Mak Guild Elections 2009

GUILD ELECTIONS KICK OFF, CANDIDATES TO UPLIFT UNIVERSITY IMAGE

“This is the time to save Makerere from the drip it’s on in Mulago and have a pro-student management. I have come to deliver Makerere from the vampires of high tuition, from the horrors of privatization, and the terrorists of poor sanitation,” said Mr. Robert Okware, one of the candidates vying for Guild Presidency at Makerere University.
Okware and seven other candidates fired up Makerere with marching bands, branded, cheering supporters, and promise-filled manifestos, at the start of the campaign rallies held at the Makerere’s University Hall, on Monday, ahead of the Guild Elections due March 16th 2009.
Kinyanjui Phillip “Philo” Kimani, the first and only international student to contest for the highest student leadership position at Makerere, promised ‘fireworks’, as he urged students to co-operate to influence change.
“Makerere’s degenerating goes without saying, and we should work together as Ugandans, Kenyans, Tanzanians, Sudanese, Rwandese and Burundaise, to revive student activism,” he said.
The only female candidate in the race, Ms. Husnah Natukunda, contesting on the FDC party ticket, cautioned students about those who shake their hands and make empty promises.
“Makerere needs better leadership, and if you want to see that being done, you should entrust the job to a woman,” she said.
Seemingly the crowd’s favourite, Mr. Kisuule Robertson “Castro” , vowed to break the bureaucracy in the processes leading up to getting Identity Cards and transcripts. He also pledged to loby for advanced serviceds like internet hotspots in all halls of residence. Previously only Africa Halls had an internet hot post. Quoting South African Bishop Desmond Tutu, “If you remain silent against injustices, you are on the said of the oppressor,” Kisuule, the NRM candidate said.
With Samuel Ariiho in the driving seat, female students will be assured of a bigger representation on the Guild Executive, while a Legal Team will defend students against illegal detention and present an offensive against the privatization of halls.
Although many of the candidates were backed by different political parties, some were independent. Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) however did not field a candidate after failing to raise the money needed to register their candidate.
Students and academic staff of Makerere University can only hope for the best man to win, to help revamp the collapsing image of the 86-year-old institution, which has been mired with inefficient management, students’ riots, academic staff strikes, bureaucratic systems, and shortage and misuse of resources.