PHOTO: Kabale University. (Courtesy)
One of Uganda’s public institutions, Kabale University has banned Christian students from organizing prayer meetings on campus.
According to Uganda Radio Network (URN), the institution’s administration also cautioned faith leaders against stepping in the university for evangelical activity.
On Sunday, a section of students defied the directive and organized prayers in one of the tents in the university compound.
URN reports that towards the end of the prayer meeting, police under the command of George William Okello, the Officer-in-Charge of Kabale University Police Post surrounded the students and ordered them not to conduct any other mass within the precincts of the campus.
In a statement to URN, Novias Naturinda, the chairperson of the Catholic Chapel at Kabale University said that she first heard of the ban as a rumour but was surprised when police intercepted an ongoing prayer gathering in the university compound on Sunday.
The institution’s administration prefers that students attend worship services from general churches in the surrounding area.
ASP Okello says “as long as the ban stays, nobody will be allowed to further conduct worship within the university premises.”
“I am only implementing a decision by the university management,” Okello was quoted as saying.
Naturinda told URN the ban is uncalled for because “holding prayers at the university gives students a chance to directly consume a suitable message from God.”
Christian students against the new directive urge that there is a long-distance between the University and Churches within the district. That aside, they also contend that the directive was issued by the University “without giving written reasons.”
Naturinda told URN that many students are ready to defy the ban.
Speaking to media, Kenneth Bikoryomuhangi, a second-year student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in education said fellow students “will not allow their freedom of worship to be infringed upon. “
“The University cannot survive without God’s hand,” Mercy Kiconco, another concerned student told URN.
The institution’s leadership is yet to speak out in this development, URN says.
A report by the Daily Monitor shows that Kabale university was started in 2002 by a group of individuals including retired Justice Prof George Kanyeihamba, Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, and director National Teachers College Mr Benjamin Turyahikayo.
It was gazzeted a public university in 2015 on request of local leadership and founders.
