Africa-Press – Uganda. The new Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) executive led by Associate Professor Jude Ssempebwa has signalled a fresh push for closer cooperation with the student leadership, beginning with overtures to newly elected Guild President Gracious Kadondi.
Ssempebwa said the new executive is keen to establish a constructive working relationship with the Guild, describing it as essential for advancing both staff and student welfare at Uganda’s premier public university.
“I seek a closer relationship between MUASA and the leadership of the students’ Guild,” Ssempebwa said after congratulating Kadondi, the National Unity Platform-backed 92nd Guild President.
In his message, Ssempebwa urged her to “accept the assurances of solidarity and support as you and your cabinet contribute to the development of our great Makerere.”
Efforts to reach Kadondi for comment on how her leadership intends to navigate the delicate balance between student interests and institutional authority were unsuccessful by press time, with responses repeatedly deferred.
Ssempebwa’s outreach comes at a time of continuing friction within Makerere University’s governance ecosystem, where staff unions and student leaders have often found themselves negotiating a complex relationship with top administration.
At the centre of that tension is Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, whose relationship with MUASA has, over the years, oscillated between cooperation and open disagreement over staff welfare, promotions, and salary disputes.
Ssempebwa himself is not new to that friction. During his previous tenure as MUASA secretary general, he emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the university administration, particularly on delayed promotions and what he described as unfair human resource practices.
He has previously accused the system of being riddled with favouritism, arguing that staff advancement often depended on proximity to administrative power rather than merit.
His advocacy for resolution of pay disputes and reform of promotion processes positioned him as a key internal pressure figure within the university’s academic staff structures.
Those positions have, at times, placed him in direct confrontation with the university leadership, with reports of suspensions and disciplinary action in past engagements adding to a history of strained relations.
Meanwhile, Nawangwe’s approach to student leadership has also drawn attention. In recent years, the Vice Chancellor has increasingly engaged Guild Presidents more closely, frequently hosting them in his office and building working relationships with incoming guild leaders.
Some student leaders, including outgoing Guild President Churchill Ssentamu, were at times seen aligning more closely with the administration after assuming office, a shift that has sparked mixed reactions within student circles.
A former Guild representative from the 91st Guild, who requested anonymity, said the optics of student leaders standing closely behind the Vice Chancellor during public events sometimes created the impression of limited independence.
“At public events where a Guild President spoke, Nawangwe would stand right behind them as if to ensure they spoke from the script,” the former leader said.
“That probably explains why some of these Guild leaders have failed to raise issues of concern when it mattered most.”
Students at Makerere say expectations remain high that Kadondi will adopt a more assertive approach, having campaigned on amplifying student concerns within the university governance structure.
“I am keen to roll that back,” Ssempebwa said, referring to what he sees as muted student representation in recent years.
The newly sworn-in MUASA Executive Committee (2026–2028) was officially inaugurated at a ceremony presided over by Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Prof Sarah Ssali, who represented the Vice Chancellor.
Outgoing chairperson Dr Robert Kakuru urged the incoming team to “build bridges, structures and strong networks” as it takes over leadership of the association.
In his acceptance remarks, Ssempebwa acknowledged the contributions of outgoing leadership and sister staff associations, while also recognising efforts by Nawangwe in advocating for improved staff salaries.
The new MUASA leadership is expected to navigate a delicate balance between cooperation and confrontation as it engages both the university administration and the student guild in shaping the institution’s next phase.
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