Students protest ban on carrying bags at campus

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Students are protesting a move that stops them from carrying bags into universities.

Following the Tuesday Kampala twin bomb explosions, several officers in charge of security and the university management issued directives stopping students from carrying bags to the campus as one of the measures to guard against terror threats.

Some of the universities that issued the directive include Makerere University Business School-MUBS, Ndejje University, and Mbarara University.

Kenneth Ainebyona, a student pursuing a Bachelor in Business Commerce at MUBS says that stopping them from carrying bags is inconvenient.

Jerry Mafabi, another student at MUBS says that he was turned away with his bag that had a laptop.

He explained that most of his notes are on the laptop and banning the bag makes it hard for him.

Bridget Namara, another student says that she will expose herself to thugs if she carries her phone and laptop in her hands.

Agnes Nakato, a student at Ndejje University says that instead of stopping students from carrying bags, they should instead offer other secure alternative places where they can keep their books and other valuables.

“Ideally university should have lockers where each student keeps such things. if they cannot put up such facilities, they don’t have the moral authority of stopping us from carrying bags. They are exposing students to thieves and thugs. In Kampala here, who moves with a laptop in hands?” she noted adding that the university should just put in place mechanisms that ensure that no person enters without being thoroughly checked.

When our reporter visited some institutions, several students who had carried their bags were being turned away amidst protest.

Unlike some institutions that completely ban bags, Makerere University allows students to enter with their bags on condition that they go through the main entrance.

Malon Ogjan, a student at Makerere University noted that moving to the main entrance is time-consuming, and forcing everyone through the same entrance may be another threat as students gather at the main entrance.

Simon Odoki, the MUBS Public Relations Officer says the institution cannot compromise on security matters, advising the students to bear with the situation since it is for their benefit.

Joseph Collins Ssemanda, Public Relations Officer at Ndejje University advised students to make arrangements and leave their bags at the security points.

Prior to the Tuesday twin explosions, Kyambogo university had long banned bags at the time when institutions of higher learning were resuming physical teaching and learning activities on November 1.

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