The only language Makerere University administration understands is violence!
Dec 03, 2004
SIR— Many people have written to your paper complaining about what they see as violent and endless strikes by students at Makerere University.
SIR— Many people have written to your paper complaining about what they see as violent and endless strikes by students at Makerere University.
Their fears may be well-founded, but they must appreciate why we use such means to sort out our problems.
In the first instance, we do not take to the streets before exhausting peaceful means. Many times we take to the streets as a last resort.
Take the example of the recent riot. It is on record that since 2003, the student leadership had been trying to get zebra-crossings on Sir Apollo Kaggwa Road. But the university administration did not heed the request until the recent unfortunate deaths
of our fellow students. So, who is to blame if in their anger students turn violent?
In any case, the merchandise looted or destroyed can never equal the lives lost.
Those of us who live on this hill know that the language
of violence is what works best in Makerere.
Last year in November, when students demanded over and over again that their allowances be paid, the administration kept feigning that it was broke. But when we turned rowdy and chased the Vice-President out of the university, somehow the money surfaced
the next day!
A certain psychologist called Pavlov reasoned long ago that if an organism has been conditioned to a particular stimulus, no desirable response can be attained from it in future instances unless the organism is subjected to that particular stimulus.
The Makerere University administration has been conditioned to violence as the only stimulus that can drive it into positive action, especially where matters of student welfare are concerned. So unless there is change of heart on these people’s side, strikes are not about to end at the university.
We students have learnt that even for the genuine causes, we have to use violence. The end justifies the means. As for the unlucky public that must always suffer when we riot, all I can say is that you are unfortunate to be in the right place at the wrong time!
Don Wanyama
Second Year Student
Makerere University
Their fears may be well-founded, but they must appreciate why we use such means to sort out our problems.
In the first instance, we do not take to the streets before exhausting peaceful means. Many times we take to the streets as a last resort.
Take the example of the recent riot. It is on record that since 2003, the student leadership had been trying to get zebra-crossings on Sir Apollo Kaggwa Road. But the university administration did not heed the request until the recent unfortunate deaths
of our fellow students. So, who is to blame if in their anger students turn violent?
In any case, the merchandise looted or destroyed can never equal the lives lost.
Those of us who live on this hill know that the language
of violence is what works best in Makerere.
Last year in November, when students demanded over and over again that their allowances be paid, the administration kept feigning that it was broke. But when we turned rowdy and chased the Vice-President out of the university, somehow the money surfaced
the next day!
A certain psychologist called Pavlov reasoned long ago that if an organism has been conditioned to a particular stimulus, no desirable response can be attained from it in future instances unless the organism is subjected to that particular stimulus.
The Makerere University administration has been conditioned to violence as the only stimulus that can drive it into positive action, especially where matters of student welfare are concerned. So unless there is change of heart on these people’s side, strikes are not about to end at the university.
We students have learnt that even for the genuine causes, we have to use violence. The end justifies the means. As for the unlucky public that must always suffer when we riot, all I can say is that you are unfortunate to be in the right place at the wrong time!
Don Wanyama
Second Year Student
Makerere University