FDC’s Wabwire wins Uganda Christian University guild race
Mr Chemonges tries to calm students who turned rowdy during the polls. Photo by Herbert Mugaga
What you need to know:
Election. Emmanuel Wabwire got 1,194 votes while his main opponent, Mr Nicholas Kihangire, got 836 votes and Mr Moses Tumuheki trailed with 312 votes.
Although candidates vying for any guild office at the Uganda Christian University are not allowed to openly affiliate with political parties, Mr Emmanuel Wabwire did not hide his true colours when he flashed a V-sign and held a key, the FDC symbols, after he was declared the new guild president.
Mr Wabwire emerged winner of the Wednesday guild presidency race with 1,194 votes while his main opponent, Mr Nicholas Kihangire got 836 votes and Mr Moses Tumuheki trailed with 312 votes. At least 71 votes were declared invalid.
Announcing the results of the polls, the university returning officer, who is also the dean of students’ affairs, the Rev. Milton Tweheyo, said: ‘’By the powers entrusted to me as the returning officer, I at this moment, declare Mr Wabwire Emmanuel as the winner of this race and automatically the new guild president of Uganda Christian University Mukono.’’
There was jubilation in the university’s main hall after the announcement.
Mr Wabwire was carried shoulder high into the hall by his supporters.
He flashed the V-sign, and held a big wooden key, which are known to be used by FDC
He said: “This is the end to our suffering. It is the end to segregation, oppression and all forms of mistreatment. This university belong to all of us.’’
The university’s electoral commission chairperson, Ms Esther Asimwe, described the exercise as free and fair. She defended the deployment of police at the university campus during the polls, saying: “It was necessary since some people had threatened to do havoc.’’
There was, however, a fight between supporters of Mr Wabwire and Mr Kihangire during vote counting, forcing the officials to halt the exercise until a police unit headed by the Mukono District Police chief, Mr Seiko Chemonges, quelled the unrest.
“It is because of this kind of thing that we deployed around the university to keep at bay all those who thought they would cause chaos,’’ Mr Chemonges told this newspaper.
Efforts to get a comment from the other contestants were futile by press time.
