By Delux Emmy Alomu
SOROTI CITY
In a competitive Election, Thomas Otim has emerged victorious, becoming Soroti University’s 5th Guild President. He triumphed over his opponent, Charles Arikod, in a tightly fought contest.
Otim, a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor’s in Medicine and Surgery, received 354 votes, while Arikod, also in his third year and studying Engineering in Electronics and Computer Engineering, secured 309 votes.
Out of the total 663 votes, three were deemed invalid. Notably, the university discouraged affiliations with political parties during the elections.
Francis Kato, the Electoral Chairperson, revealed the results around 10:00 PM on Saturday night, officially declaring Otim as the new Guild President.
The elections saw a total of twelve positions contested, from the Guild President to both gazetted and non-gazetted Guild Representative Council (GRC) roles, alongside representatives for government-sponsored and private-sponsored students, as well as male and female representatives from various faculties, including Health Sciences and Engineering.
Otim’s victory underscores the importance of organized political strategies within the university’s electoral environment, showcasing effective mobilization efforts.
Several candidates were declared unopposed, including Priscilla Acam as the Female GRC Representative for Private-Sponsored Students, Sharon Katushabe as the Female GRC Student Representative for the School of Applied Science and Science Education, and Kuteesa Biasa Sangil as the Male GRC Representative for Gazetted Hostels.
In his first address after the announcement, Otim expressed his happiness, crediting his success to the collective efforts and support of the student body.
“I am truly overjoyed; it’s a mix of emotions. This victory represents my journey so far and the challenges I faced campaigning from Katakwi,” Otim stated.
With a one-year term ahead, Otim is committed to focusing on what his new cabinet can achieve for the university.
“The campaigning is finished, and now it’s time to look ahead and see what we can accomplish for the institution,” he noted.
Zaitun Okot, the Dean of Students at Soroti University, congratulated Otim and advised him to remain resilient in the challenging times that lie ahead.
“To the new guild, I encourage you to embody patience and tolerance in your leadership; these are essential qualities for any leader,” she remarked.
Okot also commended the students for their discipline during the campaign and election, assuring that the university will continue to support the new guild body.
“We are here to guide and mentor them throughout their leadership journey,” she added.
Soroti University is a public institution in Eastern Uganda established by the government on December 11, 2011, and officially established via Statutory Instrument No. 34 of July 2015. Located in Soroti City, it specializes in applied sciences and technology, with infrastructure handed over in 2018 and its inaugural graduation held in December 2025.
It is one of the nine public universities and degree-awarding institutions in the country.
