Hannah Karema Reflects on Makerere Guild Loss, Raises Concerns Over Voting Glitches
Former Miss Uganda Hannah Karema has spoken out after finishing second in the highly contested Makerere University Guild Elections 2026, where Gracious Kadondi emerged victorious as the 92nd Guild President.
Kadondi, running on the National Unity Platform (NUP) ticket, secured 6,801 votes, defeating Karema who garnered 5,787 votes in one of the most competitive and historic student elections at Makerere University.
Speaking after the polls, Karema expressed pride in her campaign, noting that her team put up a strong fight and successfully mobilised students across campus.
“I am satisfied with how we campaigned and the energy students showed throughout this race,” she said.
However, Karema highlighted technical challenges that affected the voting process, particularly in key colleges such as the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS). According to her, faulty voting links disrupted participation, especially in the early hours of the exercise.
Voting was scheduled between 8:00am and 11:00am, but some students reportedly struggled to access the system in time. Karema revealed that while some eventually voted midway through the process, others abandoned the exercise out of frustration.
“Some students were discouraged by the delays and left without voting, but I still respect the final outcome,” she added.
Despite the concerns, Karema welcomed Kadondi’s win, emphasizing her excitement over the milestone of two women leading the race. She noted that the outcome aligns with her broader mission of promoting female leadership and empowering the girl child within campus spaces.
On whether she would consider serving in the new guild cabinet if called upon, Karema remained open, stressing her commitment to student service above all else.
“I’m open to whatever comes next. My focus remains on serving students and pushing the issues we campaigned on,” she said.
Karema also applauded the high voter turnout, noting that both campaigns played a key role in energising students and shaping what many have described as one of the most engaging guild elections in recent years.
Her remarks come as students await the official swearing-in of the new guild leadership, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Makerere’s student governance.