Tired, yawning and grumbling is not fair enough description of the state of Makerereans after the Citizen’s manifesto launch that took place on Monday at Hotel African. The hunger crazed students walked sullenly to the Hotel Africana gate to await their shuttle to take them back home. The long wait achieved to let loose their once well hidden ailments as many started confessing in hushed voices about their skipping of lunch to create space for the good food at Africana. To their agitation however, only bottles of water that did not favour their starved tummies were served.
Some also accused the event of being opposition based and misleading them into attending by advertising speakers that did not appear at the event.
“This event advertised speakers like Frank Tumwebaze, Lord Mayor, Miria Matembe, Medard Ssegona, Mugisha Muntu among others. They just wanted to attract people because none appeared. It was an anti-NRM event.” Johnson Kagame, a student from Makerere observed.
Muguta ya Butaaho, the mobiliser of Makerere students for the event and President Hope Initiative Club Makerere however explained that the event was absolutely civic and not attached to any political affiliations. He also explained that most speakers were not able to come because they had escorted their candidates for campaigns to different regions.
Other Universities present included, KIU, Ndejje, IUIU, Nkumba among others. Each was allowed to bring 20 students only exempting Makerere which was to bring 200 students (about 100 came) due to its large population.
On their way back, The Makerereans had a heated up discussion in the shuttle on whether they needed change for a President in which they failed to agree but however concluded in favour of the conference which had the theme “POWER BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE” saying that the power to change was in their hands and whatever choice anyone made in the President was fine. They however urged each other to think right and vote wisely based on facts and not hearsay.
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