Makerere University students have slipped out of a planned strike that was intended to be staged tomorrow.
The students had earlier threatened to go on strike tomorrow in protest of the continued redundancy, following a lecturers strike.
The students have for the last one week remained redundant, after their lecturers went on strike protesting against the lack of adequate teaching materials.
Susan Abbo, Makerere University's Guild President, says students are trying to seek out a peaceful solution to the stalemate between the lecturers and the government.
Abbo says the students have resolved to give the conflicting parties a chance to iron out the problem amicably without resorting to violence. According to the guild president, the students don't want a repeat of last year's scenario in which the university was closed after the students went on strike in support of their striking lecturers.
//Cue in: As students we #
Cue out: # back to class. //
In Makerere University, the atmosphere remains calm, with no activity in the usually noisy lecture rooms. A few lecturers are going about with their private activities.
Some students were also found moving around the campus, while others tried to prey their eyes on the notice boards, just in case there are new developments posted regarding the strike.
John Baptist Isingoma, leader of the private students association, says the strike must end, because they want value for their money.
//Cue in: As private students #
Cue out: # losing a lot.
But the lecturers have rejected a plea by the new Chancellor, Mondo Kagonyera, to return to class.
During a meeting yesterday, the lecturers instead demanded that the university administration should respond to their demands by providing the teaching materials, paying outstanding allowances and enhancing their salaries.
They also ordered the university administration to retract a letter threatening to sack lecturers who fail to report for work today.
Meanwhile a crisis meeting involving the University Council Chairman, Mathew Rukikaire, the university administration, leaders of the striking lecturers and the Guild representative Council, is being convened shortly to discuss the way forward.
