Bu Watera,
NATIONAL
The Makerere University guild election that was scheduled to take place on today Friday 15th July 2022, has been indefinately called off after the universitu council council noted with concern rising cases of violence that claimed human life on Thursday evening.
Lorna Magara, the Makerere university council chairperson, said in a suspension letter on Thursday (July 14) that the ongoing elections for the 88th Makerere University Students’ Guild leadership were suspended with immediate effect.
She cited out violent and chaotic events that have reportedly characterized the electoral campaigns.
“Makerere University Council is appalled by the violent events that have characterized the electoral campaigns for the 88th Students Guild leadership, which resulted in the loss of the life of one of the young people participating in the campaign activities. The University Management and Council have repeatedly raised concerns about the persistent cases of indiscipline and violent altercations among members of the Students Guild and the Students Senior Common Room, which often resulted in damage to University property and injury to University Students and staff. Management and the Council have repeatedly engaged the Student leaders at the Guild and SCR levels to address the violent behaviour, but the engagements have not yielded any improvements,” said Magara
In a stetement, Magara noted the council suspended the Guild Care Taker Government and the Students Common Room to allow investigations into the matter.
“Management shall investigate all cases of violence in the electoral campaigns for the 88th Students Guild leadership and report to the Council for appropriate action,” she said.
This was after one person purported to be a supporter of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) was allegedly stabbed to death during a scuffle between FDC camp and National Unity Platform (NUP) camp.
The deceased, Betungura Micheal Bewatte, is a second year student of law at Uganda Christian University (UCU). He had gone to rally support for the FDC candidate Justus Tukamushaba during which he was stanbed in the neck by unknown person using a broken bottle.
In addirion, Magara says the Council is scheduled to convene in an emergency meeting on Friday, July 15, 2022 to consider further actions to address student indiscipline and violence at the University.
By press tome, police was yet to give an official communication about the subject.
