THE 27TH UNION: THE STORY OF THEIR IMPACT

By Kisakye Cassious David

The 27^th Student’s Union is a unique regime in the aspect of how it came into office.  2021 saw the first online election held in Uganda Martyrs University which ushered in H.E Cassious David and his cabinet.

Members of the 27th Union Executive with the Vice Chancellor, Prof Patrick Kyamanywa.
Photo By Lubega Simon Peter

The Students Union is a student led body that represents the views of the students to the University management and is a key player in developing the institution. The Union body has been in existence since 1994 which Prof. Vincent Bagire as the first Union President. He also now serves as the vice-chairperson of the University Governing council.

We look back at the role of the 27^th Union in shaping the progress of the students and the University as a whole through the various sectors of academics, social life, health, administrative and more. This regime came into a time when the University was battling with some in-house struggles as well as the global pandemic. 

Their first two months in office were shadowed by the national lockdown that was announced by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. This lockdown halted all the works of the Union since there was little or no on campus business.

President Museveni directed that all schools should close in July 2021 to curb the spread of the virus.
(Courtesy photo)

Nevertheless, the student leadership still had to deliver in spite of all that was going on and this kick started in the month of August where preparations were being made to fully re-open schools. The Union was tasked with working within the limited time to attain their manifesto objectives.

We did reach out to one of the student leaders of the 27^th Union Executive, Hon Akampa Fortunate who is the Health secretary. The honorable did accept to give an interview to our reporter on the progress they have made in their term of office. He spoke widely about the targets of ensuring result release delays were sorted and pushing for the creation of a new organ of government, the Union Senate to bring all campuses closer.

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The 27th Union Body donates mosquito nets to the maternity ward of the Nkozi Hospital
Photo by Simon Peter

We were also informed that the 27^th Union played a starring role in getting thousands of vaccines for its students to be vaccinated with over 200 students benefitting from this initiative. On the side of community service, the Union also fundraised and donated a few mosquito nets to the maternity ward of the Nkozi Hospital.

The vaccination drive organized by the 27th Union at the Nkozi Hospital
Photo By Cassious David

From the side of the University management there seemed to be some initial reservations towards this year’s cabinet performance because of the times that existed. The team came into office in a time with a dwindled budget, a global pandemic wrecking havoc, a reduced cabinet size and more. The views of Mr Jordan Jacob on the 27th Union in our interview with him. 

                     

These fears would seem to have affected the expectations of the University of the 27^th Union but that was soon changed swiftly by their performance. When we spoke to Jordan Jacob, the administrator in the Dean’s office about their appreciation of the work done by the 27^th Union amidst all the challenges. He was rather proud of the team led by Cassious David and commended them for the efforts they have put in student and community engagement and also their mature relationship with the management.

The Union President and Chairperson present the student affairs report to the Management of the University.
Photo By Lucy Ntimba

We found out that the 27^th Union made it an obligation to reach out to the local government officials like the Town Mayor, Hon Zed Kasule and also the Mpigi Woman MP, Hon Teddy Namboze. These engagements were done with the aim of soliciting government support for some Union projects like the establishment of the street lights in the Nkozi Trading centre.

The Mayor(L), the Union President(centre) and the Mpigi woman MP(R) during a general cleaning of the Nkozi trading centre.
Photo By Kasana Bob Williams

The students being the key partners in the plans of the Union also had to have a say. A year one student of Education, Angel Uwase told us, “Unlike other universities where the student leadership is almost alien to the students, here you see how close they are to the students”. She added, “I have seen them introduce new sports like Teq Ball, I noticed that they have advocated for infrastructural development like the radio studio and I believe this shows their impact on the University”.

The Union President flags off the Teq Ball game in Uganda Martyrs University
Photo By Babirye Scovia

Nonetheless, there still needs to be reviews into the activities of the Union and a look into how the culture of leadership can be maintained. The activities of the UMUSU haven’t been all smooth sailing but they looked to have maneuvered.

We spoke to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Rev Fr Dr Christopher Mukidi about the culture of leadership in Uganda Martyrs University and their impact. He alluded to the fact that the 27^th Union has been exemplary in their impact on the University by creating a student centered discussion in all engagements with them.

We can clearly see that there were a plethora of challenges thrown at the 27^th Union body and it needed a strategic team to maneuver through the terrain. Whilst there was a lot that they desired to attain, the limitations existed but this didn’t hold them back.

The 27th Union and Dean of Students, Mrs Roselyn Sali receive the award from the Debate Club. 
Photo By Babirye Scovia 

 We did see the introduction of new sports, sorting out of chronic academic issues like delayed release of results, amendments that brought up the Union Senate to channel the views of all campuses, the broadening of ties on a national level through community engagements and more. Under their term, they have advocated for a University presence on social media and that was sorted. 

 The Union President played a vital role in uniting all guild presidents of other universities through the body he co-chaired, the Guild Presidents Union of Uganda.

The Union President leads a team of Guild Presidents to the office of the Minster Of Security, Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi. 
(Courtesy Photo)

Perhaps the tough times required the strongest to rise to the occasion and the impact of the 27^th Union can be seen in all these various sectors. From the views of the Union President, he gave off the idea that there is still a lot to be achieved by them but now their focus is on guiding their successors. A sign that their impact will stretch even beyond their term of office.

The Union President, Cassious David Kisakye addresses the audience during the installation of the 4th Vice Chancellor on March,17th 2022.
Photo By Wasswa Peter