KAMPALA – Police and the army on Monday morning deployed heavily in and around Makerere University main campus ahead of a planned meeting between the university administration and the student leadership this afternoon.
The soldiers and police officers have also mounted several security checkpoints around the university where they have blocked journalists and students without IDs from accessing the main campus.
The situation has created paralysis, with many students unable to access the main campus. The parts of Wandegeya, Kubiri and Kikoni are all being patrolled by soldiers, which has forced many students to stay in their hostel.
Many students, who we found stranded at the western gate, said they lost their IDs while others are yet to acquire them.
On Sunday, the management of Makerere University invited the Guild President, Mr Julius Kateregga, for “urgent talks” in an attempt to end the impasse over the tuition fees increment policy.
In a letter dated Sunday, October 27, 2019, the acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Umar Katumba, urges Mr Kateregga and the Guild Council to attend the meeting scheduled for Monday, October 28 at 2pm.
But in response, Mr Kateregga said while the student leadership welcomes the talks, they demand immediate lifting of the suspensions of all students accused of starting the strike.
He also said that Mr Gordon Murangira and Prof Hisaali Elisa should not be part of the talks. He also demanded that the University Council be part of the meeting since as the policy-making organ, they set the tuition fees increment policy and therefore hold the power to halt or stay it.
By press time, it was not immediately clear whether the university management was ready to abide by the students conditions.
Earlier on Sunday, Mr Kateregga issued a statement, saying that much as they were bloodied following brutality at the hands of security forces during the demonstration, they are not going to give up their fight.
