Chairman Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, a key figure within Uganda’s opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), has called on his son, Ssentamu Churchill James, the 91st Guild President of Makerere University, to either publicly apologize to Ugandans or resign from his position.
This demand follows the circulation of photos on social media showing Churchill interacting with Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the recently concluded Science Expo. The images triggered discontent, especially among opposition supporters, who view any engagement with President Museveni critically.
In a video making rounds online, Chairman Nyanzi expressed his disappointment, stating that Churchill’s interaction with Museveni was a “grave mistake” that must be rectified immediately. He further advised Churchill to either publicly apologize to Ugandans or step down and focus on his academic pursuits.
Chairman Nyanzi suggested that Churchill’s behavior could be linked to his independent candidacy in the guild elections after reportedly being denied the NUP endorsement. Nevertheless, he emphasized that Churchill must remember he is part of the Ssentamu family, whose history with the ruling party remains strained.
Churchill, a second-year student pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, was officially sworn in as Makerere University’s 91st Guild President on March 21, 2025. So far, Churchill has not publicly responded to his father’s call for an apology or resignation.