Students of Gulu University, Kitgum campus have staged a strike over alleged poor administration and management of their campus. They accuse the university management of failing to provide them with Identity cards, lack of a computer laboratory, poorly stocked library and refusal to release their end of semester results.
A student who spoke to URN on condition of anonymity says that lecturers refused to compile the end of semester examination results because they have not been paid. As a result, on Monday students refused to attend lectures demanding that their demands be addressed before they can resume lesson.
One of the placards placed the university, reads, “We need our identity cards, library, internet and sports equipments, Act now”. Said Kirunda, a student of Bachelor of Business Administration says that they decided to strike after presenting their problems to school director Stephen Odam Amitayo, but nothing was done. He says that many students have failed to open bank accounts because they do not have identity cards.
He also faults the university management for failing to equip the library and the computer laboratory. When URN entered the university library, there were only a handful of books that cannot serve the 120 students at the campus. Kirunda says this has hampered the students’ ability to engage in meaningful research;
//Cue in: “students are complaining…”
Cue out: “…they want to be done”//
The students vowed only to resume lectures after their grievances have been addressed.
The Campus Guild President, Michael Banya refused to speak on record when asked about the strike.
Attempts to speak to the Centre Director Stephen Odam proved futile because he barricaded himself in his office. When pressed through the office administrator to speak to URN, Odam referred the reporter to the university public relations officer, whose details he refused to disclose.
Attempts to speak to the dean of students from the main Campus, Sr. Margaret Acien also proved unsuccessful as her known phone number was not available.
