Lira University, Uganda

Dr. Okaka Opio Dokotum is an Associate Professor of Literature and Film and Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs, Lira University in Uganda. Dr. Dokotum is an eclectic multidisciplinary cultural theorist whose major research fields are: literature - film adaptation theory, trauma cinema, performative poetics, contemporary audiologovisualized African music video aesthetics, trauma and schizophrenic aesthetics (Especially in documentaries about the LRA atrocities), higher education, Ugandan literature, history, heritage studies and tourism. Dr. Dokotum is a poet, playwright, screen writer, actor and director. He has published articles in peer reviewed journals in the fields of languages, literature, film, memory and heritage studies and history. Dokotum is the convener of the 1^st International Lango Cultural heritage and Tourism Conference (2018).

Dr. Judith Abal Akello is a Senior Lecturer and Head of Department-Commerce and Business Management at Lira University, Uganda. She is also a trainer and researcher in the field of qualitative research, adult literacy, basic education policy, women, microfinance institutions and socio-economic development as well as health promotion. Dr. Judith has participated diligently in AHEAD project. She has published several articles in the field of Functional Adult Literacy, Basic Education Policy, Micro-Finance, Health Promotion, internal control system and revenue collection. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education-Business Studies, a Master’s Degree in Education and International Development, a Master's Degree in Business Administration-Finance, a Doctorate in Philosophy and currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Technische Universitat Dresden, Germany.

Mr. John Ogwang is an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Commerce and Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences of Lira University. He was awarded the Thailand International Corporation Agency (TICA) scholarships in 2014 to pursue Master of Business Administration at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce in Thailand where he was awarded Master of Business Administration with a gold medal. He also won the best paper award in July 2016 in the 9th International Conference on Entrepreneurships, Business and Finance organized by IFRD at Shinawatra University.  He has published many scholarly papers in peer reviewed journals and presented papers in many academic conferences. He worked as a researcher in the Erasmus/AHEAD project and participated in many local, national, and international workshops organized by Erasmus/AHEAD project. Specifically, he contributed to the analysis of the National Innovation System of Uganda and presented a paper in the national conference organized by ERASMUS in October 2021. He was formerly the Head, Department of Business Management of Lira University.

Mr. Andrew Ojulong holds a Master of Science in Information Science (Makerere University) and is pursuing a PhD in Information Science, College of Computing and Information Sciences (Makerere University). He is the head of Library and Information Services at Lira University and multi-tasking as the innovation’s coordinator; patron for both creative developers and debating society; and a founding member of the Research and Ethics Committee. He volunteers as the director publicity at the Consortium of Uganda University Libraries (CUUL) since February 2020; Northern region coordinator for the ‘Association of Health Information and Libraries in Africa- (UG-AHILA) since 2016; Mentoring Generation Africa under Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme since January 2021; and UN SDG Action since 2020. He served as Vice President CUUL 2016-2020 and was the founding Librarian of Lira University in 2016, and Gulu University Constituent College in 2010. He had professional development engagements with YMCA, Warid Telecom Company (U) Ltd and Center for Basic Research (CBR). Andrew provides outreach to the consortia and community as a national Trainer of Trainers on e-resources/Research4Life, bibliometrics, reference tools, ICT entrepreneurship and innovations management. Andrew has participated and presented in many workshops and conferences (Nationally & Internationally). He has participated in: the ADB/HEST Project as ICT requirements facilitator; and the Erasmus/AHEAD project as a researcher, technical facilitator and supervisor of the AHEAD Innovations Hub.

Mr. Isaac Mukungu holds a Master of science degree in Library and Information studies from the university of Strathclyde, Glasgow UK. He serves as a Librarian at Lira University with over 10 years’ experience in Librarianship and Information Management as well as teaching at university. He has served as the University Librarian of Islamic University in Uganda from 2014 to 2018. He provides support and mentorship to students and young librarians in information services management, research and innovations.  He is also a Director of RUGAD initiatives a charity-based foundation in eastern Uganda. Isaac has participated actively in developing and customizing Working Papers; Establishing and setting up the innovation’s hub, Organizing AHEAD project activities among others. He is currently the in-charge Lira University Innovations hub under AHEAD.