Rukungiri Students Elect New UNSA Executive for 2026–2027 Term

Rukungiri: Students from 33 secondary schools in Rukungiri District have elected a new 10-member executive committee under the Uganda National Students Association (UNSA) to serve for the 2026–2027 term.

The elections were held on October 9, at Immaculate Heart Girls School, Nyakibale, in Rukungiri Municipality, during the district’s 36th Annual Students’ Council and Elections.

Agaba Joel Matsiko from Kashenyi Secondary School was elected chairperson, while Kyokunda Jallingson of St. Mark Nyakibale was elected vice chairperson.

Ayeb Azibwe Dorothy Lidia of St. Jerome Secondary School was elected speaker, with Ainamani Timothy from Kyamakanda Secondary School becoming deputy speaker.

Abaho Bruce of Bugangari Secondary School was elected secretary for finance, while Kembabazi Patience of St. Raphael Secondary School was elected as assistant secretary.

Twinamatsiko Felix representing Rukungiri High School was elected secretary for inter-school affairs, while Kengonzi Caroline, from Rukungiri Central Secondary School, was elected general secretary.

Atuhaire Queen Elisabeth of Kagunga Secondary School was elected secretary for national affairs, while Akankunda Gift of St. Paul Vocational Secondary School in Bugangari was elected secretary for women’s affairs.

The chief guest, Lt. Col. Nicholas Rweitiri Kakururu, the Political Commissar and Public Information Officer of the 2nd Infantry Division, urged the students to remain disciplined and patriotic.

He said the students’ future is shaped by what they learn and do in classrooms today.

Lt. Col. Kakururu also encouraged the newly elected leaders to have a clear vision and mission, respect one another, maintain discipline and work together to achieve their goals.

The UNSA coordinator for the Kigezi Sub-region and a teacher at Kabale Brainstorm High School in Kabale District, JohnBosco Namara, said the association trains student leaders from different schools to prepare them for future leadership roles.

Namara said several former participants in the association have gone on to become successful leaders in politics. He cited Finance Minister Henry Musasizi, Rubanda West Member of Parliament Bruce Baraba and Ndorwa West MP Eliab Mporera among those who have achieved success.

He added that UNSA runs several projects, including piggery and tree planting, as well as the distribution of sanitary pads and mathematical sets to schools.

The UNSA coordinator for Rukungiri District, Raymond Rukundo, said the newly elected leaders would next participate in national-level elections scheduled for December 2026.

The former Miss Uganda for 2023–2024 and a former Makerere University guild president aspirant, Hannah Kalema Tumukunde,  also an aspirant for the UNSA presidency, urged the student leaders to set clear goals, remain focused on their targets, and work hard to achieve their ambitions, noting that success requires discipline, commitment, and determination.