Riot police bundle a guild minister onto a police pick-up truck that whisked him and other students off to Wandegeya Police Station. PHOTO BY FAISWAL KASIRYE

Fourteen Makerere University student guild leaders were last evening released from police custody after being rounded up at the entrance to the main campus earlier in the day for staging a sit-down and hunger strike in protest over the continued closure of the institution.
Armed police arrested the group led by guild president Denis Onekalit and detained them at Wandegeya Police Station where they were subjected to six hours of questioning.
Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said the student leaders were released on bond, pending investigations into “unlawful assembly”.
The university was closed on September 1 after lecturers’ laid down their tools, demanding salary increment and refund of Shs16.7 billion that insurance firm National Insurance Cooperation (NIC) owes them.
The guild leaders are part of the few students – including the disabled, foreign and health sciences students, who were allowed to remain on the campus after it was closed. Both the guild president and deputy represent the students on the university council.
Yesterday, the guild leaders after addressing journalists, where they accused the university management and government of delaying the process of reopening the university, proceeded to stage their strike that prematurely ended with their arrest.
“We have vowed not to eat or drink as a sign of dissatisfaction until the university is opened,” said Mr Onekalit. But before the threat could be implemented, police swung into action, arresting the students, bundling them on to a pick-up truck before driving them to Wandegeya Police Station.
Later, the Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander, Mr Felix Kaweesi, wrote to the student leaders, warning them against further strikes.
“Holding a strike is likely to incite the students who are still living in the environs of the university and this will automatically lead to breach of peace,” Mr Kaweesi wrote.
As if the aborted hunger strike was not enough, the student leaders who were left behind as part of the university council engagement for a way forward were last night directed to vacate campus for “failure to serve the purpose for which they had been left at the university”.
“We had left them behind because we thought they could be part of other stakeholders but if they have resorted to striking, then it means we are going to start running battles with them and this in the eyes of council it is not good,” said Mr Cyriako Kabagambe, the dean of students
Students defiant
The students, however, vowed not to move an inch.
“We are going to resist because the university council passed the resolution for us to be left behind. If they want us out, the council must first convene and pass a new resolution,” said Ms Doreene Nyanjura, the guild vice president.
It is not yet clear, when the government will re-open the university.
Education Minister Jessica Alupo without giving specifics said last evening the government will soon communicate its position, after a Cabinet resolution.
“We are looking forward to presenting our memo to Cabinet to agree on a final position,” she said. President Museveni was last evening set to meet the academic staff association leaders to find a way forward.
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