Prof. Nawangwe In Catch 22 As Court Orders Unconditional Release Of All MUK Students

By Peter Ssebulime

Kampala: Makerere University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe is caught between a rock and a hard place after Buganda Road court ordered the release of all students who were arrested for allegedly engaging in protests against the 15% tuition increment.

So far there are at least 46 MUK students currently in detention at various police stations across Kampala, who were arrested for protesting against 15 per cent tuition increment, but the court wants all of them released unconditionally.

Court presided over by the Acting Chief Magistrate Robert Mukanza issued the order on Friday following an exparte application filed by Human rights lawyer Eron Kiiza.

“It is hereby ordered that the applicants, students of Makerere University, be unconditionally released and every police officer is directed to comply with this order”, reads the Magistrates order in part.

Kiiza contends that the students have been in police custody since October 23, 2019, without being presented in any courts of law, which is against the Constitution of Uganda.

On Wednesday, more than 100 students of Makerere University were arrested during protests against the 2018 University Council’s decision to increase tuition by 15 per cent on all undergraduate programs every academic year.

The Policy to increase tuition came into effect following a recommendation by the 2017/2018 Guild leadership which voted in favour.

However, the students have since vowed not to relent until the University Council drops its decision about the tuition increment, among other demands which they have since presented to the University Council.

The demands include releasing all detained students, scrapping the tuition increment, scrapping electoral reforms that were passed by the University Management, plus improving the sanitation and welfare of students, especially the females, who complain of constantly treating Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), because of the filthy toilets and bathrooms at the University.