Nine days ago, while at his home in Kasangati, four time presidential candidate Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye issued an ultimatum for government to re-open Makerere or face consequences by citizens. He asked that the university is re-opened in a space of 10 days.
Now, one day to the end of the ultimatum, nothing has been done and government seems unbothered, but what is the opposition ironman planning?
Addressing the media at FDC head offices in Najjanankumbi after party prayers for Kasese, Dr. Besigye said they have had a dialogue with the academic staff of the University and the latter are also praying for re-opening of the ivory.
Besigye has now called upon the public to assemble whatever is needed to re-open the University. He says that the public needs to collect 28 Billion shillings to pay lecturers.
“If all, or most of the parent, the former students, well-wishers, and some of the current students respond, there is absolutely no reason why we cannot raise enough money to re-open the University” Besigye said.
He added that it was a good gesture when some of the members of parliament responded and joined his cause of fundraising for the re-opening of the campus.
Yesterday, former MUK Guild presidents, now MPs Grald Karuhanga and Anne Ebaju Adeke led a group of MPs to start a fundraising drive seeking a contribution of 50,000 Shillings from 600,000 Ugandans to raise the 28Bn Shillings demanded by Lecturers.
“If tomorrow we all meet and bring whatever we have, we can re-open the university immediately. And the academic staff are willing to re-open the University of we present whatever we are able to raise.”
Besigye says every amount is welcome including animals and vegetables that can be sold to realize money.
“We are meeting tomorrow at 10am at the freedom square of our University. You are informed that all the gates of Makerere are closed except the main gate which enters through Wandegeya, that’s the gate we should use to access the University” Besigye noted.
He added that they have informed the police about tomorrow’s events.
