James Churchill Ssentamu, nephew of Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has been elected as the 91st Guild President of Makerere University, Uganda’s premier institution of higher learning. Running as an independent candidate, Ssentamu secured victory with 3,459 votes, surpassing his closest rivals—John Bosco Rukundo of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), who garnered 3,267 votes, and Ismaili Basalirwa of the National Unity Platform (NUP), who came in third with 3,126 votes.
Ssentamu comes from a politically active family. His uncle, Bobi Wine, is the leader of NUP and a prominent opposition figure in Uganda, while his father, Fred Nyanzi, serves as the party’s head of mobilisation. Despite these strong ties to NUP, Ssentamu’s path to the guild presidency was marked by controversy. Initially, he sought the NUP nomination but lost to Basalirwa. Rather than stepping aside, he chose to run as an independent, a move that divided opinions within the party but ultimately resonated with the student electorate.
Beyond politics, Ssentamu has been actively involved in student leadership at Makerere. He previously served as the secretary of the Baganda Nkobazambogo Students Association, a cultural and social organization dedicated to preserving Buganda traditions and fostering unity among students.
As he takes over from outgoing Guild President Vincent Lubega Nsamba, expectations are high for Ssentamu’s leadership. His tenure will be closely watched, particularly in how he balances his political affiliations with his commitment to addressing student concerns and championing their interests within the university community.
