President Yoweri Museveni has directed the withdrawal of the military from the university as well as directed the supreme decision making body at Makerere University, which is the Council and the students guild to meet and harmonize on the proposed tuition policy that has left the institution in anarchy for the past two weeks.
Museveni’s directive was communicated by the Presidential Press Secretary, Don Wanyama who took to his Twitter handle writing, “Kaguta Museveni has urged stakeholders in Makerere to talk & resolve all issues around fees. He’s spoken to council chair & the guild president today, urging them to meet. He’s ordered the withdrawal of the military police from the university. The Police will maintain order.”
The force, entered the university last year when some students attempted to oppose the 15% tuition increment. The students, who were led by a one Obed ObedGui Jalmeo were all indefinitely suspended by the vice chancellor only to be reinstated last month after apologizing for not agreeing with Prof Nawangwe.
According to the insider, the military has already vacated the university and that the Freedom Square, where they had laid fresh camp is now free of them.
The military police, last week on Thursday, unceremoniously invaded Lumumba Hall and destroyed student property worth millions on top of clobbering the students whom they accused of masterminding the demonstrations.
It is important to note that the military, has been permanently based in Makerere University and had a base camp behind the new Dental School near the Eastern Gate where they would leave and camp in the Freedom Square in tense times and whenever students threatened to strike.
In a statement earlier today, Education and Sports minister also First Lady Janet Museveni said the students were being paid by the opposition to demonstrate against government by using the excuse of cumulative tuition increment.
Ms Museveni defended the military highhandedness, saying everyone at all times must submit to authority. The military brutality against students has received nationwide condemnation from lecturers, student leaders, clergy, American Embassy, media among others. The brutality left at least 7 students hospitalised including Siperia Mollie Saasiraabo who led a peaceful protest against fees increment on Tuesday last week.
Last night, the military once again raided Lumumba and Mitchell hall to brutalise more students. As we reported earlier in April this year, military police set up various camps at the university. The military settled in at the invitation of the university administration in November 2018 after a students’ strike over tuition increment loomed.
