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Makerere University Guild President, James Churchill Ssentamu, on Friday staved off calls from the public and his own family to issue an apology and resign his position following his public engagement with President Yoweri Museveni.
Churchill, son of the opposition NUP national mobiliser Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, addressed the press this morning where here dismissed the pressures as “lies” being propagated by “opportunists.”
The 91st Makerere guild president this week faced immense backlash, mostly from supporters of his party, for posing for a photo with President Yoweri Museveni.
The photo, taken during President Museveni's visit to the university on Tuesday, April 8, showed Ssentamu and other members of the student guild seated beside the president during the launch of the 2025 Makerere Research and Innovation Week at the main campus's Freedom Square.
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Critics accused him of betraying his family’s political ties, especially given that his father, Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, is the elder brother of Robert Kyagulanyi, the president of NUP.
His father, Fred Nyanzi, called for him to resign from the Guild office.
I saw pictures of my son seated with the dictator. My son, Churchill, that man you're seated with is a very dangerous man... he doesn't wish you anything good.
It's true you won on an independent ticket, but you're out, son. The world sees a lot in you
My dad not my advisor
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At the press conference, however, Churchill stated that he could not follow his father’s advice because both their duties and work environments were different.
My father has an independent role as the national mobiliser for the NUP, but this only ends there because, as the guild president, my father is not tantamount to being a guild presidential adviser.
My family has stood firm against oppression in this country, and I honor their courage. The pictures in circulation should not be interpreted as a betrayal to some people but as a consequence of balancing personal beliefs with public responsibility, which I independently sought for.
It is part of the job
Church Hill also clarified that posing for photos with the head of state was in line with his duties as guild president.
The pictures of me with Mzee Museveni were taken while I was on my official duty as guild president. I was representing over 45000 students at the innovation week. I, therefore, encourage Ugandans to enhance tolerance for diversity.
The photos have been used by opportunists to stir my family and the students. They are using them to tell blatant lies to the public.
Makerere is a public institution, and President Museveni, by virtue of his office, is a visitor at the top of the hierarchy of Makerere University, above the chancellor and the chairperson of the university council.
It is in my line of duty to account and to question the duties of the president, not only as a citizen but as guild president. Relenting from my duties makes me a porpulist and not an executor.
As a moralist, Churchill said he too was hurt by the brutal actions of the ruling government, but noted that in his line of duty, he found himself sharing the same workspace with government officials
He, therefore, urged the public not to condemn my family, especially his father for his actions as guild president.