While speaking to a group of journalists yesterday, the Kyambogo University Vice Chancellor, Professor Eli Katunguka accused students from Makerere University and Makerere University Business School (MUBS) of inciting violence at Kyambogo.
According to Katunguka, they have reliable intelligence proving that students from the two sister universities are fueling violence against the Kyambogo university management.
The said violence happened last week when Kyambogo students battled with police to re-instate their impeached Guild President, Jonathan Tundulu. It should be recalled that the Guild Representative Council (GRC) impeached Tundulu over lack of leadership skills and leaving his duties for People Power assignments.
Kyambogo students recently accused the management of joining forces with the government to remove Tundulu who is a ‘People Power’ leaning leader. Tundulu was picked and locked up by Police on Friday on charges of inciting violence.
However, Katunguka explained that the students’ guild cabinet decided to impeach Tundulu for allegedly concentrating on national politics and abandoning his responsibility towards students. Apparently, on September 25th, Tundulu called a meeting with his cabinet but he didn’t show up.
Katunguka added that those who want to cause trouble will not be allowed, adding that the police will be on the look out to arrest anyone disrupting the peace of others.
Tundulu has appealed against his impeachment, but Katunguka assured that the university management and council will now have to decide the fate of the students’ leadership.
“The impeachment process is not yet completed because the president has appealed and he is allowed to appeal. And a provision in their constitution says that once the president is impeached, then fresh elections must be held. That’s the matter we shall discuss later because a fresh election requires about 180 million Shillings which has not been budgeted for,” Katunguka said.
“The challenge we have had with the current guild administration is that they have been unwilling to listen. I called them for a meeting to discuss their issues and they refused to come! If you can’t have a meeting with your vice chancellor to discuss your issues, how will they end?” he asked.
Majority of students said management was simply against their guild president who has refused to compromise on their demands to have the 12 weeks’ tuition policy rescinded. Katunguka insists that he has no powers to rescind the policy, explaining that students must pay fees to enable the university run effectively.
