KAMPALA —The Leader of Opposition in Parliament Ms. Betty Aol Ocan has stormed Wandegeya Police Station to establish the status quo in regard to the students demonstration at Makerere University.
It’s sad that over 45 students have been held in detention since last evening over peaceful demonstrations against the cumulative 15% tuition increment.
Ms. Aol also held private discussion with University Guild President Julius Kateregga who expressed to her concerns over the brutality with which the demonstration is being handled.
She said that the military has gone ahead to raid students accommodation facilities late into the night.
“The iron hand with which the Management of Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe is handling the matter is worrying for an academic institution of the magnitude of Makerere University,” she said.
“The Guild President has also briefed me on the brutality against the young female student leader, Siperia Mollie Saasirabo,” she added.
Mollie, who was suspended by the Vice-Chancellor for leading a peaceful demonstration against the cumulative 15% tuition increment was attacked and severely beaten by unknown people on Wednesday night while she was returning to her place from a Television interview on her suspension.
Makerere leadership in a statement dismissed claims that it increased tuition this year, saying that those leading the demonstrations are instead positioning themselves for the next guild elections.
The University instead asked students to shun hooliganism for their studies — noting that such behaviors have no place in the university and that they will never be tolerated.
“Management wishes to warn all those errant students that a return to hooliganism at Makerere will not be tolerated and they should concentrate on their studies,” reads an excerpt from the statement.
The university noted that there has been no increment in fees for any student at Makerere noting that every student joins the university with a fees structure and continues with that until they complete.
The University Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe in a telephone interview advised students to concentrate on their books, saying that the policy in question was for long passed by the university council and that it can’t be reversed.
“Tell those few student de-campaigning the policy at this time to stop because it was approved by the university council. They should not use that method they are using,” Prof Nawangwe said.
He advised them to instead show Makerere’s greatness and show the world how responsible and important being at Makerere
