Makerere Bans Physical Guild Elections, says Future Elections will be Virtual

Makerere University Council has banned physical guild elections at the University following the death of a student.

Betungura Bewatte, a second-year law student at Uganda Christian University (UCU) Kampala Campus in Mengo, was late Thursday night stubbed to death in a clash between National Unity Platform and Forum for Democratic Change supporters during last-minute campaigns.

“Any future elections shall be virtual,” reads a resolution signed by the Council Chairperson, Lorna Magara, and Secretary to the Council, Yusuf Kiranda.

The resolution was reached at a University Council emergency meeting held on July 15, 2022, deliberating on the violence which characterised the 88th Students Guild leadership electoral process.

The council resolved to: condemn the violence that characterised the electoral process for the 88th Students Guild leadership; to terminate the electoral process of the 88th Students Guild leadership; that the Makerere University Students Guild and Senior Common Room, including the Caretaker Government and all Guild leadership structures, are suspended henceforth and ban all brigades and any other unauthorised groups or organizations at the University with immediate effect.

The council further resolved to appoint a Select Committee to review the Students Guild operations.

It also resolved that the Select Committee shall provide an interim report to the University Council within one month from the date of appointment.

“Any individual established to have engaged in the violence and other cases of indiscipline be handled immediately following the established University disciplinary procedures,” the council stated while banning physical guild elections at the University, adding that any future elections shall be virtual.

The Council reassured the public of the University’s commitment to enforcing discipline and guaranteeing the security of students, staff and other University stakeholders.