Eastern’s Economics Professor Conducts Workshops in Uganda

Professor Muchiri with Kyambogo and Stawa Universities faculty and students.

Steve Muchiri, assistant professor of economics at Eastern Connecticut State University, was invited by Kyambogo and Stawa Universities in Kampala, Uganda, to be the keynote speaker at an economics workshop this past summer. Muchiri’s research explores issues related to healthcare, education and teenage motherhood in developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. One of his current research interests is an analysis of Kenya Vision 2030, an economic development program aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goals adopted from the United Nations Millennium Declaration. His work examines the impact of free education on teenage motherhood in Kenya, where up to 20 percent of women 20-24 years of age become mothers before their 18^th birthday. While in Uganda, Muchiri also facilitated a series of workshops on economic issues such as healthcare utilization, health insurance and the importance of higher education in the labor market.

Professor Muchiri in front of statue of King Mutebi II, Buganda’s current king. a subnational kingdom within Uganda. Buganda is the kingdom of the Ganda people, the largest of the traditional kingdoms in present-day Uganda.

“I made new friends from the student body as well as the local community,” said Muchiri in describing his experience. I learned from them as much as they learned from me, but I think I may have gained more from this experience. This is definitely a great destination to take students for a summer or regular semester study-abroad program.”

Written by Dwight Bachman