By Charles Katabalwa/Umoja Standard.
Makerere University: The outgoing Chairman of Makerere Convocation Tanga Odoi has refuted allegations that he was behind the chaos that merged at Makerere University convocation elections on Friday last week as the alumni and staff elected new leaders of their umbrella body, ‘the Convocation’.
The chaos resulted from a standoff between former leaders who were organizing the election and some of the candidates led by former Ntungamo Municipality MP Gerald Karuhanga and Charles Odongotho, the group asked the current chairman Dr. Tanga Odoi and the returning officer Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza to postpone the exercise so as to rectify the anomalies they had identified which was not allowed then chaos started and military plus police entered to calm the situation.
Addressing the journalists at Makerere University today Tanga Odoi, said that allegations are just made to tarnish his reputation.
Odoi says Hon. Karuhanga and the group instead had other issues because they ran to court to stop elections to go on but in vain then they opted to make chaos but security could not watch the space when people’s life was threatened.
He has disclosed that convocation body is not for politics but these people who wanted to stop the elections are for politics and is the reasons why they stared singing National Unity platform songs.
He has revealed that the elections were truly conducted, George Turyamureba Mugabi, emerge the winner then Ruto Cherotich vice Chairman and are going to take office on 15th April 2023.
He has announced clear that his son’s involvement in the elections is not a crime because is an alumni of Makerere University and those accusing him they are just jealousy!
“In fact, Odoi’s son Collins Tanga was on the same team as Turyamureba seeking to be the association’s publicity secretary” says Tanga
In the history of the Convocation, this year’s election has been the most contested and most vibrant.
Ordinary the chairman of the convocation is a member of the University Council; the highest decision-making body of the university. A new council was sworn in last week with Lorna Magara and Dan Kidega elected chairperson and vice chairman respectively.