MAKERERE – On a campus where political contests often leave deep divides, Hannah Karema Tumukunde chose a different tone, one of grace, reflection, and quiet determination.
Hours after losing the closely watched Makerere University guild presidential race, Karema stepped forward not to contest the outcome, but to reframe it. The results, released last Thursday, April 9, showed National Unity Platform candidate Gracious Kadondi securing 6,801 votes, ahead of Karema’s 5,787 in a race that had gripped the university community.
For many candidates, such a defeat might mark a pause. For Karema, it appears to be a pivot.
“I would like to sincerely express my gratitude to each one of you for believing in my candidacy and for standing firmly behind our shared vision of rebooting the Ivory Tower,” she said, addressing supporters in a message that quickly spread across campus.
Rather than dwell on the loss, she leaned into what the numbers revealed.
“The results we achieved clearly reflect the kind of leadership that Makerereans aspire to, one that strongly advocates for their welfare and their academic and social rights,” she noted.
In that framing, the election becomes less about who won and more about what students are asking for.
Makerere, like many universities in Uganda, sits at the centre of a broader conversation about education, cost, and opportunity. Rising living expenses in Kampala, combined with academic pressures, have left many students navigating difficult choices, how to stay in school, how to afford daily life, and how to plan for the future.
Throughout her campaign, Karema placed those realities at the forefront.
She proposed introducing supplementary exams for final-year students, a move aimed at preventing them from losing an entire academic year due to a single failed paper. She also pushed for the full implementation of the 60 percent tuition policy, an issue that has long resonated with students facing financial strain.
But perhaps most striking was her focus on the everyday economics of student life.
Many students, she noted, survive on as little as Shs 3,000 a day in Kampala, a figure that barely covers basic needs. Karema argued for an increase to Shs 15,500, warning that neglecting student welfare carries long-term consequences.
“Failure to invest in students risks producing poorly nurtured future leaders,” she stressed during her campaign.
That message appears to have struck a chord, even if it did not translate into victory.
In her post-election reflection, Karema returned to a theme that has defined her approach: leadership as service, not position.
“Being a leader doesn’t require someone to have titles. Those who know me understand that I have been serving through my organisation,” she said, explaining that her decision to run was driven by a need to amplify student voices.
Her words suggest that, for her, the campaign was never solely about office—but about influence.
There were also broader shifts within the race itself. Karema welcomed what she described as a milestone moment for women’s leadership at Makerere, noting the strong female presence among candidates.
“I was glad that the race was dominated by ladies. I have been fighting for women’s empowerment, and it was important for us to take center stage,” she said.
That momentum builds on a growing legacy. Since Norah Njuba Bwaya’s election in 1987, women have increasingly stepped into the guild presidency, with leaders such as Sarah Kagingo, Susan Abbo, Adeke Anna Ebaju, and Shamim Nambassa shaping the university’s political history. Kadondi’s victory adds another chapter to that story.
Still, the election itself was not without its challenges.
Karema pointed to the shift to online voting as a possible factor in turnout, though she remained measured in her assessment.
“I wasn’t disappointed… I don’t take the votes for granted,” she said.
In the end, her response reflects something more enduring than the outcome of a single election.
“This is neither the end nor the beginning; rather, it marks the end of the beginning. It is now time for us to regroup, refocus, and continue serving selflessly through every available opportunity.”
It is the language of continuation, not closure.
For students who rallied behind her message, that may be the most important takeaway. The issues she raised—affordability, academic flexibility, student welfare—remain unresolved, regardless of who holds office.
And for Karema, the path forward seems clear.
The campaign may be over. The work, she suggests, is not.