By Michael Kisekka
It took two elections for the Uganda Christian University (UCU) Kampala Campus to choose Owen Michael Masembe as its Guild President.
He wasn’t the top choice in an election on November 26, 2021. That “victory” of Stecia Kasemiire was contested and overturned by the university’s appeals tribunal. The university’s electoral commission second election in February 2022 had Masembe victorious with 356 votes against Kasemiire’s 230 and Lisa Jjemba Najjemba’s 12 votes.
“I can’t wait to serve the students,” he said, upon being declared the winner in the polls. “I am looking forward to working hand-in-hand with the university administration and the students to the best of my ability.”
Masembe, a year-three student of Bachelor of Laws, replaces Phoebe Namujehe, also a student of Bachelor of Laws. Masembe planned to put emphasis on finding scholarship opportunities and revamping sports facilities at the UCU Kampala campus.
In his year of leadership, Masembe said he hopes to help lift the student financial burden of meeting the university requirements. He says he got the inspiration to vie for the office because he thought the structural arrangement of the sports facilities at Kampala Campus needed to be improved by a leader with an interest in sports.
Masembe believes the experience he has garnered working in three guild governments will be instrumental in guiding him as the Guild President. From year one, he has been part of every guild government in power.
Masembe is fully aware of the stress that being in leadership positions sometimes brings, especially as a student leader, where he has to balance the interest of those he represents with the university. On such occasions, he believes his favorite pastime activities – listening to music and playing rugby – will help to soothe his mind.
Mark Magoola, the outgoing Guild Attorney General, believes Masembe will be able to achieve most of the things on his to-do list because the Guild President is “an objective person who sets goals and always strives to achieve them.”
Charles Muleeyi, the deputy Prime Minister in Masembe’s government, said the Guild President is an exemplary person who loves serving people. ‘‘He is a competent and honest leader and I admire him for that,” Muleeyi said.
Unlike other leaders who are inspired by their role models to venture into politics, Masembe says he has no role model. “I just want to be the best version of myself as a political leader, by God’s grace.”
Masembe is the last born in a family of six children of Paul Nkata and Rose Nakayiza, the latter of whom died in 2021.
The 22-year-old attended City Parents Primary School and Seeta High School (Mbalala Campus) for his O’level and Mengo Senior School for A’level, before joining UCU.
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