Makerere University held the third and last guild presidential debate on Tuesday evening in the University main hall ahead of the guild presidential elections slated for  Friday.

The debate was organized by University Forum on Governance (UNIFOG) and Conrad Adenauer Stiftung under the theme: ‘Deepening debate culture in Uganda’s leadership competition'. Thousands of students atended the debate.

At 7:00 p.m, the debate kicked off with introductory remarks from the Speaker Electoral Commission, Ian Ndamwesiga and opening remarks from Michael Mugisha the technical advisor for UNIFOG and Donnas Ojok the director of Programs at KAS, who urged students to leave personal political differerences and focus on building Makerere University.

The debate was moderated by Yusuf Miranda; the programme manager Netherlands institute for multi-party democracy together with Ivan Rugambwa, a fourth student of Journalism and Communication, also a former minister in the 80^th guild cabinet.

The debate kicked off at 8:00 p.m as twelve candidates took to the stage, filled with enthusiasm, to discuss issues affecting the University.

What the candidates said

Sospeter Nviiri was the first candiadte to speak.  He asked students to vote a candidate with ideas because it is what Makerere University dreams of.

Nkunda Mandela, the NRM flag bearer, raised concern about the guild representative councillors (GRCs) who only aim at getting allowances rather than representing students. He attacked these GRCs on grounds that their primary roles are instead performed by Class coordinators. Mendela was very bitter at the allegation that Makerere univeristy students break into peoples homes and shops to steal their property; he said this is never done by intellectuals from Makerere.

Brian Nasala questioned the criteria for choosing a guild cabinet where there is no equality, giving an example of natural sciences that has spent good years without getting a representing minister. He said his cabinet will be functional because it will be credible.

 Simon Ssenyonga said that the lack of structural lecture rooms for courses like Ethics and Human Rights and B.com external students, is a question of physical planning and not the difference in the importance of the courses at the university. Ssenyonga also raised the issue of lacking an auditorial body to sieve the guild transactions.

 Shafic Kalyango talked about his experience from childhood leadership exposure as one of the tools he has for being  the best solution to Makerere  as the Guild president, he also emphasized that he is the only solution to the unfair tuition polices otherwise the policies will affect students forever

Fred Luyinda said defiance is the best solution to the University and Ismail Kasoozi said that Makerere University is not only for the well off but the poor must also be equally heard and catered for.

 Bazil Mwotta emphasised his stand for better internet services within the University, security, fight against causes of missing marks, delayed results and sexual harassments as the major challenges the university is facing.

Roy Ssemboga insisted that strikes, demonstrations and violence are not bad since World War 2 led to the rise of stronger nations and policies.

However, there were rebuttals between Roy and Mwotta when the audience raised the question of rumours that Roy's camp is blocking students perceived to be Mwotta supporters on the Makerere University Guild Facebook Group. Roy denied the claims, and attacked Mwotta on which authority he had to claim that “my people are being blocked by Roy” he went on and referred to this as propaganda.

At around 10:30 p.m, the debate was officially closed with a cocktail.