Students at the Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR) on Monday joined Dr. Stella Nyanzi in demonstration against what they termed as oppression and reign of threat imposed by the Institute’s head Prof. Mahmood Mamdani.
The group of students told the press that Prof. Mamdani’s actions have in the past led several of their colleagues to lose scholarships and others getting low grades that don’t match with their performance.
Sabatho Nyamsenda a third year PhD student at MISR while speaking to Chimpreports revealed that students who have come out to oppose the administration have been intimidated or suffered unnecessary repercussions.
“Some of the students have not been given supervisors for their thesis and others lost scholarships in very dubious ways. The institute lacks structures and policies have been changed eventually raising minimum points.”
Nyamsenda added that students previously had representation on the Academic Board of MISR but their slots have since scrapped.
Dr. Stella Nyanzi whose office was locked by Prof. Mahmood Mamdani last week
Bernard Bacha lost a scholarship due to his firm stand against the way affairs were being run while he was a Sports and Entertainment leader.
“When I lost the scholarship, I appealed through the College of Humanities and Social Sciences for a review process but it was ignored. As a result I was evicted from my room of residence. This protest isn’t about just Dr. Nyanzi but students too,” Bacha told journalists
Among other concerns by students is the wide scale exodus of the teaching staff at MISR and the mass recruitment of new instructors who lack background to the issues affecting the institute. Students claim that this has affected their efforts to challenge the status quo.
Noosim Naimasiah, a fifth year PhD student at MISR
She attests to the fact that most students enrolled at the Institute drawing inspiration from Prof. Mamdani’s works and his unwavering position against political oppression.
“However, he has since changed. He’s no longer the Mamdani that advocated for justice for all. He reigns with fear and everybody now is scared of being victimized,” Naimasiah explained to journalists.
While on the surface, the weeklong MISR controversy appears to be majorly tied on Dr. Stella Nyanzi and her senior, Prof. Mamdani, the concerns raised by students point to a broader possible problem. An institutional breakdown where there’s seemingly persisted absence of a hierarchy of administration.
Our efforts to reach Prof. Mamdani both physically and on phone were fruitless.
The university Vice Chancellor on Monday in response to the issue said a committee was to be formed to investigate into the issues surrounding MISR.