Bridget Mugume, former Director of Student Affairs at the University of Uganda, has urged student affairs professionals to exercise discretion, compassion, and legal awareness when addressing sensitive student welfare issues.
Speaking on Wednesday, August 13, at the ongoing week-long conference hosted by Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU), Mugume drew from her years of experience to highlight the ethical complexities faced by administrators in student support roles.
She recounted a particularly delicate case she handled involving a student with a serious medical issue. “At some point, I got a case where one of them had a problem with their anus — it had come out. I had to take them to hospital,” she revealed.
She explained that while student affairs professionals often act as first responders to student crises, they must be careful about what information they disclose and to whom.
“At some point, you have to do some little self-disclosure, especially to an administrator you know is going to help you. But you cannot publish this information to the students…It is really, really important,” she stressed.
The conference, which runs from August 11 to 15, has brought together academics, university administrators, and student affairs professionals from across the continent to share best practices and discuss challenges in higher education management.
Organised by GCTU, the event is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen student support systems across African tertiary institutions.
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