Students of Uganda Christian University, UCU Main campus are still in shock after all candidates from the faculty of law for the top most post for the guild (2017/18) were vetted out of the race by the faculty and the senate.
On Thursday, during the faculty vetting, 3 candidates Nuwahereza Alex, Kiige Jacob, and Mutamba Paul were vetted out, sending only Kelvin Balyebuga to face the final vetting with the senate. On Friday evening, an internal memo was released that showed the new list of the candidates for the presidential race that excluded the candidate from the faculty of law.
The new candidates are Gulume Mark Earnest (Science Faculty), Ashaba Barasha Duncan (Business Faculty), and Owere Hannington Patrick (Mass Communication). Students from these faculties are however excited that their candidates have qualified, and more interested that the faculty of law has no candidate. A section of the students at the university has issues with law students.
From the onset of the election, 10 candidates had shown interest in the race, now the number has been dropped to 3.
A reaction from within the students reveals that there is usually panic within the university especially the administration at the thought of a law student at the top, and ever since 2014, it has never been possible. Sources reveal to the Bee that the university does not want top leaders who might become a headache to the administration.
“The university does not want vocal students” comments one of the students.
A few years ago, the university had guild president from the faculty of law. It is rumored that the then president gave the university a hard time. The president was opposed to literary all the policies of the university and absconded from attending meetings where such were discussed.
About a year or so later, a pair of students from the same faculty (Simon Ssemuwenba, former president of the UCU law society, and Yasin Sentumbwe, former class leader) drugged the university to court for expelling them. The students were accused of attempting to stage a strike within the university against tuition increment. Their case still drags in courts.
“Kelvin is one of the best speakers I know this university has” says one of his supporters who still remains shocked by the vetting process. Students believe he was the going to be the revolutionary and the voice for many against some of the unjust policies of the university.
A section of the students also believes that the reason the 3 students went through the senate vetting was that they either have a close connection to the chaplaincy, or are religious, or belong to some fellowships of sort and appeal more to the Christian institution.
Students especially from the faculty of law are still contemplating whether there is actually good cause to proceed with the election or withdraw from participating in the process at once.
The election takes place on the 2nd of November 2017
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