KAMPALA – Makerere University management has suspended the early morning jogging exercises for fresh students amid allegations of mistreatment of the participants.
In a letter dated August 27th, 2019 to all hall warden and senior common room (SCR) chairpersons by the Dean of Students, Mr Cyriaco Kabagambe, said disciplinary action awaits all those spearheading the practice named ‘Nake Mile’.
“Reference is made to my earlier letter dated Thursday, 22nd August, 2019 in which I expressed concern over unbecoming behaviour of some SCR leaders and asked all Wardens to investigate all issues related to mistreating other students (especially fresh ones) and present the culprits to the Disciplinary Committees of your respective Halls of Residence,” Mr Kabagambe’s letter reads in part.
“However, considering that these actions may continue, if not checked, and after wide consultations, I am directing that all morning exercises involving fresh students be suspended forthwith in all Halls of Residence. Also submit the names of the perpetrators of these negative acts to my office immediately. By copy of this letter, all SCR Chairpersons and Culture Secretaries are asked to take note of this and act accordingly,” he adds.
Halls of residence at the university, as a form of promoting unity and culture have been organizing weekly jogging sessions where they jog around the university and neighboring towns.
While some students say it has been helping them to keep fit and keep healthy, some of them say it is forceful and an infringement on their rights.
First-year students at Nkrumah Hall were last week forcefully woken up towards midnight to take part in the hall’s “Naked Mile” where students strip naked and jog around the campus and nearby towns of Wandegeya and Nankulabye.
