Who will be Makerere University’s president?
Mar 20, 2006
MONEY, tribalism and state-vs-opposition battles have been key determinants of the guild elections at Makerere University. This time round, it is not any different. <br>The political battle between the opposition and the Government climaxes during this time, with each side showing its weight and fi
By Arthur Baguma and Pidson Kareire
MONEY, tribalism and state-vs-opposition battles have been key determinants of the guild elections at Makerere University. This time round, it is not any different.
The political battle between the opposition and the Government climaxes during this time, with each side showing its weight and financially backing their anointed candidate. In the recent years, opposition-backed candidates have taken an edge over the Government-backed candidates. The outcome of yesterday’s election won’t be any different.
NRM-O’s Kamulari Birungi’s candidature was nullified over retakes leaving the race between FDC and DP. The other NRM-O candidate had little or no political clout.
Unlike the Democratic Party (DP), which had one candidate and a strong campaign net-work spearheaded by the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD), FDC was sharply divided, having more than one aspirant campaigning on the party ticket. However, Rubaramira Ruranga, the head of elections in FDC, officially declared Gerald Karuhanga the party candidate.
Makerere University students went to polls yesterday to decide their next guild president. The electoral commission Chairman, Robert Mugambwa, said the campaigns were generally free and void of any violence. By press time there were reports that 11 of the 13 guild aspirants had pulled out over what they called flaws in the work of the electoral commission.
However, the commission dismissed the reports as baseless.
“All the aspirants remained in the race. Allegations of pulling out only surfaced on Sunday when they alleged that Karuhanga, who had been nullified from the race, was reinstated, but Karuhanga was cleared in accordance with the guild constitution,†said Mugambwa
Like in previous elections, females looked out for candidates with ‘special’ qualities- looks, height and dress code. FDC’s Karuhanga passed the test in this line, but faced a formidable challenge from Nyombi. Much as Karuhanga is a staunch
FDC supporter, the tribalism factor has undermined him. He is looked at as someone from a region referred to as ‘the hub of the eating tribe.’
DP’s Ssekabira might take advantage of NRM-O’s exit and the division within FDC to take the day.
Basing on the candidates’ manifestos and the general feeling at the university, we bring you the candidates who were likely winners of the poll by press time in no particular order and their manifestos.
Haruna Ssekabira, Bsc in Agriculture, Nsibirwa hall
Standing on the DP ticket, he was backed by the lethal votehunting Uganda Young Democrats, a youth wing of DP.
UYD is credited for mapping out winning strategies in previous guild elections using a diverse and well co-coordinated network.
This wing has also been instrumental at the national level especially in Kampala, where they have campaigned for key DP politicians, subsequently getting them the votes to win.
Although Ssekabira is eloquent and has exuded clarity while addressing issues at campaign rallies, his victory will mainly lie on the structural performance of UYD.
If voted, Ssekabira promised to advocate for the scrapping of retake fees.
Others are: Create a united body for all hostels, improve standards of living in hostels and ensure that halls submit all names, of their students to the deans office so that students’ security is guaranteed.
Advocate for renovation of halls per semester and maintenance of menu and its improvement.
He also plans to create a treasury that will always gather funds to finance court proceedings any student put in prison.
Ssekabira attended Bukoto primary school and later Kibuli Secondary school for O and A’level.
He is the general secretary of UYD and a resident of Nsibirwa hall.
Gerald Karuhanga, Lumumba hall (FDC)
Karuhanga’s chances lie in the vote of the female electorate, thanks to his looks. Females at Makerere have a history of voting handsome candidates even without looking at their manifestos.
Karuhanga was ahead of the other candidates in the hunt for the female vote. Allegations that he is tycoon Garuga Musinguzi’s son did not change his supporters’ attitude towards him. “I will vote him because he is smart and handsome. Period,†remarked a third year student in Mary Stuart Hall.
In his manifesto, he says he will ensure that Makerere develops a culture where student leaders are involved in policy making and implementation. He also plans to address thorny issues at the university like hiking of tuition, retake fees, missing exam results and acquiring transcripts late.
