Makerere University has marked a historic milestone with the election of Ms Maureen Owomugisha as the first female Chairperson of the Guild Electoral Commission in the institution’s 100-year history.
The development was confirmed by Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, who congratulated Owomugisha and emphasised the significance of her achievement in advancing gender inclusion within student leadership structures.
“I have congratulated Ms Maureen Owomugisha on being elected the first woman Chairperson of the Makerere University Guild Electoral Commission in the entire one hundred-year history of the University,” Prof Nawangwe said in a statement shared online.
He added that discussions had already been held on ensuring the integrity of the upcoming guild elections. “We have discussed matters regarding the conduct of a free and fair Guild election,” he said.
The Guild Electoral Commission plays a critical role in organising and overseeing student leadership elections at the university, including the highly contested Guild President race.
Owomugisha’s election has been widely seen as a breakthrough moment in a traditionally male-dominated space, reflecting gradual progress toward gender equality in student governance at the institution.
Makerere University, founded in 1922, is one of Africa’s premier institutions of higher learning, and its guild leadership has historically produced influential figures in Uganda’s political and professional spheres.