By Swift Reporter
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima has recounted how a Makerere University lecturer allegedly offered to help her pass her examinations in exchange for sex, bringing renewed attention to longstanding concerns over sexual harassment at Uganda’s oldest university.
Byanyima, 67, made the revelation in a recent interview with The Continent, recalling an incident from her time at Makerere University, where she studied civil engineering.
She said a lecturer came to her room one night and offered to help her pass her examinations if she agreed to have sex with him.
“I said no. I didn’t need his help. I was one of the best students in the country. But saying no had consequences,” she said.
Byanyima did not identify the lecturer or give details of the consequences she said followed her refusal.
Her account dates back to a turbulent period in Uganda’s history under the government of former President Idi Amin, when political violence and insecurity affected many aspects of life.
However, her recollection has also renewed focus on sexual harassment at Makerere, where a university investigation in 2018 found evidence of sexual exploitation of students, including cases in which lecturers allegedly used academic results as leverage for sexual demands. The investigation was conducted after widespread concerns over sexual harassment and sex-for-marks allegations.
The five-member committee interviewed 234 people and made recommendations covering policy, investigations, accountability, awareness and training. Makerere subsequently reaffirmed its commitment to combating sexual harassment and introduced measures aimed at strengthening prevention and reporting.
The university continues to implement programmes addressing gender-based violence. In May 2026, Makerere trained 250 Student Peer Trainers to promote gender equality, prevent sexual harassment and help students access support and referral services.
Byanyima’s interview also touched on her experiences growing up during a period of political violence in Uganda. She recalled the fear experienced by young women and said some girls disappeared from school to attend funerals for relatives killed during the violence.
She later left Uganda for the United Kingdom as a refugee, according to the interview, where she obtained a scholarship to study aeronautical engineering at the University of Manchester.
While in Britain, Byanyima became involved in anti-apartheid activism, feminist movements, peace campaigns and advocacy for human rights in Uganda before eventually pursuing a career in politics and international development.
Her account of the alleged incident at Makerere adds a personal dimension to a problem that the university has publicly investigated and sought to address through policy reforms, reporting mechanisms and student-led prevention programmes.
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