Uganda People’s Defense Forces – UPDF will only leave Makerere University on the request from management, the Defense Ministry Spokesperson, Brigadier Richard Karemire has said.
He was speaking on the petition by Makerere University students to parliament demanding the withdrawal of the military from the University.
The student’s petition stemmed from the deployment of Military police, the regular army and police in the university following the just concluded strike by staff. Staff laid down their tools demanding that management reinstates the suspended association leaders.
In their petition to the Education Committee of Parliament, the students argue that the presence of the military in the university has disrupted student affairs. Joel Roy Mucunguzi, a Law student, says some of the soldiers are harassing students through corporal punishment.
But the Defense Ministry Spokesperson, Brigadier Richard Karemire, says the army was invited by the management and will leave the same way. He advised the students to follow the right channels and raise their concerns with management.
The Education Committee Chairperson, Jacob Opolot has called for calm from students until the matter is resolved. He however, notes that the committee is opposed to the deployment of the military in the university.
