President Yoweri Museveni has directed the withdrawal of military from Makerere University.
The army has been helping police quell a strike by students over a controversial fees policy.
Museveni has also directed the supreme decision making body at Makerere University, which is the Council and the students guild to meet and harmonise on the proposed tuition policy that has left the institution in anarchy for the past two weeks.
Museveni’s directive was communicated by the Presidential Press Secretary, Don Wanyama who took to his twitter handle writing, “Kaguta Museveni has urged stakeholders in Makerere to talk & resolve all issues around fees. He’s spoken to council chair & the guild president today, urging them to meet. He’s ordered the withdrawal of the military police from the university. The Police will maintain order.”
The Presidential directive comes at the time the United States Mission in Uganda had issued a statement condemning police and military brutality exerted on the students that saw many beaten and left nursing injuries in many health facilities.
The US in its statement described as disturbing footage of military attacking unarmed students in their residence halls as well as attacks on journalists covering the riots.
The statement read in part, “This high-handed response by security services is uncalled for and is a direct affront to the freedoms of assembly, and expression guaranteed by Uganda’s constitution. We urge the government of Uganda to allow all Ugandans exercise their basic rights peacefully and without fear.”
