Democracy in action at INES
Monday, August 13, 2007

Musanze — Students from Institute National de Ensegnement Superier (INES) have elected new representatives and government.

The swearing in ceremony of ten executive members held at the institute was graced by his Lordship Bishop Kizito Bahujimihigo, representatives of student leadership from different universities, along with parents and district leaders. 

Speaking during the ceremony, Bishop Kizito, the institution’s Rector, asked the students to use cabinet as a platform for voicing development ideas and strive to set a good example to the rest of the student community.

"This should serve as a bridge between the students and the administration by voicing your problems and also forwarding constructive ideas, which can help to develop and make the institution known everywhere,” the bishop said.

The hotly-contested presidential post was taken by Icishaka Philibert who won with 83 per cent of votes, trouncing Kamanzi Rukundo.

Vice mayor in charge of economic affairs, Anoncita Budengeri called upon the students to demonstrate good relations with the society especially the community surrounding the institution.

But she criticised gender imbalance exhibited within the new students leadership and challenged the women students to "come up and prove that they can serve right from the school.”

The cabinet, largely dominated by males, was democratically elected by the students themselves.

Icishaka Philbert asked the community to promote unity and dialogue amongst themselves and the university administration. He requested the university to include a students’ representative into the university decision-making body.

Institute National d’enseignment superier (INES) Ruhengeri has over 700 students with three quarters of the students attending the evening programme.