Improve on Makerere security to protect new installations
For the past week, Makerere University has been in the media storm over the report by the Visitation Committee set up by President Museveni to investigate the mismanagement at the university. After the handing over of now the controversial report to the President, the university has instituted a committee to further study the late Dr Abel Rwendeire report findings.
However, most committee findings have not only shocked the academic staff and students, but even parents and other stakeholders, who do not wish the highest academic institution in the country going to the dogs.
Most emphasis has been placed on student numbers and other staff-related matters, sidelining other issues such as how to protect the crucial and important new infrastructure at the university.
Makerere University signed a partnership agreement with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to improve on the University’s road network and its street lighting last year. Under this arrangement, nine roads of the university were reconstructed using compensation funds secured from the Ugandan Government. The roads have since been handed over to the university management.
The funds were part of the ongoing plan to implement Kampala Institutional and Infrastructure Development Project (KIIDPC), particularly the dualling of Makerere Hill road. According to former university Vice Chancellor, Prof John Ddumba Ssentamu, the arrangement would enable the university community members to move safely on paved walkways and lit streets.
According to the documents shown to the stakeholders at the launch of the project, KCCA agreed to construct a perimetre wall around the campus to further secure the university and build a new administrative block for Makerere College School.
Another in-kind compensation the University received is a remodeled, wider, and beautified university main gate that serves the high volumes of traffic and numbers of students entering and leaving the university during rush hours.
The road to the main gate has been fitted with traffic lights at the junction with Makerere Hill road in order to regulate the flow of traffic. It has six lanes, walkways plus islands for enhanced safety of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
Today, Uganda’s leading university boasts of a robust road network, raised walkways, lit streets that guarantee safety and a conducive environment for academic excellence. Construction of the perimeter wall is a major step in ensuring security of the university.
Unlike in the past where such installations could last for a few years due to vandalism, Makerere university team needs to beef up its security to protect the new developments especially the street lights and pavements. Despite the presence of a police station and a team of private university security officers, staff and students’ vehicles have been vandalised within the university precincts.
According to police, vandalism is done by youth who storm the university from neighbouring slums such as Katanga, Kikoni and Makerere Kivvulu.
When my vehicle was vandalised after I had parked it at the Academic Registrar’s office last semester in October 2017, I approached Makerere police officers, who only requested me to make a statement and leave the rest to God in order to recover my stolen laptop.
This showed how well equipped the station is ready to fight vehicle vandalisation at the University! Therefore, to boost the intentions of having a perimeter fence, the university needs to close all illegal entry points into the university, place watchmen at each entry point, including the short cuts into the university.
The management should also install closed circuit cameras around the entire university to closely monitor whoever enters into the university and families of the staff residing within the university.
Beefing up the university security with improved technology to avoid the continued vandalism of vehicles and other property should be one of the priorities for the new Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe.
The writer is a journalist and second year M.A journalism student, Makerere University
