James Churchill Ssentamu has been sworn in as the 91st guild president of Makerere University.
Ssentamu defeated the ruling party National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) John Bosco Rukundo and Ismaili Basalirwa, the flagbearer of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party.
Ssentamu, a nephew of NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, participated in the election as an independent candidate after failing to secure the opposition party flag in the primaries.
He succeeds Vincent Lubega Nsamba. Ssentamu comes in at a time when the university is facing significant challenges from raising tuition fees to constant complaints of intrigue and issues relating to student’s academic freedom and freedom of expression with many accusing the administration of intolerance.
In his speech, Ssentamu promised to act on some of such challenges and others that he promised during the campaigns. However, in his remarks, Prof Mukadasi Buyinza, deputy vice chancellor in charge of academic affairs who represented the vice chancellor asked the incoming student leaders to always ensure there is consensus on all key issues brought before them.
