By Spy Uganda
The management of Makerere University has declared an Extraordinary Students Assembly that is slated to be held later today as illegal and aimed at disrupting business at the University.
The Assembly was called by the Acting Guild President Judith Nalukwago, who issued a circular to all students on Sunday, calling upon them to gather at Freedom Square, such that they can reach a consensus to either call off the strike against the 15% tuition increment or not, and to determine how far Management has reached regarding students’ demands.
However, a communication from the University Management posted on their social media platforms, especially the twitter handle, indicates that the scheduled students’ assembly is illegal and shall not be allowed to take place.
Here below is message from the University;
“Campus Communication
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. (https://www.kaizenautocare.com/) ”
However, sources reveal that despite the heavy police deployment at the University, Nalukwago and fellow students have vowed to go ahead with the planned Assembly, although it is not yet clear whether Management will allow them.
The current impasse at Makerere University started on October 22, 2019 when students staged peaceful demonstrations against the 15% tuition hike, which was violently repulsed by the military and police.
Dozens of students were arrested. Others were brutalised by soldiers while some were either suspended or issued with warning letters and many are hospitalised.
On October 31, Parliament tasked the Parliamentary Committee on Education to investigate the impasse at Makerere.
Meanwhile,as they continue with the strike, the students said they intend to sue the university for violating their freedom of assembly and association, freedom of speech, failure to protect its own students against barbaric security forces who barbarously beat them up and destroyed their property
