Kyambogo in crisis meeting after students' strike

By Agnes Nantambi

Kyambogo University is to decide today (Monday) on how to address the challenges it is currently facing.

In an urgent meeting held on Saturday at the university, amidst heavy deployment of police, the management did not agree on the way forward and instead pushed the final decision today.

“By Monday we hope a final decision will be reached whether to close the university or to adjust for the benefit of the students,” said a source who preferred anonymity.

The crisis meeting follows the burning of two University vehicles by students who were rioting over tuition.

The students, who woke up like hungry lions on Friday, turned rowdy forcing the university staff who had turned up for work out and setting the two vehicles on fire.

The burnt vehicles were registration numbers UG 1181E a Pajero and UG 1760E Land cruiser belonging to the university.
The vehicles are suspected to have been torched by a student identified as Jerry Mugole a third year student pursuing a bachelor's degree in Business Studies.

Anti-riot police used teargas to disperse students who had blocked the roads and burnt tyres in the university and the nearby area.

Six students were rushed to Mulago and Nsambya hospitals in critical conditions after suffering serious injuries and suffocation from tear gas in addition to the canes by the police.

The students were protesting a notice informing them to pay all the money they owed the university before accessing any of the services at the institution.

The university administrators placed the notice on Thursday two days after they ended the strike on Monday prompting the students to think that it was a punishment.

Previously the students would pay the balance of the university dues up to the last day of the exams.

Lawrence Madete, the university public relations officer said the university had been incurring huge costs in overtime allowances and hiring extra labour to attend to students who register towards the end of the semester.

He said students were inspired to strike by some of their colleagues aspiring for guild presidency.
 The DPC Jinja road police who managed to talk to the New Vision said deployment had been increased to prevent any ill intentions.

“With help from our police post stationed here, there is constant monitoring of this police however we can increase the level of monitoring depending on the level of threats, as long as the threat is there we shall stay and as long as it reduces we shall continue to monitor normally” he explained.

He said that the 18 students who were arrested during the Friday riot will be charged with cases ranging from getting involved in arson, theft of properties, malicious damage and assaulting police officers.

The students who were arrested are currently detained at Jinja Road police station and they will be taken to court today and answer the charges.

Meanwhile the secretary general of Guild electro commission confirmed that no changes will be made in regard to the election of the guild leader despite the fact that the offices were set ablaze.

“This is to confirm to students that the elections will go on Monday and every student is required to carry his or her Identity card if well knows that he or she will participate in the voting” said Jonathan Wanda the secretary electoral commission.

The students set the guild offices on fire complaining that the office had done nothing to address their grievances.
“We want the current student's leadership go with its office so that the new leadership can acquire anew office which shall front our issues in the administration,” shouted the students during the process of setting the office on fire.