Kampala, Uganda | The Guild President of Kyambogo University, Akiso Benjamin, has strongly criticised the institution’s management for what he described as an ongoing campaign of “intimidation, brutality, and repression” targeting student leaders and protesters.
In a detailed press release issued on Tuesday, Akiso condemned the suspension of 17 students, including himself, following recent demonstrations demanding more lenient tuition policies and academic freedom.
The protests were sparked by a letter delivered to the Vice Chancellor on 15 April, in which the student leadership urged the university to waive a UGX 50,000 late registration surcharge and to allow students who have paid at least 70% of their tuition to sit for end-of-semester examinations. The letter gave the administration one week to respond.
According to the Guild President, the university did not engage with the student body’s concerns, leading to a peaceful protest on 23 April.
The demonstration was met with a heavy security response, and several students were arrested and detained at Luzira Prison for four days. They were released on bail on 29 April.
In response to the protests, the university administration issued suspension letters on 30 April to a number of students involved.
The suspended individuals have been barred from accessing university premises for one month—a decision that the Guild President says could jeopardise their academic progress with examinations due to start on 7 May.
“…The university has chosen a path of silence and intimidation…,” Akiso said. “…We believe this is a targeted attempt to dismantle student leadership and suppress legitimate voices…”
He called on university authorities to immediately and unconditionally lift the suspensions, warning that failure to do so would result in a campus-wide shutdown of academic activities.
The Vice Chancellor reportedly cited health-related leave as the reason for not responding to the students’ initial letter.
However, student leaders argue that Deputy Vice Chancellors should have acted in his stead.
The university has not yet issued an official statement regarding the suspensions or the student protests.
Akiso urged fellow students, civil society organisations, and the wider public to support what he described as a fight for “justice, fairness, and the right to education.”
