The labour tensions at Makerere University have taken a dangerous turn after a “shoot-to-kill” threat was reportedly made against staff.
According to a formal complaint from Makerere University’s Joint Staff Associations (MUASA, MASA, and NUEI), Musa Mulindwa, a Gombolola Internal Security Officer (GISO), allegedly threatened to deploy police officers to shoot staff involved in the ongoing sit-down strike over salary harmonization.
In a letter dated October 14, 2024, the associations revealed that the threat was made during a telephone conversation on October 12, 2024 between Musa Mulindwa and the Chairperson of the National Union of Educational Institutions (NUEI), Makerere University Branch.
During the call, it is alleged that Musa Mulindwa stated he had “deployed and issued instructions to police officers to shoot-to-kill staff of the University.”
The threat came in between Makerere University staff and the administration, which has seen workers take industrial action to protest delays in salary harmonization. The labor strike has disrupted university operations, and this new development has heightened concerns over staff safety.
The Joint Staff Associations have since formally reported the matter to Makerere University Police Station. However, the letter notes that ASP Patrick Ndegeczi, the officer handling the case, has “failed to record the case and issue a reference number.”
In response to the troubling situation, the associations have written to top government officials, including the Minister for Internal Affairs, the Minister for Security, and the Minister for Education and Sports. They have outlined three key demands: “We request you to revoke the said shoot-to-kill order. We request you to rein in and reprimand Musa Mulindwa. We request that you urgently deploy an investigation into this matter to ensure the safety of staff.”
“We build for the future,” the associations stressed, underscoring the need for immediate action to protect university staff members.
