Candidates backed by the ‘People Power’ political movement led by Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine have won students’ guild presidential elections at both Makerere and Kyambogo universities.
In a tweet, Bobi Wine said: “It is reassuring to see young people in our institutions of higher learning align themselves with the values we represent — justice, equality and good governance. This is proof that our nation has a great future.”
At Makerere University, Julius Kateregga a student of Bachelor of Arts with education, polled 3,912 votes against 3,365, of his closest rival, Joshua Mukisa, in elections conducted on Friday. A total of 45,000 students cast their votes at 28 polling stations
Mukisa, who stood on an independent ticket, is a third-year bachelors of law student. Kateregga, a second-year student and also a Uganda Young Democrats member, will now represent the students’ grievances and participate in the university council and management’s policymaking processes.
The eleven students who contested for the position included those backed by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the main Opposition party, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). NRM’s Julian Taliwaku came third, with 1,465 votes, FDC’s Milly Namuddu got 1,298 and independents George Mutumba polled 866, David Musiri (637), Winter Nsimire (81), Osbert Alinda (55) and Umaru Wageya (44).
Kateregga, who becomes the 85th guild president of Makerere University, vowed to work hard to see that the 15% tuition increment policy is scrapped. Kateregga added that he will work with the administration to see that the over 100 security personnel deployed at the university, who he accused of harassing students, are removed.
Makerere University vicechancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe congratulated Kateregga and tweeted that he looks forward to working with him, in making Makerere greater. The People Power candidate Jonathan Tunduru also won the guild race at Kyambogo University on Thursday, after garnering 2,789 votes.
Tunduru defeated 11 other candidates and becomes Kyambogo University’s 16th guild president. His rival, Atto Sebbi Juma from FDC, polled 2,634 votes. Nicholas Kalulu from the Faculty of Science came third with 489 votes, followed by Christian Ahabwe, with 113. Tunduru said it was time for the new blood to take charge of the politics of this country.