Female students must be vigilant about their environment including close friends, if they are to fight sexual harassment. The advice was given by the OC Makerere University Police Station, Nickson Okello during a conference on preventing sexual violence against women and girls.

Okello told the participants that knowing close friends well helps to avoid risky behavior, but also protect the girls from friends who might want to take advantage of them.

"Do you know your neighbours?  Do you know your peers? This is where sexual harassment begins. Watch yourselves," Okello told the girls at campus.

Dr. Sylivia Tamale from Law School was the Guest of Honour and encouraged victims and survivors to report these cases immediately to the authorities as a means of curbing any form of harassment among women.

"Victims and survivors should report to authorities if this problem is to be fought," said Dr Tamale.

Kokoi Phiona, the Deputy Guild President encouraged women to cooperate in the fight against harassment, not only in the university but countrywide.

The conference was organized under the theme "violence against women and girls" by Center for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIP) in conjunction with School of Women and Gender Studies.

Bad touches and sexual harassment were revealed as the commonest forms of harassment which female students must keep a keen eye on and report the perpetrators to police.