A deadlock that had stalled Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) student guild election for the last two years finally came to an end with the swearing-in of a new council.

The KIST Students Association (KISTAS) guild council led by its president, Martin Ruvugabigwi and 15 elected colleagues took oath of office Sunday at Muhabura, one of the school’s buildings. 

"My one year term will mainly focus on fighting divisionism of any kind among the students,” promised Ruvugabigwi adding that he would advocate for better guild assembly.

He urged fellow students to strive for their Institute’s prestige of being a centre of excellence in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

His predecessor, Samuel Mugisha, who had been an interim KISTAS president for two years, told new members to swiftly apply what their amended constitution requires them to do.

The KIST student guild elections were reportedly stalled by divisionism between English and French speakers in the  April, 2006 pre-campaign period.

The KIST administration, with help of the Vice-Rector in charge of Finance and Administration, Gerald Nyabutsitsi, intervened and suspended the election schedule indefinitely.

The administration appointed a caretaker committee whose main purpose was to organise new elections. They were also supposed to amend the constitution to ensure that the new guild elections would be free and fair.

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