Michelle Kirabo, a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies has been voted the Guild President of Victoria University.
Kirabo obtained 461 votes, amounting to 74.8% of the total vote cast. While her rival Abdul-Basit Kasimagwa only scored 155 votes (25.2%), of the total votes cast.
The university that is challenging the status quo of the way things are done in the country carried out the election through an electronic voting system with voters going online to choose their favourite candidate. A dedicated App was designed for the election process. The results were relayed real time and could easily be monitored by the students.
Precious Aturinda the Victoria University Assistant Academic Registrar, who is also the overseer of the voting system said the VU Elections app was designed and built to cater for transparency and integrity.
“A student can vote only once and when their vote is recorded, the voting button is then automatically disabled. There’s no room for instances of vote-rigging or electoral malpractice in this system since only registered students can cast their votes,”Aturinda said.
Prof. Lawrence Muganga, the university Vice Chancellor called the electronic voting system “a great milestone”.
“For the first time in history of higher education in this country, we have been able to use an electronic voting system and the contenders were able to count their votes in real time,” he said.
Kirabo promised to use her year as Guild President to make the university a better place and be the link between the students and the administration.
“I’m going to do less talking and more working. My slogan was that ‘I’m here to serve not to lead’ and I still stand by it. I’m ready to work,” she said in her victory speech.
“Voters, thanks for believing in me, thanks for trusting in me. Whoever didn’t vote for me, thank you for making this competition fair, because if I got all the votes, they would think the Electoral Commission stole the votes. Thank you for voting for my opponent as well,” she said.
“I’m worried about my team because you have gotten someone who is not here to play. I have a legacy to leave,” said.
Part of the Ruparelia Group’s education initiatives, Victoria University attracts students from across the Great Lakes region for its focus on churning out learners who are critical thinkers and problem solvers able to make their lives and countries better.