KAMPALA, UGANDA: The National Unity Platform (NUP)’s Nambassa Shamim has been declared the 87th Guild President of Makerere University after collecting a landslide victorious in the guild elections held on Friday, November 12.
Nambassa, the only female contestant in the 10-man race garnered 5610 votes amassing 54.2% of the total votes cast, according to the results announced on Friday night by the Makerere University’s electoral commission.
In her congratulatory message shortly after being declared winner, Nambassa attributed her victory to the love Makerere University fraternity has for NUP led by former presidential contender Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine.
“I thank all the students for voting wisely. They chose the right leader,” Shamim Nambassa said through Twitter on Friday night.
Nambassa’s closest contender, Obeid Yahayaa Kamulegeya of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) garnered 1,548 votes, representing 15% while Silve Bukala of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) who trailed with 649 votes, Ronald Mutsinzi (Independent) got 1,187, Agrippa Byayesu also Independent got 697 votes and Moses Tumusiime who scored 145 votes.
Others in the guild race were John Mwase (117 votes), Martin Tumuhaise (117 votes), Sam Ayeyo (70 votes) and Victor Omega who got a miserable 32 votes.
Nambassa, a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Pharmacy was formerly an Academic Minister in the 86th Guild council at the University. She now becomes the fifth female guild president at the institution seven years after Ms. Anna Adeke Ebaju (2013/2014) who is currently the Soroti District Woman MP.
Others are; Ms Julian Norah Njuba, the first female guild president who led Makerere University in 1987/1988, Ms Sarah Kagingo- 1997/1998, and Ms Susan Abbo in 2007/2008.
In her manifesto, Nambassa vowed to work on the shortage of water in halls of residence especially at peak hours something that puts the health of residents at a risk.
She also vowed to have the controversial 15% Tuition Policy phased out completely despite the fact that it was halted two years ago due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
Nambassa will now succeed fellow NUP member Mr. Ssempijja Ivan who was elected the 86th President of Makerere University last year.
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