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80 Makerere University Students Charged

The Monitor (Kampala)
NEWS
November 19, 2004
Posted to the web November 18, 2004

By Lominda Afedraru & Lydia Mukisa
Court

The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate's Court was yesterday thrown into silence as the Chief Magistrate, Ms Margaret Tibulya, read charges to over 80 students who were arrested after the riot at Makerere University on Tuesday.

They were charged with rioting after a proclamation contrary to section 70 of the Penal Code Act.

The court room was filled with many parents and well wishers of the students.

According to the prosecution led by Ms Jane Kajuga, the students were arrested following a demonstration, which started peacefully on Monday evening, after the death of their colleague, Mr Edgar Mukundane who was knocked down by a vehicle on Bombo Road last Friday.

Mukundane, a third year Social Sciences student, was the Off Campus Guild Minister for Lumumba Hall.

The demonstration turned more violent on Tuesday, 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 wanted Kampala City Council (KCC) and the Ministry of Transport, to put humps and zebra crossings along Bombo and Sir Apollo Kaggwa roads.

Of the students who appeared in court, 35 were girls and 45 boys.

They were jointly charged with 20 mechanics of Makerere University Gats Bay Garage, one teacher at Standard High School Kapeka, a painter, a presidential guard brigade soldier, some vendors and a Kenyan National.

They all denied the offence and their lawyer, Mr Charles Dalton Opwonya, asked the magistrate to release them on bail because all of them were doing examinations.

The magistrate granted each of the students bail of Shs 150,000 cash without sureties. By press time, parents were queuing to pay the money at the court's cash office.

According to prosecution the alleged offence was committed on Tuesday at Makerere University campus.

Kajuga told court that investigations into the matter were not complete. The case was adjourned to December 8 for mention.

 
 

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