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Student strike paralyses Kampala University -Masaka, one suspended
Police was deployed at the university to contain the strike. PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER KISEKKA
What you need to know:
- Masaka District Police Commander John Mwaule told this reporter that they will meet with the university administration to resolve the impasse before the situations gets out of hand.
- Prof Badru Kateregga, the Kampala University Vice Chancellor declined to comment on the matter.
MASAKA. Police in Masaka District have foiled a strike at Kampala University- Masaka campus after students attempted to vandalise property, accusing the university administration of failing to address their grievances.
Police led by Masaka District Police Commander, John Mwaule and the Resident District Commissioner, Joe Walusimbi swung into action and engaged students leaders and university administrators into a crisis meeting in which the latter agreed to address the students’ concerns.
Among the issues students raised include non-functioning computer laboratory, absence of text books and other research materials in the library, absence of lectures, and bad learning environment among others.
“We are subjected to poor service delivery yet we pay tuition. We take lectures from tents and when it rains it becomes worse,” said Ms Lillian Nankya, a student from Faculty of Education.
She says the idea to stage a strike was prompted by a letter written by a student, addressed to the administration demanding to solve some of the students’ concerns, which the administration ignored.
In a letter dated October 21, Mr Fred Busulwa, a first year student of computer science and information technology wrote to the academic registrar requesting him to address the problem of insufficient computers, saying 24 out the 30 computers are non-functioning.
“I therefore, seek your urgency in seven days from the date of this letter and failure to respond as has been the norm, the second language will be spoken in the move to fight for our academic rights as we claim opportunity cost,” the letter read in part.
Meanwhile, this correspondence landed Busulwa in trouble and he was Wednesday morning suspended by the director, Mr Juma Bbosa.
“He has been suspended after advancing plans to destroy the reputation of the university as evidenced in the copy of the letter he wrote to the academic registrar and text messages he has been sending to students,” Mr Bbosa said, adding that they have handed over the matter to police to investigate.
Mwaule said police will maintain a high –visibility presence on the campus to ensure safety of property ,staff and students .
