Light Vocational’s John Collins Matte wins Lira City UNSA presidency

19 October 2026, 4:36 pm

By Isaac Erick Odongo

Lira City — John Collins Matte of Light Vocational Secondary School has been elected president of the Uganda National Students Association (UNSA) Lira City branch following a closely contested electoral convention held at Railways Seeds SS.

The election, presided over by returning officer Jimmy Ocen, brought together student delegates from approximately 32 government and private secondary schools across Lira City, with each school represented by a four-student delegation.

The presidential race was closely contested, with Matte securing 54 votes to defeat his closest rival, Emmanuel Arok of Hill City College, who received 34 votes. Meanwhile, Zainabu Taliba of St Catherine SS was elected vice-president with 56 votes.

The convention also filled several other key leadership positions to form the new executive committee. Regan Ben Okwanga of Lira Town College was elected speaker with 54 votes, while Innocent Adongo of Green Hill SS was elected deputy speaker.

Other elected officials include Ceaser Ebong of Elite SS as general secretary, Aping Patricia Mercy of Light Vocational SS as assistant general secretary, Atyang Gifty Shilla of Mentor High School as secretary for finance, and Akello Nancy of Lira Town College as secretary for students with disabilities.

Addressing the assembly after his victory, Matte outlined a vision focused on student advocacy and environmental conservation. He pledged that student leaders would actively combat climate change through tree-planting initiatives in schools across Lira City.

He emphasised that creating greener school environments would provide a more conducive atmosphere for learning.

The peaceful conclusion of the election was praised by UNSA Lira City patron Emily Tooneka, who commended the participating institutions for ensuring a smooth, well-organised process without disruptions. She urged the incoming leaders to prioritise student welfare and academic excellence.