The Guild Representative Council (GRC) representative for Mary Stuart Hall at Makerere University has resigned, accusing the 92nd guild government of sidelining elected leaders and frustrating genuine student representation.
In a strongly worded resignation statement, Jemmimah Namubiru, a third-year Bachelor of Business Administration student, described her departure as “a resignation in protest,” arguing that the GRC has been reduced to a ceremonial body with little influence over decisions affecting students.
“I did not run for GRC to warm a seat. I ran to represent students, to debate issues affecting students of Mary Stuart Hall,” she said. “That is not what is happening in the 92nd Guild House.”
According to her statement, representatives often attend meetings prepared to present pressing student matters only for those concerns to be shelved in favour of issues that do not directly address student welfare.
“Time after time, leadership shelves student concerns and instead chooses to present unrelated matters to the university administration. The voice of the hall is silenced before it even leaves the room,” she said.
She further accused both the guild leadership and sections of the university administration of treating GRC members as mere messengers rather than stakeholders in decision-making processes.
“The people elected by students cannot influence policy. We are invited to sit in the House but not to decide. Policies are made without us, and when we propose solutions, they are dismissed,” she added.
Namubiru argued that remaining in office would amount to endorsing a system that undermines the very purpose of student representation.
“I refuse to be part of a leadership that pretends to represent students while gagging the very people students elected,” she said.
Her resignation comes months after she contested for the influential position of guild speaker. In one of the closest contests of the guild electoral season, she lost to Travis Mutatina, who secured 60 votes against her 52.
It also comes at a time when the Students’ Guild House has remained largely inactive, having convened only four sittings since its inauguration. Notably, only one sitting was dedicated to budget discussions, yet the House failed to approve the budget, leaving many members uncertain about when the crucial financial plan will be passed.
The delay has raised concerns among guild representatives about the effectiveness of the House in executing its legislative responsibilities and addressing pressing student matters.
Despite her defeat in the speaker race, Namubiru remained active in student politics and continued serving as Mary Stuart Hall’s representative in the GRC until her resignation this week.
Following her resignation, the Office of the Dean of Students officially declared the seat vacant. In a notice issued to residents, dean of students Dr Winfred Kabumbuli said a by-election would be conducted in accordance with Article 77(1) of the Makerere University Students’ Guild Constitution, 2022, as amended.
The notice states that the successful candidate will represent the interests and concerns of Mary Stuart Hall residents in the Guild Representative Council and contribute to student governance within the university.
Eligible students interested in contesting for the position have been advised to await the official election roadmap and advertisement from the relevant authorities. Even as she exits office, Namubiru insists her commitment to Mary Stuart Hall residents remains unchanged.
“Thank you to the students of Mary Stuart Hall for trusting me. I have not failed you but rather accepted to sacrifice myself so that you may know the truth,” she said.
She also pledged to continue advocating for issues affecting hall residents regardless of whether she holds office, maintaining that the students she represented are “not a constituency but a family.”
Commenting on the development, Ismael Basalirwa, popularly known as Omukukutivu, a respected student leader who recently completed his fourth year of Law and finished third in the 91st Guild presidential race under the National Unity Platform (NUP) ticket, described the resignation as a reflection of frustrations within the current leadership structure.
“To me personally, she has exhibited a high level of integrity and respect for her electorate. She has shown maturity by recognizing when she could no longer effectively serve the people who entrusted her with leadership. It should be a lesson to all leaders that the people we are meant to serve are the same people who voted us into office,” he said.
Basalirwa warned that the resignation should serve as a wake-up call to the guild leadership.
“The letter brings attention to concerns that some leaders are prioritising personal interests over those of the students. The guild leadership should respect the views brought forward by guild representatives and chairpersons because they speak on behalf of the students they represent. If that does not happen, there could be more resignations and deeper divisions within the leadership,” he said.
