James Churchill Ssentamu has been elected as the 91st guild president of Makerere University, Uganda’s oldest and most prestigious institution of higher learning.
Ssentamu, who ran as an independent candidate, secured the position with a total of 3,459 votes.
His closest competitor, John Bosco Rukundo, representing the National Resistance Movement (NRM), garnered 3,267 votes, while Ismaili Basalirwa, the official candidate of the National Unity Platform (NUP), came in third with 3,126 votes.
Ssentamu’s political background is notable, as he is the son of Fred Nyanzi, the head of mobilisation for the National Unity Platform (NUP), and the nephew of Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, the leader of NUP.
At Makerere University, Ssentamu has also been actively involved in student leadership, serving as the secretary of the Baganda Nkobazambogo Students Association.
His journey to victory was not without controversy. Initially, he sought the NUP nomination but lost to Basalirwa.
Instead of withdrawing, he chose to run as an independent, a decision that sparked mixed reactions, particularly from factions within NUP. Despite this, his popularity among the student body helped him clinch the top seat.
Ssentamu will take over from Vincent Lubega Nsamba, the outgoing guild president.