NUP condemn disqualification of Makerere Guild candidate

The Leadership of the opposition National Unity Platform party has strongly condemned the Makerere University administration for disqualifying the party guild candidate Ms. Margaret Nattabi.

In a letter signed off by the students Electoral Commission, Nattabi js disqualified for allegedly breaching the existing laws that prohibit physical campaigns.

NUP leaders have backfired and thrown tantrums at the University for undermining the pillars of democracy on which this institution was built.

David Lewis Rubongoya in his missive says;

Just woken up to this letter disqualifying the National Unity Platform candidate Nattabi Margaret from the Makerere University Guild Election race, as well as one Namwoza Sulaiman, who is our member but made a decision not to participate in our primaries for fear of being disqualified. This follows the enactment of a crazy statute banning political parties at Makerere University, and making all elections virtual. The stated crime is apparently participating in a Kimeeza, although there has been every effort to disqualify her from the time she was nominated.

After so many years of NRM losing all elections, they resorted to this criminal approach in order to save themselves from embarrassment year after year. We are told that even the remaining candidates are being compelled to make videos distancing themselves from political parties, particularly NUP, otherwise they will be disqualified. It is really difficult to imagine the kinds of things happening in this country!

Bobi Wine says;

Woke up this morning to news that the administration of Makerere University has disqualified the National Unity Platform’s Nattabi Margaret from the students’ guild presidential race. This decision is draconian. It is an affront to the sacred concept of academic freedom, and the twin constitutional rights to speech and association that every academic institution has a duty to guard with its very existence.

At its bare minimum, academic freedom requires that students should be able to express themselves freely without fear of repression. Only then can institutions of higher learning achieve their purpose as guardians of reason and inquiry. It reinforces the protection that our Constitution guarantees for any citizen to freely express their opinions and associate with any lawful group of their choice.

Throughout history, those freedoms have been a constant sword against tyranny, injustice and oppression. To them, Uganda owes its independence, and so does Makerere its existence. It’s a shame that the University’s myopic leaders are now sacrificing at the altar of political expediency the very freedoms that secured them their current jobs in the first place!

If they have any shame, Makerere’s administration should reconsider the decision as it sets a terrible precedent. Comrade Nattabi and other similarly affected candidates should be left to participate in the guild race without being persecuted for their political affiliations!