He hopes to lobby for a shuttle for medical students and look into the plight of the international students. In the manifesto, he also promises to address the plight of extension programme students especially Bachelor of Commerce students. Born in 1982, he attended Kitunga Boarding Primary School and St. Mary’s college Kisubi. He served as a guild speaker in 2005/2006.
Andrew Nyombi, LLB III-Livingstone Hall
Until the last vote is counted, Nyombi can’t be written off. He claims he is an FDC, but stood as an independent. He stands a chance to lead and has all the qualities-eloquence and a magnetic personality. But he joined the race well knowing he had so many hurdles to jump.
Through the campaign period he has been convincing, but he has no concrete fallback on any particular group.
This has made it hard to solicit votes from groups that vote in blocks.
He acknowledges that Makerere’s image is fading and plans to restore its image and glory when elected into office.
He also intends to leverage research and research skills. He wants an increase in students representation on the university council from two to four.
He wants gender mainstreaming and will lobby for more sponsorship opportunities for the girls. He promises to create an environment for academic excellence and streamline the registration process and acquisition of IDs.
Charles Kabogoza Semwezi, B.A Social sciences II.
His deep voice and eloquence won him ululations at campaign rallies. He put his points and plans clearly. His manifesto received more approval from the students. But his strengths matter less in Makerere’s politics.
If his credentials see him sail through, it will be an accident in the history of the University’s guild elections.
Here it is a candidate’s political allegiance and the part of the country he or she comes from that determine who takes the day. Other factors like eloquence, looks and plans are secondary.
Other candidates:
- Rogers Mwesigwa, (NRM-O), BA Arts, Nsibirwa Hall.
- Geoffrey Sajabbi, BA Social Sciences, Mitchell Hall.
- Simon Mwima, independent, BA Social Sciences II.
- Cyrus Wanyama, BA Social Sciences II.
- Phillip Odii, Bachelor of Environmental Management, Nsibirwa Hall.
- Edward Kiribata, independent, BA Industrial and Organisational Psychology II.
- Aaron Kirunda Timothy, University Hall. BA Mass Communication II.
- Peter Okio, Nsibirwa Hall, BA Arts Education II.
- Isaiah Eitu, BA Social Sciences II.
MONEY, tribalism and state-vs-opposition battles have been key determinants of the guild elections at Makerere University. This time round, it is not any different.
The political battle between the opposition and the Government climaxes during this time, with each side showing its weight and financially backing their anointed candidate. In the recent years, opposition-backed candidates have taken an edge over the Government-backed candidates. The outcome of yesterday’s election won’t be any different.
NRM-O’s Kamulari Birungi’s candidature was nullified over retakes leaving the race between FDC and DP. The other NRM-O candidate had little or no political clout.
Unlike the Democratic Party (DP), which had one candidate and a strong campaign net-work spearheaded by the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD), FDC was sharply divided, having more than one aspirant campaigning on the party ticket. However, Rubaramira Ruranga, the head of elections in FDC, officially declared Gerald Karuhanga the party candidate.
Makerere University students went to polls yesterday to decide their next guild president. The electoral commission Chairman, Robert Mugambwa, said the campaigns were generally free and void of any violence. By press time there were reports that 11 of the 13 guild aspirants had pulled out over what they called flaws in the work of the electoral commission.
However, the commission dismissed the reports as baseless.
“All the aspirants remained in the race. Allegations of pulling out only surfaced on Sunday when they alleged that Karuhanga, who had been nullified from the race, was reinstated, but Karuhanga was cleared in accordance with the guild constitution,†said Mugambwa
Like in previous elections, females looked out for candidates with ‘special’ qualities- looks, height and dress code. FDC’s Karuhanga passed the test in this line, but faced a formidable challenge from Nyombi. Much as Karuhanga is a staunch
FDC supporter, the tribalism factor has undermined him. He is looked at as someone from a region referred to as ‘the hub of the eating tribe.’
DP’s Ssekabira might take advantage of NRM-O’s exit and the division within FDC to take the day.
Basing on the candidates’ manifestos and the general feeling at the university, we bring you the candidates who were likely winners of the poll by press time in no particular order and their manifestos.
