General
Mak Inaugurates 2017/18 Guild Electoral Commission
In preparation for the forthcoming Guild Elections 2017/18 and bid to hold free and fair elections at Makerere University, a new Students' Guild Electoral Commission was inaugurated. This was during the swearing in ceremony held on March 6, 2017 in the Conference Room, Senate Building.
Witnessed by the Makerere University Dean of Students, administrators, religious leaders and students’ representatives; five commissioners were sworn-in. These included; Mr. Isaac Otuku-Chairperson, Ms. Barbra Nakaggwa-Vice Chairperson, Mr. Joseph Kafuuma-Secretary, Mr. Daniel Amanya-Finance and Mr. Abasi Kizito-Public Relations.
While presiding over the ceremony, the Dean of Students-Mr. Cyriaco Kabagambe congratulated the candidates and assured them of support. He urged them to be faithful, transparent and anticipate challenges and solve them promptly during their term of service.
“Once the swearing in is done, we are expecting you to officially take office. As the Electoral Commission, the main target is to produce fair elections accepted by all stakeholders and students. After elections, all parties should be happy and contented. Your administrators are always ready to work with you and they will support you when you need them, so work with them and your fellow students” the Dean said.
Mr. Kabagambe thus informed the commissioners that much as they had been put in office, they were to remain university students. He advised them to always treat everybody equally without any bias. He told them that they had come to attain leadership skills but not employment and money. They were also reminded to work within the budget which is about UGX 68Million and to always account for the funds provided to them.
The Guild Speaker Rt. Hon. Kasujja Imran advised the candidates to always consult and also make good use of the Guild Constitution during their tenure.
“Always consult your seniors for advice and remain people of integrity while performing your duties. The Guild Constitution is very visionary, let it be your point of reference because everything was captured in it.”
Speaking at the event, Rev. Can. Amos Turyahabwe-Chaplain St. Francis Chapel, Makerere University congratulated the commissioners and reminded them that they had come forward to serve. He advised them to always do their work with energy, knowledge and integrity in a timely manner. He also urged them not to neglect their studies.
“This aspect of service is a call from God. You have come to serve this community and this is a great responsibility. As you carry out your leadership duties, you should behave as students and not abandon your studies. Always have good faith, seek for counsel and learn to do God’s will with integrity,” said Rev. Can. Turyahabwe.
Similarly, Fr. Joseph Ddungu-Chaplain St. Augustine Chapel and Imam Sam Ahmed Ssentongo-Makerere University mosque advised the commissioners to be good leaders who always seek to be knowledgeable, diligent, respectful and dynamic. They urged the commissioners to work as a team and use their term of office to attain leadership skills and not work for their own selfish interests.
The Ceremony was attended by Guild Electoral Commission officials, Makerere University Administrators, Religious leaders and students’ representatives.
Article by Public Relations Office
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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