KAMPALA – Makerere University Guild President Julius Kateregga has been arrested, the second time in a week, as the security agencies attempt to thwart the ongoing student demonstration over the fees policy.
Kateregga was arrested by police on Monday as he sought to address fellow students at Freedom Square on their next course of action regarding the 15% tuition fees increment policy.
The meeting had been called by his deputy, Judith Nalukwago, on Saturday.
However, police on Monday cordoned off the Freedom Square and arrested whoever attempted to gather. In the process, Kateregga was also arrested and taken to an unknown destination.
Kateregga had been arrested last Tuesday shortly after leaving NBS TV studios and was on Friday evening dumped in Makerere-Kikoni.
The arrest came after the university management on Sunday said the Monday gathering called by Nalukwago was aimed at disrupting business.
“Management has received information about plans by some students and other unidentified persons to disrupt normal activities at campus on Monday 4th November 2019, including plans for an illegal general assembly. Management appeals to all students to avoid any form of disruption of University activities. Management wishes to assure all stakeholders that security will be provided to ensure that classes and other activities proceed normally,” a statement by the University management reads in part.
For the two weeks, business at the university has been paralysed by the strike over the fees policy that has now culminated in a parliamentary probe.
Despite the University Council last week said the increment had been removed on functional fees, students insist the entire policy should be scrapped. They have since vowed not to go to class until the policy is removed.