Haruna Ssekabira, Bsc in Agriculture, Nsibirwa hall
Standing on the DP ticket, he was backed by the lethal votehunting Uganda Young Democrats, a youth wing of DP.
UYD is credited for mapping out winning strategies in previous guild elections using a diverse and well co-coordinated network.
This wing has also been instrumental at the national level especially in Kampala, where they have campaigned for key DP politicians, subsequently getting them the votes to win.
Although Ssekabira is eloquent and has exuded clarity while addressing issues at campaign rallies, his victory will mainly lie on the structural performance of UYD.
If voted, Ssekabira promised to advocate for the scrapping of retake fees.
Others are: Create a united body for all hostels, improve standards of living in hostels and ensure that halls submit all names, of their students to the deans office so that students’ security is guaranteed.
Advocate for renovation of halls per semester and maintenance of menu and its improvement.
He also plans to create a treasury that will always gather funds to finance court proceedings any student put in prison.
Ssekabira attended Bukoto primary school and later Kibuli Secondary school for O and A’level.
He is the general secretary of UYD and a resident of Nsibirwa hall.
Gerald Karuhanga, Lumumba hall (FDC)
Karuhanga’s chances lie in the vote of the female electorate, thanks to his looks. Females at Makerere have a history of voting handsome candidates even without looking at their manifestos.
Karuhanga was ahead of the other candidates in the hunt for the female vote. Allegations that he is tycoon Garuga Musinguzi’s son did not change his supporters’ attitude towards him. “I will vote him because he is smart and handsome. Period,†remarked a third year student in Mary Stuart Hall.
In his manifesto, he says he will ensure that Makerere develops a culture where student leaders are involved in policy making and implementation. He also plans to address thorny issues at the university like hiking of tuition, retake fees, missing exam results and acquiring transcripts late.
He hopes to lobby for a shuttle for medical students and look into the plight of the international students. In the manifesto, he also promises to address the plight of extension programme students especially Bachelor of Commerce students. Born in 1982, he attended Kitunga Boarding Primary School and St. Mary’s college Kisubi. He served as a guild speaker in 2005/2006.
Andrew Nyombi, LLB III-Livingstone Hall
Until the last vote is counted, Nyombi can’t be written off. He claims he is an FDC, but stood as an independent. He stands a chance to lead and has all the qualities-eloquence and a magnetic personality. But he joined the race well knowing he had so many hurdles to jump.
Through the campaign period he has been convincing, but he has no concrete fallback on any particular group.
This has made it hard to solicit votes from groups that vote in blocks.
He acknowledges that Makerere’s image is fading and plans to restore its image and glory when elected into office.
He also intends to leverage research and research skills. He wants an increase in students representation on the university council from two to four.
He wants gender mainstreaming and will lobby for more sponsorship opportunities for the girls. He promises to create an environment for academic excellence and streamline the registration process and acquisition of IDs.
Charles Kabogoza Semwezi, B.A Social sciences II.
His deep voice and eloquence won him ululations at campaign rallies. He put his points and plans clearly. His manifesto received more approval from the students. But his strengths matter less in Makerere’s politics.
If his credentials see him sail through, it will be an accident in the history of the University’s guild elections.
Here it is a candidate’s political allegiance and the part of the country he or she comes from that determine who takes the day. Other factors like eloquence, looks and plans are secondary.
Other candidates:
- Rogers Mwesigwa, (NRM-O), BA Arts, Nsibirwa Hall.
- Geoffrey Sajabbi, BA Social Sciences, Mitchell Hall.
- Simon Mwima, independent, BA Social Sciences II.
- Cyrus Wanyama, BA Social Sciences II.
- Phillip Odii, Bachelor of Environmental Management, Nsibirwa Hall.
- Edward Kiribata, independent, BA Industrial and Organisational Psychology II.
- Aaron Kirunda Timothy, University Hall. BA Mass Communication II.
- Peter Okio, Nsibirwa Hall, BA Arts Education II.
- Isaiah Eitu, BA Social Sciences II.