Female Makerere university protest leader suffers memory loss

Siperia Ssasirabo Mollie, a hospitalized Makerere University student who led the anti-tuition increment protest last week is suffering from a memory relapse.

Mollie who is also the guild representative councilor for the School of Psychology was attacked last Wednesday night near Complex Hall before being admitted to Mengo Hospital.

Currently, the third year student is still traumatized following the ordeal.

According to her close friend, Mollie is in unstable state and whenever someone talks about the strike, she loses control.

“When someone brings up the demonstration topic, she says she is scared, that someone is following her and this all because of the physical torture and abuse from her tormentors,” reveled one of her friends who got a chance to see Mollie in hospital.

Due to her situation, friends and some family members are being prohibited from seeing her.

“A good number of friends and family members are not allowed to see her. Even her caretakers are allowed in at regulated times in order to enable her memory to stabilize.”

Mollie is among the 15 female students who were handed letters of suspension from the university for allegedly inciting violence.

“I received a letter from the Vice Chancellor Makerere University; Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe suspending me from the institution,” said Mollie before she was attacked last week.

“Looking at this letter while my legs were coiled in one of the corners of the police cell with the comfort of the stench and cold floor, I pondered on how an innocent girl who can’t harm even a fly could have incited violence in the University she dearly loves!”

The students are protesting against the 15 per cent cumulative tuition increment, which is being implemented as part of a policy, passed by the University Council in June 2018.