Kampala, Uganda: Prof. Sarah Ssali, Minister for Gender and Policy Issues in the Bamasaaba Cultural Institution, has been appointed as Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs at Makerere University.
Hon. Steven Masiga, spokesperson of the Bamasaaba Cultural Institution, confirmed the development, noting that the appointment marks a milestone not only for Prof. Ssali but also for the Bamasaaba community.
“As a cultural institution, we welcome and congratulate her upon this milestone. With her elevation to Vice Chancellor in charge of Academics, we are going to work closely with Makerere University on issues of scholarships. There was a gulf between us as a cultural institution and Makerere, and we believe Sarah’s appointment has bridged this gap,” Masiga said.
He further extended congratulations to Makerere Chancellor Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, and the University Council for selecting Prof. Ssali as the most fitting candidate among a pool of many applicants.
The Bamasaaba community has expressed joy over her appointment, describing it as a historic moment and a significant boost to strengthening collaboration between Makerere University and cultural institutions.
Prof Ssali holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences and a Master’s in Gender Studies from Makerere University, as well as a PhD in International Health Studies from Queen Margaret University, UK. She has also obtained certifications in Postgraduate Teaching and Assessment, Problem-Based Learning, and Research Uptake and Data Visualization.
Her leadership record includes roles as Graduate Programmes Coordinator, Exchange Programme Coordinator, and Director of the Institute of Gender and Development Studies. Beyond Makerere, she has served as a Research Fellow at the Infectious Diseases Institute and Adjunct Professor at the University of Limerick in Ireland.
With this appointment, Prof Ssali follows in the footsteps of Prof Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza, the first woman to hold the DVC (Academic Affairs) position at Makerere.
The office oversees all academic programmes and policies, including curriculum development, quality assurance, graduate training, and research coordination—making it one of the most critical roles in the university’s administration.
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