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Kuhenga

Dr. Dotto Paul Kuhenga

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Biography

Dr. Dotto Paul Kuhenga is a distinguished academic, media professional, and communication expert, with extensive experience spanning academia, journalism, and communication consultancy. He holds a PhD in Climate Change Communication from the University of Dar es Salaam, with studies from Makerere University in Uganda. His educational background also includes an MA in Journalism and Media Studies from Rhodes University in South Africa, as well as an MA in Development Studies and a BA in Journalism from the University of Dar es Salaam. Currently, Dr. Kuhenga serves as the Head of Communication and Marketing Unit at the University of Dar es Salaam where he is responsible for managing all communication matters both within the university and with the public. In this role, he also serves as the official spokesperson for the institution. He is deeply involved in shaping the university's communication strategy, overseeing media relations, and facilitating effective communication between university management and the academic community. Dr. Kuhenga is also an accomplished  lecturer of Journalism and Media Studies at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Dar es Salaam. He teaches a variety of courses, including news writing and reporting, media and democracy, as well as mass media research. His expertise extends beyond teaching to being a recognised consultant in the fields of journalism, media studies, public relations, and development studies. His professional background includes over 15 years of experience as a print and broadcast journalist, working with reputable media organisations like The Citizen and Raia Mwema newspapers; as well as University of Dar es Salaam’s media outlets namely Mlimani Radio and TV and The Hill Observer Newspaper. He has also worked internationally, covering key events such as the United Nations Periodic Review Session in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2011. As a media consultant, Dr. Kuhenga has contributed to numerous projects,collaborating with organisations such as the Parliament of Tanzaniae-Government Authority (eGA),UNESCO-Tanzania, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the National Council for Technical and Vocational Education Training (NACTVET), University of Dar es Salaam’s Research and Education for Democracy in Tanzania (REDET), The Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF), Tanzania Media Foundation (TMF), Tanzania Centre for Democracy (TCD), Tanzania Union of Industrial and Commercial Workers (TUICO), The Thompson Reuters Foundation and the Land O’Lakes International Development. His consultancy work spans a range of topics, including media development, public relations strategies, and communication for social change. He also serves as a member in local and international professional bodies such as the Tanzania Editors Forum (TEF), the Climate Action Committee of the International Communication Association (ICA) and the Board of Directors of the Tech & Media Convergency (TMC), Tanzania. Dr. Kuhenga's research interests focus on print journalism practices, media and development, climate change communication, and the role of community media, especially community radio, in rural Africa. His research and publications have emphasized the importance of media in shaping public understanding of climate issues, particularly in Tanzania and the broader African context. Through his academic and professional work, Dr. Kuhenga has become a key figure in advancing media and communication studies, as well as their application in development and societal change.

Research Interest

Media Development; Print Journalism Practices; Climate Change Communication; Media and Development; Communication for Social Change;   and the Role of Community Media, especially Community Radio, in Rural Africa. 

Membership of Professional Bodies

 

Contacts

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Projects

  • 2024: Communication Expert and Facilitator in Developing a Communication Strategy of the Tanzania Institute of Education,23-27 September, 2024 in Morogoro, Tanzania.

 

  • 2024: Communication Expert and Team Member in Developing a Communication Strategy for the Project of Voluntarily Relocation of Residents from Ngorongoro Conservation Area, for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), September, 2024, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • 2024: Facilitator in the Training on Institution’s Communication and Marketing Practices to e-Government Authority (eGA)Corporate Communication Unit organized by eGA, 10-13 August, 2024, in Dodoma, Tanzania.
  • 2024: Communication Expert and Facilitator in Developing a Communication, Advocacy and Dissemination Strategy of the Tanzania Statistical Master Plan II (TSMP II) for the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in May, 2024, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • 2024: Facilitator in Developing a Communication Policy for Public Service Social Security Fund (PSSSF), in April, 2024, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • 2024: Facilitator in the Training of Editorial and Journalistic Practices to Parliament of Tanzania Communication Officials organized by the Office of the the Parliament of Tanzania, 19-23 February, 2024, in Dodoma, Tanzania.
  • 2024: Facilitator in Developing a Communication and Visibility Strategy for the Gas Company (Tanzania) Limited (GASCO), in February, 2024, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • 2023: Facilitator (Consultant), in Developing a Communication Strategy for the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) Project at the Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere University of Agriculture and Technology (MJNUAT), December, 2023, in Mara region, Tanzania.
  • 2023: Facilitator (Consultant), in Developing a Communication Strategy for the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) Project Communication Strategy at the Eastern Africa Statistical Training Centre (EASTC),October, 2023, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • 2023: Team Member (Consultant), in Developing the Information, Education and Communication Strategy for the Higher Education Students’ Loans Board (HESLB), September, 2023, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • 2023: Team Leader, in Developing a Corporate Communication Strategy for the e-Government Authority (eGA), March-May, 2023, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • 2022: Team Member, in Developing a Communication and Marketing Strategy for the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), August, 2022, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • 2022: External Examiner (Mass Communication Courses, School of Humanities and Social Sciences) for Dar es Salaam Tumaini University (DarTU)), in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • 2020/2021: Lead Consultant in Developing and Designing of a Curriculum on Media Viability, for the Tanzania Media Foundation (TMF), September 2020 to March 2021, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • 2020: Media Expert for the Tanzania Electoral Process Observation (TEPO) Programme (including writing and publishing a chapter on Media and Election in the Book on General Election in Tanzania in 2020), for the University of Dar es Salaam’s Research and Education for Democracy in Tanzania (REDET), in August to November, 2020 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • 2020: Lead Journalism Expert in Reviewing Journalism Curriculum (NTA Level 4-6), for the National Council for Technical and Vocational Education Training (NACTVET), June 2020, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • 2020: Media Consultant in Developing a Media Guide of Civic Space Reporting in Tanzania; and civic space media contents (print media news stories and feature articles; Radio and TV programmes, for the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), March-May 2020, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • 2018-2019: Consultant Team Member, in Developing a Communication Strategy of the Government Roadmap to Improve Business Environment and Investment Climate in Tanzania, for the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF)& Tanzania Prime Minister’s Office, September 2018 to March 2019, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • 2018Lead Consultant in Developing a Communication Strategy for the Parliament of Tanzania, January-March 2018, in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, Tanzania.
  • 2017: Lead Media Consultant on Building Capacity to Community Radios Use of ICT in Tanzania, for the UNESCO-Tanzania, August-December 2017, Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga and Coast Region.
  • 2016/2018: Media Analyst/Coder in the Quality of Tanzania Media Content Project, for the Tanzania Media Foundation (TMF)in December 2016 to June 2018, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • 2016: Media Consultant, in Raising Awareness on Good Governance and Management of Natural Gas among NGOs and Local Citizens, for the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), TanzaniaSeptember 2016, in Mtwara and Lindi Regions, Tanzania.
  • 2010: Project Evaluator, on the Civic and Voter Education Project, for the Tanzania Community Civic Initiatives (TACCI), in August, 2010, in Shinyanga and Kigoma regions, Tanzania.

Publications