When it comes to Makerereans, their middle name Havoc is only lying an inch below their intellect and will come out at the slightest pinch. It was all havoc and chants yesterday at the NRM function in Kololo when the Makerere University students were denied a facilitation fee by their NRM chairperson Opoya Michael. After the function, one of the executive members, Paul Baguma addressed the rain beaten students about the absence of Opoya to give them transport back to the University. He however offered 500,000shillings from his personal pocket for the transport much needed. Hardly had he suggested that when the intellectuals smelt a rat and so the strike began.
“Why would a student offer to lose his 500k unless he knows there is more for him? –We want our money now! Kiggweera Wano” one of the students shouted amidst the chants.
Famous Makerere WEEWE!!! WEEWEE!!! were the only sounds in Kololo as students demanded for Opoya. Before long the man himself arrived and addressed students;
“Gallant Makerereans, we were given 800,000 shillings for water but since we didn’t have the water it’s the money we have and it will help us with transport.”
It was like adding salt in a wound as Opoya was accused of stupidity by students who reasoned that no one would give a University like Makerere that amount of money for water and not give it any more for other facilitation needs.
What started as Makerere chants soon attracted the Army after about 3hours of struggle. Two representatives were called and talks began. Opoya, now hostage of the angry students was denied to be given up to the army and police until after a lot of convincing from fellow students.
At the police station, Opoya agreed to have been given 3.75 million shillings by Minister of state for Youth and Children Affairs, Anite Evelyn. He whoever had a balance of shs850,000 claiming to have used the rest for transport. He used 11 costas and 5 taxis. According to him, Costas were given 50,000 shillings each when talking at police however, upon writing a statement, he gave 300000shillings to each costa for transportfrom Makerere to Kololo; returning money exclusive.Accountability still could not add up. The students were now hanging outside the police station chanting. They were demanding for either their hostage or withdrawal of money by Opoya to get paid.
The Vice Chairperson NRM Makerere, Sharifa Birungi came at around 8:30 confirming that Opoya had just received more 1.8 million unpaid balance that afternoon from the Secretariat in addition to the 800k for water.
On confrontation, Opoya who was now in a prison cell claimed the money he was given, now 3.8millions included facilitation for 5 institutes including Makerere University, MBI, YMCA and others.
Seeing that the case was far from over Makerere students just demanded for either their hostage or for the minister Anite to address them. Songs like “Kigwa leero… Kigwa leero” were being chanted.
Police was now convincing mobilisers to tell their people to go back after bringing taxis using part of the 850k.
At around 9pm, in between chants of “Opoya deserves to die”, the students went to have a meeting where they agreed Opoya should step down and their money should be paid come University.
It is then that a knight in Shining appeared. Raga Dee, aspiring Mayor of Kampala heard noise in the neighborhood and decided to check on it. Upon seeing him, the now exhausted students started whimpering “Our Mayor, save us…” After listening, he went into a neighboring gate returning with rich business man Juma Seiko and Gen. Tumukunde.
The students were given 20 thousand shillings each by Gen. Tumukunde which they picked as they excitedly sang “Our Mayor!!! Our Mayor!!!”
They afterwards cocooned outside the gate singing and making new remixes of famous Raga Dee hit song “Ndigida”
The last lot of students left Kololo at about 11pm. They still hope to get their money.
News reaching our desk is that Opoya was realized either at night or early this morning.
Reportedly, Opoya has embezzled a lot of money that should serve the NRM chapter Makerere, including his own campaign money leading to ineffective campaigns thus the loss of the Guild President campaign and also recently in a facilitation at Foods and Nutrition Makerere, where he was given 4million shillings and only gave people a facilitation amount of 5,000 shilings each. He reportedly only used 750,000 shillings leaving the rest for himself.
Makerere NRM students are now demanding for his impeachment as they still reel in the worry of Injustice which apparently has him out of a police cell without anything resolved to them as benefactors.
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