Curfew For Makerere

Apr 03, 2001

ON SUNDAY Makerere students rioted over the murder after midnight of a female student in a hall of residence.

ON SUNDAY Makerere students rioted over the murder after midnight of a female student in a hall of residence. They lit bonfires on campus, tried to block Sir Apolo Kagwa Road, hijacked a pickup that they filled with petrol stolen from an Agip station, and then grabbed a coffin from a carpentry workshop to complete their demonstration. They were rightly dispersed by riot police who fired tear gas canisters and put out the fires barricading the main gate. In January the students also rioted after another student was shot dead returning from a disco at 4am. Windows were smashed and other students were stopped from sitting exams. The general mayhem was blamed on infiltration by Sebaggala supporters trying to make political capital. However on this occasion there is clearly no political dimension to the murder and no excuse for the riot. The Makerere students should remember that they are supposed to be the future leaders of society and behave accordingly. If one looks critically at the facts, it is clear that the main security problem is the students themselves. They want to be allowed to go out and to return at any hour of the night with visitors who are not fellow students. How can security be maintained under such conditions? It is not possible for the Makerere authorities, the police or the security services to stop and search everyone entering the campus at night. It is now time to stop unwanted visitors on campus. If the students cannot themselves be disciplined and stop unauthorised guests coming into the halls of residence, the Vice-Chancellor should slap a curfew on them and lock up the halls of residence from 10pm to 6am. Ends

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