Makerere University has called for written proposals from other stakeholders to reform guild electoral processes. The stakeholders include students, staff, and alumni, among others.
The July 28th letter, authored by Associate Professor Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala, the Chairperson of the Makerere University Select Review Committee, calls on all stakeholders to submit their written proposals before 5 pm on the 10th of August 2022 to help reform the Guild elections at the university.
The committee has also called for testimonials on the incidents that led to the violence during the final campaigns that culminated in the death of Bewotti Batungura, 27, a student from Uganda Christian University, who was stabbed to death on July 14th, 2022. The oral testimonies are to be submitted to the committee between August 1st and August 4th, between 2 and 6 pm.
Batungura met his death during clashes between Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters hours before guild elections that had been slated for July 28th, 2022. It is alleged that the deceased were severally stabbed in the neck and chest and thus bled to death.
It is reported that Batungura had joined his FDC counterparts at Makerere to rally support for his old friend and FDC candidate, Justus Tukamushaba. The University administration called off the guild polls and appointed a select committee to review the guild constitution.
The proposals are to inform an interim report to the university council, which will be used to guide university policy formation and the amendment of existing regulations relating to student matters at the university. The committee comprises Associate Professor Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala as the Chairperson. Daniel Fred Kidega, Eng Dr. S. P. Kagoda, Associate Prof Sarah Ssali, Bruce Balaba Kabaasa, and John Chris Ninsiima are also members.
The Select Committee is mandated to look into the internal processes of conducting guild elections; investigate the conduct of hall wardens and custodians in the enforcement of university regulations regarding the management of students’ halls of residence; investigate cases of external influence in students’ activities; and review financing of the guild leadership and guild activities at the university.