Gulu University authorities and security officials have urged students to avoid walking alone at night, excessive alcohol consumption and late-night outings following the killing of a second-year student in an attack near the institution.
John Bosco Ngire, who was pursuing a Bachelor of Education in Humanities, was reportedly attacked by unknown assailants at about 4 a.m. on October 10 while returning to his hostel after a night out.
The attackers allegedly hit him with a stone before stealing his mobile phone in the neighbourhood surrounding the university campus. The circumstances surrounding his killing remain under investigation.
Ngire’s death has renewed concerns about student safety around the university, coming less than five months after Christopher Nyeko, a laboratory technician at the institution, was attacked and killed in May.
The incidents prompted university officials, security agencies, student leaders and local authorities to convene a meeting on Tuesday to discuss measures to address the recurring attacks.
Speaking at the meeting, Vice-Chancellor Professor George Ladaah Openjuru condemned the killings and called on security agencies to strengthen patrols around the university and neighbouring communities to protect students, staff and other residents.
He warned that the university could consider alternative interventions if the security agencies failed to address the persistent attacks. However, he cautioned students and the public against taking the law into their own hands, saying the institution did not want to promote mob justice.
Openjuru also raised concerns about alcohol consumption and drug abuse among students, observing that the demand for alcohol had contributed to the growth of drinking establishments in areas surrounding the campus.
He said some students who go out to socialise remain at entertainment venues until the early hours of the morning, leaving themselves vulnerable to attacks as they return to their hostels.
The Vice-Chancellor advised students who visit entertainment spots at night to travel back in groups of at least five rather than walking alone. He said the university would engage security agencies and operators of entertainment establishments to explore ways of improving safety around popular nightlife areas.
Openjuru further cautioned students against trusting strangers who pose as fellow students, lecturers or other members of the university community to gain access to hostels and steal property.
Gulu Resident City Commissioner Ambrose Onoria also urged students to prioritise their education and exercise caution when engaging in nightlife activities, alcohol consumption and sexual relationships, warning that risky behaviour could expose them to security threats and interfere with their academic progress.
Onoria said investigations into criminal incidents in Gulu City had repeatedly shown that many victims were attacked at night, particularly while returning home after watching football matches or drinking alcohol.
He described Ngire’s killing as unfortunate and pledged that security would be reinforced to protect students and residents in the surrounding communities.
The commissioner also announced that a police patrol pickup vehicle dedicated to the university was expected to be ready in November to strengthen security operations and improve response to incidents around the institution.
Gulu University Guild President Pius Onekgiu acknowledged the importance of personal security precautions but called on security agencies to take greater responsibility for addressing attacks against members of the university community.
“Whereas there are personal measures and security is a personal responsibility, and as much as institutional measures exist, safety of students is a state responsibility, a fundamental responsibility that falls under you who represent the President,” Onekgiu told security representatives.
He said students wanted an environment where they could attend lectures and return to their hostels without fear of being attacked. He added that improving security would also reassure parents and guardians concerned about the safety of their children at the university.
University Secretary David Obol Otori criticised security agencies for what he described as delays in providing updates on investigations into the May killing of laboratory technician Christopher Nyeko.
He said the lack of timely feedback had increased anxiety within the university community and raised questions about the effectiveness of security measures around the institution.
Otori said the university also planned to engage hostel owners and managers to encourage the installation of closed-circuit television cameras and security lighting to improve surveillance and deter criminal activity.
Gulu University has a student population of more than 10,000, many of whom live in privately operated hostels and rented accommodation within and outside the university premises.
The latest killing has intensified calls for coordinated action by the university, police, local authorities, hostel operators and students to improve security in the areas surrounding the campus.
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