The Police have condemned the mode of protest exhibited by Dr. Stella Nyanzi a researcher at Makerere University’s Institute of Social Research, through stripping naked in public.
Superintendent Jackson Mucunguzi the Chief Security Officer Makerere said it was regrettable that a learned Professor could strip naked saying it sets a bad example.
“It is true stripping naked is a form of demonstrating peacefully but in the African setting, it is horrible and shaming. It contravenes with our culture,” said the police officer. “She could set a precedent for students to also follow suit.”
Asked about the allegation that Police didn’t offer protection when Dr. Stella needed it, Mucunguzi denied the claim saying they had no knowledge about it.
“We received information this morning that a certain Professor was threatening to undress in protest. As it seems, they (Stella and Mamdani) are fighting over space.”
“She didn’t inform us as police about her oppression. She alleges we side with Mamdani (the head of the institute who locked her out) but that’s not true because police protects everyone including her. If anything as you can see we came here to protect her and now her office is open.”
Dr. Stella Nyanzi’s office has since been opened following her protest together with students of MISR.
Mucunguzi said the Police will get the official communication from University on whether permanent or temporary.
We condemn injustice but we equally condemn the act of such extreme public protest. Prof. Edward Kirumira the Principal College of Humanities said the issue will be handled internally after which the university will release a formal statement.