The Guild Electoral Commission at Muteesa I Royal University has disqualified several candidates from the ongoing guild presidential and campus leadership race, including Shakirah Nanyange, who had just been endorsed earlier this week by the National Unity Platform (NUP), alongside other aspirants citing academic irregularities.
In a notice issued on April 18, 2026, the Commission said the decision followed a detailed verification exercise and legal interpretation of the Students’ Guild Constitution aimed at ensuring compliance with eligibility requirements.
According to the Commission, the affected candidates were found not to be in “normal academic progress,” a mandatory requirement under Article 12.2 of the guild constitution.
Shakirah Nanyange, who had gained political attention after her endorsement by NUP in the latest student political mobilization, was disqualified on grounds of having missed a critical ICT systems administration paper.
Other disqualified candidates include Richard Busuulwa, flagged for a retake in Mathematical Economics, Anis Ssembatya, who reportedly missed an entire semester of the academic year, and Akram Ssenkubuge, who was removed from the race for Campus President over a retake in Linux Systems Administration.
The Electoral Commission stated that the academic challenges rendered all the affected candidate’s ineligible to proceed with their nominations.
“In light of the foregoing, nominations of the said candidates are hereby nullified, and they are not eligible to participate in the forthcoming guild elections,” the statement read in part.
Despite the disqualification, the Commission maintained that all affected aspirants retain the right to petition the decision within 48 hours if dissatisfied.
The move has to stirred debate within the university’s political space, especially given Shakirah Nanyange’s recent endorsement by a major national political youth wing, which had raised expectations of a competitive guild presidential race.
Student observers say the decision could significantly reshape the dynamics of the upcoming elections, which had already attracted heightened political interest on campus.
