Students task Makerere to implement sexual harassment report recommendations

Makerere University's 85th guild cabinet has tasked the university council and management to implement the recommendations of the 2018 report on sexual harassment at Makerere University.

Earlier this week, Makerere Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe suspended three members of staff over sexual harassment allegations.

According to Makerere, One of the suspended staff, Medard Twinobuhungiro was recorded by his student demanding sex or else he sets a hard exam paper that will make her fail.

Now Marion Kirabo, the Guild Minister for gender, ethics and integrity at Makerere wants the university to implement recommendations suggested by the 2018 report on sexual harassment at Makerere.

Speaking earlier today in a press conference at the Makerere guild office, Kirabo said that they are impressed by the action taken by the university management on the three suspended staff but implementation of the report recommendations will do more in wiping the vice out of Makerere.

"Whereas we appreciate all these efforts including the passing of the revised policy on Sexual Harassment Prevention l, we wish to request the university Council and management to implement the recommendations of the 2018 report on investigation of Sexual Harassment at Makerere University," Kirabo said in part.

Vice chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe in March 2018 instituted a committee led by Dr. Sylvia Tamale to investigate the causes of sexual harassment at Makerere, review policy and regulations against the vice and also make recommendations.

In some of the recommendations, the committee suggested Makerere should install sexual harassment hotlines in the office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor for finance and administration.

The committee also suggested that Makerere tightens physical infrastructure safety and especially lighting on campus as well as introduce night escort service to students especially for those on evening programmes.

The report also requested Makerere to install CCTV cameras in strategic places by May 31, 2019.

Now Kirabo says that, the University Council and administration should announce its position as far as these recommendations are concerned.

"We seek management's explanation to the effect of these recommendations. While we see cameras in some places, we are not sure whether they function and we seek management's explanation on the progress made," Kirabo said in part.

Sexual harassment at Makerere University remains one of the widely discussed topics in corridors of the university buildings and has been widely reported about in the media.

Kirabo encouraged girls in the all universities who are suffering in silence to speak up against the vice.

Additional Reporting by Rukia Nabanjja