Last week, Makerere University students went on strike protesting the 15% increment in tuition fees by the University’s administration.
As is the norm, Police and sister security units swung into action to try to calm the situation at the University only that this time round they used what has been reported as excessive force, invading the students’ residence halls to teargas them and destroy their property.
The worrying situation at the university has prompted the United States Embassy in Uganda to issue a statement condemning the violence against students by the security forces.
“The U.S. Mission in Uganda is increasingly concerned about the violence at Makerere University in response to ongoing protests against the proposed tuition increases. Footage of security services attacking unarmed students in their residence halls and attacks on journalists covering the protests are especially disturbing,” the statement reads in part.
The Embassy says that the heavy-handed response by security services is uncalled for, and that it directly undermines the freedoms of assembly, speech and expression provided for by the constitution of Uganda.
“We urge the Government of Uganda to allow all Ugandans to exercise their basic rights peacefully and without fear,” the statement concludes.