The 91st Makerere University Guild President James Churchill Ssentamu has defended his controversial appearance alongside President Yoweri Museveni, saying true leadership means engaging with authority to advocate for students, not hiding behind populist outrage.
The backlash was triggered by viral images showing Ssentamu standing next to the President during the official launch of Makerere University’s Research and Innovation Week. The event, which took place on university grounds, was attended by key government officials and academic leaders.
Critics, including prominent political activist slammed the guild president’s presence, calling it a betrayal to the cause of young Ugandans fighting for justice.
In his response, Ssentamu clarified that he was officially representing over 32,000 students at a government-sanctioned event within a public institution. He noted that as the elected voice of the students, he has a duty to engage with all national leaders — including those with whom he may politically disagree to influence policy and resource allocation.
He dismissed accusations of political compromise, asserting that avoiding government leaders would do little to advance student interests. Ssentamu acknowledged that the Ugandan political environment is deeply flawed and that many are frustrated with the current regime, but he maintained that confronting uncomfortable realities is part of responsible leadership.
The guild president also called for respect in public discourse, asking critics to leave his family out of the controversy. His father, veteran opposition figure Fred Nyanzi, was specifically mentioned in online debates, with some suggesting the family’s values had been compromised. Ssentamu argued that standing next to power does not mean surrendering to it, and reaffirmed his commitment to speaking truth to those in charge.
As the dust settles, the incident has sparked a larger national conversation about what the next generation of Ugandan leaders should look like — disruptors or negotiators, firebrands or bridge-builders.
