By Moses Kyeyune.
With only three days to the Guild elections at Makerere University, pressure continues to pile around candidates in the race that will replace FDC’s Adeke Anna Ebaju.
The election which is slated for Wednesday 19th March 2014 attracted eight candidates amongst whom is; Ms. Sarah Aseru of Complex Hall (UYD) Ivan Bwowe from Lumumba, Aber Lillian(Complex) and Phillip Musiime (NRM/Nsibirwa Hall). Others are Sam Komakech of Nkrumah Hall, Nicholas Nanyeenya (Nsibirwa),EddyKintu and Julius Tabaaro.
Stiff competition however is said to lie between Bwowe a third year Law student and Aseru, a second year student from Industrial and Organisational Psychology. Also closer to the victors is FDC’s Lillian Aber and NRM’s PhillipMusiime. Bwowe whose main support is from Lumumba Hall and Law School became popular last year when he defeated the University in a court battle challenging his indefinite suspension, following an anti-tuition increment strike by students. Although he missed his end year exams, the Hon.Justice Benjamin Kabiito of the High Court Civil Division in Kampala ruled that the university gives him that year’s exams without any conditionality.
“I have been humiliated, I have been embarrassed and maliciously suspended for championing the students’ cause,” said Bwowe adding that “this is an opportunity for students to have a leader with whom they share challenges.”
Aseru beat Bwowe in the UYD elections in February this year. Although some students have branded her an NRM mole, Aseru says that her political principles are those of truth and Justice.
“I am different from my father. Besides she is not NRM but I wonder why people keep telling me of that,” she said. Both Aseru and Aber share a feminine constituency and Complex Hall, giving a lot of room to Bwowe.
All candidates are wooing support with lots of promises to end Makerere’s unsolved troubles. Key on the list of all promises is, blocking the newly proposed 10% progressive tuition policy where the university council is intending to slap the percentage to private students every academic year. All candidates also vow to continue resisting the unpopular 60% tuition policy which requires students to make the payment by the sixth week into the semester lest they are denied writing tests and coursework. Also central to all camps is the deplorable state of the university hospital, which they say lacks drugs and is also in the hands of the education ministry instead of health.
In an interview with this reporter, Bwowe said that the university hospital needs to be placed under the right ministry. “I have stood against such over sights right from the time I was admitted to this university, three years ago,” Bwowe said.
Who they are;
Ivan Bwowe.
23year old Bwowe is a born of Lalisizo in Masaka district. He attended St.Charles Lwanga Primary School where he served as Head boy in 2004, and later to St.Andrews’-Matale for O’Level in 2008 where he was Head prefect. Bwowe moved to Seeta High School in Mukono for A-Level where he also became Head Prefect in 2010.
When he joined Makerere in 2012, he soon became Chief Fresher, a title given to outstanding new entrants at Lumumba hall.AseAlthough Bwowe hails from Lumumba, his open participation in pro-students activities has earned him massive support across all halls of residence and hostels.
Sarah Aseru (23) Complex Hall.
She is a daughter to Hon.Alex Onzima, the minister of State for local Government. Aseru went to St.Teressa Namilyango for her primary in 2005 before joining Bishop Cypriano Kihangire for O-Level and later St.Peters Nalya for A-Level where she served as the students’ Judge.
Last year, Aseru was the general secretary for electoral commission at the school of Psychology at Makerere. Her main support is from Uganda Young Democrats, a youth chapter of Democratic Party whose flag she holds.
Lillian Aber (25 years) Complex Hall
She went to Kasubi Primary School in Gulu where she served as Head girl in 2004. She later joined Old Kampala S.S for both O & A Level. Aber is currently the Guild Minister for Information, a position she acquired in her first year at the university. Whoever goes through as president is faced with a lot of expectation from the students’ fraternity.
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