Today, we rally our voices not in fear, but in solidarity. We call on all defenders of justice, human rights, and freedom of expression to speak up and keep this issue in the public eye.
Use your voice. Share the message. Demand accountability.
#FreeTabz
@SimonKaggwaNjal@KlaArchdiocese They know it's a lease. They know it expired. They know the landlord. They aren't illiterates.
They are crying to the minister, Uganda olemwa.
On Boxing Day, this @Makerere X handle issued "a clarification" about me claiming, that signing off my articles in The Observer as “a political theorist based at Makerere University,” was misleading. That I was “not enrolled nor currently based at MUK,” except only as an alumnus. (Funny to enjoy being associated with me, while denying me at the same time). Although I think this is the work of a single overzealous, panicky individual, a clarification is in order:
1. The claim is false: While I have a PhD from elsewhere, I’m officially a PhD student of Makerere – a relationship supported by a court ruling of June 2020, where, after years of court battles, I beat Makerere in matters relating to the supervision of my PhD. To this day, MUK hasn't implemented ruling. Even mbabanja UGX25m & my lawyers about 300m in costs!
2. This is the third time such a clarification is being issued. It all began when my editors at The Observer editors were quietly lobbied to drop the bio. Then clarifications & press releases. I know the idea is to undermine my activism & public commentary through malice and characters assassination. It is the name of the game, but this will all be added to the ongoing court process. It is costly to the public purse.
3. Look, impersonation is a criminal matter. Instead of issuing one clarification after another, you could simply take this matter to court.
4. Whoever is in charge of the MUK X-handle needs to be cautioned: They are posting politics – on a public holiday – using the official social media handle of our institute. This has major moral and financial implications.
5. Dear Makerere University community, I’m critical of Museveni’s government – & oftentimes our institution itself – bse I love this country too much to sit back and watch. I’m sure many colleagues at MUK feel the overbearing weight of the state. Self-preservation or ingratiating ourselves to abusive power will not save us. We all ought to stand up together. This country can work better for all of us. MUK can be better. The university used to be the place that spoke truth to power. If you cannot stand up, at least, quietly, cheer on those still giving MUK the identity of a university.
Yusuf Serunkuma, PhD – currently based at MUK.
(Photo – with a comrade, DVCAA, Prof. Sarah Ssali).