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A riot case against Makerere University students was yesterday set for hearing on January 5, 2005.
Buganda Road Chief Magistrate, Ms Margaret Tibulya, fixed the case for hearing following the completion of investigations in the matter.
Last month, 118 students were arrested and charged following a demonstration, which started peacefully after the death of their colleague, Mr Edgar Mukundane, who was knocked down by a speeding vehicle along Bombo Road.
Mukundane, a third year Social Sciences' student, was the Off Campus Guild Minister for Lumumba Hall.
The demonstration took an ugly twist after news filtered in at campus that three other students, Ms Rose Kawarachi, Ms Norah Namuli and Ms Scovia Kangayi had also been knocked by a vehicle on Sir Apollo Kagwa Road and were in critical condition at Mulago Hospital.
The students demanded that Kampala City Council (KCC) and the Ministry of Transport to put humps and zebra crossings along Bombo and Sir Apollo Kaggwa Roads.
The students denied the charges and were granted bail.
However, five of them failed to pay the Shs150,000 bail and were sent on remand pending the disposal of the case.
Tibulya issued criminal summons against 29 students who did not appear in court and ordered them to appear in court on January 5, without fail.
They were charged with rioting after a proclamation contrary to section 70 of the Penal Code Act. They were jointly charged with mechanics of Makerere University Gats Bay Garage, a teacher at Standard High School Kapeka and a painter of the Presidential Guard Brigade.
In December 1990, police killed a student during a similar riot at Makerere, prompting the replacement of the Police chief.
The government vowed to introduce rubber bullets for riot control. Two years ago another student, Higenyi, was killed by police with live ammunition during the UPC demonstration in front of Uganda House.
The officer in charge of the operation was later probed and cleared of wrongdoing.
The Inspector General of Police Maj. Gen. Katumba Wamala was then called upon to probe the shooting.
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