Makerere students held over strike

KAMPALA

Anti-riot police yesterday arrested eight Makerere University students, but whereabouts of their detention were unknown.

They were reportedly picked by police and taken to an undisclosed destination. Some of the missing students were identified as Ivan Bwowe, a second year law student, Dickson Adomati, a third year law student, Najjib Nsubuga, and Geofrey Mutagobwa.

According to eyewitnesses, Police deployed at the university premises as early as 7am before students would convene any gathering. “Some students were arrested from Lumumba Hall while others were picked up from around the Main Building by police who claimed to have had a list of the strike ring leaders,” said Mr Moses Kyeyune, a former minister of information in the Guild Cabinet, which was dissolved last week.

All the nearby police stations, such as Wandegeya, Old Kampala and CPS, denied knowledge of the detention.
However some of Mr Bwowe’s close friends told the Daily Monitor that he had earlier on been summoned to the Special Investigations Unit in Kireka to answer charges of treason. By press time, the students’ whereabouts were not yet known.

Meanwhile, the student’s strike entered a second day at the university, as they continued to demand the revision of the 2007 fees payment. The university spokesperson, Ms Rita Namisango, said the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ddumba Ssentamu, had confirmed receipt of the student’s petition presented on Monday, which he was yet to forward to the University Council for deliberation.

musisif@ug.nationmedia.com