Simon Wanyera, commonly referred to as ‘The Revolutionary Son’, says that harsh treatment didn't stop his activism while at Makerere University.

Wanyera is currently at Law Development Centre pursuing a Diploma in Law. While in Makerere University, he was an advocate of just policies. An Education student between 2013-2017, Wanyera is a proud and vibrant Lumumba alumnus and awaits graduation.

With his activism, he always led students’ strikes and met all sort of harsh treatment from police and the university administration.

"I was always on arrest, brutalised and haunted even without reason, but I never stopped my activism. In my first year (2013/2014), I was among the strike frontiers against the graduation fee increment. I was arrested and imprisoned and upon release, I started from where I stopped," he says. In second year, he was shot with a rubber bullet in one of the strikes, and proudly shows his scar.

Wanyera narrates that he was always tortured while in the cells by police, manhandled, and psychologically disturbed in order to stop his activism, but this never yielded results.

In his hall of residence, Wanyera claims that the administration always wished him non-resident, however the custodians were always kind to him, and a place was always secured for him under disguise.

Wanyera also reveals that when things got tough at Lumumba, especially when police was hunting for him, he would take refuge in Mary Stuart.

A female student who preferred anonymity, a resident of Mary Stuart hall, said she and her roommates used to hide Wanyera in their room for those nights and days he would be wanted by police. She stressed that their gesture was not just out of the Lumbox solidarity or friendship, but they knew that Wanyera was fighting for justice and fairness despite all harshness.

Wanyera says the mistreatment also extended to his academic life. "In 2016/2017, I wanted to contest for Guild President, however, I was deliberately given a retake, my results posted on Facebook, taken to Ministry of Education, State House and District Police Commander. The administration tried dialogue with me that I be nominated on condition of ending strikes and activism, but I would not trade myself,” he adds.

‘The Revolutionary Son’ says that dream went into limbo, but he became the GRC School of Education and was appointed the Academic Minister in the 83^rd Guild cabinet. Even here, he continued with his activism, using the guild ministerial position as a platform against 60% tuition increase, poor food, among others.

Back home, his family especially the father was disillusioned and developed hate towards Wanyera for his conduct.

Amos Byamukama, the custodian Lumumba Hall said that Wanyera was a very social, calm and humble student besides his activism. He noted that what people didn't know was that Wanyera was among the disciplined Lumumbists who only became aggressive with a cause.

Despite finishing the Bachelor's Degree in Education, Wanyera thinks that the Diploma in Law will help him best in activism against injustice in society.