Vote Counting Underway in Mak Guild Race

Vote counting is underway in the Makerere University Guild Elections. The winner is expected to be announced by 8:00 pm.

The students went to polls earlier today seeking to replace Papa Salim Were, whose term of office expired in January.

Voting started at around 9 am amidst heavy security. Each polling station was manned by three regular police officers and armed anti-riot police on standby.

The race attracted 11 candidates who are competing for the post from different political parties. They include Andrew Julian Taliwaku and Osbert Alinda from the ruling National Resistance Movement –NRM and the Forum for Democratic Change –FDC candidate Milly Namuddu. 

Others are Julius Kateregga of the Uganda Young Democrats –UYD, David Musiri and Joshua William Mukisa, independent candidates Umaru Wageya, George Mutumba Emmanuel Agaba, Winter Nsimire Muhangi, and Donald Munanu.

Several voters especially first-year students struggled to locate their names in the various polling stations. 

There were also reported incidents of ballot stuffing at the School of medicine where non-students were caught trying to vote. 

 Martins Kato, the Students Electoral Commission Publicist however said that the reports were being investigated.  

“We were informed about it, but we made sure we changed the polling agents and instated new officers” said Kato.

Patience Ashaba another student, said that this year’s students elections have been characterized by tensions and fights which she hopes could come to an end with this election.

 "We expect everything to back to normal after today's elections. We don't want to see blood and chaos as the case was yesterday," Ashaba said.