Ahairwe Lydia
Students at Nkumba University have come out in support of Mawanda Derrick, the newly sworn-in Guild President, criticizing his opponents, Alinda Marvin and Katende Mohammed, for protesting against his victory.
On May 2, 2025, supporters of Katende and Alinda disrupted the swearing-in ceremony, claiming that the Electoral Chairperson, Atuna Sabrine, was not eligible to monitor the elections. However, the protest did not stop Mawanda from taking office.
Many students have condemned the protest, saying Alinda and Katende should have filed their petition earlier. “They knew about the retakes and missing papers, but it only became a problem once she got the seat and didn’t dance to their tune,” said Japheth Walakira, an alumnus of the university.
Deus Muwonge, a former member of the guild parliament, questioned the timing of the protest, asking, “Why do they first lose and then discover the chairperson of the electoral commission had retakes?” Olive Nigesa, a supporter of Mawanda, described the protest as a “stunt” by Mawanda’s opponents.
Some students advised that this incident should serve as a lesson to future contestants to raise concerns earlier. However, others defended Alinda and Katende, saying they were denied justice. “Why did they deny them justice? Those guys had evidence. For us students, we wanted a fair hearing before the swearing-in,” said Alexander Muntu.
The Electoral Commission has stood its ground, saying Mawanda Derrick won the election fairly and that it has faced baseless accusations after every election. The commission’s stance has been supported by many students, who believe that Alinda and Katende’s protest was an attempt to undermine the democratic process.
