Makerere Guild president declared
Apr 27, 2005
Henry Maurice Kibalya of Makerere University’s Mitchell Hall was yesterday declared winner of the guild presidential polls that were held on Monday.
By G. Musamali and Pidson Kareire
Henry Maurice Kibalya of Makerere University’s Mitchell Hall was yesterday declared winner of the guild presidential polls that were held on Monday.
Makerere students’ guild electoral commission vice-chairperson Anne Kanyago made the declaration at about 5:40pm at the university main building amid tight security.
Kanyago said the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)-supported Kibalya, polled 1,722 votes against his nearest contender, Movement-leaning Jet John Tumwebaze, who got 1,494 votes.
Anti-riot Police evacuated workers from the university Main Building and nearby facilities at about 3:30pm, just before the students started gathering at the Freedom Square to receive the results.
This followed a restless Tuesday night in which the Police battled with rampaging students, who beat up passers-by, stoned buildings and broke glass windows, blocked traffic and vandalised neighbouring areas of Kikoni, Kivulu and Bwaise.
On Monday night, the Police used tear-gas to disperse students who were causing chaos at the campus over the polls. On Tuesday, however, the Police used tear-gas but the sound of live bullets was also heard, especially from the direction of Bwaise.
Lawrence Kisekka, the commission’s general secretary, said he was against the declaration of Kibalya as winner and would tender in his resignation.
Tumwebaze (Nkrumah Hall) said he would not accept the decision.
Tumwebaze’s supporters warned that chaos would break out if the declaration was in favour of Kibalya.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Livingstone Luboobi and Benson Oyo Nyeko, the Kampala regional Police commander, met the 13 student commissioners for over three hours yesterday. Luboobi and Nyeko intervened in the wrangle after the commissioners took more than the constitutional 24 hours to announce the results.
The delay was caused by poll irregularities, especially in Nkrumah and Mitchell halls. The controversy led to the Monday riots in both halls, as well as in Mary Stuart Hall (the Box) which was attacked by residents of Lumumba Hall for betraying the traditional Lumbox Solidarity.
Luboobi said, “They will reach a decision and we shall respect it.â€
Nyeko declined to comment. He said, “Our duty here is to ensure that the environment is secure.â€
Sources said Kisekka and commission chairman Nguji Mungai failed to agree on whether to annul only the results of Nkrumah and Mitchell or to annul all the results and hold fresh elections.
Kisekka reportedly insisted that he was at Mitchell and saw the cardboard ballot box being stuffed with extra papers.
But Mungai said there were irregularities at all polling stations.
Many of the potential voters, especially Kenyans and Banyankole, allegedly failed to vote because their names had been deleted from the voters’ register.
Kibalya said the blame should lie on the electoral commission.
He said it failed to carry out its duty.
Henry Maurice Kibalya of Makerere University’s Mitchell Hall was yesterday declared winner of the guild presidential polls that were held on Monday.
Makerere students’ guild electoral commission vice-chairperson Anne Kanyago made the declaration at about 5:40pm at the university main building amid tight security.
Kanyago said the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)-supported Kibalya, polled 1,722 votes against his nearest contender, Movement-leaning Jet John Tumwebaze, who got 1,494 votes.
Anti-riot Police evacuated workers from the university Main Building and nearby facilities at about 3:30pm, just before the students started gathering at the Freedom Square to receive the results.
This followed a restless Tuesday night in which the Police battled with rampaging students, who beat up passers-by, stoned buildings and broke glass windows, blocked traffic and vandalised neighbouring areas of Kikoni, Kivulu and Bwaise.
On Monday night, the Police used tear-gas to disperse students who were causing chaos at the campus over the polls. On Tuesday, however, the Police used tear-gas but the sound of live bullets was also heard, especially from the direction of Bwaise.
Lawrence Kisekka, the commission’s general secretary, said he was against the declaration of Kibalya as winner and would tender in his resignation.
Tumwebaze (Nkrumah Hall) said he would not accept the decision.
Tumwebaze’s supporters warned that chaos would break out if the declaration was in favour of Kibalya.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Livingstone Luboobi and Benson Oyo Nyeko, the Kampala regional Police commander, met the 13 student commissioners for over three hours yesterday. Luboobi and Nyeko intervened in the wrangle after the commissioners took more than the constitutional 24 hours to announce the results.
The delay was caused by poll irregularities, especially in Nkrumah and Mitchell halls. The controversy led to the Monday riots in both halls, as well as in Mary Stuart Hall (the Box) which was attacked by residents of Lumumba Hall for betraying the traditional Lumbox Solidarity.
Luboobi said, “They will reach a decision and we shall respect it.â€
Nyeko declined to comment. He said, “Our duty here is to ensure that the environment is secure.â€
Sources said Kisekka and commission chairman Nguji Mungai failed to agree on whether to annul only the results of Nkrumah and Mitchell or to annul all the results and hold fresh elections.
Kisekka reportedly insisted that he was at Mitchell and saw the cardboard ballot box being stuffed with extra papers.
But Mungai said there were irregularities at all polling stations.
Many of the potential voters, especially Kenyans and Banyankole, allegedly failed to vote because their names had been deleted from the voters’ register.
Kibalya said the blame should lie on the electoral commission.
He said it failed to carry out its duty.