Makerere University has appointed Prof. Sarah Ssali as the new First Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, making her only the second woman in the institution’s century-long history to assume the role.
The appointment was confirmed by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, who described it as a milestone in Makerere’s leadership journey. “Prof. Ssali becomes the second woman to hold this position in Makerere’s 100 years,” he said.
The first woman to serve as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Makerere University was Prof. Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza, a distinguished legal scholar who later rose to the Supreme Court of Uganda as a Justice.
Prof. Ssali was appointed by Chancellor Dr. Crispus Kiyonga on the recommendation of the University Council and Senate. She succeeds Prof. Umar Kakumba, who handed over the office in 2024.
In her new role, Prof. Ssali will oversee the university’s academic affairs, including the administration of teaching, learning, and research policies. The position is one of the most influential in steering Makerere’s academic direction as Uganda’s oldest and largest public university.
Prof. Ssali brings extensive academic and research experience to the role. She holds a PhD in International Health Studies from Queen Margaret University in Scotland, a Master’s degree in Gender Studies, and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from Makerere University.
Her career has been defined by groundbreaking work in health policy, gender, HIV/AIDS, and social protection, areas in which she has published widely. She previously served as Dean of the School of Women and Gender Studies, where she championed curriculum development and spearheaded gender-focused academic programmes.
Her appointment is seen as both a recognition of her scholarly contributions and a step forward in advancing gender representation at the highest levels of leadership at Makerere University.
