With less than two weeks left to the polling day, voters and candidates for the Nkumba students’ guild are criticizing the electoral rule requiring them to have paid a given percentage of tuition to qualify as a voter and or candidate.
Some of the candidates are also critical of the proscription to open campaigns, also a management electoral commission arrangement.
Critics say the rule limits candidates from propagating their message. Candidates are after nominations, only allowed to carry on personal consultations until day chosen by the electoral commission, for a joint campaign platform.
This goes along with the proscription of political party activities at campus. Imran Lutaakome Kigongo (LLB 3), one of the seven candidates in the race for guild presidency said it would be his priority to amend the constitution to address this as it disenfranchises not only the voter but candidates too.
A female Bachelor of Laws student who did not want her name disclosed told URN , she felt it was unfair to lock out voters on this account because at the end of the day the person is registered as a student and will any way have to pay.
Arthur Andweineho who boasted of having a ten point programme for his manifesto said he would emphasise accountability, where the guild has perpetuated a culture of opaqueness in the management of guild funds.
Andweineho promised an inclusive government, elevation of sports through improved welfare, promotion of student innovations and students’ health among others.
Incumbent guild president Lawrence Mushabe told URN that with an independent electoral commission, they looked to delivering a free and fair election devoid of violence. He said part of the reason for violence in guild elections at other campuses was external influence through political party activity and students from other campuses, which they did not want to spoil the good image of Nkumba University.
At Makerere University last July, elections had to be indefinitely put off following violence blamed on NUP and FDC parties, in which a student of Uganda Christian University perished.
A joint campaign rally, he said would be held on October 28th, ahead of the secret ballot poll on October 29th. It is a seven man race that includes others; Amos Muhwezi (LLB 3), Morris Ssemmambo (LLB 3), Sheriff Ssebina (LLB 3), Arthur Andweineho (Business Administration 2), Daniel Ngirabakunzi and Victor Toka.
Students told URN that though political parties are prohibited at campus, it was not a secret that some of the candidates are openly known to belong to political party camps.URN
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