A group of University students under a non-profit organisation “Makutano” yesterday 13th June launched a drive to better the well-being of police in a trending media drive dubbed “#PoliceIsNotMyEnemy.
The group led by Saasi Marvin Augustine, a 3rd year law student at Makerere asserts they plan on renovating the Makerere police quarters situate adjacent to the Makerere Guild Offices. “It’s a shared concern over the dismal living conditions of police, why can’t we join hands and offer assistance to police, the shields of society?? We call upon all and sundry to participate in this cause.” Saasi Marvin in a correspondence with this reporter noted.
Here attached is the full report of the drive.
RE: LAUNCH OF NATIONAL FUNDRAISING DRIVE TO RENOVATE MAKERERE POLICE STATION
Today 13th June, a group of students from Makerere and other universities in Uganda under our charitable organisation “Makutano” have launched an ambitious fundraising drive geared at raising UGX 11,343,000/= (Uganda Shillings Eleven Million Three Hundred Forty Three Thousand Only), an equivalent of $4000, to facilitate the renovation of the police station located next to the Students’ Guild offices. Makutano hopes to raise this money before the first week of September when the renovations are slated to commence. The figure includes the cost of re-painting the police station, doing plumbing works, and constructing a new toilet for the officers and their families as the old one is in an appalling condition (as pictorial evidence will show), despite the fact that the innocent little children of the officers use the same toilet facilities which greatly puts their lives and health at an much heightened risk.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For the part of social media, we are going to conduct this campaign under the hash tag #PoliceIsNotMyEnemy. This #tag is not meant to cast Ugandan Policemen as angels, but is merely intended to send out a message to the gallant officers that regardless of the many evils society (you and Makutano) have criticized them for; we do not see them as our enemies. Our eyes are not closed to the good that they do, the cold nights and blistering-hot days they brave just to keep us and our property safe. We may criticize you, Police officers, but we remain grateful for the good work that you do, and we shudder to even imagine life without the Police!
WHY THIS PROJECT?
This fundraiser is part of a wider project aimed at fostering good relations between the public and the police, especially in these troubled times. We hope that this project can contribute to a united, peaceful and better Uganda where human rights and basic human dignity of the citizens are upheld and respected by Police, whether during demonstrations, arrests or while in police custody, among other scenarios, so as to create a conducive environment for communal and national development. We also hope that it will greatly improve the relations between the public and the Police. With this charm offensive, we hope and are willing to believe that evils like police brutality, among others, can and will become a fleeting memory.
CONTRIBUTIONS
These can be in cash or in kind. Cash contributions may be sent via mobile money to +256 704 418 869 or to Centenary Bank A/C No. 37 22 00 19 58 in the names of SAASI MARVIN. Alternative numbers/accounts will be communicated. For in kind contributions, please contact Edgar on +256 703 681 325. #PoliceIsNotMyEnemy. “Their Problem is our Problem.”
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