Churchill Ssentamu, the newly elected Guild President of Makerere University, has responded to criticism after a photo of him with President Yoweri Museveni went viral. Churchill is the son of Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, a top official in the National Unity Platform (NUP) and brother to NUP leader Bobi Wine.
Many NUP supporters and even Churchill’s own family were upset after seeing the photo. His father, Nyanzi, said Churchill should either apologize or step down as guild president.
The photo was taken during Makerere’s Research and Innovation Week, where President Museveni was the chief guest and met with student leaders.
Churchill explained that he was simply doing his job as Guild President, representing over 45,000 students of all political backgrounds.
He said people should learn to accept different views and stop using the photo for personal gain.
Speaking to the press on April 11, 2025, Churchill said Makerere is a public university, and as president of the country, Museveni has a right to attend events there.
He added that it’s also his duty to hold government leaders accountable and advocate for students.
Churchill won the guild election as an independent candidate after being denied the NUP ticket.
He said stepping away from his responsibilities would make him a populist, not a true leader. He admitted he disagrees with some actions of the current government but said his role requires working with officials, regardless of politics.
He asked the public not to blame his father or family for his decisions. The photo, he said, is not a betrayal but part of balancing his personal beliefs with his duty to students.
“I was elected to serve, and I’ll continue to stand for justice, truth, and the voice of all students,” Churchill said.
When asked about his father’s reaction, Churchill said he respects him and won’t speak against him, but he believes he was simply doing his job as Guild President.
