A Century of Glory vs One Night of Shame: Makerere University Breaks Silence on Freshers” Ball Indecency Scandal.

 

By Musa Rwamigoye. 

 

Makerere University has issued an official statement following an incident of alleged indecency that occurred during the 2026 Freshers’ Ball, an incident which attracted widespread public attention and debate on social media.

In a statement dated Tuesday, 3rd November 2026, REF: MAK/DOS/395/2026, and signed by the Dean of Students, Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli, the University management said it had noted with concern the conduct of a former student during the event held on Saturday, 31st October 2026, at the University grounds.

 

The University clarified that traditionally, the Freshers’ Ball is a public event that attracts various stakeholders, including alumni and members of the general public, beyond the current student community.

 

“The University wishes to clarify that it does not condone any conduct that undermines the values, principles and standards of behavior expected of members of the University community,” the statement reads.

Management has announced an immediate, comprehensive review of its security and event management protocols for all university and sanctioned social events to prevent a recurrence of such breaches. It also acknowledged an appeal from the family of the individual involved, asking members of the public to refrain from sharing the video and pictures of what it described as an “unfortunate incident.”

 

The swift response is not surprising for an institution whose name carries the weight of a century.

Founded in 1922 as a technical school, Makerere University is Uganda’s oldest and largest institution of higher learning. For over 100 years, it has been ranked as the undisputed best university in East Africa and one of the top 10 in Africa. Its motto, “We Build for the Future,” has defined its role as the intellectual factory of the region.

Makerere University was once the only university in East Africa, serving students from Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, and beyond. It earned the nickname “The Harvard of Africa.”

 

Makerere’s claim as the best is not in buildings, but in the people it has produced. Its alumni list reads like the Who is Who of Africa. Foristance, there are Heads of State who passed through the gates of Makerere and they include; Late H.E Mwalimu Julius Nyerere (Tanzania), Late H.E Benjamin Mkapa (Tanzania), Late H.E Mwai Kibaki (Kenya) and H.E Joseph Kabila (DRC). 

The second class of its global Icons include; Nobel Laureate Prof. Wangari Maathai, literary giant Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, and celebrated author Okot p’Bitek.

Makerere remains the leading research university in the region, with its College of Health Sciences, College of Engineering, and School of Law setting the standard for the continent.

 

For an institution that has spent 103 years building a reputation for academic excellence, moral leadership, and discipline, a single viral video of indecency threatens more than just its social calendar and its brand equity.

Makerere’s glory rests on values: excellence, integrity, and service. When conduct at a public university event undermines those values, management has a historical duty to act. Cleaning its image is not about public relations; it is about preserving the dignity that parents, sponsors, and the nation have trusted since 1922.

 

If the Freshers’ Ball a traditional welcome for new students becomes associated with indecency rather than culture and unity, it erodes the trust that makes a degree from Makerere a gold standard in East Africa.

The University’s statement, therefore, is a necessary act of institutional self-preservation: to separate the actions of one former student from the enduring values of a century-old national treasure.

Makerere University remains committed to providing a safe, inclusive and dignified environment for all its students and stakeholders.