National Unity Platform candidate, Gracious Kadondi, has been elected the 92nd Guild President of Makerere University, clinching the institution’s most powerful student leadership seat.
Kadondi won the race with 6,801 votes, defeating her main challenger, Hannah Karema, who secured 5,787 votes.
The Guild President is the chief representative of more than 35,000 students at Makerere, a role that involves engaging university management on critical issues such as tuition, academic policies, student welfare, and overall campus life.
During her campaign, Kadondi focused strongly on improving student welfare, pushing for academic reforms, and enhancing service delivery. She pledged to strengthen student representation, advocate for better learning conditions, and promote financial transparency within the university system.
Her message gained wide support among students, ultimately delivering her a decisive victory at the polls.
Kadondi takes over from Churchill James Ssentamu, becoming the latest leader in one of Uganda’s most influential student offices.
Who is Gracious Kadondi?
Kadondi was born and raised in Mulimira Zone, Kamwokya, where she attended several primary schools before joining Kitante Hill School for her secondary education.
She joined Makerere University in 2024 and is currently a second-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Optometry at the College of Health Sciences.
Despite her young age, she has built a strong leadership profile. Before winning the guild presidency, she served as the 91st Female Guild Representative for the School of Health Sciences. She has also held positions such as Information Minister for the Optometry Students’ Association and class representative, and has been actively involved in the Mak Wezuule Initiative at the college level.
Kadondi first secured the NUP party flag in a competitive primary election, where she polled 580 votes. She beat Mujuzi Mike Fulugensio, who got 286 votes, and Nyaika Daniel, who received 261 votes, out of a total of 1,230 valid votes with no spoiled ballots recorded.
