Associate Professor Jude Ssempebwa, the dean of the East African School of Higher Education Studies and Development, has been elected Chairperson of the Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) for the 2026–2028 term.
Dr Ssempebwa, who has been serving as Muasa General Secretary, secured 596 votes out of 768 cast, representing 78 percent, defeating his closest rival, Dr John Mushomi, who garnered 172 votes (22 percent).
The result underscores Ssempebwa’s broad support among the academic staff at the university where he has over the years marked himself as a strong defender of rights of the staff and students against the Barnabas Nawangwe administration.
A breakdown of results by college shows Ssempebwa’s dominance across nearly all academic units. In the School of Law, he polled 17 votes against Mushomi’s 1.
The College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology recorded 62 votes for Ssempebwa and 11 for Mushomi, while the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences delivered 79 votes compared to 12 for his opponent.
At the College of Computing and Information Sciences, Ssempebwa received 43 votes against Mushomi’s 2. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences, which registered the highest turnout, gave Ssempebwa 103 votes and Mushomi 40.
In the College of Education and External Studies, Ssempebwa secured 37 votes compared to Mushomi’s 23, while the College of Business and Management Sciences delivered 51 votes for Ssempebwa and 25 for Mushomi.
The College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity recorded 57 votes for Ssempebwa and 7 for Mushomi.
The College of Health Sciences contributed 70 votes to Ssempebwa and 24 to Mushomi, while library staff voted 23 to 6 in his favor. The College of Natural Sciences added 54 votes for Ssempebwa and 21 for Mushomi.
“I know your expectations of Muasa like the back of my hand. As I accept my nomination for the position of Chairperson, I am committed to those expectations as my top priorities. Not for profit, not for charity, but for service,” Ssempebwa said.
He noted that while other candidates presented innovative ideas, his experience as an Associate Professor of Higher Education Studies, policy analyst, member of the University Senate, and paralegal positions him to bridge the gap between policy, practice, and staff welfare.
During the Muasa debate at the Main Building at the weekend, Dr Mushomi shocked the highly-packed Main Hall by declaring he would hire buses to take all the staff to State House Entebbe to secure their wishes before the President.
The university staff have been mired in pay dispute with the administration over the last few years and Mushomi appeared to suggest everything would be settled if they met the President.
But Dr Ssempebwa, who has been a strong critic of the Nawangwe leadership, curated his manifesto on a wide-ranging agenda, including full salary enhancement, equitable employment systems, fair promotions, strengthening the Staff Tribunal, revitalising the Senior Staff Club, improving staff development policies, expanding the Social Support Fund, and positioning MUASA as an active voice in national affairs.
He highlighted key achievements during his tenure, including influencing the University Senate to revise policies on appointment and promotion of academic staff, supporting salary harmonization for librarians and laboratory technicians, and advocating amendments to the human resource manual to enhance transparency and inclusivity.
Among the reforms are provisions for permanent tenure for staff appointed before age 50, gratuity payments for contract staff, automatic promotion to Lecturer for Assistant Lecturers who attain a PhD or equivalent, and recognition of specialty training for clinical staff in lieu of doctoral qualifications.
Ssempebwa also introduced an electronic human resource management system to track promotion applications, aimed at improving transparency, ensuring timely processing, and reducing the risk of document loss.
Beyond human resource reforms, he has proposed changes to the university housing policy to improve access to accommodation and renovations.
He has also worked with leaders of academic staff in other public universities to push for salary enhancement and strengthen solidarity across staff categories.
“I have stood up for the members of MUASA—staring down injustice at any level, even when it was hazardous to do so. I have also negotiated for members, suggesting or agreeing to necessary compromises for the greater good of our association,” he said.
He added that his extensive network across university management, council, Parliament, and sister staff associations positions him to navigate institutional challenges and drive reforms.
Looking ahead, Ssempebwa pledged to focus on full salary enhancement, justice in employment systems, fair promotions, a stronger Staff Tribunal, redevelopment of the Staff Club, improved staff development policies, expansion of the Social Support Fund, enhanced academic freedom, and better health services for staff and their dependents.
“We are in this together… I bring experience, insight, energy, audaciousness, authenticity, and tenacity to provide leadership to our pursuit of the things we wish for. Not for profit, not for charity, but for service,” he said.