By Timothy Okurut
Emmanuel Edonu has been voted as the Speaker of the 35th Executive Council of the Uganda National Students Association (UNSA). In an election that was held on January 29 in Seeta High School “A” level campus, Edonu managed to garner 310 votes, 30 votes more than his closest rival Joseph Mukisa Lwanyaga, the Minister of Finance of Kampala Metropolitan University and former Speaker of Makerere University.
The voting was divided into two polling stations, the first with universities and higher learning institutions. Here Edonu obtained 190 votes compared to Mukisa who got 94 votes. The second polling station was that of district level voters. Edonu scored 120 votes, 66 votes shy of Lwanyaga who scored 186.
In his Guild leadership card in Uganda Christian University (UCU), Edonu served in the 25th and 26th Guild Governments as one of the MPs for the Residents (Male). He was also the Deputy Speaker of the 25th Guild Parliament and Speaker of the 26th, a performance that saw him receive the Orombi Guild
Excellence award for Exemplary Service in the 26th Guild Government.
Aside from the ranks of Guild service, he has served in many other capacities around the UCU community. He served as the Publicity Secretary for the Law Love Fellowship’s most recently outgone leadership team and currently handles publicity work for the UCU Cardinals team. He takes over the UNSA Speakership mantle from Christopher Wasswa, the former Guild President of Makerere University Business School (MUBS).
Started on December 16, 1988, UNSA was formed to give representation and advocacy to students in higher learning institutions across the country. The Association is led under the patronage of the President of Uganda H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who was also endorsed by the UNSA
delegates for a sixth successive term this week on Tuesday.
Edonu’s victory ends a four year run of UCU having no representation in UNSA.