Professor Sarah Evelyn Nabwire Ssali has been named the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs at Makerere University.
The announcement was made on September 23, 2025, by the University Chancellor, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, following recommendations from the University Council and Senate. This appointment sees Prof. Ssali become only the second woman in Makerere’s century-long history to hold this prestigious position.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, led the congratulations in a public statement, describing Prof. Ssali as “an outstanding scholar, administrator, and leader” whose service is expected to further strengthen the institution’s academic excellence.
Prof. Ssali brings a wealth of experience to the role, with a distinguished career at Makerere spanning over two decades. Until her new appointment, she was the Acting Director of the Institute of Gender and Development Studies (IGDS), a role she assumed after a successful seven-year tenure as the Dean of the School of Women and Gender Studies (2017–2024). She also serves as the Director of the Centre of Excellence in African Identities under the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA).
An accomplished scholar, Prof. Ssali is a full Professor of Gender and Development Studies. She is a prolific researcher with a formidable publication record, including more than 50 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and edited volumes. Her research expertise encompasses public policy, social transformation, gender studies, global health, and identity studies.
Beyond her academic contributions, Prof. Ssali has been a central figure in university governance. She has served on the Makerere University Council since 2010 and has been a member of the powerful Appointments Board. Her leadership acumen is further demonstrated by her role as Chair of several key Council committees, including Quality Assurance, Gender Mainstreaming, and ICT. She has also played an instrumental role in numerous university-wide curriculum reviews and policy reforms.
Prof. Ssali is an alumna of Makerere University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences (Political Science and Public Administration). She also holds a Master of Arts in Women and Gender Studies from Makerere and a PhD in International Health Studies from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The university community has warmly received the news, expressing confidence that Prof. Ssali’s visionary leadership will steer academic affairs at Makerere to even greater heights.
