Yesterday students of Makerere assembled at the Freedom square, draped in their red gowns. Their pleas against the 60% tuition policy which demands that a student must have paid 60% within the sixth week of the semester. The strike was somewhat a flop. This morning the notorious Gongom Guard Brigade, a nearly military wing of Lumumba hall students took it upon themselves to mobilise.
All roads were cordoned off first thing in the morning, by 10am all lectures had been interrupted and all students had been forced onto the freedom square. The students soon broke into song, and chants. The weeeeewe war cry was evident. The “one way, one way” chants could be heard. Sporadic chants of Ddumba zeeeee were dropped in the mix. Wielding sticks, tree branches. They demanded all students sing along. All unwilling students were threatened with violence.
Police didn’t take time to react, an armoured vehicle soon sprayed coloured water at the students forcing them off the Freedom square. The vehicle continued it’s assault on the students who retaliated by hurling stones and rocks at the vehicle, denting it’s side. Police reinforcement soon arrived in the form of four more heavily armoured vehicles and a number of pick up trucks filled with anti- riot police armed to the teeth.
Two armoured vehicles took the the battle to the students by raiding the freedom square. It’s culture that police shall not disturb students who are within freedom square. The vehicle was soon stoned heavily. Fires have been lit around the roads in the university while cars have been sieged by students who are demanding for money from students. The police is currently forcing students off university streets by forcing them into halls. The police has fired tear gas into university halls.
Reports indicate a policeman was injured by Forestry students at the faculty of Forestry.
Photos by BADRU KATUMBA
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