SOUTHERN PROVINCE

HUYE — Deo Bakinga has been elected Head of the interim students’ council at the National University of Rwanda (UNR).

Bakinga was elected on Monday during a meeting organised by the university Rector Prof. Silas Lwakabamba.

The elections were carried out by students’ class representatives.

The outcome of the elections means that Bakinga will now head the eleven - member committee which includes 18 student representatives from each faculty.

Bakinga said he was both surprised by the abrupt elections and impressed by the outcome.

"Most of us were actually surprised but we could admit it like that,” he said. "I appreciated it because I was elected by my fellow students to represent them.”

The elections come three months after Prof. Lwakabamba dissolved representatives of NUR students’ guild (AGEUNR) over alleged indiscipline and disputes that marred the elections.

The allegations were contained in a report by the country’s security agencies. At that time only class representatives remained as students’ envoys in all issues concerning students by collaborating with their dean.

An announcement from the university’s Communication Office on Monday made it clear that the students’ interim government was elected after they manifested the need for it.

"One of the items on the agenda was to inquire from students if there is a necessity of an interim students’ government for the remaining months of the academic year 2008.

After students said they needed an interim government, elections were organised and the class representatives elected,” the announcement reads in part.

But most of the elected students don’t have a pre-determined plan of what they are going to do since they were elected unexpectedly.

"As I was told I am the president of AGEUNR, but may be I will be given more details about that post. Actually I am planning to do a lot of things given time and chance,” said Bakinga who will complete his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration next year.

"Some classes up to now haven’t seen the lecturers yet they must accomplish courses within this academic year. So I will be dealing with those issues together with the authorities in charge,” he said.

Meanwhile, a new constitution to govern students’ body is being drafted by the university.

After approval of this constitution by students and the university’s board of directors, new students’ elections will be organised in accordance with that constitution.

Ends