KAMPALA – The Kyambogo University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Eli Katunguuka Rwakishaya on Sunday, October 6, allegedly said students from Makerere University and Makerere University Business School (MUBS) have fuelled violence at the Banda based university.
According to Prof Rwakishaya, there is evidence from intelligence reports that show students from the sister institutions are responsible for the chaos at his university.
Last week there were strikes at the university following the impeachment of the guild president Tundulu Jonathan. Students were expressing their discontent over the guild decision of the impeaching Mr Tundulu and wanted him reinstated.
Prof Rwakishaya refuted claims that he funded the impeachment of Mr Tundulu as he has never interfered in the guild elections ever since he joined the university in 2014.
“I have been here since 2014 and we have had about five guild presidents. I have never interfered in guild elections. I don’t interfere with students’ affairs unless they come to me. I was reading on social media that I was giving out UGX10m, [or] UGX5m per person. I wish I had that money I would have used it for something more useful than sponsoring students to impeach their president,” he said.
He said he called the guild leadership to have a talk with them but they failed to comply.
“The challenge we have had with the current guild leadership is that they have been unwilling to listen. I called them for a meeting to discuss their issues and they refused to come! If you can’t have a meeting with your vice-chancellor to discuss your issues, how will they end?” he wondered.
Prof Rwakishaya revealed that Mr Tundulu appealed against his impeachment and the university management will decide his fate.
“The impeachment process is not yet completed because the president has appealed and he is allowed to appeal. A provision in their constitution says that once the president is impeached, then fresh elections must be held. That’s the matter we shall discuss later because a fresh election requires about UGX180m, which has not been budgeted for,” he said.
He further urged students to concentrate on their studies as police will arrest whoever wants to cause trouble disturbing.
“While students continue to exercise their powers as contained in their guild constitution, I call upon all students to remain calm, concentrate on their studies and avoid all manner of hooliganism,” Prof Rwakishaya said.
