Eight nominated for Makerere guild
Makerere guild candidates (L-R) Ismail Kasozi, Dick Rogers Ainomugisha, Fred Disney Luyinda, Basil Mwotta, Roy Ssemboga, Nkunda Mandela, Umar Nsubuga, and Simon Ssenyonga attend a rally at Mary Stuart Hall yesterday. PHOTO BY ALEX ESAGALA
Kampala- With two weeks to Makerere University guild elections, at least eight candidates have been nominated for the post from whom the 82nd guild president will be elected.
They include Mr Roy Ssemboga (DP), Mr Dick Rodgers Ainomugisha (FDC) and Mr Ankunda Mandela (NRM). Others are Mr Ismail Kasozi, Mr Basil Mwotta, Mr Simon Ssenyonga, Mr Umar Nsubuga and Mr Fred Luyinda, all independents.
The university electoral commission chairperson, Mr Roy Ndahura, told Daily Monitor on phone yesterday that they are well prepared for the election.
“There are six other people who are still pending [nomination] because of academic issues. Some have missing marks while others have retakes and there is no way we could nominate them before their issues are sorted out. By the end of this week, we shall have sorted everything,” Mr Ndahura said.
This means if they are cleared, 14 candidates will be vying for the post.
During last year’s guild elections, the exercise was marred by irregularities, including bribery of voters. But the university electoral commission chairperson said they have cautioned all candidates against bribery and that anyone caught in the act will be disqualified from the race.
The NRM candidate, Mr Mandela, said Makerere University this time needs a leader who will espouse the interests of the students. He castigated the past leaders for being corrupt and incompetent, arguing that it’s one of the reasons why students at the country’s oldest institution get poor representation.
“It’s time for students to choose a leader who will be a bridge between them and the university management but not a leader who will just sit yet students have pressing issues which ought to be addressed,” said Mr Mandela. This time, no female student is in the race. The post is currently being occupied by Mr David Bala Bwiruka, who won on an Independent ticket.
The first guild campaign rally commenced yesterday at Mary Stuart Hall of residence and elections will be held on March 11. The guild representative councillors (GRCs) will be elected on March 14.
