research focuses on gender, women’s economic empowerment, functional adult literacy, entrepreneurship, reproductive health, and socio-economic development in Northern Uganda.
Research Grants and awards
- Research Titled: Unpacking the Influence of Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiatives Through Women’s Entrepreneurship Program on Livelihoods and Cultural Dynamics in Amolatar Sub-Region- Grant Award Number: RG/2023/10
- Negotiating Motherhood in Gendered Cultural Spaces: Breastfeeding Student-Mothers and Staff at Lira University Through Performing Arts and Culture-Project ID: Lira University Internal Research Grant- Grant Reference Number (RG/2025/TRACK 1/Academic Staff/01)
- Enhancing Integration of Adolescent Family Planning and Post-Abortion Care in Northern Uganda: A Citizen Science, Gender-Transformative Approach, Project ID 110713-IDRC Grant
- Advancing Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Advancing Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Through Postgraduate Education in East Africa Through Postgraduate Education in East Africa Erasmus + Capacity Building in Higher Education, Project ID-European Union, Project ID: 101178404
- Implementation of an Integrated Care Model for Patients with Multiple Cardiometabolic and Mental Health Conditions in sub-Saharan Africa (M-Care Project)- Project ID Funder: Horizon Europe Grant Agreement number: 10122656
Conference Presentations
- Keynote Speaker (2025). Equity bank’s Abakyala Ku Ntiiko women initiative held at Lira Hotel, in Lira City
- Akello, J.A & Omara P. (2020). Discussion Series on the Issues of 2020/2021 National Budget to the Local Community in Lango Region. Can Government Really Achieve this? Voice of Lango. Lira-Uganda.
- Akello, J.A. (2017). Research findings to international workshop in Bonn Germany- The Right Livelihood College (RLC)sponsored by DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) on Unlocking the Socio- Economic Development Potentials: Women’s Experiences of Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) In Northern Uganda. https://rlc-blog.org/?p=2196
- Akello, J.A. (2016). Conference paper drafted and presented at 1st Cairobi (Cairo and Nairobi)- Conference, for DAAD Alumni at Cairo-Egypt on Women and Functional Adult Literacy Training: A Gateway to Improved Income Generation in Uganda. alumni@daadcairo.org and conference@daadafrica.org
Supervisions
- AKITE Magdalene: Microfinance loans and performance of small and medium size businesses in Lira City.
- OKIDI Mike: Effect of internal controls on revenue collection in Lira City.
- ANGOLE Jimmy: Employee Training and Organizational Performance: A case Study of the Education Service Sector in Lira District Local Government.
- OCEN Tom: The Contribution of Village Savings and Loan Association on Poverty Reduction in Kole District.
- Gerald OPIO: Financial Rewards and Employee Commitment in Local Governments: A Case Study of Apac Municipal Council.
- Molly Grace Oree: Performance Appraisal and Employee Performance in the Health Sector.
- Shalom Okucu Akidi: Strategic Management Processes and Performance of Agro Processing SMEs in Lira City.
- Mercy Robinah Adong: Impact of Employment Benefit on Employee and Organizational Productivity.
- Lillian Apili Ocen: Solid Waste Management and its Impact on Sustainable Development in Uganda: A Case Study of Lira City.
- Bosco Otyang: Reward Management and Employee Commitment in Financial Institutions in Uganda: A Case of Post Bank Uganda Limited, Lango Sub-Region.
- Mathias Were: Revenue Collection and Service Delivery in Works Department of Amolatar District Local Government.
- Otile Milton: Tax Administration and Local Revenue Performance in Lira District Local Government.
- Orec Isaac: Results-Based Financing, Motivation, and Satisfaction of Health Workers at Lower-Level Primary Health Care Facilities in Lira District.
- Opio Thomas: Cash Flow Management Practices and Financial Performance of Smalland Medium-Term Enterprises in Lira City, Uganda.
- Mbabazi Sarah: Donor Funding And Its Influence On Household Livelihoods In Adok Sub-County, Kwania District: A Case Of Compassion International Assisted Projects
- Ojwok Robinson: Attempted Suicide: Lived Experiences Of Refugees In Rhino Camp, Westnile Uganda. Lira University
- Koli Francisca: Social Determinants of Health and Hypertension: A case Study of Dokolo district
- Barungi Michael: Tax Administration and Tax Compliance among Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Lira City.