Uganda's Makerere University plans to install closed-circuit television cameras around the campus after multiple claims of sexual harassment and assault, allegedly by teachers.

Over the past several years, instructors have been accused of luring female students to private meeting so often in closed rooms — to discuss their allegedly low grades. In some cases, the instructors are accused of offering the students better grades in exchange for sex.

The Makerere University Report on the Investigation of Sexual Harassment cited a "culture of impunity that surrounds sexual harassment and rape at the university thus allows for the vice to thrive."

This has frustrated students, especially women who sometimes prefer to keep silent about incidents of sexual harassment.

Lizel Muwaya is a second-year journalism and communication student at Makerere University.

She said several students have not reported sexual harassment cases because they are poorly handled by the university authorities.

"The lecturers that are doing this, that have been reported, why aren't they being acted upon? They are tarnishing the images of other lecturers. I believe that we still have good lecturers in this university because I have seen them much as we also have those predators," Muwaya said. "But it is up to the university authorities to make sure they are dealing with these cases but they have decided to ignore them."

Makerere University has an anti-sexual harassment policy that mandates tough punishments for perpetrators. They include suspension, demotion, a written warning, and the ordering of a public apology or compensation to the aggrieved student.

However, some students says the long-standing policy has not been implemented to prevent harassment or hold the perpetrators accountable.

The university created a committee to investigate the claims and suggest reforms. After a four-month probe, the committee released its findings this week.

The panel recommended that video cameras be strategically placed to monitor meetings between professors and students. It also urged the institution review its record-keeping systems to verify grades.

The committee has given the university council one year to ensure the cameras are installed and that adequate lighting is provided throughout the campus.

University Vice Chancellor Barnabas Nawangwe, a professor, said closed-circuit television (CCTV) "cameras are good and we have a program of installing them. It is something we intend to do. But I don't think that CCTV cameras by themselves will stop the vice. I think the most important thing is to have a zero tolerance policy and to enforce it."

Phiona Kokoi, a student representative at the university, said she is optimistic the cameras will help end impunity by filming any physical harassment by lecturers against young women.

"I happened to move into so many offices of the lecturers and I didn't see any cameras there," Kokoi said. "So probably if the university can make sure that we have cameras in each and every office of the lecturers, that will provide some evidence."

Florence Nakazi, another student, said she wants cameras placed in every room where students and lecturers discuss grades. She suggests a central place to hold all discussions about grades and schoolwork.

The administration of President Donald Trump said on Monday it will review Columbia University's federal contracts and grants over allegations of antisemitism, which it says the educational institution has shown inaction in tackling.

Rights advocates note rising antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias since U.S. ally Israel's devastating military assault on Gaza began after Palestinian Hamas militants' deadly October 2023 attack.

The Justice Department said a month ago it formed a task force to fight antisemitism. The U.S. Departments of Health and Education and the General Services Administration jointly made the review announcement on Monday.

"The Federal Government's Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is considering Stop Work Orders for $51.4 million in contracts between Columbia University and the Federal Government," the joint statement said.

The agencies said no contracting actions had been taken yet.

"The task force will also conduct a comprehensive review of the more than $5 billion in federal grant commitments to Columbia University."

The agencies did not respond to requests for comment on whether there were similar reviews over allegations of Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias.

Columbia had no immediate comment. It previously said it made efforts to tackle antisemitism.

College protests

Trump has signed an executive order to combat antisemitism and pledged to deport non-citizen college students and others who took part in pro-Palestinian protests.

Columbia was at the center of college protests in which demonstrators demanded an end to U.S. support for Israel due to the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's assault on Gaza. There were allegations of antisemitism and Islamophobia in protests and counter-protests.

During last summer's demonstrations around the country, classes were canceled, some university administrators resigned and student protesters were suspended and arrested.

While the intensity of protests has decreased in recent months, there were some demonstrations last week in New York after the expulsion of two students at Columbia University-affiliated Barnard College and after New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered the removal of a Palestinian studies job listing at Hunter College.

A third student at Barnard College has since been expelled, this one related to the occupation of the Hamilton Hall building at Columbia last year.

The Trump administration is opening new investigations into allegations of antisemitism at five U.S. universities including Columbia and the University of California, Berkeley, the Education Department announced Monday.

It's part of President Donald Trump's promise to take a tougher stance against campus antisemitism and deal out harsher penalties than the Biden administration, which settled a flurry of cases with universities in its final weeks. It comes the same day the Justice Department announced a new task force to root out antisemitism on college campuses.

In an order signed last week, Trump called for aggressive action to fight anti-Jewish bias on campuses, including the deportation of foreign students who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests.

Along with Columbia and Berkeley, the department is now investigating the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University and Portland State University. The cases were opened using the department's power to launch its own civil rights reviews, unlike the majority of investigations, which stem from complaints.

Messages seeking comment were left with all five universities.
A statement from the Education Department criticized colleges for tolerating antisemitism after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and a wave of pro-Palestinian protests that followed. It also criticized the Biden administration for negotiating "toothless" resolutions that failed to hold schools accountable.

"Today, the Department is putting universities, colleges, and K-12 schools on notice: this administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the wellbeing of Jewish students on American campuses," said Craig Trainor, the agency's acting assistant secretary for civil rights.

The department didn't provide details about the inquiries or how it decided which schools are being targeted. Presidents of Columbia and Northwestern were among those called to testify on Capitol Hill last year as Republicans sought accountability for allegations of antisemitism. The hearings contributed to the resignation of multiple university presidents, including Columbia's Minouche Shafik.

An October report from House Republicans accused Columbia of failing to punish pro-Palestinian students who took over a campus building, and it called Northwestern's negotiations with student protesters a "stunning capitulation."

House Republicans applauded the new investigations. Representative Tim Walberg, chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, said he was "glad that we finally have an administration who is taking action to protect Jewish students."

Trump's order also calls for a full review of antisemitism complaints filed with the Education Department since Oct. 7, 2023, including pending and resolved cases from the Biden administration. It encourages the Justice Department to take action to enforce civil rights laws.

Last week's order drew backlash from civil rights groups who said it violated First Amendment rights that protect political speech.

The new task force announced Monday includes the Justice and Education departments along with Health and Human Services.

"The Department takes seriously our responsibility to eradicate this hatred wherever it is found," said Leo Terrell, assistant attorney general for civil rights. "The Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is the first step in giving life to President Trump's renewed commitment to ending anti-Semitism in our schools."

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