Members of the UCU community must exercise a high level of cooperation and vigilance if we are to avert potential terrorist acts in and around campus, the university’s Security Foreman, Joachim Serugoba has advised.

“We have beefed up security checks and everyone entering the university must carry something to identify him/herself. Each university staff or visitor must carry a valid ID, but a student can present either a university ID, Library Card, Registration Card or Meal Card,” Serugoba said.
“I urge the community to be cooperative, cautious and vigilant. Let’s not look at these security measures as an inconvenience, but means of safeguarding our lives. A terrorist does not necessarily have to be an outsider. Anybody; staff or student can be used by terrorist groups to carry out the act,” he added.
UCU’s gate check policy got tighter following the July 11 twin bomb blasts in Kampala, but Serugoba hinted that they had received prior instructions from security personnel in Mukono and Kampala Metropolitan area to implement tighter security measures.
Accordingly, Serugoba says his team has since been equipped with enough skills and tips to detect potentially dangerous items and people.
“We have learnt that terrorists are smart people. They might not necessarily come with assembled bombs, but substances that are used to assemble it. For this reason, we have and will remain vigilant in our searches. We shall search in people’s bags, cars, etc and check out for all those sharp items like razor blades, nails, bicycle balls, powder,” Serugoba said.
“We haven’t yet netted any suspicious persons or items, but that is not a guarantee that we will be safe tomorrow. We, however, promise to do our best and request anyone who sees any suspicious object or person to tip us immediately,” he added.
In an earlier interview, one of the university’s guards said the new security measure has encountered challenges particularly because of staff and students’ reluctance to carry IDs and lack of automatic detectors especially to check members of the opposite sexes with whom guards must not make physical contacts at check points.
However, Serugoba has assured the community that the university administration has responded positively to these concerns saying they will soon acquire handheld detectors and other gadgets will be introduced whenever possible.
On July 11, suicide bombers attacked Kyadondo Rugby Club and Ethiopian Restaurant in Kampala, killing tens of football fans who were watching World Cup final match between Netherlands and Spain.
Latest media figures put death toll at 85 and Al Shabab, a Somali terror group with linkage to Osama Bin Ladden has since claimed responsibility for the attack.
The incident has led to tighter security control across the country.