With the benefit of hindsight, I can say that some of my happiest and inspiring days were spent at the defunct University of East Africa’s Makerere College where I was an undergraduate from 1967 to 1970. Among many events of those good old days which has remained in my memory is the “freshmen’s ball” of 1967. That event crowned a one-week orientation programme or “freshmen’s conference” as the university administration put it in our handbooks.
What with a buffet of delicious, abundant and assorted foods provided gratis with coupons for at least two beers per student, courtesy of our dignified and suave principal, Yusuf Kironde Lule (RIP) and above all Kampala’s premier orchestra of the time, King Jazz Band, was on stage to provide live music which deprived the patrons of White Nile Club at Kibuye for that night.
Unknown to us freshers, campus buses had been sent to ferry beautiful ladies from Mulago, Nakawa and elsewhere to ensure that we had partners to dance with; unfortunately the young ladies were returned to their hostels around 2am, but for a young man in his late teens it was a dream come true.
In the dead of the night, I recall reluctantly leaving the Main Hall with four friends, among them Albert Yobo (RIP) and Eddie Keronega (RIP), to return to our halls of residence. On the way, we saw a man lying on the lawn at “Freedom Square” and on close scrutiny we discovered that the person who was sound asleep with a couple of unopened beers beside him was a year mate who was a resident of Northcote Hall, renamed Nsibirwa Hall.
The incident reminds me of the parable of the Good Samaritan because many students walked by him like the Levite and the priest in the parable, but as soon as we recognised that the fellow who was sleeping on the grass was one of us, we gently woke him up and escorted him to his room; the two beers were left on his desk, just in case he woke up with a bad hangover there was something handy to sober him up.
A few days later, we bumped into the young man, whose name will remain confidential for obvious reasons, at the Guild Canteen which was a favourite joint for students and we all burst out laughing at what transpired on that auspicious and happy day. He promptly offered us “one for road” as a token of appreciation, but even if we had behaved like the Levite, I am sure nothing untoward would have happened to our new friend; he would eventually have woken up on his own and found his bearings to Northcote Hall. He was from southern Uganda and we were from the north, but during those days it did not matter. That is how good and how safe Makerere was during the 1960s, the university’s golden age.
Tragedy of Makerere
The story which I have recounted above cannot possibly happen in Makerere of today where a young man was lynched at Nkrumah Hall during the night of Sunday, April 12.
According to an article published in the Daily Monitor of April 15 titled, “Mak in spotlight over killing of student” a young man, David Ojok Otim, was beaten to death by a mob of Makerere University students simply because somebody branded him a thief.
Three students, Ivan Mutungi, Marvin Atukwase and Derrick Wagooli, were remanded on April 23 by the Buganda Road Magistrate’s Court and accused of Ojok’s murder.
“He had gone to collect money amounting to Shs500,000 owed to him by one of his student clients in the hall of residence before an irate mob of students pounced on him and beat him up with sticks and stones after he failed to properly identify himself,” according to Eric Makafu, a resident of Nkrumah Hall.
It is shocking and shameful that an abominable incident like that could take place at the main campus of one of Africa’s top and prestigious universities, but on further reflection it should perhaps not be entirely surprising!
What happened at Makerere on that dark Sunday night reflects the dark side of Uganda under the NRM regime; mark you Makerere University is not an island, but a microcosm of Uganda. Makerere reflects the good, bad and ugly sides of Uganda made in the image of the NRM regime! The reckless and unnecessary use of force is a symptom of a lawless society where the law of the jungle prevails.
I am advised that many students at Makerere do not bother to burn the proverbial midnight oil to earn their degrees, as we did in the 1960s. Today, many students simply part with a few million stolen shillings to buy a degree of their choice complete with a transcript. At Makerere University’s last graduation function held in January 2015, more than 1,000 students are reported to have graduated using this dubious route which is akin to the biblical wide road which leads to hell.
If Makerere, the jewel in the crown of higher education in Uganda can sink so low, I am afraid Uganda is finished. Uganda has lost its soul and is drifting aimlessly in turbulent waters to an unknown and dangerous destination. Where have all the patriots gone? Who cares?
I do and if you care like me, please stand up for God and our beloved country!
Mr Acemah is a political scientist, consultant and a retired career diplomat. hacemah@gmail.com
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