The Coordinator of Makerere University Mbale Centre, Mr. Steven Masiga, yesterday encouraged Guild councils across universities to always hand over power as a synonym of democracy when the end of their tenure approaches.
Mr. Masiga urged the new Guild Leadership of Mbale School of Clinical Officers (SOCO) to apply all the principles of administrative law if they are to lead to the satisfaction of their constituencies who elected them into student leadership.
He made these remarks during the takeover and handover of office to the new Guild council entrants at the Mbale School of Clinical Officers in Mbale City yesterday.
The College of Health Sciences Principal, who was represented by the Clinical Head of Medicine and Senior Lecturer Mr. Nabimanya Tanozio, encouraged the incoming leaders to work closely with the administration since they are the third arm of the administration. He also conveyed his boss’s best wishes to the new office bearers.
Mr. Masiga encouraged the medical learners to undertake lessons in administrative law if they are to be effective student leaders.
He highlighted critical administrative law principles, such as the presumption of innocence for all accused persons in any criminal arena and the need to always give accused persons the opportunity to explain themselves.
He emphasized the importance of fairness, stating that anyone appearing before any tribunal should be accorded fairness in line with Article 42 of Uganda’s Constitution, including your own Guild constitution created by your own Parliament as student leaders at Mbale School of Clinical Officers.
Mr. Masiga, who is also the spokesperson of the Bamasaba Cultural Institution, concluded by cautioning the new office bearers to always follow these principles, stating, “If you do so, you will never go wrong.” He also encouraged them to be assets to the student body, not liabilities, and advised them never to alter the constitution to extend their tenure.
The new Guild Leadership includes a Guild President who appoints ministers to assist him, including presidential advisors.
There is also a Chief Justice and the Speaker of Parliament, all working according to the Guild Council constitution.
The new office bearers will serve for a period of one year until December 2025.
