The language of violence during the Makerere University 2023 Guild Elections

Abstract

The study sought to analyze the language of violence during the Makerere University 2023 Guild Elections. This study employed a qualitative research design using the key informant interview, the case study and in-depth interview with the students and the various guild aspirants within Makerere University. Additionally, there was observation of Makerere University students during the campaign period. Findings from the study indicated that the high rate of violence during Makerere University Guild elections are greatly attributed to the high rate of hooliganism amongst the students’ fraternity, conflicts arising from the different halls of residences, the high level of involvement of security personnel in the student’s affairs.it was also revealed that the University Council also often at times comes up with very unfair policies that often sparks off violence from the students, a case in point is when two guild aspirants were violently scrapped off the ballot because of having held a Kameza at Mitchell Hall. The high rates of violence was also seen as a communication channel, knowledge sharing, information search, and a way of sending information to the University Council as opposing their unfair policies. Social media violence were found to be satisfactory variables in explaining the rate of cyberbullying during the Makerere University Guild Elections. The study provides an in depth analysis of the language of violence during the Makerere University Guild Elections. The findings showed that the students are ready to oppose any kind of unfair policies of the University Council, and also the continuous involvement of the police in students’ affairs will not bring to an end the violence in Makerere University.