By Andrew Irumba
Makerere: Untold fear has engulfed students at Makerere University after Julius Kateregga, the Guild president, got abducted and has since been missing for two days now.
Kateregga was reportedly abducted from around Kitante on Wednesday, as he left NBS TV station on Wednesday, where he had been hosted for a talk show.
However to date, his whereabouts are unknown and his phones are switched off, something that has sparked off fear amongst his fellow students and the Guild Council.
Neither the police nor Makerere University Management has issued a statement about Kateregga’s disappearance, despite being notified by his fellow students.
But besides Kateregga, several students who allegedly participated in the protests against the 15% tuition increment are living in fear, saying they are being hunted.
Judith Nalugwa, the Guild Vice president, told Spy Uganda while in hiding that “I narrowly survived arrest. I was coming from one of the media houses in town when I saw several men surrounding me. But thanks to God I was saved by fellow students who helped me escape.”
She added that “We are all living in fear. We never committed any crime by making our voices heard but we are being hunted like we are criminals.”
Kyadondo East Member of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, has since gotten concerned about Kateregga’s disappearance.
He wrote on social media yesterday thus; “Since this morning it has been reported that our brother and comrade, Makerere University Guild President Julius Katerega is missing. It is being suspected that he is under arrest or he has been kidnapped by security forces.
Our legal team and other leaders have been working very hard to establish the facts. As we strive to get to the root of this matter, I want to condemn, in the strongest terms possible, the heightened violation of rights and freedoms. Untold violations meted out on our sister Zulaikah Nalukenge and others give us every reason to worry for our brother Katerega. If the security services indeed have him in their custody for committing any offence, they should produce him before courts of law as commanded by the law. Let me also request whoever may has information about Katerega’s whereabouts to reach out to us and share it.
I also condemn the heightened violations against the students of Makerere University. I once again assure you of our solidarity and tell you that your struggle for justice and fairness is valid. It is not just your struggle, it is our struggle.”
Meanwhile, Members of Parliament on Wednesday moved a motion to hold a Special Sitting to discuss the current issues at Makerere University, with an aim of finding amicable solutions for the impasse at the institution.
