Makerere students split over demo
Mar 04, 2007
Makerere University students are divided over a strike slated for today.
By Steven Candia, Joel Ogwang & Madinah Tebajjukira
Makerere University students are divided over a strike slated for today.
The Guild President, Gerald Karuhanga, on Thursday issued a three-day ultimatum to the Government to unconditionally release the People’s Redemption Army (PRA) suspects or face massive demonstrations at all universities.
But a seven-member students’ body, calling itself Concerned University Students, led by Richard Kiriggwajjo, yesterday denounced the planned strike.
Addressing a press conference at the University Guest House, the body said the students stood to gain nothing from the strike and urged them to shun it.
Karuhanga’s academic affairs minister Annet Kyomuhangi addressed the same press conference and backed the body.
She accused Karuhanga of gross disrespect of the guild and calling the strike “to make cheap political capital.â€
Kyomuhangi demanded that Karuhanga apologises and announced that she had put out circulars announcing continuation of lectures. “I can assure you that lectures in the entire university will go on effective Monday (today),†she insisted.
The strike, the body said, was coming at a time when the university was struggling to make up for lost time over last year’s closure of the institution, following a strike, whose ramifications were still being felt.
“I call upon students to distance themselves from acts which can culminate into serious consequences like loss of life and looting.
“Strikes should only come in as a last option,†Kiriggwajjo said.
Representatives of Kyambogo University and Makerere University Business School attended the briefing.
Yesterday’s development comes only a day after Makerere students put Karuhanga to task to explain the planned demonstration.
But Karuhanga explained that four of the suspects are former students of the university and therefore students should show solidarity.
The situation at the university yesterday remained calm with no noticeable presence of the Police. There were several posters calling for a boycott of the strike.
Makerere University students are divided over a strike slated for today.
The Guild President, Gerald Karuhanga, on Thursday issued a three-day ultimatum to the Government to unconditionally release the People’s Redemption Army (PRA) suspects or face massive demonstrations at all universities.
But a seven-member students’ body, calling itself Concerned University Students, led by Richard Kiriggwajjo, yesterday denounced the planned strike.
Addressing a press conference at the University Guest House, the body said the students stood to gain nothing from the strike and urged them to shun it.
Karuhanga’s academic affairs minister Annet Kyomuhangi addressed the same press conference and backed the body.
She accused Karuhanga of gross disrespect of the guild and calling the strike “to make cheap political capital.â€
Kyomuhangi demanded that Karuhanga apologises and announced that she had put out circulars announcing continuation of lectures. “I can assure you that lectures in the entire university will go on effective Monday (today),†she insisted.
The strike, the body said, was coming at a time when the university was struggling to make up for lost time over last year’s closure of the institution, following a strike, whose ramifications were still being felt.
“I call upon students to distance themselves from acts which can culminate into serious consequences like loss of life and looting.
“Strikes should only come in as a last option,†Kiriggwajjo said.
Representatives of Kyambogo University and Makerere University Business School attended the briefing.
Yesterday’s development comes only a day after Makerere students put Karuhanga to task to explain the planned demonstration.
But Karuhanga explained that four of the suspects are former students of the university and therefore students should show solidarity.
The situation at the university yesterday remained calm with no noticeable presence of the Police. There were several posters calling for a boycott of the strike.