Former Miss Uganda Hannah Karema Tumukunde has officially joined the race for Guild President at Makerere University, setting the stage for what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive student elections in recent years.
The 2023–2024 beauty queen, who represented Uganda at the Miss World competition in India and emerged as Miss World Africa 1st Runner-Up, announced her bid with a bold message to students.
“History at Makerere University has never been written by spectators. It’s written by those who stand up…” she posted.
“Today, I step forward not just to run for Guild President, but to stand for every student who believes Makerere can be more.”
Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Karema says her journey through pageantry exposed her to real-life challenges affecting young people, inspiring her to step into leadership.
Her campaign is already gaining attention across campus, with many students curious to see whether her national profile and advocacy experience can translate into student political success.
What she’s promising
Karema’s manifesto focuses on key student concerns, including:
- Fairer tuition policies
- Increased support for government-sponsored students
- Protection of campus political freedoms
- Addressing academic challenges faced by students
According to the university roadmap, the guild election process kicked off on March 2, 2026, with voting expected to be conducted end of March.
The inauguration date for the next guild president will be announced after results are confirmed.
With her entry, Karema adds star power to an already heated contest, bringing a mix of influence, visibility, and ambition into Makerere’s political arena.
Whether the former beauty queen can turn popularity into votes now lies in the hands of the student electorate—but one thing is certain: all eyes are on this race.
