As has been the norm at the Ivory tower, hooliganism and incidents of violence have once again marred the guild election campaigns.
Police has been forced to engage students in physical fights, unleashing of teargas and live bullets to disperse crowds during campaigns at all the seven student halls of residence that have hosted the guild campaign rallies.
So far, rallies have been held at Nkrumah Hall, Livingstone, Mary Stuart, and Galloway in Mulago, Complex, University Hall and Mitchell Hall. Today, Friday, rallies will be held at Africa Hall, one of the female halls of residence at the university.
ACP Enock Baine, the University Chief Security Officer, says several of his policemen have sustained injuries in trying to control violent crowds during the rallies.
According to Baine, the culture of violence among some halls coupled with what he called drug abuse have been the major instigators of violence among students at these rallies. He appeals to students to be tolerant to all candidates and assured the university community of security during the electoral process.
This year, a total of 16 candidates are participating in the Makerere University guild presidential elections. They are; Henry Turyasingura, Joe Kasumba, Andrew Julian Taliwaku, Edward Kinene Ssemakula, Florence Namuganza, Salim Were, Arnold Semanda, Patrick Kamyuka and Fredrick Chiluba.
Others are Fred Andama, Prize Ahimbisibwe, Bruno Bayube, Ronnie Isabirye, Johnson Obbo and Samuel Nuwataho.
Last evening during the rally at Livingstone hall, students cut into pieces wires that connect to the Public Address Systems while others took amplifiers during a scuffle.
