Makerere University has once again publicly disowned writer and political commentator Yusuf Serunkuma, insisting that he is not affiliated with the institution and is neither enrolled nor based at the university in any academic capacity.
In a statement issued on December 26, 2025, and published on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, Makerere said Serunkuma has repeatedly misrepresented himself in opinion articles by signing off as “a political theorist based at Makerere University.”
“The University would like to correct the record regarding Mr Yusuf Serunkuma’s alleged affiliation with Makerere University,” the statement read. “Currently, Mr Serunkuma’s only association with Makerere University is as an alumnus. He is not enrolled or based at Makerere University or at the Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR) in any capacity.”
This is not the first time Makerere has issued such a clarification. In 2024, the university’s Principal Public Relations Officer, Rita Namisango, released a similar statement accusing Serunkuma of misrepresentation.
According to Makerere, Serunkuma enrolled in a five-year interdisciplinary PhD programme in 2012, which included a master’s degree and was fully funded by the university. However, the institution says he failed to meet the academic requirements necessary to progress to the PhD stage, leading to the termination of his studies.
“Mr Serunkuma does not hold a PhD from Makerere University, is not currently affiliated with the university, and has no ongoing relationship with the institution,” the statement added.
The renewed clarification has sparked debate, with some interpreting it to mean that Serunkuma does not hold a PhD at all. However, speaking to The Observer, Serunkuma acknowledged that he had misrepresented his affiliation with Makerere but insisted that he holds a PhD from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg in Germany. He also claimed that he is still pursuing another PhD at Makerere, a position the university strongly disputes.
“It is interesting how the university seems unwilling to engage with the facts or even intellectual discourse. Instead, they have chosen to malign me,” Serunkuma said, adding that the university’s public statements are directed by Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.
“Namisango communicates nothing without the explicit instructions and approvals of Prof Nawangwe; so this was definitely Nawangwe writing about me,” he claimed.
Serunkuma further alleged that his fallout with Prof Nawangwe began about three years ago, following accusations that he was xenophobic and damaging the reputation of university staff. He linked the tensions to a legal dispute involving Prof. Mahmood Mamdani, whom he sued over alleged violations of university regulations.
“I had sued Mamdani for acting maliciously, and Justice Lydia Mugambe found my evidence convincing,” Serunkuma said, adding that the dispute later spilled into public academic commentary.
Despite Makerere’s repeated statements, Serunkuma has maintained that he will continue referencing the university in his public profile.
Makerere University, however, has remained firm, insisting that its clarification is necessary to protect institutional integrity and prevent public misinformation about academic affiliation and credentials.
