By Martin T Maate
Police in Mbarara have today morning, arrested some Mbarara University of Science & Technology (MUST) students who led a strike to protest the continued closure of lecture rooms and denial to studying resources which comes 6 days after the teaching and non-teaching staff lay down their tools.
Members of staff at MUST laid down their tools last week on Thursday protesting what they say is mismanagement of university resources, affairs and harassment of staff by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Celestino Obua and University Secretary, Melchior Kihagaro Byaruhanga.
They demand that the Vice Chancellor and Secretary step down pending investigations. They also want the Vice Chancellor to retire and for a search committee to be empowered to appoint new vice chancellor.
On Monday, students leaders issued a notice mobilizing the students community to participate on what they call a ‘noble cause’ , to pressure the staff to resume teaching.
“Dear students, due to the complicated situation in MUST as the semester ends; you are requested to turn up as a team to solve the following problems since you are the stakeholders of this university,” read the notice in part.
Students are concerned over the lecturers’ failure to teach, the closure of lecture rooms at a time when students need to prepare for end-of-semester examinations as well as the closure of the university library which is critical for research and revision.
Students gathered in the campus earlier today, where they held a procession as they chanted demo songs. They demanded that the top management resolves its matters with staff so as to return the university to normalcy.
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