Makerere’s ‘voluntary son’

Is it fashionable for you to strike?
Yes, it is the only way the administration listens to us. Whenever we have any issues affecting us, they do not listen not until we rise up. Even the recent one, they have already started taking pictures for the first year students Identity cards.
Students say a strike is not a strike without Wanyera, why is this so?
Students believe I am genuine, cannot be compromised and I am incorruptible unlike other leaders who are compromised here. They believe in me for I have stood the test of time and I have always been there for them. I am a spirited person that leads on the frontline.

Who compromises the other leaders and how?
General Kale Kayihura and other state operatives give some money to them to stop proposed strikes from happening. Whenever they hear of a strike threat, they look out for me to compromise me but I just keep in hiding until the D-day of the strike.

What entails your docket as the education minister?
I follow up on students’ marks, ensure that lectures are on-going and I work hand in hand with the academic registrar to ensure that students’ academic needs are met. I have also resorted to handle lecturers who have made sex for marks a course unit in Makerere under my docket.

Do you achieve all this by striking?
No, I first use dialogue and engagement. The pressure comes in from the students to take another dimension. In most cases when things fail after the several warnings to the administration, I join the angry students and we move on to striking.

Is striking a way of campaigning for future political aspirations?
Not at all although I have plans of running for Local Council Five (LCV) and parliament. For security reasons, I will not tell you where and when but I am not eyeing any position in Makerere. I have served in three regimes and I want to be a freedom fighter. Every struggle has a leader and commander so I am both in Makerere.

So are you trying to keep relevant in the public eye for these positions?
Keeping relevant in the public eye is doing the right thing and getting a big follow-up. Regardless of what happens or how you may term it, I will keep going and transform the image of this country.

There are allegations that you applied for a dead year to run for guild presidency, what is your comment on this?
Its true but unfortunately I was not nominated because of forces from the state. They paralysed me from all angles and made sure I do not take part in the race, they feared my reign.

Do you have evidence on this?
Of course I do, state operatives threatened me on several occasions with phone calls, messages (on unknown numbers), arrests with no reason and kidnaps. They also blocked me from the university system for some good time.

Do you ever fear for your life?
I don’t, I have realised that death is real and fear is something that can be overcome. I am a courageous young man and standing out to fight for people is my passion. I am hopeful my gesture will be remembered.

What kind of teacher will you make?
I believe a teacher is an agent of change; he nurtures and guides students. The kind I will make is a candle that burns itself to create light for those I will be teaching.

So you will be inciting the students too?
If they are experiencing poor conditions and they rise up to strike, I will encourage them to protest peacefully as long as they do not destroy property in order to have their matters addressed.

Won’t this be going against the administration?
I have learnt one basic thing in life; if you are doing the right thing, do not be stopped or intimidated. As an administrator, I will tell them the disadvantages of striking and if they insist, I will support them as I look out for the best remedy with my fellow administrators.

Tell me about your two years in Makerere, how have they been?
Tight! Characterised by pain, beatings, imprisonment and psychological torture all in the name of fighting for what is right. Every time I rise up to fight for some cause, I am intimidated to the maximum, I have many police bonds, faced many arrests and a number of court hearings.

How do your parents feel when they see you in the media striking?
My father understands but my mother and sisters keep on crying. I tell them I am a leader and these are the things I have to encounter.

Don’t you ever feel that you are putting them in danger?
There is no way to avoid this; I feel I must do what I need to do. Besides putting them in danger, I always pray for them to live and witness their own effecting the desired change in the country.

Quick Bio
Born fifth in a family of eight (two boys and six girls) in Mbale, Wanyera went to Gangama and Nasinnyi Primary School for his Primary School education, Mount Masaba Secondary School for his O’Level and Mbale Comprehensive for his A’Level before joining Makerere University for a bachelor’s degree in Education.
The things he striked for/against
• June 7, 2016, condemning unlawful detention of Dr Kizza Besigye.
• July 11, 2016, condemning unemployment rate of graduates
• December 2, 2016, protesting closure of Makerere.
• November 14, 2016, in protest against poor meals in the university halls of residence.