Tell us about who you are, the course you studied, the hall of attachment and any other interesting facts about you.
I am Julius Kateregga, the 85th Guild President, a teacher by training in English language and Literature studies. I am the LC 5 Lord Councillor for Kawempe South 1 and the representative of Kampala City Council Authority to the Makerere University Council. I am sure everything about me says that I am a Mitchellite.
Did your previous experiences influence this decision to run for guild president?
No, I had not been an active leader in school but my presence was always noticed by those around me. I would assume that is why people deemed it fit for me to run for guild president. I was a head prefect in St. Mary’s Makindye in Primary Six. I can safely say that that ignited the politician in me, since this was not an independent decision I made. It was the then headteacher who felt that I deserved to be one because I had tenets of a politician - which was not far from what my father thought. This former headteacher, Ssewungu Joseph Gonzaga, is now MP for Kalungu West. I didn’t want to participate in small races in high school simply because I felt like I had the potential to beat my opponents. I needed a challenge. What was evident however, was how much I liked to be part of political arguments and my friends had nicknamed me Sseggona after the Member of Parliament Hon. [Medard] Sseggona. Recently, a friend of mine reminded me of how I repeatedly used to say that I’d become a guild president once I joined Makerere University- not much to my recollection however. I guess this was a dream turned into reality.
Julius Kateregga during his campaigns to become Guild President
What was your experience as an ordinary student in Makerere University before becoming the guild President?
I always believed that once one joined Makerere University, they were capable of achieving anything and I affirmed it once I joined it myself. During my speeches I often used the phrase, “Makerere is a hill of endless possibilities”, a phrase that has been taken up and used by many. It pushes you like ten times ahead of your time. Students who have gone through Makerere University stand out in society as opposed to others.
Walk us through your race. What were the dynamics back then as compared to those currently?
I believe that my campaign was the last normal campaign because we had the chance to actively interact with the students which allowed them to gauge and see which candidate was fit for the position. It was a tough race in terms of resources and I cannot even piece how they were pooled. It was an intense one especially close to the end where the polls were unpredictable but thankfully, my team worked tirelessly. Our campaigns back in the day were still physical which meant that things could get physical. As the campaigns started, there was the rise of the People Power Movement and deciding who would run under the movement became difficult. It was therefore decided that the candidates would have to first be subjected to the UYD (Uganda Young Democrats) primaries and whoever won would be fronted for the People Power Movement. I won my opponent by 22 votes in the primaries. I got 39 votes, and that is how I got into the People Power Movement, making me the first guild president to wear the red beret. My campaign was dubbed “A common man’s campaign” to advocate for the inclusivity of all students both residents and non-residents.
It sounds like your race was an intense one. What are some of the outstanding memories from that time?
My race was one that was filled with ups and downs - it was such a rollercoaster of emotions. Close to the end of the race, we had a rally as was the norm in previous campaigns. These rallies are where students would make up their minds on who to vote for. The bigger your camp and team, the more strength one showed and the more students trusted you. Because of hall solidarity, it was difficult to campaign in other halls. Since I am from Mitchell, I was not allowed to campaign at Afro-Stone because they supported another candidate from their hall.
On the last day of the campaign, we had a rally at Freedom Square - the last open rally at the time and my team was denied entry by the Lumumba camp because of how big the numbers were. That day was meant to show who the actual People Power candidate was- the divide between myself and my rival Joshua William Mukisa was evident. Students were beaten up in the process, leaving many hurt and many admitted at the University Hospital that evening.
Political campaigns always have “chemical” [propaganda from the rival camp] which is usually circulated around by people from rival camps. There was a time when I was campaigning at Mary Stuart and a fight broke out, I was injured in the process and rushed to the University Hospital. Medical students from the rival camp, who are surprisingly my friends, wrote a letter that depicted that I was in perfect health. A fake medical report was released. It read, “The patient is very okay and has requested for normal saline and bed rest.” That created a dramatic effect and made it look like I was faking the extent to which I had been affected. This is a clear manifestation of how politics brings out the aggression in people.
Previously at the beginning of the campaign, a letter that had the signature of the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe had circulated alleging that he instructed the University Bursar to issue five million Uganda shillings to fund my campaign. This affected my credibility amongst students because one of the major issues had been how the students felt that the Guild cabinet had been merged with the administration. Therefore they felt that I was merely an extension of the administration. That amongst several other obstacles in my campaign made my win worthwhile because it was definitely not a smooth ride.
Kateregga with the students guild during a health outreach where they had travelled to Kisoro and Mitooma
What is your take on the current political dynamic, from the elections to the way the guild representatives serve the students?
My biggest question is, “What are the students doing about it?” In my time, we knew what to do, we did not just sit on the grievances with the students, and we extended it outside Makerere University. Comrade Martin Musiime, Ainebyoona Ronald, Nuwagira Steven and myself started the fight against the age limit. Contrary to popular belief, it did not start within parliament, it started with us in Makerere. As university students, we felt that it was unfair and therefore rose up for the cause.
What are the leaders doing about the issues in the university? Are they simply talking about them and not acting? In my time my cabinet fought tirelessly to bring an end to the 15% increment on tuition. The Guild cabinet is supposed to be a guiding force for students both internally and externally.
I honestly do not understand the online campaign and election process because the leaders cannot interact with the students on a personal level. I believe that physical campaigns should be reinstated. Change on key issues can only happen if the students fight for what they think is right and if they expect that we who left will come back and fight for them, then they are mistaken because no one fought for us - we did it for ourselves. One thing Makerere politics or politics in general teaches you is resilience and persistence and if the leaders today do not possess that, then that is unfortunate.
Kateregga addressing students after leading a demonstration over reccess term and living out allowances.
Do you think that the administration and the Guild are doing what is necessary to address the needs of the students of the 21st century?
I may not objectively answer that as I sit on the University Council but my observation is that over time the university has improved on pscho-social issues, engaging students, introducing spaces where students can express themselves, putting in place the Student Employment Scheme. I think these are good initiatives in general, whether they are enough is a debate for another day. The university can interact with students more and engage more and I appreciate that it is now involved in hostel inspection and others. The university has also actively addressed the issue of sexual harassment which may not be the case with other institutions. I am privy to this information because I work under the Institutions Wing in my party and that is why I can relate to what is happening in other universities, especially private universities.
The Office of the Dean needs to be empowered to have the students feel connected and their needs are addressed.
How do you feel about the alumni giving back to the community of Makerere University?
I acknowledge that the Endowment Fund is doing an amazing job. With the new leadership under Maggie Kigozi, Emmanuel Kitamirike, their presence is felt and I applaud them. I encourage alumni to get in touch with their alma mater once in a while. The Legacy is definitely bridging the gap between the alumni and the students. I encourage the Endowment Fund to engage the current students more on what they do because they are the ones that will become the alumni tomorrow. If as a student you have no idea what the Endowment Fund does now, there is no way you will be able to contribute as an alumnus
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