Shillah Ainembabazi
The 36th President of the Uganda National Students Association (UNSA) Shillah Ainembabazi has set her eyes on the UNSA presidential seat following a successful partial run as 36th President.
Shillah who rose to the position of president in December 2025 following a highly contentious election in which she beat Makerere University Business School’s Nabwire Rose and Makerere University’s Ankunda Harriet will be offering herself for a second term despite legal challenges barring her from running.
In May 2026, the former vice guild president of Victoria University was appointed minister of gender and for persons with special needs in the 9th guild government led by Mugarura Isaiah Ndebwoha. While it may look like a demotion in the eyes of many politicians, the appointment is a strategic work plan intended to have her beat qualifications for reelection into the office of the President of the top students’ body.
However, Shillah is faced with a technical and legal challenge as the former election guidelines bar her from seeking reelection into the very office she currently holds.
The ministry of education and sorts was on Tuesday petitioned by one of its members who sought clarity on the eligibility of current National Executive Committee Members (NEC) running for the same offices they hold.
The petition was filed on June 2, 2026, by Keta Patience, a registered Makerere student and UNSA member. It was received by the Ministry’s Security Registry and copied to the UNSA Executive Secretary and the UNSA Speaker.
In the letter to the Permanent Secretary, Keta argued that conflicting readings of the UNSA Constitution and election guidelines have left students unsure about the legality of incumbents seeking another term.
“I bring this petition to your office to provide an official interpretation and guidance regarding the eligibility of serving National Executive Committee (NEC) members to seek re-election into offices they currently occupy,” the petition states.
Keta argues that the issue is a matter of public interest and aligns with UNSA’s objectives under Article 3(1.4) of its Constitution. The petition points to the amended UNSA Constitution of 2022. Article 7 on Elections and Article 7(2) on Term of Office say NEC members serve from their swearing-in until the next Annual General Meeting before the end of December each year.
Whereas according to the global Leadership Policy, students’ leadership is designed to last for a year, many students on NEC have overtime bent the rules in a bid to seek reelection into the same offices they hold. The petitioners notes that the previous UNSA election guidelines barred current leaders from contesting.
“We note that the previous 36th National Students’ Council & Elections Guidelines regulation 6 provides that “No student leader who previously served as UNSA NEC member or represented UNSA in other bodies shall be registered as a delegate except for secondary school students,” the petition further reads
About The Author
