A Bachelor of Commerce Degree (External) at Makerere University typically takes four years to complete, but for me, it took an incredible eight years. My extended stay at Uganda’s premier university was not due to academic struggles or financial difficulties, but rather my unwavering commitment to student activism.
From the moment I joined Makerere University in 2017, I found myself deeply involved in student politics. In my second year, I contested for the guild presidency. Though I lost to Julius Kateregga, my participation in the election was proof that I was on track academically—after all, only students with a clean academic record are allowed to run for this position.
However, my involvement in activism quickly put me at odds with university management. With Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe’s rise to the position of Vice Chancellor, any form of dissent—whether from students or staff—was treated as insubordination. My vocal opposition to policies that I believed were against students’ interests led to repeated suspensions, prolonging my time at the university far beyond the intended four years.
My Battle Against University Policies
My first major clash with university leadership came in 2017 when, along with other students, I marched to parliament to protest the proposed constitutional amendment that would allow President Museveni to rule beyond the then-mandated age of 75. Around the same time, I also took a stand against a tuition fee increment recommended by the student leadership under then-Guild President Papa Salim Were.
The proposal to increase fees was based on reports from Ugandan and Kenyan universities, but many of us believed the findings were manipulated. We staged a demonstration, and soon after, warning letters from the Vice Chancellor’s office started coming in. Inspired by the Fees Must Fall movement in South Africa, we remained resolute, refusing to back down.
This resistance led to my first indefinite suspension. When you are indefinitely suspended, you don’t know if or when you will be allowed back. We took our case to court with the help of Isaac Ssemakadde, the current Uganda Law Society President. Unfortunately, the case collapsed when one of the students was persuaded to withdraw. Ultimately, we were forced to write apologies before we could return to class.
Tragedy and More Resistance
Despite being reinstated, my activism did not wane. In October 2019, I was suspended yet again for leading another strike against fees increment. This time, the repercussions were devastating. My 89-year-old father, upon seeing the brutality with which police arrested me on national television, suffered a heart attack and passed away.
Even in my grief, I remained committed to the cause. Just two days after my father’s burial, I joined a demonstration led by female students who were marching to Parliament to present a petition against the fees hike. That demonstration led to my expulsion.
The tipping point came when we held a group of university officials hostage in the Main Building, demanding changes in university policy. Security forces had to break in and rescue them. I managed to escape, but the university had had enough. I was expelled.
My return to Makerere was only possible through parliamentary intervention. The Education Committee summoned both the university leadership and the affected students for a hearing. It was during this session that Vice Chancellor Nawangwe accused Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake of attempting to assault him. After much deliberation, I was reinstated, though I knew I had to keep a low profile if I wanted to graduate.
Who is David Musiri?
I was born on April 2, 1988, in Luwafu, Makindye Division, to James Bwogi Ssewanyana and Christine Bwogi. I am the last of 20 children from my mother. My father had other children from different wives, making our family even larger.
I attended multiple primary and secondary schools, eventually sitting my PLE at Molly and Paul Primary School in Makindye. I later completed my O-Level at St. Paul’s Lweza and my A-Level at Green Star SS in Entebbe. Before joining Makerere, I obtained a diploma in Telecommunication Engineering in 2014.
Financial struggles defined much of my academic journey, which is why I felt compelled to fight against tuition hikes. I had experienced firsthand how difficult it was to raise tuition fees, and I knew that increasing them would lock out many bright but underprivileged students.
A Fighter from Childhood
If Vice Chancellor Nawangwe thought I became a rebel at Makerere, he was mistaken. I had always been a fighter. At one point, I ran away from home and lived on the streets of Kampala for three years before being rehabilitated by an orphanage in Kigo. My experiences on the streets shaped my passion for advocating for the underprivileged.
Today, I serve as the Secretary for Institutions in the National Unity Platform (NUP). In 2021, I attempted to contest for the Makindye West parliamentary seat but lost the party ticket to Allan Ssewanyana. I plan to run again in the next election.
While I am not married, I have children, the eldest of whom is now in Senior Four. If I had continued striking at Makerere, my child might have found me there as a fellow student!
As I reflect on my eight-year journey at Makerere University, I realize that my prolonged stay was not in vain. I learned the power of resilience, the importance of standing up for what is right, and the sacrifices required to fight for justice.
I may have taken twice the time needed to earn my degree, but I leave Makerere not just as a graduate, but as a symbol of student resistance. My story is a testament to the fact that education is not just about books and exams—it is about shaping a future that is just and fair for allFor now, my journey continues beyond Makerere, and my fight for justice is far from over.
