MAK students hold peaceful walk in solidarity with Garissa University

By Cecilia Okoth

Makerere University students on Friday took to the streets in a peaceful demonstration in solidarity with the 148 students that were killed in last week's attack on Garissa University by al-Shabab militants.

Holding placards with messages of unity and detesting terrorism, the students marched from their university all the way to the Kenyan High Commission on Acacia Avenue to deliver their condolence messages to the Kenyan High Commissioner.

"An attack on one student is a direct attack on all students of the continent," said David Bala Bwiruka the University the guild president before handing over an envelope of solidarity messages from the students to the acting Kenyan High Commissioner.

Bwiruka hailed the students for standing together for the youth that were killed brutally.

Representing the Kenya High Commissioner who was away on official duty, Col. Julius Ngera appreciated the friendship manifestation of the students towards the Kenyan youth.

"On behalf of the bereaved families, I thank you for the love and for sharing our pain of the 148 youth that we lost in that brutal attack. I assure you that the letter received from you the students will be forwarded to the recipients," Ngera said.

He added: "We truly appreciate the gesture and this shows that we are one community and a family and the border between us can never be a barrier."

Ngera said Kenya is now assertive and determined as a country to fight terrorism and prevent the terrorists from destroying what they built.

He however, cautioned the students to watch over each other. "It is in our power to be our brother's keeper therefore I demand that everybody in the community sensitize themselves on the evils of terrorism.

In his condolence message last week, President Yoweri Museveni said the terrorism threat by extremist forces is one of the most urgent problems facing the region. He called for a common strategy and joint efforts by all the countries in the region to fight and defeat the terrorist forces that are determined to roll back the gains the region has been making.