One killed in makerere varsity riots
Nov 11, 2005
ONE Makerere University student was killed yesterday afternoon as the Anti-riot police engaged students rioting over an increment in the retake fees.
By F. Ahimbisibwe, Chris Kiwawulo and P. Kareire
ONE Makerere University student was killed yesterday afternoon as the Anti-riot police engaged students rioting over an increment in the retake fees.
Mulago hospital spokesperson Eliphaz Sekabira said Ibrahim Ssengendo died a few minutes after arrival at the Casualty Ward from severe head injuries.
“We shall produce a postmortem report as soon as we can,†Sekabira said.
The New Vision was at the scene when Ssengendo was hit by a round object on the head on Sir Apollo Kagwa Road at 10:00am as the Police tried to quell the strike, which had turned violent.
The students blocked staff and management from accessing the university while those in their offices, including Vice- Chancellor Prof. Livingstone Luboobi, were held hostage in the main building at about 8:45am.
The students destroyed property estimated by the Police at about sh800m. By the time the Police got at the campus, the students had raided all canteens, telephone kiosks, instant-photo facilities, and the Coca Cola depot.
At about 10:30am, the students tried to block Luboobi’s official car as he tried to sneak out of the campus, prompting the Police to fire at them.
Most of the university roads were littered with broken bottles, after the students had drunk the looted soda and beer.
Apparently, some students were drunk after raiding over 10 crates of beer from the senior staff club, from shops on Sir Apolo Kagwa Road and canteens around the university.
The students also interrupted business and traffic on Sir Apollo Kagwa Road, Makerere Hill Road, in Wandegeya and Nakulabye as they raided shops and grabbed merchandise.
Several of them sustained injuries from rubber bullets and teargas. Some were rushed to Mulago Hospital.
At the Nakulabye-Kikoni junction, students pelted the Police with stones and bottles. They hid in hostels and resurfaced a few minutes after the Police cars had left.
Justine Nakawuka, a resident of Nakulabye, was hit by a rubber bullet and was admitted in Mulago Hospital in a critical state.
The bloody riot was caused by a university senate decision to hike fees for re-sitting courses by over 80%. Although the students protested against it in writing, the university management upheld it.
Helen Kaweesa, the university spokesperson, said the increment was justified by the cost involved in processing the results of such examinations.
The students accused the university’s top managers of financial mismanagement and putting pressure on them to pay fees one month after the semester had opened.
“We used to pay sh6,000 for a course but now they are asking us to pay sh180,000,†a law student said. The new rates also apply to government-sponsored students.
Academic Registrar Amos Olal Odur issued a notice on November 4, indicating that students would also have to pay sh50,000 for late registration from last year’s 12,000.
About 10 students and some junior members of staff were by yesterday afternoon still being held at Wandegeya Police station for inciting violence.
Four university vehicles were burnt at Nkrumah Hall, while two others were burnt on Sir Apolo Kagwa Road as the students blocked the road. They lit fire in the middle of the roads as they chanted, “Luboobi agende (leave).â€
Kampala regional police chief Benson Oyo Nyeko, who led the anti-riot operation, said those arrested would be held until further notice.
“We are trying to stop the students from causing further damage,†he said.
By 2:00pm yesterday, the students were still regrouping in various places to block roads and ambush the Police.
ONE Makerere University student was killed yesterday afternoon as the Anti-riot police engaged students rioting over an increment in the retake fees.
Mulago hospital spokesperson Eliphaz Sekabira said Ibrahim Ssengendo died a few minutes after arrival at the Casualty Ward from severe head injuries.
“We shall produce a postmortem report as soon as we can,†Sekabira said.
The New Vision was at the scene when Ssengendo was hit by a round object on the head on Sir Apollo Kagwa Road at 10:00am as the Police tried to quell the strike, which had turned violent.
The students blocked staff and management from accessing the university while those in their offices, including Vice- Chancellor Prof. Livingstone Luboobi, were held hostage in the main building at about 8:45am.
The students destroyed property estimated by the Police at about sh800m. By the time the Police got at the campus, the students had raided all canteens, telephone kiosks, instant-photo facilities, and the Coca Cola depot.
At about 10:30am, the students tried to block Luboobi’s official car as he tried to sneak out of the campus, prompting the Police to fire at them.
Most of the university roads were littered with broken bottles, after the students had drunk the looted soda and beer.
Apparently, some students were drunk after raiding over 10 crates of beer from the senior staff club, from shops on Sir Apolo Kagwa Road and canteens around the university.
The students also interrupted business and traffic on Sir Apollo Kagwa Road, Makerere Hill Road, in Wandegeya and Nakulabye as they raided shops and grabbed merchandise.
Several of them sustained injuries from rubber bullets and teargas. Some were rushed to Mulago Hospital.
At the Nakulabye-Kikoni junction, students pelted the Police with stones and bottles. They hid in hostels and resurfaced a few minutes after the Police cars had left.
Justine Nakawuka, a resident of Nakulabye, was hit by a rubber bullet and was admitted in Mulago Hospital in a critical state.
The bloody riot was caused by a university senate decision to hike fees for re-sitting courses by over 80%. Although the students protested against it in writing, the university management upheld it.
Helen Kaweesa, the university spokesperson, said the increment was justified by the cost involved in processing the results of such examinations.
The students accused the university’s top managers of financial mismanagement and putting pressure on them to pay fees one month after the semester had opened.
“We used to pay sh6,000 for a course but now they are asking us to pay sh180,000,†a law student said. The new rates also apply to government-sponsored students.
Academic Registrar Amos Olal Odur issued a notice on November 4, indicating that students would also have to pay sh50,000 for late registration from last year’s 12,000.
About 10 students and some junior members of staff were by yesterday afternoon still being held at Wandegeya Police station for inciting violence.
Four university vehicles were burnt at Nkrumah Hall, while two others were burnt on Sir Apolo Kagwa Road as the students blocked the road. They lit fire in the middle of the roads as they chanted, “Luboobi agende (leave).â€
Kampala regional police chief Benson Oyo Nyeko, who led the anti-riot operation, said those arrested would be held until further notice.
“We are trying to stop the students from causing further damage,†he said.
By 2:00pm yesterday, the students were still regrouping in various places to block roads and ambush the Police.