The Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration at Mountains of the Moon University (MMU), Associate Professor Kagambe Edmond, yesterday delivered a comprehensive and candid address to the newly elected Guild Executive, calling on the incoming student leadership to rise to the weight of their mandate with maturity, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to the welfare of fellow students.
Speaking before the Dean of Students, the Guild President, the Speaker, and members of the Guild Executive, Assoc. Prof. Kagambe opened the address by congratulating the new leaders on the trust placed in them by the student body.
“You have earned the trust of the student body by being chosen to represent them, and that is a privilege that comes with great responsibility,” he said, adding that the smooth transition of power was a testament to the maturity of MMU’s student community.
He also took a moment to recognise the outgoing guild leadership of 2025/26, expressing the University’s profound appreciation for their service and the foundation they had laid for their successors.
Assoc. Prof. Kagambe was emphatic that student leadership at MMU is not ceremonial, it is a legally grounded responsibility anchored in the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, 2001 (Cap 262). He walked the new Executive through their statutory governance obligations, which span student welfare, representation on the University Council, participation in the University Senate, and presence on the Boards of Faculties.
Under the Act, the Guild is mandated to appoint two student representatives to the University Council, one of whom must be female and two students to the University Senate, ensuring the student voice is embedded in both administrative and academic decision making at the highest levels of the institution.
“Your roles and responsibilities are firmly anchored in law,” Assoc. Prof. Kagambe reminded the leaders. “While you serve as a critical voice representing student interests, you are also responsible partners in institutional governance.”
Turning to the internal structure of the Students’ Guild, the DVC underscored the importance of the three arms of guild governance that include: the General Assembly, the Guild Executive, and the Guild Representative Council (GRC), functioning not as isolated entities, but as a cohesive and collaborative team.
He described the General Assembly as the supreme consultative forum for the student body, urging the Executive and GRC to use it as a platform for genuine transparency rather than merely a venue for pushing predetermined agendas.
“Use the GA to ensure absolute transparency,” he advised. “Genuinely listen to the student voice.”
The Guild Executive, he noted, serves as the administrative and chief implementation arm of the Students’ Guild, the visible face of student leadership is tasked with translating the GRC’s legislative groundwork into day-to-day results. The GRC, in turn, is described as the legislative and oversight body responsible for debating policy, vetting the Cabinet, and providing checks and balances.
He also highlighted the twelve standing committees of the Guild as critical think tanks that handle targeted operational areas such as Finance, Academic Affairs, Co-curricular activities, Welfare, and Discipline.
“The GRC should appoint capable leaders to these committees,” he said, “and the Executive must utilise their specialised reports to make well-informed, objective decisions.”
On financial matters, the DVC was unambiguous. He called for strict financial discipline, transparency, and accountability in the management of guild fees, budgets, and expenditures, assuring the new Executive of the University management’s full commitment to transparency regarding administrative realities.
“Every shilling must be fully accounted for and utilised to maximise the benefit of the students you serve,” he stated.
Assoc. Prof. Kagambe also sought to clear a common misunderstanding among students, clarifying that directives such as surcharges, payment deadlines, and fee structures are not arbitrary decisions made by individuals in management, but formal policies established by the University Council. He offered to personally explain these mechanisms to student leaders to equip them to accurately inform their constituencies.
Addressing the culture of campus governance, the DVC urged the new leaders to embrace a consultative, evidence based approach to advocacy, stressing that no challenge was too great to be resolved through established administrative channels.
“The university administration strongly prefers direct, collaborative problem solving, as we firmly believe that no challenge requires disruptive actions such as strikes,” he said, reaffirming that both the Office of the Vice Chancellor and the Office of the Dean of Students operate an open door policy for student concerns.
He cautioned the leaders against advocacy rooted in rumour and misinformation, stating that concerns backed by verified facts and constructive dialogue would always find a willing audience in university management.
The DVC equally reminded the new student leaders that, notwithstanding their leadership responsibilities, academic excellence remains their primary purpose at the university.
“Your ultimate mission is to graduate successfully,” he said. “It is crucial to balance your schedule to ensure your academic performance never suffers during your tenure.”
Closing his address with a powerful rallying call, Assoc. Prof. Kagambe urged the three arms of the Guild to set aside any election season differences and present themselves to the student community as a focused, professional, and united leadership.
“Teamwork and service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth,” he said. “Contributing to the MMU student community is the cost of living on campus and embracing the privilege of leadership.”
He reaffirmed the university administration’s firm commitment to supporting the Guild and expressed confidence in a collaborative and productive working relationship during the new Executive’s tenure of service.