KAMPALA, Uganda – October 21, 2025 – A night of violent turmoil at Makerere University’s Mitchell Hall has exposed deep social fissures, pitting student vigilantes against the police and administration, and placing the institution at the center of Uganda’s heated debate over homosexuality.
The incident, which occurred on the night of October 20, began when a group of students from Mitchell Hall identified and assaulted two of their peers, accusing them of engaging in same-sex relationships. According to a student petition and subsequent reports, the mob forced confessions from the suspects and burned their property.
The situation escalated dramatically when police intervened. In a press release dated October 21, the university’s Dean of Students, Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli, confirmed that “police intervened and prevented harm.” However, a detailed letter from the “Concerned Residents of Mitchell Hall” offers a starkly different perspective on the police action, alleging that officers fired “live bullets at unarmed students.”
This claim, if verified, marks a severe escalation in the handling of student disputes at the prestigious university. The students’ letter expresses “deep concern over the unprofessional conduct exhibited by the police,” questioning whether the force’s role has shifted “from keeping law and order to now shooting at unarmed citizens.”
The violence was preceded by a formal petition from the same students to the University Vice Chancellor. Dated October 20, the letter condemned what they termed “gavism” and demanded the university clarify its stance, stating, “we as Mitchell Hall we highly condemn anything or anyone who would like to associate as gay.”
In their petition, the students also raised security concerns, alleging that suspects they identify are routinely released by police back into the population without action. They demanded immediate measures to ensure their safety and accountability for the police officers involved in the shooting.
In response to the crisis, Dean Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli issued a university-wide statement condemning the violence. “Violence of any kind is unacceptable and has no place at Makerere University,” she wrote. “Every member of the University community deserves to live without fear of violence and harassment.”
Dr. Kabumbuli announced that the university has launched a formal investigation and warned that “strict disciplinary action will be taken against those found responsible.”
The event underscores the volatile intersection of cultural conservatism, mob justice, and state authority in Uganda, a country with strict anti-homosexuality laws. As the university administration attempts to restore order and launch its probe, it must now navigate the conflicting claims of students who see themselves as moral crusaders, allegations of excessive police force, and the fundamental right to safety for all students.
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