New guild president targets welfare, infrastructure at Soroti University

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Thomas Otim, who has officially taken the reins as Soroti University's 5th guild president for the academic year 2026/2027, has committed to addressing key issues at the institution, particularly in academics, student welfare, health and sports.

In a closely watched election held over the weekend, Otim, a third-year bachelor's in medicine and surgery student, emerged victorious with 354 votes. His opponent, Charles Arikod, also in his third year and studying engineering in electronics and computer engineering, garnered 309 votes.

Out of the total 663 votes cast, three were deemed invalid. The university discouraged affiliations with political parties during the elections.

The results were announced on April 11, 2026, at around 10:00 pm by Francis Kato, the electoral chairperson, officially confirming Otim’s new role.

The elections saw a total of twelve positions contested, ranging from guild president to both gazetted and non-gazetted guild representative council roles, alongside representatives for government-sponsored and private-sponsored students, as well as male and female representatives from various faculties, including health sciences and engineering.

Several candidates were declared unopposed, including Priscilla Acam as female GRC representative for private-sponsored students, Sharon Katushabe as female GRC student representative for the School of Applied Science and Science Education, and Kuteesa Biasa Sangil as male GRC representative for gazetted hostels.

Key student concerns

In an interview on April 13, 2026, ahead of his swearing-in ceremony scheduled for April 21, Otim expressed concern about the university’s limited learning materials and infrastructure, particularly in lecture rooms.

Discussing health services, he pointed out that the small dispensary on campus is struggling to meet the needs of the growing student population. He also highlighted the significance of Soroti city, where the university is located, noting its reputation for a high prevalence of HIV.

Otim said the university lacks adequate sporting facilities and criticised the limited options for student welfare, including the presence of few service providers and the high cost of food.

He stressed the urgent need to enhance infrastructure and teaching spaces in response to the increasing number of students.

With a focus on student welfare, Otim committed to working towards the expansion of the campus dispensary, advocating for HIV prevention initiatives and improving sports programmes to better foster talent and promote overall health.

He acknowledged that many students possess various talents, but due to the lack of sporting activities, some are unable to fully realise their potential.

“I am determined to enhance the sporting facilities on campus, both indoor and outdoor, to encourage students to exercise and cultivate their talents,” Otim stated. “We also aim to set up shops here that sell essential items for students,” he added.

As the new guild president, he pledged to collaborate with university management to address these pressing concerns.

University support

Zaitun Okot, the dean of students at Soroti University, congratulated Otim and advised him to remain resilient in the challenging times ahead.

"To the new guild, I encourage you to embody patience and tolerance in your leadership; these are essential qualities for any leader," she remarked.

Okot also commended the students for their discipline during the campaign and election, assuring that the university will continue to support the new guild body.

"We are here to guide and mentor them throughout their leadership journey," she added.

Soroti University, one of Uganda's nine public universities established by the government on December 11, 2011, is located in Soroti City and focuses on applied sciences and technology. Its infrastructure was completed in 2018, and its first graduation ceremony is set for December 2025.