education 11 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Irene Mutuzo: Teaching as a Calling, Not Just a Job
Irene Mutuzo, a digital psychologist and lecturer at Makerere University, views teaching as a profound calling, deeply influenced by her late mother's legacy. Her academic journey is marked by a promise kept and a unique focus on the psychological aspects of technology adoption. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/lifestyle/reviews-profiles/to-mutuzo-teaching-is-not-a-job-but-a-calling-5554792
Irene Esther Sevume Mutuzo’s path to academia was not straightforward, yet it was profoundly shaped by her mother’s dying wish: “Academia is where you are meant to be.” Though initially pursuing diverse roles in journalism, human resources, and the digital space, Mutuzo found her true calling back at Makerere University’s School of Psychology.
Her career pivot was solidified when she received her PhD offer letter, a moment of profound emotion. It was a celebration of achievement, but also a poignant fulfillment of her mother’s prophecy, a promise kept across the veil of death. Mutuzo’s mother, also a lecturer, instilled in her the belief that teaching was more than a profession; it was a calling.
Mutuzo’s doctoral research delves into the intersection of technology and human behavior, a field she terms Digital Psychology. Her work highlights that technology adoption is not solely a technical challenge but is heavily influenced by psychological and social factors, such as community beliefs and leadership endorsements. This unique perspective emerged from her earlier experiences in selling blockchain-based digital certificates, where she observed how public perception, often misinformed, impacted the adoption of new technologies.
She is also a poet and chairs the board of the Lantern Meet Foundation, nurturing literary arts. While advocating for AI’s potential, Mutuzo expresses caution regarding its overuse, particularly by children, citing concerns about developmental impacts and mental well-being. She stresses the need for more localized research on these effects within Uganda and Africa.
Ultimately, Mutuzo hopes her students will carry her teachings beyond the classroom, integrating them into their lives and work, much like her own mother’s enduring impact on her former students. Her advice to aspiring doctoral candidates is to find a purpose strong enough to sustain the journey, emphasizing that the true value of a PhD lies in its societal impact, not merely the title. This dedication to her calling, inspired by her mother’s legacy, defines her approach to teaching and research.