KAMPALA: Makerere University Council has banned physical Guild elections following violence on Thursday that led to the death of a student.
During its emergency meeting held on Friday, July 15, 2022, the University Council resolved that all future Guild elections will be virtual.
The council also appointed a six-member select committee to review the Makerere University Students Guild operations
It is comprised of. Assoc. Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala as Chairperson; with Daniel Fred Kidega, Eng. Dr. S.P. Kagoda, Assoc. Prof. Sarah Ssali, Bruce Balaba Kabaasa and John Chris Ninsiima as members. The Select Committee shall provide an interim report to the University Council within one month from the date of appointment.
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In the meeting which terminated the electoral process of the 88th Students Guild leadership, the council also resolved to ban all brigades and any other unauthorised groups or organisations at the university with immediate effect.
“To conduct a complete review of the Makerere University Students’ Guild Constitution; ii. To evaluate the internal process of conducting guild elections at the University; iii. To investigate the conduct of Hall Wardens and Custodians in the enforcement of University regulations regarding the Management of Students’ Halls of Residence,” the council said in a statement signed by Ms Lorna Magara, the University Council chairperson, and Yusuf Kiranda, the Secretary to Council.
“To assess the role of the Police in providing security in students’ activities at the University; v. To investigate cases of external influence in students’ activities at the University; To address any other matters incidental to the Committee’s mandate. That any individual established to have engaged in the violence and other cases of indiscipline be handled immediately following the established University disciplinary procedures,” she added.
Bewatte Betungura, a second-year law student at Uganda Christian University (UCU) Kampala Campus in Mengo was on Thursday stabbed to death in a clash during last-minute campaigns.
Police and witnesses said an altercation broke out between supporters of the leading Guild presidential candidate, National Unity Platform’s Lawrence Alionzi, alias Dangote, and Justus Tukamushaba of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party.
The heated race in which Alionzi was the biggest crowd puller had attracted up to sixteen contenders, including the ruling National Resistance Movement’s Ibra Hussein.
