Makerere University has appointed Prof. Sarah Ssali as the First Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs), making her only the second woman to hold this prestigious position in the institution’s 100-year history.
The appointment was confirmed by the Chancellor, Dr Crispus Kiyonga, following recommendations from both the University Council and Senate.
Announcing the news via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe congratulated Prof Ssali, calling the appointment “well-deserved” and urging the Makerere community to join in celebrating the milestone.
Prof Ssali currently serves as Dean of the School of Gender and Development Studies and is an accomplished academic, researcher, and administrator with a career at Makerere spanning two decades.
She has held key leadership positions, including Director of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Centre of Excellence in Notions of Identities, member of the University Council, and chair of several committees on quality assurance, staff development, and student affairs.
A Vision for Academic Excellence
During her public presentation on August 25, 2025, themed “Strengthening the Teaching–Research Nexus to Deliver High-Quality Graduates for Africa’s Transformation,” Prof Ssali outlined her strategy to enhance academic quality, research output, and student support systems at Makerere.
She emphasised that the Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s role goes beyond administration to ensuring that Makerere remains globally competitive through curriculum innovation, academic accountability, and strong research–teaching integration.
“Makerere has achieved remarkable milestones, but we must continuously innovate to stay ahead in a rapidly changing academic world,” Prof. Ssali told the audience, which included members of the Search Committee, University Council, Senate, and Management.
Academic and Professional Credentials
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.
A Historic Appointment
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.
In congratulating her, Prof. Nawangwe expressed confidence in her ability to strengthen Makerere’s academic reputation both locally and internationally: “Prof. Ssali becomes the second woman to hold this position in Makerere’s one hundred years. Please join me in congratulating Prof. Ssali on a well-deserved appointment.”