Marion Kirabo, the guild minister for Gender, Ethics and Integrity who was also part of the students’ team that presented in council said they are pessimistic about the outcomes of the meeting.
Security personnel take thorough checks for those entering Makerere University through the main gate. Without a student ID, no student would be allowed.
Student leaders at Makerere University are pessimistic
about the on-going council meeting to resolve the impasse at the university.
The leaders led by the Guild and Vice
President Julius Kateregga and Judith Nalukwago respectively have
been in a closed-door meeting with the Makerere University Council since 9:00 am
at the Senate Building.
Ronald Kamusiime, the minister for students with disabilities who was part of
the meeting said after their submission to council, they were asked to leave to
give council time to deliberate and decide on the students’ demands.
//Cue in: “We have presented our issues…
Cue out: …we are on war still.”//
Another student leader who preferred anonymity says that some members in
the meeting were bent on not accepting anything that the students were
demanding.
Marion Kirabo, the guild minister for Gender, Ethics and Integrity who was also
part of the students’ team that presented in council said they are pessimistic
about the outcomes of the meeting.
“We did our best to table all the students’ issues. We hope our council
representatives the guild president and vice will manage to bring us news that
will be in favour of students’ welfare,” Kirabo said.
On Tuesday, President Museveni is reported to have had a telephone conversation
with Julius Kateregga, the Makerere Guild President at about 7:00 am to get a
detailed account of what the genesis of the current impasse at Makerere.
The phone conversation reportedly centred around the 15%tuition and functional
fees increments and how it was rushed without proper consultation from
students.
“I held a phone conversation with President Museveni to brief him on the status
quo at the Hill and on the demands of the governed. He had been fed on
falsehoods by some elements of University Management. He instructed that
University Council engages the Student Leadership, which they have heeded to.
Our demands are clear and we shall pronounce to the Students Body the outcome
and way forward from the Engagement,” Kateregga said.
Meanwhile, security remains tight at on key facilities which
include the Main Building, Senate Building and the Main Library.
Journalists were denied access to the university by counter-terrorism police officers
deployed.
The meeting is still underway under tight security.
Davidson Ndyabahika
Freelancer