Four vie for Gulu University guild presidency

Four students have been nominated to contest for Gulu University guild presidency in elections set for April 2^nd.

The exercise held on Saturday saw Pastor Joseph Okidi, Daniel Mbazira, Herbert Okodi Ogetta and Walter Moses Ojok get nominated.

Mbazira who is from the Faculty of Medicine said its time to cause fundamental change that focuses on zero tolerance to corruption so that student funds are not squandered by a few people.

He emphasized the need to seek public opinion on how best the university image can be improved.

"I want to put in place a guild leadership that is student centred to consolidate unity and strengthen good relations beyond the campus environment," he told New Vision immediately after nomination.

Having served on the legislative council, he claims there has been a lot of oppression which must be eliminated.

Just like Mbazira, Okodi from the Faculty of Education also highlighted the need to improve the university's relationship with the surrounding people.

Okodi noted that community engagement is important in fostering unity.

"Our academic engagement with the university needs improvement so that the students don't suffer," he added.

James Onono Ojok a first year student of Public Administration decried the high level of bureaucracy in the payment of tuition fees yet sometimes even after clearing the dues, students' names are not reflected in the clearance book.

Ojok wants the new guild president to sit down with the university management and put in place a perfect system to address this problem.

"Some students that have paid end up missing exams. It's not proper because a student is getting a retake at the expense of the university," he said.

Another student, Constance Akoth, called for the improvement of sanitation at the campus noting that it's not conducive at all especially for girls.

"When there's no water, it's next to impossible to visit the toilets. You find faecal matter littered all over the floor. The university should come up with alternative sources of water," she said.

Emmanuel Odit, the electoral commission chairman, called for calm during campaigns and asked the aspirants to desist from any kind of party politics as per the university guidelines.