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Security agencies on the spot over brutality
A military police officer arrests one of the Makerere students who took part in a demonstration against the increase of tuition yesterday. PHOTO BY MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI
Security agencies are on the spot over their brutal handling of unarmed students, including those with disabilities, while quelling ongoing student protests at Makerere University.
The protests at the university began last week over a number of grievances, including a 15 per cent tuition increment policy, restrictive electoral regulations and poor conditions in the halls of residence.
In a statement released yesterday, the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) said “the mayhem created when security comprising the Police and army, raided some students’ halls of residence in the university at night was to say the least appalling”.
The UHRC acting chairperson, Dr Patricia Achan Okiria, said various human rights such as the right to education, respect for human dignity and protection from inhumane treatment, among others were negatively impacted during the strike.
Dr Okiria, who was addressing the media in Kampala, called on the security agencies to reconsider their methods.
Too much force
“Security forces should exercise restraint and apply proportionate force. Security organisations should identify the errant officers who carried out the brutal acts against students and journalists during the Makerere scuffle and hold them personally liable for their actions,” she said.
Dr Okiria also asked government and the university leadership to seek lasting solutions to the recurring violent conflicts with students.
“The ministry of Education should review the policy on tuition for students in public universities and their funding, taking into consideration the duty of the State to progressively enable all persons the right to access education,” she added.
Civil society speaks out
In a separate statement, the Uganda National NGO Forum faulted the highhanded and violent response to the students’ peaceful protests.
“It, therefore, goes without saying that the invasion of the university ground, halls of residence and surrounding areas by a combined contingent of armed personnel under the pretext of law enforcement is wrong. This invasion is also a flagrant infringement of the mandates of State security as enacted under Articles 208 to 214 of the Constitution,” said Mr Richard Ssewakiryanga, the executive director of the National NGO Forum.
The civil society also castigated the blurring of lines between civilian policing and violent crackdown on demonstrations. “The university management owes the students and entire university community a duty of care and should not stand by and watch as the institution’s premises become a battlefield between armed military personnel and defenseless unarmed students,”
The deputy army spokesperson, Lt Col Deo Akiiki, said the military is only playing a supportive role while the police leads.
“As UPDF, we do operations in support of the police. But any incident, which requires investigations and prosecution, we are ready to present our own,” he said.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango dismissed the accusations of brutality as baseless.
“We do not brutalise citizens because we are a professional force and acting professionally. We have not brutalised anybody in our work,” he added.
