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US condemns Makerere violence
Police officers arrest a Makerere University student in Kikoni, a Kampala suburb during a students' protest against tuition increment on October 23, 2019. PHOTO BY ALEX ESAGALA
What you need to know:
- The FDC spokesperson asked President Museveni to support the plight of Makerere students instead of dishing out money to artistes.
The US embassy in Uganda has condemned the violence that security forces meted out on Makerere University students during the strike last Thursday and asked government to intervene.
“The US Mission in Uganda is increasingly concerned about the violence at Makerere University in response to ongoing protests against the proposed tuition increases. Footage of security services attacking unarmed students in their residence halls and attacks on journalists covering the protests are especially disturbing,” the US statement reads.
“This heavy-handed response by security services is uncalled for, and is a direct affront to the freedoms of assembly, speech and expression guaranteed by Uganda’s constitution. We urge the Government of Uganda to allow all Ugandans to exercise their basic rights peacefully and without fear,” the statement added.
Police reaction
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga defended the use of force by the joint security officers in searching students’ halls of residence.
“Once a police commander makes a proclamation order during a riot for you to stop protesting, you are supposed to oblige,” Mr Enanga said, adding that what happens later even if it involves death the officer cannot be held criminally liable. However, the Police Act only allows use of force that is proportional to the resistance.
Mr Enanga said they received intelligence that there was a third force, which he did not name, behind the protesting students and they are investigating it.
He said most of the arrested students had withdrawn money sent by a person he did not mention and that they would pick it from the same mobile money agent at the university.
He said the same group had been inciting students from other universities such as Kyambogo and Makerere University Business School Nakawa to join the protests.
FDC condemns army deployment
The Forum for Democratic Change party (FDC) has condemned military involvement in the university students strike and asked government to withdraw the soldiers immediately.
Mr Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, the party spokesperson, told journalists at the FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi yesterday that the breaking into rooms of university students was “the worst terror and humiliation any leader can visit on his people”.
“Several students have been brutalised, molested, battered and had their belongings vandalised by UPDF soldiers,” he added.
At least 11 students have been hospitalised following army and police raid on Thursday night.
Mr Ssemujju said President Museveni, just like his predecessors Milton Obote and Idi Amin, has turned the military into invaders.
“When they are not invading and brutalising students at university, the soldiers are in Parliament. Gen Yoweri and his wife must be ashamed of this barbaric behaviour.”
Last week, UPDF spokesperson, Brig Richard Karemire, said police would continue to be supported by all sister security agencies to enforce law and order in the country.
“If the students keep law and order, you may not see security forces at those halls of residence. However, where they don’t, security agencies will definitely come in to work together to enforce it. No doubt about this. There is no space for lawlessness,” he said.
Mr Ssemujju also said all the suspended university students should be allowed to unconditionally return.
The FDC spokesperson asked President Museveni to support the plight of Makerere students instead of dishing out money to artistes.
