Bishop Barham Students Protest Ban on Opposite Sex Visitors

Students at Bishop Barham University College - an affiliate of Uganda Christian University, are protesting the ban on opposite sex visitors to their halls of residence.

The Protests stem from a communication delivered by the administration on Wednesday June 24th asking all the students residing in the University\'s Hostels to stop inviting opposite sex friends to their halls of residence.

The administration also ordered for the closure of all the small access routes to the University campus.

The Dean of Students Kiiza Godwin says the decision to stop opposite sex visitors is in accordance with the code of conduct of Uganda Christian University and efforts to limit the possibility of infiltration by terrorists.

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Prof. Emanuel Muranga, the College Principal says that the ban is essential and must be adhered to by all students bound by the university\'s code of conduct. Muranga says the move is also aimed at controlling cases of early pregnancies and premarital sex.

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However, one of the students Josephat Atamba says the code of conduct allows student Visitors to the halls of residence but limits their access to the common rooms.

He faults the University for turning common rooms into space for accommodation, thereby prompting students to take visitors to their specific rooms.

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Wilbert Kisekka, a second year student of Education says that some of the hostels which include Merrab Kivengyere are not designated for any Particular sex since Male and female Students live the hostel although they use different rooms.

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Brian Mugisha, another student opposed to the move blames the university for ignoring key issues such as reconnecting wireless internet and providing standby generators to off campus hostels and focusing on minor issues.

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Last year, Bishop Barham University College suspended girls who were found pregnant in a random check-up exercise carried out at the university.

Godwin Kiiza, the dean of students, said the students who were suspended were admitted as single students and they are not supposed to engage in a sexual immorality when the university preaches sexual purity in its daily programmes.

The college principal, the Rev Prof Manuel Muranga, said pregnancy or impregnating somebody outside marriage is against the code of conduct which each student pays allegiance to.

Cohabiting, drunkenness and theft are other practices that the university does not tolerate and are punishable by suspension, among other punishments.