Makerere students panic over dark spots

JUDITH NAKAWEESI

Students at Makerere University are concerned about the increasing number of dark spots at the university.

Students say this has exposed them to attacks by iron bar hit men as well as petty thieves.

The university police has now advised students to move in groups as a form of security.

Makerere University students are always seen walking alone in the night on their way to their areas of residence.

Yet Uganda's most prestigious instituion of higher learning is dotted with drak spots, which thieves use as a haven to wreck havoc.

With no security lights, students fears that the campus may again turn into deadly crime hotspot with thugs attacking, robbing and maiming the students.

"It is very scary at night. There are no street lights within the university and walking to your hostel can be dangerous," said Samuel Kato, a third year student of Engineering.

Some of the dark spots at the university include the Veterinary Road, north of the University, stretching all the way to Makerere Business Institute in Mubira Zone.

Students say that the criminal gangs are usually made up of residents in Makerere’s neighbouring slums of Makerere Kikoni and Wandegeya.

The university police registers an average of 15 mobile phones thefts per day and a number of laptops cases.

According to the Makere University Police boss Nyanzi Kasibante students’ needs to start moving in groups especially those using the smalls gates heading to different suburbs around campus.

"There is security in moving in numbers because then, thieves fear to strike," Nyanzi said.