Aaron Oguttu, a Makerere University student aspiring to become the next Guild President of Uganda’s oldest university has penned a letter to the institution’s Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe following the continued delay of guild elections.
According to Oguttu, there is still uncertainty despite the VC’s decision to lift the ban on electoral processes. Oguttu argues that fellow aspiring leaders as well as voters have wasted a lot of time in campaigning and yet, the polling and other electoral events’ dates remain a mystery.
Oguttu wants the university administration to respond by Friday, 9th April, adding that students are waiting for the top leadership’s position on the mentioned matter.
“We must note that the semester is dragging to more serious stages and students are wasting time campaigning and engaging in electoral activities in the face of uncertainty.” Oguttu’s letter reads in part.
It should be recalled that on 9th March 2021, Prof Nawangwe wrote to the university electoral commission and communicated that the ban on guild electoral activities had been lifted effective immediately. Nawangwe advised the body to kick off stages of preparing for guild elections.
Days after, Nawangwe also communicated that the university top leadership is analyzing the e-voting system ahead of the institution’s guild elections.
Given the fact that Makerere students will be studying in a staggered manner, it will not be possible for all scholars to be on campus at the same time to vote for their leaders. The university’s aspiring student leaders are expected to hold virtual campaigns on social media and television stations, just like what Kyambogo University is planning.
On polling day, voters will use their students’ portal to vote for their preferred leaders following a set of guidelines expected to be issued by the university’s electoral commission.
Below is Oguttu’s full letter;
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