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NO MORE SECURITY THREATS AT MUK – GUILD MINISTER

Makerere University community is soon to enjoy maximum security and protection as the university’s police post undergoes transformation from a police post to a fully fledged police station with more police officers, the university’s Guild Information Minister for Information has said.

Mr. Onesimus Twinamasiko revealed that the change process, which started last week, has already seen 60 police officers deployed in preparation for the 59th graduation from 19th-23rd January, following permission from the Inspector General of Police Maj. Gen Kale Kayihura. Initially, only about 15 police officers attended to the entire university’s security.

“We shall be safer now, and so will our property because the police will patrol the university day and night, 24hours a day” said Twinamasiko.

In addition to the heavy police force, Mr. Samuel Mission, an Assistant Superintendent of Police has been appointed as the Officer in Charge at the soon to be elevated police post.

“The Students’ Guild aims at ensuring maximum visible security 24 hours at all students’ halls of residence, and in the so called dark corners at campus,” Twinamasiko added.

The decision to transform Makerere’s police post comes after the Students’ Guild, led by Guild President, Robert Rutaro, met Maj. Kayihura on 5th Jan 2009, over the alarming security concerns at Uganda’s highest and oldest institution of learning.

However, the challenge that remains is to create office space and space to accommodate the officers and their families.

In a letter dated 12th January 2009 addressed to the Guild President Robert Rutaro, Samuel Mission, the new OC requested for at least two rooms in the Guild office, to be used to keep police records and for other official work, as the University prepares to allocate them offices.

Twinamasiko said the Guild would be willing to allocate 2 rooms to the security officials, and had designated the extension building formerly housing students of Nsibirwa hall to be used to house some of the officers and their families. He however noted that the Dean of Students would have to register his approval.

When contacted, the dean, Mr. John Ekudu confirmed knowing about the meeting of the Guild with the police boss, but said he knew nothing of the transformation in progress.

“The Guild President informed me of the January meeting but I did not know that Kayihura had approved of anything,” said a puzzled Ekudu.

The Guild President said University Council will discuss the security issues as soon as graduation ceremonies are over.


Last year, a student was attacked in Nkrumah hall and killed in his room, only to be discovered dead after two days.

However, when contacted, University Dean of Students, Mr. John Ekudu said he had not received confirmation from the IGP concerning the overhaul of the police post.

Makerere University’s security has in past years been jeopardised by students and lecturers’ strikes and riots which turned violent, leading to loss of life and massive destruction of university and student property. Last year in November, Kenyan students at Makerere staged a series of demonstrations against the administration, in which the police discovered a locally made bomb.

Also, Statistics from the Records department at the police post at Makerere reveal that a total of 100 students were conned of their money and property last year, the most affected being female students.

“Such cases will now be history with such a force at campus,” Twinamasiko, said.