Yesterday, students of Makerere University went on strike after a very long time over the cumulative tuition policy that has been in effect for a year now. The students used their female counterparts to attack the front line and consequently avoided the usual Police high handedness that comes with such strikes.
However, Police later made way to boys’ halls of residence and arrested students that they deemed “the real masterminds” of the demonstration. Among the halls visited was Nkrumah Hall just after the swimming pool along Pool Road in the heart of the Ivory Tower.
“We were all picked up from our respective rooms in Nkrumah and loaded on to a Military Police truck. The Military Police guys immediately started torturing us. Personally some ka guy hit me repeatedly on the knees with his baton. He told me ‘you are my meal today!’ And that was before we even set off to Wandegeya Police” Okello (he couldn’t provide his second name) told Campus Bee.
According to Okello, Makerere Convocation Chairman and NRM Electoral Commission Chairman Dr. Tanga Odoi showed up in his car and stopped to see what had happened, while they waited before setting out for Wandegeya Police. “He was told we were striking and that some, among us, are always high on weed so he ordered a drug test and we were then driven to Wandegeya police with him following us behind.” Okello further narrated.
“No sooner had we started moving than the same Military Police guy started spitting on me. He spat on me the entire journey until we reached Wandegeya. His reason for spitting on me, I cannot tell but he said something that is bothering me till now.”
“He said that he realised that I am Acholi and said he is from Kitgum himself. That I didn’t come to Kampala to oppose the government and that I should just study and go back home if I am not satisfied with the way they’re ruling. Like wtf?”
Okello said that the rest of the students whom he was arrested with were receiving similar or worse treatment. “They beat their knees, pulled their ears, stepped on their toes and pulled their hairs all the way till we reached Wandegeya.” Okello said.
“Fortunately, we rejected the drug test because we told them that we were arrested for striking, and not drug abuse. Who knows what they could have injected in us?”
