Gulu Medical School Guild President Arrested over Demonstration

The Guild President of Gulu College of Health Sciences has been arrested for allegedly inciting violence.

Saul Nassasira was picked by the Police Field Force Unit personnel shortly after police used teargas to disperse the students after a four day sit down strike. 

The students who started the demonstration on Monday this week had earlier on tabled their complaints about the new fees structures to the school administration but waited for a response in vain.

According to the circular regarding the new fees structures, diploma students under government sponsorship would pay 1.47 million shillings from 1.27 million shillings while private sponsored students would pay 2.5 million shillings from the initial 2.077 million shillings.

On Thursday morning as the students waited for a response, Joseph Mumbere, the Acting Gulu District Police Commander led dozens of Field Force Unit personnel to the college main campus located along Gulu Avenue who began firing teargas forcing the students, majority of whom majority were in their dormitories to run out of the college premises.

The Aswa Police Regional Public Relations Officer David Ongom Mudong says that Nassasira was behind the demonstration. He explains that the police are yet to follow up on several students who planned the demonstration.

“Of course the Administration took a long time to respond to their complaints but we got concerned to intervene when we realized the group wanted to engage in criminal activities” Ongom added.    

Nassasira is currently detained at Gulu Central Police Station. Meanwhile, three students who were injured by the tear gas are hospitalized at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital. 

They include Francis Kaggwa, Simon Peter Ssimpijja, a resident of Wakiso and Cone Emmanuel.

At 6:00 PM, there was still heavy police deployment at the College while students were stranded in the various streets of the City awaiting to travel back home.

The Gender Minister Nabirye Shifuera Assasira said that 85% of the students are from different parts of the country and are unable to find transport back home.

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The Chairperson Governing Council of the College Prof. Ben Moro has ordered for suspension of the new fee structure until it is subjected to review. 

“The Council doesn’t know how the new fee structure was arrived at but we can’t do things in such a manner that disorganizes the systems established in place” Moro explained.

This is the second time the students at the college have gone on strike demanding the administration to denounce the new policy and to attend to their grievances.