A Makerere University PhD dissertation has caught the public’s attention with its striking title: “No One Has Ever Died from Singleness: A Scholarly Critique of Cultural Panics Surrounding Singleness, Childlessness, and Social Expectations.”
The work, authored by Nakamyuka Norah Winnie, a doctoral candidate at Makerere, explores how African societies — and Uganda in particular — continue to judge individuals, especially women, by their marital and parental status. The thesis questions the deeply rooted belief that fulfillment and respect in society must come through marriage or having children.
The bold title has gone viral across social media, sparking heated debate about social norms and gender expectations. Many users have praised Nakamyuka’s work as “brave” and “refreshingly honest,” saying it gives academic weight to an everyday struggle faced by many. Others have been more critical, arguing that traditional family values should not be dismissed in the name of modernity.
Despite the mixed reactions, the dissertation has undeniably struck a chord — particularly among young professionals and academics who see marriage and parenthood as personal choices, not societal obligations.
According to sources within Makerere’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nakamyuka’s research applies feminist and sociological frameworks to examine how language, media, and social customs contribute to what she calls “cultural panics” — the fear of being single or childless beyond a certain age.
Her study reportedly draws on interviews, literature, and social commentary to challenge what she describes as “the moral surveillance of single women and men in contemporary Ugandan society.”
While unconventional in tone, the dissertation fits into a growing global trend of socially conscious academic work that pushes universities to engage with everyday human experiences. Makerere, one of Africa’s leading research institutions, has been at the forefront of such discourse in recent years — encouraging critical studies on identity, gender, and cultural expectations.
Students and staff have expressed admiration for the boldness of the topic. “It’s not just a thesis; it’s a reflection of our times,” said one postgraduate student. “So many people are quietly suffocating under social pressure. This work tells them — you’re enough.”
Whether one agrees with Nakamyuka’s conclusions or not, her dissertation has succeeded in doing what great scholarship often does: ignite conversation.
In a society where personal worth is often measured by rings and children, her message lands sharply — no one has ever died from singleness.
