KAMPALA–Makerere University students resort to hunger strike, as Ugandans in diaspora launch campaign to fight Museveni
After engaging with Police in running battles for over a week, Makerere University have resorted to hunger strike, demonstrating against amending Article 102(b) of the Constitution to scrap the Presidential age limits.
The students are now on a hunger strike, expressing their bitterness to legislators, for pushing a move to lift the age limit, to allow those who have clocked 75 years and abov contest for the Presidency.
Last week, over 30 students were detained for participating in the demonstrations.
To contain them, security agents are camping at the university. Yesterday, the students tried to resume the strike as Parliament was preparing to discuss the age limit.
Students engaged the military and police personnel camped at the university in running battles, compelling the former to fire tear gas at the protesting students.
The students fled and continued their demonstration in the neighbouring surburb of Kikoni with police on their pursuit.
In down town, Dr Kizza Besigye, the former FDC presidential candidate, was arrested and taken to Central Police Station. His supporters stormed the Police station and he was driven away to Nagalama Police Station. DP president Nobert Mao was arrested as he was entering Parliament.
“I have a right to come to this place. This is a public venue,” Mao told Police Police officers.
But they never listened to him, instead dragged him inti Police vehicle driven away.
EALA legislator Fred Mukasa was also arrested as he was leaving his home in Makindye, claiming that he had an appointment with the Speaker Rebecca Kadaga.
Ugandans in Diaspora launch a fight against age limit
As citizens at home are making it difficult for NRM legislators to lift the age limit, their fellows in Diaspora have jumped on band wagon.
At the press conference launched yesterday at the Boston Marriot in Newton, Massachusetts, Ugandans from across USA vowed to block President Museveni from contesting in 2021.
Martin Byakuleka, a member of the Ugandan Community, argued that they have the main primary responsibility to fight excesses, expose abuse and restore constitutionalism in Uganda.
“The dictators a cross the world are very good at intimidating, oppressing and bribing. We have the primary responsibility to fight dictatorship in our country,” he said.
