The U.S. Mission in Uganda has expressed its concern over the recent torture of Makerere University students who were demonstrating against 15 percent tuition increment, saying the act violated the learners’ freedoms and rights.
Last week, Police other security organs broke into students halls of residence such as Mary Stuart and others in the latest reign of terror at the university where even disabled students were battered by the police and the army officers.
According to statement released this afternoon by US Embassy in Uganda, footage of security services attacking unarmed students in their residence halls and attacks on journalists covering the protests are especially disturbing.
“The U.S. 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. 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,” read part of the statement.
Meanwhile Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has joined other parties to condemn military attack on students, some of them ,reports say, were molested and had their belongings vandalised by security operatives led by the police.
FDC spokesperson, Semujju Nganda said: “Such raids last happened during Idi Amin and Milton Obote regimes. The UPDF has now officially been turned into a tool of suppression.”
“It is UPDF that invades court, Parliament and now Makerere. The country will and should hold individual UPDF officers behind these operations such as deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Muzeyi Sabiti and the Chief of Defence Forces Gen David Muhoozi responsible for the brutality.”
He said the reason students are striking is because they and their parents are unable to pay the 15 percent annual tuition increment the University imposed on them last year. This increment will translate into 75 per cent when fully implemented in 2023.
The total amount Makerere expects from the 15 per cent tuition increment this year is Shs 4.56 billion. This is the money for which our children are being beaten for.
Semujju said In the budget of 2019/20, Museveni increased money for donation under State House from Shs 80 billion to Shs 240 billion. The total budget of Makerere remains Shs 316 billion of which government contributes about Shs 220 billion and private students Shs 95 billion.
“Makerere is a public university which should not be abandoned to the students and their parents. Part of the money Museveni gives himself for donation should be given to Makerere and Mulago.”
He urged the university’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe to stop using highhanded methods when dealing with grievances of students. “All suspended students must be allowed to unconditionally return to the University and Muzeyi Sabiti must immediately withdraw all UPDF soldiers from Makerere,” he said.
The party commended students for use of none violence methods to voice out their grievances.
