Makerere University has suspended two students for allegedly vandalizing university property.
The students who are residents of Lumumba Hall are Joseph Muzinda pursuing a Bachelor of Law in the third year and Isaac Byaruhanga doing a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery in, his third year.
In a letter addressed to the students by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, the students were also accused of harassing first-year students.
“These acts allegedly committed include but are not limited to vandalizing University property, harassing first-year students of Lumumba hall by forcing them to sing the vulgar Lumumba Anthem, and forcing them to jog in the night, read Nawangwe’s letter.
The first-year students reported on January 29 for a one-week orientation period at the university.
During orientation for first-year students, the different halls of residence organize activities that include jogging, singing among others.
Joel Seguya, the chairperson Lumumba Hall says that he was shocked to see police interfere in the orientation activities.
For Lumumba Hall and Mary Stuart hall, the jogging activity started at 5:00 am on February 2.
When the students gathered, Seguya says that the police hurled tear gas canisters to disperse the students.
It is following this incident that Muzinda and Byaruhanga who had come to take part in the orientation received suspension letters alleging that they had vandalized property.
Seguya a third-year student of Bachelor of Food Science and Technology, Joel Muleyi pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing third year, and Adullahuman Kahigiriza studying Medicine in the third year received warning letters over similar allegations of harassing first-year students.
One of the students on suspension who preferred anonymity noted that the move by professor Barnabas Nawangwe is an act of intimidation.
“Unfortunately that is not what university management should be. Once students have a genuine cause, listen to them other than suppress. As he suspends us there are more rising. I am just a politician, not a hooligan.”
Another student Alex Luswata noted that the high handedness by the university management is unnecessary.
“Culture has always been culture and no property has ever been destroyed because of hall jogging activities.”
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