Olivia Nabawanda

About Me

I am a Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. My research focuses on algebraic and enumerative combinatorics, where I study permutation statistics, generating functions, bijective methods, and related combinatorial structures. My work has contributed to the development of new combinatorial results and has explored connections to other areas of mathematics. I actively collaborate with researchers from different countries, mentor graduate students, and contribute to building the mathematical research community in Africa through the organization of research workshops, research schools, and collaborative initiatives.

I have taught a range of undergraduate and postgraduate mathematics courses, including Calculus I, Linear Algebra, Discrete Mathematics, Combinatorics, Graph Theory, Real Analysis and Differential Equations.

ORCID | Google Scholar | ResearchGate | zbMATH Open | LinkedIn

Research & Mentorship

Publications

P. Alexandersson and O. Nabawanda.
A weighted Murnaghan–Nakayama rule for (P, w)-partitions
European Journal of Combinatorics 134 (2026), 104332.
P. Alexandersson and O. Nabawanda.
Peaks are preserved under run-sorting (extended abstract)
Séminaire Lotharingien de Combinatoire 86B (2022), Art. 15, 11 pp.
P. Alexandersson and O. Nabawanda.
Peaks are preserved under run-sorting
Enumerative Combinatorics and Applications 2 (2022), Article #S2R2.
O. Nabawanda and F. Rakotondrajao.
Sets of Flattened Partitions with Forbidden Patterns
Journal of Integer Sequences 24 (2021), Article 21.1.5.
O. Nabawanda, F. Rakotondrajao, and A. S. Bamunoba.
Run distribution over flattened partitions
Journal of Integer Sequences 23 (2020), Article 20.9.6.

PhD Dissertation

Flattened Partitions: Pattern Avoidance and Behavior of Permutation Statistics
PhD Dissertation, Makerere University, 2022.

Preprints / arXiv

Preprints will be added here soon.

Student Supervision

Otianga Mathew (MSc Mathematics, 2024)
Dissertation: A Characterization of Set Partitions Using Run-Sorted Permutations over a Finite Set of Integers.
Muhumuza Ronald (MSc Mathematics, 2025)
Dissertation: Run-Sorted Permutations Avoiding Certain Patterns: The Case of Length 4 and Permutation Statistical Consequences.
Kyomugisha Racheal (MSc Mathematics, ongoing)
Dissertation: On Run-Sorted Binary Words: Enumeration Properties and Bijective Relationships.

Professional Activities

Research Talks and Academic Engagements

CIMPA School on Enumerative Combinatorics with Applications to Computer Science – Lecturer, January 6–17, 2025. School page
CIMPA School on Enumerative Combinatorics – Tutorial Assistant, July 10–28, 2023. School page
Women in Sage-Burundi Workshop – Main Lecturer, Combinatorics Group, September 12–16, 2024. Workshop page
Women in Sage-Tunisia Workshop – Main Lecturer, Partial Differential Equations Group, September 30–October 4, 2025. Workshop page
Women in Sage-Nigeria Workshop – Main Group Leader, Combinatorics Group, September 12–16, 2022. Workshop page
FPSAC 2022 – Participant, 34th International Conference on Formal Power Series and Algebraic Combinatorics, Bangalore, India. Conference page
Mathematics Lecture / Academic Presentation
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Research and Academic Feature
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Conference / Workshop Presentation
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Upcoming and Ongoing Activities

CIMPA Research School on Algebraic and Enumerative Combinatorics – Local Co-organizer, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, July 19–30, 2027. School website
AECC Monthly Online Seminar Series – Ongoing seminar series with international speakers. Seminar page

Service and Leadership

African Enumerative Combinatorics Community (AECC) – Chairperson, July 2025–present. Lead the Monthly Online Seminar Series connecting researchers in enumerative combinatorics across Africa. Website
Women in Sage-Uganda Workshop – Chairperson and Main Organizer, September 4–8, 2023. Workshop page
Fourth East African Mathematics Olympiad (EAMO) and Coach Training Edition – Chairperson, May 29–31, 2026. Website
International Women in Mathematics Day Virtual Event – Vice Chairperson and Co-organizer, June 26–27, 2025.
Women in SageMath-Africa (WiS-Africa) – Steering Committee Member.
Association of Women Mathematicians Uganda (AWoM) – Secretary.

Outreach and Mentorship

High Level Debate on Gender Equality – Virtual Speaker, Mauritius, April 26, 2022. Event page
Career Guidance Day – Participant, Kanjuki Senior Secondary School, Kayunga District, April 12, 2022.
Mathematics Outreach and Mentorship – Activities through AWoM and WiS-Africa, including mentorship, workshops, and initiatives promoting girls and young researchers in STEM.

Funding, Awards & Scholarships

Research Grants and Funding

CIMPA Grant (2026) supporting the organization of the CIMPA School on Algebraic and Enumerative Combinatorics at Makerere University, Uganda.
Global Talent Fund Grant (2026) supporting the organization of the East African Mathematics Olympiad (EAMO 2026).
Combinatorics Foundation Grant (2023) supporting the Women in Sage-Uganda workshop.
IMU-CDC and EMS-CDC Grants supporting the organization of Women in Sage-Uganda, participation in international conferences, and research visits.
Additional support from IMU-CWM, AWMA, CIMPA, ICPAM, and the Simons Foundation for workshops, conferences, research collaborations, and international scientific activities.