Gulu University Decries Police Inaction After Student's Fatal Attack

A pall of grief and anger has fallen over Gulu University after a second-year student, John Bosco Ngire, was killed in a pre-dawn attack on Saturday. Ngire, who was studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Education, was reportedly struck on the head with a stone by unidentified assailants near the university’s faculty of agriculture and environment.

The university’s Public Relations Officer, James Ojok Onono, did not mince words, stating that the recurring attacks on students highlight a significant lapse in security by Gulu City officials. “I think if the city security team have been sleeping about the security of the students or thought it didn’t matter, they should wake up,” Onono declared, emphasizing the economic importance of the university’s over 7,000 students to the city.

Onono indicated that the university might escalate its concerns to higher authorities, including the Chief of Defence Forces and the President, if the situation does not improve. He also urged students to exercise caution, advising them to travel in groups, especially when using the library facilities which remain open until 10 pm.

Despite the university’s strong stance, investigations into Ngire’s murder are ongoing, with no arrests made yet. Peter Banya, the deputy resident city commissioner for Laroo-Pece Division, cited mobility challenges as a primary obstacle for police and local security offices in effectively responding to crime. He also echoed the call for students to be more vigilant about their personal safety, questioning Ngire’s presence outside at the time of the attack.

This incident echoes a similar tragedy in May, when Christopher Nyeko, a laboratory technician at the university’s health centre, was murdered. These killings have intensified concerns about the safety of the university community, particularly during late-night and early-morning hours. The university management is set to hold an emergency meeting to discuss further security measures.