Mbidde wants new chapter

Having fought a closely contested battle for the top student leadership position at Makerere University, Fred Mukasa Mbidde, the new Guild president, will on June 9, 2001, throw a party at Ggaba Resort Beach to celebrate his victory. Livingstone Ssempijja talked to him. FRED Mukasa Mbidde, 28, never knew that he would make it to Makerere University let alone be the guild president. His first dream came to pass on September 1999, when he was admitted to Makerere University. Then on April 23, 2001, he was declared guild president. "I could not believe my ears when news of my victory in the guild presidential race got into my ears," the wide–eyed but serious–looking Mbidde says. Mbidde, a second year Mass Communication student, is a resident of Nsibirwa Hall, room 119. He beat 12 others in a hotly contested race which included one woman, Harriet Ndagire, a second year Social Sciences student. Mbidde was born on October 15, 1973, to the late Emmanuel and Mary Mbidde of Nakyenyi village in Masaka District. His parents were both teachers, but after the death of his father in 1990, Mbidde's mother retired from teaching and went into trading. Mbidde is the first born in a family of nine of whom five are girls. The second born, Henry, is a lecturer at Makerere University Business School (MUBS). Mbidde went to Kiziba Primary School in Masaka before joining Kabuwoko Church of Uganda Senior Secondary School for his O Level. He did not stay there long before going to Masuuliita Secondary School in Mpigi District and finally Kampala High School from where he completed A Level. In 1999, Mbidde joined Makerere University. "That was one of my happiest moments," he recalls. Mbidde's secondary school days were sporadic. His parents were poor and this meant he would only go to school when fees were available. "I skipped five years in the whole course of my studies because of being from a very poor background. It was not until I enrolled at Makerere University on the private sponsorship scheme that the burden went off my shoulders," he adds. Being on top of the students' guild, Mbidde's dream of changing the institution in a positive way centres around solving the problems that affect the students presently. In his expected developmental programmes, he vows to critically look into the institution's security matters. In this he wants the students to cooperate with the security personnel deployed on campus. Reflecting on his victory in the presidential race, Mbidde says it was his performance as the Nsibirwa state member of the Guild Representative Council (GRC). Waving his arms and opening his eyes wide, Mbidde adds that the networking capacity of his campaign team, among them former guild presidents Asuman Basalirwa and Ronnie Mukuye, served as the engine that moved him into victory. Mbidde, also the finance minister for Uganda Young Democrats (UYD) Makerere branch, attributes his victory to his political beliefs. He claims he got a lot of support because Makerere University is dominated by students who believe in multiparty politics. Mbidde says he could not have footed the campaign bills alone. He says he got financial support from friends, especially from DP. He declined to mention them. Under his term of office, Mbidde intends to influence the university administration to establish a radio station. He vows to revive the Makererean newspaper which used to inform students of the going–ons at the institution. "These will assist in making the Mass Communication course more practical for the students taking it," he says. "Another important issue I want to address is the denial of the autonomous powers for the students of the School of Education," he says. Students from the School of Education are currently handled by lecturers from other faculties which makes it very inconveniencing in lecturer–student contacts. Mbidde, like the former guild president Basalirwa, says he has no girlfriend. "I have no girlfriend. Not that I cannot afford one, but because I feel if I try, I may be somehow inconvenienced in the manner I cannot reveal to you," he says with a smile. Love matters aside, Mbidde enjoys political debates, football and joking with friends. His favourite dish is matooke with chicken and chips. Mbidde is determined to fundamentally change the ivory tower in a positive way. Society is keeping an eye on him to see whether he will move in the footsteps of the former guild president, Mukuye, who, according to the guild presidential records presided over a blameless regime.