General
New Electoral Commission Inducted ahead of Guild Polls
A new Electoral Commission, EC, has assumed office following a Swearing in and Induction ceremony at Makerere University Senate building held on 16th February 2015. The EC is chaired by Roy Ssemboga, who scooped 43 of the 76 votes to become Chairperson in a highly contested race held at the College of Engineering Design Art and Technoloy, CEDAT, on 11th February 2015. Sarah Aseru took over the Vice Chairperson slot, Vivien Kawule is in charge of Finance, Kevin Obiya is the General Secretary and Dennis Okori will handle the Public Relations. According to Benson Chark, the Guild Speaker, the voting of the Electoral Commission office bearers was smoothly conducted with no petition thus far.
This team is tasked with organising the upcoming 81st Guild elections of Makerere University, scheduled for early March 2015.
In his acceptance speech, the fresh-in-office Chairperson pledged to deliver a clean electoral process. “This is the strongest team you will ever have. We have great team work and will serve without fear or favour to take Makerere Universityto great heights. I am confident of each and every member of the EC since I have worked with them before and can attest to their competence,” assured Ssemboga.
So far six candidates have expressed interest in vying for the top post of Guild President and each of them is already laying strategies of winning the election. Their posters can be seen various strategic places at the Main campus.
The swearing in ceremony of the EC was witnessed by a number of Staff of Makerere University including representatives from the Office of the Dean of Students, the Wardens of the various halls of residence, the Makerere University Public Relations office, Rev. Canon Geoffrey Byarugaba- Ag. Chaplain St. Francis Chapel and Rev. Father Josephat Ddungu- Chaplain of St. Augustine Chapel.
The Dean of Students, Cyriaco Kabagambe urged the Electoral Commission to observe the constitutional provisions at all times. “I urge you to stay neutral and make use of the relevant offices in Makerere University when you need guidance. The work you are going to embark on is service to humanity and when you do it well, you will be remembered for it,” he said.
The Deputy Dean of Students Stephen Kateega cautioned the EC to stand out from the crowd. “Leadership carries a number of challenges. This job demands trustworthiness, straight forward dealing, faith and truth. Be straight from the onset. If anything goes wrong, you will make headlines,” he said.
Rev. Byarugaba drew from his experience to inspire them, “As a former Returning Officer, I urge you to be responsible, develop a detailed roadmap, pay attention to all the details and most importantly document all the processes. This will help you at all times,” he emphasised.
Other Makerere University Staff in attendance cautioned the EC to be organised ahead of time, avoid last minute panicking, set and abide by guiding principles, account for public funds, prevail over the process and set clear guidelines on who the eligible voters are. To close the ceremony, the Chaplains in attendance prayed and blessed the EC.
Article by Marion Alina
In a vibrant celebration of youth leadership and African unity, Makerere University hosted the Second Annual Guild Leaders’ Summit, an event that brought together high-profile dignitaries, student leaders, and international partners for a powerful dialogue on the future of the continent. The summit, organized by the Guild Presidents Leadership Academy, served as a rallying point for East Africa’s young leaders to confront Africa’s most urgent challenges—on their own terms and with their own solutions.
A Warm Welcome and Reflections on Makerere’s Legacy
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, welcomed the distinguished guests, who included Former President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo, former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, Justice Simon Byabakama, Hon. Mathew Rukikaire, and European Union Deputy Ambassador Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, among others.
In his address, Prof. Nawangwe reflected on Makerere’s deep historical ties to East Africa’s liberation and development movements. He reminded the audience that Makerere University has been a crucible for the continent’s leadership, stating:
“Jomo Kenyatta was the first person to receive a degree from Makerere when, in 1963, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by then Chancellor Julius Nyerere. All freedom fighters in East Africa studied at Makerere.”
Building on this rich history, Prof. Nawangwe affirmed the university’s current mission to tackle pressing continental issues. “Today,” he said, “Makerere is committed to addressing Africa’s challenges—climate change, disease, poverty, food security, conflict resolution, and economic development. But we cannot do this alone.”
He echoed sentiments later shared by the keynote speaker, stressing that Africa must no longer depend on external interventions:
“Foreign agencies will not solve all Africa’s problems. It is our young people who must step forward and lead the change.”
Uhuru Kenyatta: “You Are the Last Line of Defence”
In a keynote address that resonated deeply with the students and delegates in attendance, Former President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a bold and urgent call to action for Africa’s youth.
“No one is coming to save us,” Kenyatta declared. “You are the last line of defence in the battle to rescue the heart and soul of Africa.”
Positioning today’s youth as the heirs of the continent’s freedom fighters, Kenyatta described the current moment as a new “independence era”—not of political liberation, but of economic and intellectual sovereignty. He urged students to think critically about intra-African trade, which currently accounts for less than 2.5% of global commerce, and to advocate for the removal of internal barriers to trade, innovation, and mobility.
“You are the freedom fighters of this generation,” he said. “Universities must be incubators of change, and students must be the trustees of tomorrow’s Africa.”
Pan-Africanism, Leadership, and Action
Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo encouraged students to take up the mantle of Pan-Africanism with unwavering commitment. She acknowledged that while the rhetoric of African unity is inspiring, real progress demands more than words:
“You must embrace the spirit of Pan-Africanism. But it is easy to say these words—the challenge lies in collective implementation.”
She emphasized the importance of action-oriented leadership and urged the youth to harness their creativity, energy, and education for the benefit of the continent.
European Union’s Message: Leadership with Integrity
Representing Team Europe, the EU Deputy Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, gave a passionate speech on the values of authentic leadership, integrity, and inclusive development. He praised Makerere University as a space where “intellectual ambition meets civic responsibility” and emphasized that leadership is not about prestige, but purpose:
“Be a leader because of what you want to be—not because of what you want to have,” he said.
Citing former Makerere alumni such as Julius Nyerere and Wangari Maathai, Chartrain called on students to model courage, resilience, and humility:
“True leadership emerges in moments of loss—when resilience, not triumph, becomes the measure of one’s character.”
The EU, he said, remains committed to supporting youth through programs like Erasmus+, the EU Youth Sounding Board, and partnerships with organizations like Faraja Africa Foundation and Restless Development. These initiatives empower youth not as symbols, but as active participants in shaping policy and governance.
The Legacy Continues
Throughout the summit, speakers highlighted the importance of legacy and long-term impact. They challenged young leaders to think not just about the present, but about the systems and institutions they will leave behind. In the words of Former President Kenyatta:
“Leadership is not about the next election. It’s about the next generation.”
The summit ended on a high note, with students invigorated and inspired to lead with purpose. As global support grows less predictable and Africa stands at a crossroads, the message from Makerere was clear: the future of the continent is in the hands of its youth. And as the Guild Leaders’ Summit demonstrated, they are ready.
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