Dr. Danstan Mukono Takes African Scholarship to the Global Editorial Stage

By Selemani Nambimbi, CMU

A University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) scholar has taken on a new international role in shaping academic conversations about Africa, with Senior Lecturer Dr. Danstan Mukono appointed Associate Editor for the African Studies section of Cogent Social Sciences, a Routledge journal published by Taylor & Francis.

The appointment gives Dr. Mukono a direct role in the editorial processes through which research on African societies is assessed, developed and prepared for publication, further extending UDSM’s contribution to global knowledge production beyond research and teaching.

His appointment was formally confirmed in a letter dated 15 June 2026 and signed by Samuel Ward, Senior Publisher at Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. The letter confirms Dr. Mukono’s service as an Associate Editor on the journal’s editorial board within the African Studies section.

In the letter, Ward welcomed Dr. Mukono to the role and acknowledged his contribution to the journal’s editorial work, placing his expertise within an international team responsible for advancing scholarly research and debate.

For UDSM Deputy Vice Chancellor–Academic, Prof. Rose Upor, the appointment reflects the growing international recognition of the University’s academic expertise and the increasing contribution of its scholars to global knowledge platforms.

She said such appointments demonstrate that UDSM academics are increasingly participating not only in producing research but also in the scholarly processes that determine how knowledge is evaluated, strengthened and shared internationally.

“Editorial appointments of this nature demonstrate the confidence placed in the expertise of our scholars and provide an important opportunity for UDSM to contribute directly to international academic discourse, particularly on issues concerning Africa”, said Prof. Upor.

Prof. Upor added that participation in international editorial boards also creates opportunities for scholars to engage with emerging research, build academic networks and contribute to maintaining the quality and relevance of published scholarship.

For Dr. Mukono, the new responsibility builds on an expanding record of engagement with international academic publishing.

A Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology in the College of Social Sciences (CoSS), his academic work has focused on issues at the intersection of society, environment and development.

Reflecting on the appointment, Dr. Mukono said the new role provides an opportunity to contribute to the growth of African scholarship while supporting research that responds to the continent’s diverse social and developmental realities.

“I am honoured to take on this responsibility. The appointment provides an opportunity to contribute to the advancement of scholarship on Africa and to support the publication of rigorous research that speaks to the realities and challenges of African societies”, said Dr. Mukono.

He said he also viewed the role as an opportunity to encourage greater visibility of research produced by African scholars and strengthen connections among researchers working on issues affecting the continent.

The appointment builds on his previous international editorial experience. In 2025, Dr. Mukono was appointed to the Editorial Board of SAGE’s Journal of Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space, effective from 1 April 2025 for a three-year term.

That role involved contributing to the journal’s editorial processes and engaging with research addressing environmental issues, climate change and the relationship between society and the environment.

His new appointment extends that experience into African Studies, bringing his expertise into a scholarly platform with a specific focus on research concerning the continent.

A wider platform for African Research

Cogent Social Sciences is an international, multidisciplinary, open-access journal published by Taylor & Francis under the Routledge imprint. Its African Studies section provides a platform for research examining a broad range of issues affecting African societies.

These include development, climate change, land and natural resources, migration, labour, gender, food security and resource-related conflicts.

As Associate Editor, Dr. Mukono will participate in the scholarly review and development of research submitted to the section, contributing to the processes through which manuscripts are assessed and prepared for publication.

The role therefore goes beyond an individual academic achievement. It places a UDSM scholar within an international editorial network where decisions about the quality, relevance and development of research on Africa are part of a wider scholarly conversation.

For emerging researchers, such platforms can also provide important opportunities to understand international publishing standards, engage with wider scholarly networks and strengthen the visibility of research generated within African institutions.

Strengthening UDSM’s global academic footprint

Dr. Mukono’s appointment adds to UDSM’s continuing engagement with international academic publishing, where its scholars serve as researchers, authors, peer reviewers and editorial board members.

For the University, these roles provide avenues for its academic expertise to contribute directly to global debates while also strengthening connections between UDSM researchers and international scholarly communities.

Prof. Upor said the University values such contributions because they reinforce the institution’s broader mission of advancing teaching, research and knowledge exchange.

“Our scholars have an important role to play in ensuring that knowledge generated in Africa is not only published but also actively contributes to shaping global academic conversations”, she said.

With Dr. Mukono now serving in the African Studies section of Cogent Social Sciences, UDSM gains another academic voice in an international platform dedicated to research on Africa—strengthening the University’s presence in the spaces where African scholarship is reviewed, refined and shared with the world.

The University congratulates Dr. Danstan Mukono on his appointment and wishes him success in his new editorial responsibility.