MAKERERE BECOMES A HILL OF HAZARDS AND OPPRESSION

A hill is known as a feature that presents enormous thrill for those who wish to ascend it and reach its pinnacle, yet the hazards to reach the top are numerous.

Makerere University, ‘the hill’ as it is commonly known by many folks is no exemption. Being part of the Makerere university irrespective of whichever position held is an honor too many—notably though, a dream come true for those who tread the patchy path of preceding academic levels and make it, while it’s a dejected end to the dreams of those who bitterly miss out on the chance to squeeze in past the hurdles associated with admission into this magnificent university. 

Only acrimonious individual in days gone by would have anything vile to say about this great institute. It has been an academic apex for almost all important Ugandans and renowned denizens of foreign countries proud to be alumni of the university. The unprecedented status of the university against others is portrayed by the fact that among the primeval—those who till the land of the rural areas for simplicity and relevancy—the word university and Makerere are synonymous; with one supplanting the other at all times. But those are the days gone by. Those are tales fit to be included on the history syllabus for a multitude of reasons!

The institute which for many years was dubbed as having stood the test of time seems to be drifting away from its past glory and sinking into doldrums thanks to the gradual waning of the university legacy orchestrated by the inept administration. This has earned it numerous taunts by the former alumni and drunkards too; citing how the great institute only has an old legacy to desperately cling on, and soon it will be superseded out of its glory.

Anyone who was familiar with the university decades ago would be left in dismay if they were alerted about the pathetic state that university languishes in; lamenting the plummeting state away from its former glory—a shadow of its former self. And still many more, who have plodded the years without visiting the university would deplore against allegations that the university is going back to the dogs. It’s falling from grace, to grass and then what? To disgrace!

Many of the students in the past are decrying the inhuman policies that are imposed by the oppression-happy administrators, who lounge in their seats whistling, with their clasped palms supporting their posterior hairlines and their crossed feet resting on their office table. The distress suffered by the student community is none of their business!

A sea of draconian policies marred the university the previous semester and triggered scores of students into frenzy. They included among others, apparent attempts to insanely double both the accommodation and feeding fees; the levying of the 60% tuition; a policy that was unsuccessfully and violently resisted by the students; the eviction of the canteens and many of the secretarial bureaus. We should not forget the various upheavals that have transpired among the academic staff over issues to do with salary increments and on-time payment that left the students position in jeopardy. Sadly, the preceding sentence is an understatement; some of the disorganization is simply a bickering session among different administrative parties for power and funds!

Apart from these backbreaking policies, the university image has become an object of derision, with scores of blemishes that have turned the institute into a laughingstock. Not even the rabid pleas from the student leaders or the numerous outbursts among the students abated the indolent behavior by those at the hierarchy, who spend their evenings plotting for more allowances and salary increments. The halls of residence are in pathetic state, many have had a revamp in decades; the dilapidated washrooms posses non functioning toilet and shower facilities; the loosely hanging concrete debris off the decrepit buildings pose a safety concern for those below such spots; the unlit roads where thugs lurk before ambushing unsuspecting students whom they preempt of their property; the widespread corruption; the deadly manholes; the unchecked sewers that flow for weeks; the rabid dogs that roam the university( its not known whether they belong to the staff members or--) and the pathetic mess department in each of the nine halls of residence(thank God the embarrassingly filthy bakery toilet was razed to the ground). These present both safety and health concerns for the students. Did I forget to point out the besmirching effect it has on the universities image?

It’s clear that the administration has an implicit desire to create a Harvard outside the US or a Cambridge outside England which I don't deplore against, but it’s good if it went back to the basics and halted the cruel approach. Buying newspapers to publish exaggerated acquisitions and accomplishments will do an individual naught. The rot within the institute has to be unearthed and dealt upon. Otherwise the university image together with its image will constantly be reviled.