Makerere university guild survives lynching by striking students

Makerere University students protest the 100 per cent tuition demand policy

Makere university guild president David Bala on Monday survived lynching by angry striking students.
The striking students who were engaged in running battles with the police were protesting the administration’s directive to have 100% of their tuition paid within the first six weeks of the semester.

Mr Bala and his entire guild cabinet were reportedly against the strike organized by the students. The student leaders earlier on tried to stop students from rioting.
Addressing the rowdy students at the university’s Freedom square early in the morning, Mr Bala had asked students to give him 24 hours within which he said he would come up with the solution.

“ I will work with lawyers on the guild council to see that we come up with a permanent solution to this problem,” said Mr Bala amid protests by students, calling him a traitor.
The angry students later on turned their wrath against Mr Bala, beating him up. He was however saved by the Police who rushed him to the main building that was heavily guarded.
The students accused Mr Bala of being a coward and betraying the students who voted him.
The university’s main gate was closed by police to bar students from going to causing havoc in the neighbouring business enters.

Makere university guild president David Bala


Police also fired live bullets and teargas to disperse the rowdy students.

Makerere University Dean of Students, Mr Cyriaco Kabagambe advised students to wait for the outcome of the council meeting which is meant to sit tomorrow (Tuesday).
The university administration last semester announced it had deferred the 100 per cent tuition payment policy to this semester as consultations continued.
At a press conference in March this year, university Deputy Vice Chancellor Ernest Okello Ogwang stated: “Management has received an appeal by students to review the council policy on 100 per cent fees policy by the sixth week of the semester.”

“Therefore, following consultations with the chairperson of council and other stakeholders, this is to inform all students that the policy for Semester One of 2014/2015 will apply for the Second Semester 2014/2015,” Prof Ogwang said.
The strike comes barely a month after the university repositioned herself as a research-led university. It’s because of this, according to Ritah Namisango, the institution’s senior publicist, that Makerere University is the only local tertiary institution that made it to the 12th edition of the annual QS World University Rankings.