This page honors the past Directors of the Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR) since its founding in 1948. Each of these leaders has played a vital role in shaping the Institute’s intellectual direction, navigating challenges of their time, and sustaining MISR’s commitment to critical scholarship and institutional resilience.
| PERIOD | NAME | DISCIPLINE | |
| 1 | 1948 -1950 | W.H. Stanner | Economics |
| 2 | 1950 -1956 | Audrey I. Richards | Anthropology |
| 3 | 1956 -1957 | L.A. Fallers | Anthropology |
| 4 | 1957 - 1968 | Aidan Southal | Anthropology |
| 5 | 1968 | Ali Mazrui | Political Science |
| 6 | 1968 | Y. Z. Kyesimira | Economics |
| 7 | 1968-1969 | D.G.R. Belshaw | Agricultural Economics |
| 8 | 1969 | J.J. Oloya | Agricultural Economics |
| 9 | 1969-1970 | Victor Uchendu | Agricultural Economics |
| 10 | 1970-1971 | V.F Aman | Agricultural Economics |
| 11 | 1971 - 1972 | Yashpal A. Tandon | Political Science |
| 12 | 1972-1974 | A.G.G. Gingyera - Pinychwa | Political Science |
| 13 | 1974-1977 | Samwiri R. Karugire | History |
| 14 | 1977-1982 | Benon Rugyema | History |
| 15 | 1982-1992 | Dan Muguwa Mudoola | Political Science |
| 16 | 1992-1996 | Apollo R. Nsibambi | Political Science |
| 17 | 1996-1997 | James Katorobo | Political Science |
| 18 | 1997-1999 | J.C Munene | Psychology |
| 19 | 1999 - 2009 | Nakanyike B.Musisi | History |
| 20 | 2010 - 2022 | Mahmood Mamdani | Political Science, Anthropology |