While students in all campuses are either doing their examinations or even preparing to start next week, the situation in Gulu is getting worse. Earlier on we wrote an article about the ongoing hunger epidemic going in Gulu University and perhaps it sounded like a joke, in fact some people told me it was exaggerated, “How can you say we depend on cassava and odii (g-nut paste)?”But that was just because the heat hadn’t reached them yet. Now they do tell the story even before you ask what could be wrong.
This Monday, examinations are supposed to be kicking off but government sponsored students are still seeing this as a next semester event. The angry, hungry, distressed, emaciated students have hardly received their entitlements for the months October, November, and perhaps December which is already at hand. The whole of this week has been a gloomy one with demonstrations and several gatherings by government sponsored students.
On Wednesday, the issues got out of hand students detained the deputy vice chancellor as he explained to them what could be the possible causes for the delay. The vice chancellor as well as the chancellor Prof. Kayanja were there to witness the hunger strike with continuous motions of, “WE WANT OUR MONEY”, “OPTION ONE MONEY, OPTION 2 MONEY, OPTION 3 ……”. At the end of the day at about 4:30p.m. the vice chancellor came out of the administration block with his entire crew and explicitly showed a cheque signed with money that could give you that life you watch on your favourite channel. Students did believe, emotions cooled and the struggle seemed to have paid off then. However, when the long awaited day did come, Thursday, the promise seemed to have used a tortoise’s strolls there was hardly any money in the bank.
So today early morning students stormed the administration block with faces tougher than an angry hungry lion. The bitterness, anger, hunger deception and above all poverty got them singing all this time long. Unfortunately, no pictures were allowed at the scene in order to protect the students from hierarchical damage that could happen any time. However, there sound was covered. More updates will be provided for now let me go and effect the reception of our allowances because am not immune to this.
By Clare Nassuuna
