education 29 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Makerere University Urged to Address Campaign Violence for Safer Student Elections
Recent clashes disrupted a guild election debate at Makerere University, prompting a return to virtual campaigning and bans on physical rallies. The editorial calls for sustained education and permanent debate platforms to prevent repeats of past violence, including a 2022 student death. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/editorial/makerere-must-find-lasting-solution-to-campaign-disruptions-5407406
The scars from 2022 remain vivid at Makerere University, where a student’s death during guild presidency campaigns led to a ban on physical activities, forcing virtual voting instead.
This year, the university tried resuming in-person rallies, hall visits, and faculty engagements, but chaos erupted last week. A debate organized by the electoral commission was halted just an hour in after rival supporters clashed in the audience.
In response, commission chairperson Maureen Owomugisha issued a March 28 statement mandating virtual elections unless the student council decides otherwise. Physical campaigning, violence, hooliganism, and property defacement are now prohibited, with penalties including disqualification, suspension, or exclusion from the process.
This incident undermines attempts to revive open student politics. Without long-term education for candidates and students, similar disruptions are likely to recur.
Uganda’s elections often turn ‘do or die,’ with violence used to manipulate outcomes. To foster free and fair polls, institutions must commit to ongoing awareness programs that start early and persist through the cycle, reducing extreme views and promoting dialogue.
Joint debates like the recent one are positive but should not wait for nominations—they need to be a year-round feature. Broader campaigns can reinforce peaceful participation across the university community.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)