18th May 2026 — A spirit of optimism, reflection, and renewed commitment filled the halls of the College of Business and Management Sciences as outgoing and incoming student leaders gathered for the official handover ceremony of the 91st and 92nd College Guild Council (CGC) leadership.
The ceremony, marked by prayer, applause, symbolic transfer of instruments of power, and emotional reflections on service, underscored the enduring role of student leadership in shaping campus governance and nurturing future national leaders at Makerere University.
From the opening prayer invoking wisdom and unity for both outgoing and incoming leaders, the event quickly transformed into more than a procedural transition. It became a celebration of leadership, sacrifice, continuity, and democratic maturity within one of Uganda’s leading higher education institutions.
Presiding over the ceremony were college administrators led by Deputy Principal Professor James Wakadala, outgoing 91st CGC Chairperson Sozi Fahad Bate, and incoming 92nd CGC Chairperson Aaron Mwesigye, alongside student representatives, cabinet members, and guild officials from various schools within the college.
In his farewell address, Sozi Fahad Batte reflected on a leadership journey defined by service, resilience, and student engagement. Speaking with visible emotion, she highlighted several initiatives undertaken during her tenure, including career guidance sessions, fresher orientations, student networking engagements, sports activities, and strengthening collaboration between students and college administration.
“As I conclude my term of service as the College Chairperson, I am deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to have served COBAMS with dedication, passion, and purpose,” Bate told the audience.
He credited his administration’s achievements to teamwork, mentorship, and institutional support, particularly acknowledging Professor Wakadala and the college administration for creating what she described as an enabling environment for student leadership.
His message to the incoming leadership carried both caution and inspiration.
“Leadership is not about titles, but about responsibility, sacrifice, and leaving a legacy that inspires others,” he said, urging the new cabinet to prioritize integrity, humility, innovation, and peaceful engagement over confrontation and unrest.
The ceremony later transitioned into the formal swearing-in of the 92nd CGC cabinet, with newly elected leaders taking an oath to uphold the constitution and serve students with honesty, diligence, and commitment.
Among those sworn in were ministers responsible for women’s affairs, sports, academics, finance, publicity, and student administration, signaling the beginning of a new chapter for the college’s student leadership.
At the center of the transition was Aaron Mwesigye, the newly sworn-in chairperson, whose energetic speech combined personal testimony, leadership experience, and a call for collective responsibility.
Mwesigye, who recounted his previous leadership roles from secondary school to regional student organizations, assured students that the incoming administration was prepared to lead with competence and accountability.
“Our vision as the new leadership is to promote unity, transparency, accountability, innovation, and students’ welfare,” he said. “We shall work toward strengthening communication between students and administration, promoting academic excellence, and creating opportunities that empower students beyond the classroom.”
He further emphasized that leadership within the college would focus on collaboration rather than competition among leaders.
“We were elected not to compete against each other, but to work for the common good of all the students we represent,” Mwesigye added to loud applause from students and fellow leaders.
One of the most symbolic moments of the ceremony came during the handover of files, stamps, and office instruments from the outgoing to the incoming cabinet. The transfer represented not only institutional continuity, but also the trust and responsibility placed upon student leaders within the university structure.
Addressing the gathering, Professor James Wakadala praised the outgoing leadership for what he described as disciplined, innovative, and constructive engagement with college management.
“I can say without hesitation that this was a leadership team that represented students’ concerns with commitment, patience, and responsibility,” he said.
The Deputy Principal encouraged the incoming cabinet to embrace consultation, accountability, and structured engagement with university administration, emphasizing that leadership should be rooted in service rather than authority.
“Let us move away from confrontation and embrace internal dialogue, teamwork, and problem-solving,” Professor Wakadala advised. “Your offices are not positions of power, but positions of responsibility.”
He also challenged student leaders to become more proactive in identifying issues affecting students, including tuition challenges, internship concerns, academic welfare, and communication gaps within the college.
The ceremony also highlighted the strong sense of community within COBAMS, as outgoing leaders openly encouraged the new administration to build on existing foundations rather than seek recognition through conflict or division.
In a particularly emotional moment, newly elected School of Business Chairperson Derick Aine Ndambini appealed for support toward a fellow student struggling with tuition, reminding attendees that leadership must ultimately be measured by compassion and impact.
As the event concluded with prayers, photographs, and celebrations, one message remained unmistakably clear: student leadership at Makerere University continues to serve as more than campus politics.
For many in attendance, the handover ceremony represented a training ground for Uganda’s future leaders — a space where young people learn accountability, negotiation, public service, and the difficult balance between ambition and responsibility.
And as the 92nd COBAMS cabinet officially assumed office, expectations were high that the new administration would not merely inherit titles, but carry forward a culture of service, unity, and transformational leadership for the entire college community.