Makerere University elects guild president

By Innocent Anguyo

KAMPALA - Makerere University students today go to the polls to elect a new student leader.

Eight students are contesting in the race to lead the students’ guild executive for the 2013/2014 academic year.

Henry Boniface Okot is fighting to regain the seat for the NRM party after seven years against FDC’s Anna Adeke Ebaju in a seemingly two-horse race.

The other candidates are Martin Ssegawa (DP), Ronald Wandera (CP) and independents Musa Byamaka, Martin Twinamasiko, Isaac Ssekkonge and Kokas Okello.

The polls are a climax of a two-week campaign that included rallies in halls of residence, a debate on Urban Television and another debate organised by the university convocation.

The students’ guild executive, headed by a guild president, is the students’ highest decision-making and governing body.

PROFILES

Henry Boniface Okot is an electrical engineering student. He believes that he has solutions to challenges like 60% tuition policy, the opening of campus FM, improved welfare in halls of residence, delay of results and sexual harassment of female students. Okot went to Central Primary School in Lira district, then to St. Mary’s College Kisubi for his O and A’levels.

Musa Byamaka is a second year student pursuing a bachelor in arts in education.He wants to tackle ineffective leadership, unnecessary politics and hooliganism. Byamaka went to Busia Intergrated Primary School, Royal Oasis College in South Africa to study a certificate in cinematology for two years, Pearl High School for O’level and Nakaseke International College for A’level.

Martin Twinamatsiko is a student of information technology in his second year. He wants to change leadership from traditional to technological. He went to Bishop Mazorid Primary School in Kanungu district then to Kigezi College for O and A’level.

Isaac Ssekonge, a development studies student in his second year, seeks to encourage students’ abilities, promote unity, solidarity and strengthen the leadership role of the guild. He went to Muge Primary School in Mpigi, St. Francis Kakube and Oxford Musilm High School Kawempe for A’level.

Anna Adeke Ebaju is a third year student pursuing a bachelor in law. She wants to start a student loan scheme and make the 60% tuition policy unlawful. Adeke went to Kireka Grammer for primary, then to Our Lady of good counsel for O’level and later St. Mary’s Kitende for A’level.

Ronald Wandera is a second year student majoring in statistics in his bachelor of science. He wants to restore the good old days of Makerere. Wandera went to St. James Biina for Primary School, Bishop Cipriano Kihagire Luzira for both his O and A’level.