Questions emerge over Gracious Kadondi’s leadership, cabinet relations and institutional accountability following Freshers Ball controversy
The resignation of Makerere University Minister for Culture, Mobilisation and Social Affairs, Hon. Mutebi Edward, has added another chapter to the growing questions surrounding the leadership of the 92nd Students’ Guild under Guild President Gracious Kadondi. Mutebi announced his immediate resignation on November 2, barely a day after Kadondi suspended him for 29 days over alleged failure to meet the expected standards of conduct required of a Guild Minister. His departure follows that of Jemmimah Namubiru, the former Guild Representative Council (GRC) representative for Mary Stuart Hall, who resigned in June, citing frustrations within the Guild’s leadership and what she described as the marginalisation of elected student representatives. Although the circumstances surrounding the two departures differ, their timing raises questions about internal cohesion, consultation and the broader state of student representation within the 92nd Guild Government.
The Freshers Ball: A Question of Leadership and Conduct
The confrontation at the October 31 Freshers Ball, involving Kadondi and Ugandan musician Fik Fameica, brought these questions into sharper focus. The Guild President walked onto the stage during the musician’s performance, seeking an opportunity to address students. The move resulted in a confrontation that attracted attention from students, security personnel and the artist’s team. Subsequently, Kadondi issued a 29-day suspension against Mutebi, citing Article 83(1) of the Makerere University Students’ Guild Constitution, 2022. However, the suspension letter did not disclose the specific actions that constituted the alleged misconduct. Mutebi’s response came in the form of a resignation letter addressed to the Guild President on November 2. In his account, he accused Kadondi of missing preparatory meetings, arriving at the event with an entourage that allegedly lacked proper accreditation, and attempting to interrupt an agreed programme. He further accused her of undermining his ministry’s work and placing personal interests above those of students. These are serious allegations made by a departing minister and should not be treated as established findings. Nevertheless, they warrant a response from the Guild President and clarification from the relevant organising team.
The Question on Institutional structure
More importantly, they raise a broader question about how the highest office in the Students’ Guild relates with the very Cabinet appointed to support its mandate. The suspension letter issued on November 1 and Mutebi’s resignation letter dated November 2 have both circulated publicly, bringing internal Guild correspondence into the public domain. While students have a legitimate interest in knowing what happens within their government, there is also a question of institutional procedure. Are suspension notices and resignation letters formally submitted, received and recorded through the appropriate Guild offices before being circulated publicly? What role do the Speaker, the Dean of Students, the Office of the Guild President and other relevant university authorities play in receiving, acknowledging and documenting such decisions? The distinction matters. Social media can inform the public, but it should not replace established institutional procedures. Equally, official offices should not become places where important decisions are hidden from the students whose interests they are supposed to serve. Makerere University has a responsibility to ensure that its student governance structures function with clarity, accountability and proper documentation. Here at Campus 360, we remain true to serving you our readers but also remain with very vivid questions that only time can surely answer: Are repeated resignations a sign of deeper leadership failures within the Guild? Are Makerere's Guild governance structures working, or merely existing on paper? Should official suspension and resignation letters be posted on social media before being formally communicated through institutional channels?
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