By: Boy Fidel Leon
In Makerere University’s century-long journey, only two women have reached the summit of academic leadership. Prof Sarah Ssali just became the second.
Chancellor Dr Crispus Kiyonga confirmed her appointment as First Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, following recommendations from both the University Council and Senate. It’s a milestone that speaks volumes about progress, and how far there’s still to go.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe announced the news on social media, calling it “well-deserved” and urging the Makerere community to celebrate. Prof Ssali follows Prof Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza as only the second woman to hold this crucial position in the university’s 100-year history.
The role isn’t ceremonial. As Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, she’ll oversee everything that makes a university tick: curriculum development, quality assurance, graduate training, and research coordination. It’s arguably the most academic-focused leadership position at Uganda’s premier university.
Prof Ssali brings serious credentials to the job. Currently, Dean of the School of Gender and Development Studies, she’s spent two decades at Makerere climbing the academic ladder through merit and hard work.
Her resume reads like a masterclass in university leadership: Director of the African Research Universities Alliance Centre of Excellence, University Council member, and chair of multiple committees handling quality assurance and student affairs.
During her public presentation in August, themed “Strengthening the Teaching, Research Nexus to Deliver High-Quality Graduates for Africa’s Transformation,” Prof Ssali laid out her roadmap for academic excellence.
“Makerere has achieved remarkable milestones, but we must continuously innovate to stay ahead in a rapidly changing academic world,” she told the selection committee. Her focus: curriculum innovation, academic accountability, and stronger links between research and teaching.
It’s the kind of forward-thinking approach Makerere needs as it competes globally while serving Africa’s development needs.
The credentials speak for themselves: Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Makerere, PhD from Queen Margaret University in the UK, plus certifications in teaching, research, and data visualisation. She’s held leadership roles from Graduate Programmes Coordinator to Research Fellow at the Infectious Diseases Institute.
Her international experience includes serving as Adjunct Professor at Ireland’s University of Limerick, the kind of global perspective that helps universities stay relevant.
Prof Ssali’s appointment signals more than gender progress, though that matters too. It represents Makerere’s commitment to promoting from within while demanding excellence.
In a university system often criticised for stagnation, her focus on innovation and research-teaching integration could spark real change.
For students and faculty, she brings someone who understands both the institution’s traditions and its need to evolve. For Makerere’s reputation, she represents the kind of leadership that could help Uganda’s flagship university punch above its weight internationally.
As Prof Nawangwe noted, this appointment deserves celebration. Not just because it’s historic, but because it puts the right person in a position to shape how Makerere prepares Africa’s next generation of leaders.
In an era where universities must prove their relevance daily, Prof Ssali’s appointment suggests Makerere is betting on substance over symbolism. And that’s exactly what the moment demands.