Entebbe-based National Resistance Movement (NRM) strategists have pitched camp at Nkumba University today to rally support for their Guild Presidential flag bearer, Makumai Deoglaciuos Anyama, ahead of the April 25th Guild elections.
The group, led by Busiro South MP-elect Hon. Ken Kenan Opio, Entebbe MP-elect Hon. Shaka Gashaija, and former Nkumba University guild president Lawrence Mushabe, spent a better part of the evening urging students to back the NRM-leaning candidate.
Addressing students, Hon. Opio emphasized service delivery, revealing that government programs targeting youth are increasingly being extended to institutions of higher learning. “The government is moving to implement services among students, and you must position yourselves to benefit,” he said, calling on students to align with the ruling party. “Be patriotic and remain loyal to a system that is working to improve your future.”
Yesterday’s internal debate appeared to shift perceptions around Makumai’s candidacy. Initially seen by some as an underdog, Makumai has gained traction, including backing from a section of the South Sudan Students’ Association. Hon. Gashaija urged students to translate this support into votes. “This is your opportunity to choose leadership that connects you to national programs,” he said. “Vote for a candidate who understands and works with government.”
NRM Flag Bearer, Makumai Deoglaciuos Anyama
Nkumba University’s former Guild President, Mushabe Lawrence, emphasized the importance of ideology in student leadership, arguing that alignment with the ruling party could unlock opportunities for young people. “Students need to embrace the ideology of the NRM,” he said. “That is how we can attract youth skilling programs and other government initiatives into our institutions.”
He pointed to his own tenure as evidence of what such alignment could achieve, noting that the current campaign seeks to build on that legacy.
Student guild elections in Uganda have long served as a microcosm of national politics, with major parties using campuses to groom future leaders and test political messaging.
The NRM’s latest push comes five years after Mr. Mushabe’s guild victory in 2021 and will be tightly crossing fingers, with hope for victory.
Analysts note that the ruling party has, over the years, increasingly focused on universities as entry points for promoting government programs, particularly those targeting youth employment and skills development.
With campaigns entering their final stretch, the NRM team expressed confidence that their presence on campus would translate into electoral success.
Supporters argue that a pro-government guild leadership would help bridge the gap between students and national development initiatives, aligning campus priorities with broader policy goals championed by the government under President Yoweri Museveni.
Nkumba University will head to the polls on Saturday, 25th April, 2025, to elect the Guild President and the Members of Parliament. Guild Presidential Aspirants are expected to have their last gasp on Friday during the open air campaigns.