By Bukomba Ronald Dennis
The Electoral Commission of Islamic University Law Students’ Society on Friday (29th April) declared four candidates to contest for the position of President.
This position is highly respected as it influences most of the students’ affairs at the IUIU faculty of law.
In a bid to understand the manifesto of some of the candidates, Campus Bee interviewed Onyango Silver, one of the four candidates vying for the position.
What is your name?
My name is Onyango Silver.
How do you describe yourself?
I am a law student pursuing a Bachelor of Laws programme at Islamic University In Uganda. I am humble, sociable, committed and willing to serve my community. Currently I am a candidate aspiring to become President of the Islamic University Law Students Society.
Why have you decided to contest for President LSS?
I want to improve the IUIU law students’ society by creating opportunities for my fellow colleagues which will see them prosper both in their academic life at IUIU and after graduation.
What are some of those changes?
I want to lobby funds for the LSS. This will enable us to run a mentorship program which I have prepared in stock, and is very vital in legal education. I want to establish partnerships with other education business and judicial institutions to secure internship placements for our students.
I also want to build a trustworthy and accountable society which respects the rule of law. In this, recall the statement of Pheona Wall Nabasa, the current President of the Uganda Law Society while launching a rule of law club at a certain institution saying, ‘the rule of law begins with oneself’.
I am not scandalous and I would like to believe that I am the best candidate for this position.
Who is your mentor or role model?
They are quite many but let me mention three. The first person is my uncle Onyango Silver Senior. I am named after him. He has inspired me from childhood. And he is the one funding my education. He has taught me to be humble, committed but also ambitious.
I also admire Retired Supreme Court Judge the Honorable Justice Professor George W. Kanyeihamba and former US President Barack Obama. I like their charisma and intellect.
What are your core values?
Integrity, Hardworking, Commitment and improving my community.
What motivates you to become the LSS President?
Our institution is well placed in Uganda since it is the only University that was established by an Act of Parliament. It has partnerships and engagements with most of the international countries.
These partnerships are aimed at improving the livelihood of IUIU students. In that regard, therefore, I have the desire and ambition to expand these partnerships with other institutions and surrounding communities.
I want to make sure the four campuses of IUIU are working towards the same goal. I want us to have serious engagements in activities like sports, debates and moot court competitions.
I also think that I can nurture my colleagues to be able to influence our judicial system to work in the interest of the most vulnerable. This can be done by ensuring that we establish a legal clinic at IUIU at also engage in delivering free legal services to the community around IUIU.
What message do have for your fellow candidates?
I welcome them to the race for the presidency. I also want to promise that I will consider them for appointment to some positions once I go through.
Thank you for speaking to Campus Bee
You are welcome.
