MBARARA
On Wednesday 29th 2023, Police in Mbarara arrested 9 Mbarara University of science and technology students for involvement in unlawful assembly. The students who were arrest were all from the faculty of Agricultural science. According to Mr. Nasasira Isaac a student in the same faculty, they were told that Agriculture is taught both in theories and practical but to their dismay they last had practical sessions during their first year, they are now in their second year first semester but but have not had any practical sesseions neither allowed access Kihumuro grounds where practical fields are. ‘’No response from faculty’’. Nasasira narrates. He further said they have been patient and hopeful as they kept on promising them that they will have some practical sessions but all in vain.
Nasasira said as a class they sent their leaders to have a meeting with the university administration to discuss why they are not having practical sessions but to their surprise they received a communication from their leaders that the meeting did not yield any fruits after being told that they don’t have time and have not received the money from government. It is from this point they decided to organize a peaceful demonstration which was cut short by the police and 9 students were arrested.
Nasasira also said they later called off the demonstration, had a meeting with the university deputy dean Ms. Moreen Kahima who was at the time sitting in for the dean Mr. Kyagaba Emmanuel who is unwell. It is It is said that she promised to go with them to police and help plead for their fellow course mates to be released from the police cells. This was not fullfilled after the dean decided to switch off his phones known to them.
The following morning of Thursday 30th march, together with their deputy dean Ms. Karooma Cleophus were able to help the 9 arrested students from cells on police bond and up to now they say they haven’t received any information concerning their grievances.
Nasasira told our reporter that the 9 students who were arrested were Olivia, Levis, Richard, Norble, Borniface, Letical, Tracy, Morris and Joel all from the faculty of agricultural science. He requests the university leadership to allow and include practical sessions on the timetable because they have fear that they will be half baked graduates since agriculture is practical based.
ASP Samson Kasasira, the Rwizi region police spokesperson confirmed to us that the 9 students were arrested on the 29th of March,2023 Wednesday morning and were released the next day on police bond after they participated in unlawful assembly.
