The Chairperson of the Makerere University Guild Electoral Commission, Ramadhan Kirunda, has issued a stern warning to candidates regarding the importance of adhering to election rules in preparation for the upcoming 2024 Guild elections.
Scheduled for March 7th, the elections are a crucial event in the university’s calendar, with 16 candidates vying for the position of Guild President.
Apart from selecting the Guild President, students will cast their votes for various other positions, including School Guild representatives, Halls Guild representatives, College Guild council members, and more.
For the fourth consecutive time, Makerere University is opting for online elections, a decision made in response to the need for social distancing and COVID-19 prevention measures. The move towards virtual elections became permanent following a tragic incident involving a student from Uganda Christian University during physical election campaigns in 2022.
In light of this, the University council decided to permanently ban physical guild elections and transition to online voting to ensure the safety of students and mitigate potential risks.
Moreover, the University aimed to limit the influence of political parties in guild affairs, citing concerns about political divisions among the student body.
Despite these measures, some candidates have been accused of flouting regulations, leading to disqualifications and criticism from students regarding their freedom to engage with political parties.
Addressing these concerns, Kirunda emphasized that any student found violating campaign rules or affiliating with political parties would face disqualification and potential suspension from the University.
Since the application period opened in January, the Electoral Commission has received a significant number of applicants for various positions, although only 16 candidates have been officially nominated for the Guild President position.
While virtual elections have been adopted as a solution, challenges such as low voter turnout and technical difficulties with the online voting system have persisted. However, Kirunda reassured candidates and students that improvements have been made to the election technology to ensure a smooth and secure voting process.
With over 30,000 registered voters and strict enforcement of election rules, Makerere University is gearing up for a successful and fair electoral process.
