I SPEAK WHAT OTHERS FEAR!
By Andrew Irumba Katusabe
In 2016, during the historic presidential debate hosted by the late Shaka Sali, Dr. Kizza Besigye shook hands with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The nation watched, and the world understood. Fast forward to 2017, the newly elected Member of Parliament Bobi Wine met and also shook hands with the president. The political stakes were high, but the circumstances dictated the decorum — they were leaders engaging in moments that transcended their political differences.
Fast forward to 2025, the Guild President of Makerere University, James Churchill Ssentamu, is being roasted on the altar of public opinion simply because he met and took a photo with the president while representing students. Really?
Let’s get this straight. The Guild President is the leader of all Makerere students, regardless of their political affiliations. If the Head of State is visiting the university, are people seriously suggesting that the Guild President should hide in the toilet? What madness is this?
Those accusing this young man of betrayal are not protecting any revolutionary ideals — they are simply enemies of his progress. And yes, with exception of his father, who is only trying to appease the National Unity Platform (NUP) crowd. But deep down, even he knows his son did nothing wrong.
When NUP denied James Churchill a party card, they didn’t care whose son he was. It’s only now, after the photo with the president, that they suddenly remember, “Wait, he’s Nyanzi’s son!” Now they want to leverage that as political ammunition. Hypocrisy at its peak. “How can a whole Nyanzi’s son meet the dictator?” they ask.
But I ask: is it better for a young leader to engage with all sides or to walk blindly in partisan bitterness? Leadership is about maturity, not tantrums.
Opposition gets shs13 billion annually via LoP at parliament to fight the ‘dictator’ better,but Churchill is the baddest for sitting with him for a photo,not in Nakasero,but at Makerere,his workstation as a guild president. I know the argument they’re about to bring is that it’s not his money but tax payers’. Ooh yeah,true,but you all know that what a dictator doesn’t want in his government can’t work, no matter what the law says. So,this would be the 1st item he would fight off his budget,but he lets you be, and even gives you police escorts. Hope you still know that it’s his army and police.
Stop hypocrisy and serve national interests.
James Churchill Ssentamu, stand tall. Your handshake did not betray a struggle — it reflected leadership.
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What is leadership?
Is leadership mean division and hatred?
Both Dr and Bobi shook hands with president then why not guild president in his office? If you are enemy to a neighbor never let your children to fall a victim of being enemies because you will die then they proceed life with your enemy.
The boy may become our next president after you who now struggle. You may either be or not.
Allow him to exercise his own duties as a pre-president.Our presidents, reflect how you begun leadership till now! Churchill lead to your best not other people’s best. Every dog has it’s tail never borrow tails you mess with leadership in that institution. You should know that you are leading the entire world coz students of different angles of the world are their use wisdom from God to lead the world.
He is the guild president of MAKERERE!!! NOT HIS FATHERS HOME!! OBLIGED TO PRESIDE AND REPRESENT THE INSTITUITION ESPECIALY THE STUDENTS AT LARGE!!! …U R ALREADY PULLING DOWN YOUR SON ..YO OWN BLOOD !!OVER CHEAP POLITICS….FIGHT YO OWN BATTLES,THE MAN HAS AN INSTITUTION TO SERVE,LEAD,GUIDE ON WHAT TRUE LEADERSHIP IS!! AND BE SEEN TO DO SO!..BY THE WAY DO YOU HAVE YO SONS MANIFESTO!! YOU WANT HIM TO HIDE AWAY!! NEGWOZALA AKUBA ENGOMA NOZINA!! CHURHILL IS NOT A KID ANYMORE!! U MUST DISAGREE. IN PRINCIPLE NOT EMOTIONALY!!..ITS NOT A CLAN MEETING.!!.IT IS THE GREAT MAKERERE MY DEAR !!IT IS MAKERERE UNIVERSITY !!!NOT YO HOME!!ITS NOT ABAKKO NABEMIKWANO!!.. ITS MAKERERE UNIVERSITY PERIOD!!!
He is the guild president of MAKERERE!!! NOT HIS FATHERS HOME!! OBLIGED TO PRESIDE AND REPRESENT THE INSTITUITION ESPECIALY THE STUDENTS AT LARGE!!! …U R ALREADY PULLING DOWN YOUR SON ..YO OWN BLOOD !!OVER CHEAP POLITICS….FIGHT YO OWN BATTLES,THE MAN HAS AN INSTITUTION TO SERVE,LEAD,GUIDE ON WHAT TRUE LEADERSHIP IS!! AND BE SEEN TO DO SO!..BY THE WAY DO YOU HAVE YO SONS MANIFESTO!! YOU WANT HIM TO HIDE AWAY!! NEGWOZALA AKUBA ENGOMA NOZINA!! CHURHILL IS NOT A KID ANYMORE!! U MUST DISAGREE. IN PRINCIPLE NOT EMOTIONALY!!..ITS NOT A CLAN MEETING.!!.IT IS THE GREAT MAKERERE MY DEAR !!IT IS MAKERERE UNIVERSITY !!!NOT YO HOME!!ITS NOT ABAKKO NABEMIKWANO!!.. ITS MAKERERE UNIVERSITY PERIOD!!!
Ugandans deserve change no matter what you say
We must change in principle!! Its the principle the ideology!! If you can’t package yo ideology right they’ll still reject you!! Cheap sentimental ideologies don’t work!! if u cannot evensit with so done u disagree with then what does that say about the deeper u!! Some of us think we are very good!, everyone of us is inherently bad!! Yo born in sin! Our leaders past and present have so many wrongs!! Even the church!! So if sitting with whom I disagree with is sacrilegious then none of us should sit anywhere..there matrys in namugongo burnt to death wat do U want the church to do!!..BT there also secret graves in Romania of pregnant nuns!! So u want to hold us in limbo!! Sorry the world decided to move on!! That’s why some people no longer look at who u r its about watu bring to the table!!.I don’t want to hold mwanga and the institution he led over namugongo massacres I just want to work with my brothers & move forward!! Corpenicus was killed by the church & Europe has moved on..THE PARTY WAS QUITE WEN YO MEMBERS WERE BUSY INSULTING HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF BUGANDA,THE QUEEN,KATIKIRO,.. WHERE WERE U MR NYANZI ??WHEN HIS MAJESTY WAS BEING “PRONOUNCED DEAD ! “BY YO SO CALLED FOOT SOLDIERS!! HOW CAN U!! WHERE IS YO APOLOGY!! THATS collective responsibILITY!! CHURCHILL HAS NOTHING TO APOLOGIZE ABOUT..WHILEU HAVE ALOT TO APOLOGIZE ABOUT CONCERNING those evil wrong utterances by your GROUPS!!!NO WONDER HIS MAJESTY WAS VERY TOUGH ON HIS MAIDEN SPEECH BACK TO HIS PEOple……sabiiti
Well said. Our leaders not in government are not government in waiting but opposition. They dont provide alternatives but oppose and especially ……… major in abuse in the name of ‘aggali’. Maturity is staying calm even when you disagree on principle. The kind of leaders we have who refuse a handshake during the day but at night dine withe the very person is the highest corruption that can be exhibited. Churchill meeting the president is leadership not an act to the gallery.
Stephen