As we entered the lecture room, Harrison Okethchwinyu, a class mate of mine is dressed in a red gown, and at the entrance, the lecturer surprised asks whether there is a strike. That is when I get to learn that these red gowns are meant for trouble. But is it the real purpose of this undergraduate gown? If not, why would police be alerted when one puts it on while at Makerere University? Davidson Ndyabahika explores why people get paralyzed at the sight of anyone dressed in the red armless gown.

Why the gown?
The undergraduate gown is indeed among the few dresses that keep the ego of Makerere so high. It portrays solidarity, unity and identity of students in Makerere University, according to Stephen Kateega, the University’s deputy dean of students.
“An undergraduate gown was adapted after serious hardships related with telling identifying a student from university staff and non-students,” said Kateega with a glimmer.

The wee-wee dress
Over the years, many people have seen this red gown attain various perceptions ranging from good to bad thoughts. On occasions of strikes/ demonstrations, students are seen marching dressed in their red gowns something that portrays the oneness of the students and the identity in case one moves outside campus.
These gowns according to former guild president, Denis Onekalit, is a tool for uniting students for causes like demonstrations and humbling the university’s untouchables.
“I can not forget the red gowns. They were the only binding factor that would bring students together for a common cause (especially strikes). The sight of the red gowns would humble the university’s untouchables such as Vice Chancellor, Chancellor forcing them to address pending issues urgently,” Oneka was quoted by the Mak@90 magazine as saying.

The ideal role
According to Mr. Kateega, the undergraduate gown should be put on during social events like graduation day, during the sports season, during the cultural gala, during the Independence Day celebrations, porridge nights and any other social event at campus.

Police harassment
However due to the misconception these red attire have naively made some students feel shy and uncomfortable while they have them on.
Ronald Baryatwijuka, a former student of Criminology at CHUSS told Journalism@mak that when students put on this gown and there is any mayhem in campus, the police will always target them.
“When I innocently put on my gown during my second year, the police almost broke my leg despite my efforts to abandon their wrath. I was their target,” he narrated.
According to Amon Bazirake, a second year student of Social and Entrepreneur Forestry Makerere University, gowns easily identify you and in case of any bedlam one lands into trouble.
“When we went for a football match between Mak and Kyambogo and the latter scored two goals, Mak students rammed into the pitch and the fights began there and then. Everyone in a gown was harassed and most of our gowns were burnt,” Bazirake said with disgruntlement.

Turned into night dresses
Partly due to the misconception associated with the undergraduate gown, students have turned them into night dresses, beddings and towels.
Whatever the misconceptions, the gown is undoubtedly remains an immediate identity for the undergraduate Makerereans.