Makerere University’s Minister for Culture, Mobilisation and Social Affairs, Mutebi Edward, has resigned a day after being suspended by Guild President Kadondi Gracious following a controversial confrontation during the university’s Freshers’ Ball.
Mutebi announced his resignation on Monday, November 2, saying he was leaving the 92nd Students’ Guild Cabinet with his dignity intact after disagreements with the Guild President over the organisation of the October 31 event at Impis Rugby Grounds.
In a resignation letter dated November 2, Mutebi accused Kadondi and her deputy of failing to participate in preparatory meetings before arriving at the event shortly before the programme, accompanied by a group of relatives and friends.
He alleged that the Guild President used her office to force her entourage backstage without proper accreditation and attempted to take the stage prematurely, contrary to the agreed programme.
“You and the Vice President stayed away. You then arrived at the eleventh hour with a crowd of family members and friends, abused your powers to force your entourage backstage without proper accreditation, and tried to hijack the programme by going on the stage prematurely against the pre-agreed protocol,” Mutebi wrote.
He blamed the resulting confrontation on what he described as a breakdown in coordination involving security personnel, sponsors and the headline artiste.
“The Freshers’ Ball was the last straw for me. I leave your Cabinet gladly with my dignity intact,” he added.
Mutebi’s resignation followed a suspension issued by Kadondi on November 1, invoking Article 83(1) of the Makerere University Students’ Guild Constitution 2022, which empowers the Guild President to suspend a member of Cabinet.
The suspension was for 29 days pending investigations and a final decision on the matter. Mutebi was also directed to surrender official instruments of power and refrain from exercising the duties of his ministerial office during the suspension.
The dispute arose during the Freshers’ Ball when Kadondi attempted to address students while the headline artiste was also being introduced to perform, resulting in a confrontation on stage.
However, the Guild Prime Minister, Ndawula Kimera Fahad, offered a different account of the incident, saying the Guild President had repeatedly been denied an opportunity to address students despite the established practice of opening the Freshers’ Ball with her speech.
In a statement issued on November 1, Kimera said the Guild leadership had repeatedly demanded that Kadondi be allowed to speak early enough, but security personnel and programme managers frustrated the arrangements.
He said organisers had alternatively proposed that her address be delivered before the headline artiste’s performance as a way of closing the event.
According to Kimera, confusion arose when the artiste arrived and both the Guild President and the performer were invited to take the stage at the same time.
“However, upon the artist’s arrival at the venue, the Guild President was invited to speak and microphones turned off. The artist was equally invited to sing at same time which frustrated the speech and caused confusion,” he said.
Kimera further claimed that security personnel raised concerns that Kadondi’s political affiliation could lead her to make political statements.
He rejected suggestions that the Guild President had deliberately interrupted the performance, arguing that she had been caught up in a programme clash.
“The Guild President did not intend to stop the performance like portrayed but was set up in a programme clash,” the statement said.
The Prime Minister said the Cabinet was investigating who managed the programme and whether the arrangements were deliberately designed to cause confusion. He added that his office would handle communications and efforts to resolve the matter.
In his resignation letter, Mutebi defended his record in office, saying he had worked to revive social activities at Makerere since taking his oath on April 15, 2026.
He cited partnerships with Made in Uganda, which he said became the headline sponsor of the university bazaar, and the return of Coca-Cola sponsorship after an absence dating back to 2022.
He also credited his ministry with organising a FIFA World Cup watch party and reviving movie nights in collaboration with Mary Stuart Hall.
Mutebi thanked his deputy, Nuwasasira Mercy, and other student leaders for supporting his work, but accused Kadondi of frustrating his ministry’s activities and taking credit for initiatives she had not undertaken.
The controversy has also attracted attention following reports that a visitor from Nalubaale University undressed publicly during the Freshers’ Ball. University officials have appealed to students to stop circulating videos of the incident as investigations continue.
The Freshers’ Ball is an annual event organised to welcome new students to Makerere University and forms part of the university’s social calendar.
