Naboth Muhwezi, a 22-year-old student pursuing a Bachelors of Agribusiness and Rural Development in his second year at Valley University of Science and Technology (VUST) in Bushenyi district, has disapproved the usual saying of Old is Gold after winning the political giants in the recently concluded Guild elections and officially becoming the 7th Guild President.
Muhwezi, who secured a resounding victory with 51% over his opponents, namely Wilberforce Tumukunde, a first-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Education who gunned 47%, and Posiano Twinamatsiko, pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration, who gunned 2% votes, was nicknamed “Under 14” by his supporters because of his physical appearance and big age difference, as he was the youngest of the three contenders.
Muhwezi’s victory is an extraordinary one as one of his opponents, Tumukunde, came from a Faculty of Education, which has the biggest number of students at campus, and given that he’s part of the in-service (mature entry), which also has a big number, and he is financially sound.
Much as he was the youngest among the candidates, Muhwezi’s victory is a sign of students’ confidence in him as he gave them the assurance of his ability to lead and make VUST the best university in western Uganda irrespective of his young age, something that attracted cheers from the supporters.
“I might be ‘Under 14’ but I’m playing in the Premier League and I am more than ready to serve in full gear,” Muhwezi said.
When asked what inspired him to join the Guild presidency race, Muhwezi revealed that since his high school time, he has always wanted to make things happen. However, Muhwezi never held any positions during high school, but he would instead mobilize and influence people to support other candidates since high school positions were not what he aimed at.
“Even during high school time, I always wanted to make things happen and motivate people, though I was not contesting because I only wanted to be a leader at university level irrespective of the position. However, I used to back and influence people to support other candidates of my choice and were hardworking,” he said.
The young political giant attributed his win to God, his friends at church, including Canon Edmund and Davis Tukamushaba, supporters, and the mother, adding that it was centered on reaching out to regional groups like those from Kasese and other regions.
“My victory was centered on reaching out to regions. But in all, what is trending is that leadership comes from God,” Muhwezi noted.
Given his humble background, Muhwezi received a favor that he didn’t give out money during the campaigning period but was given, and he was loved by many.
Muhwezi completed his A-level in 2022 at the age of 19 from the Nyakinoni Secondary School-Chinese campus located in Nyakinoni sub-county, Kanungu district, under the leadership of Dan Byabashija as the headteacher. It’s referred to as a Chinese campus because it’s supported by Chinese.
When asked about his background, Muhwezi proudly revealed that he was raised by a single mother who supported him and grew up as a churchboy. He added that he currently serves as an advisor for youth, guiding them in Bible study at St. Johns Samaria Centenary Church of Uganda (COU), located in the western division of Nyamirama town council in Kanungu. As a church boy, he built St. Peters Chapel Nyakinoni Secondary School COU under the stewardship of Rev. Abraham Ariho, who also helped him grow spiritually.
During a phone interview, when asked of his strategies and the changes he intends to make at VUST during his term of office, Muhwezi noted that his focus is on improving the students’ welfare and utilities, security by ensuring the installation of more security lights, CCTV cameras, and ensuring that the internet is improved, especially WIFI at campus, and giving accountability because there have been issues of giving accountability.
“I’m diligently committed to serving and prioritizing the students’ needs,” he said.
Looking at the political environment and Muhwezi’s milestone, one needs not to question his history or base conclusions on it to make conclusions on his impending victory because history has never been a determinant for one’s future. As reports indicate, the most prominent or successful people in the world didn’t have a swift history, but they persevered until victory was theirs.
Valley University started in 2015 with a population of around 67 students, and the number has steadly increased over time, currently having a population of over 2000 students, and it is developing at a high rate.
