Makerere University Suspends Guild Elections After Top Campaigner Was Stabbed To Death

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Makerere University Suspends Guild Elections After Top Campaigner Was Stabbed To Death

By Uganda Online Media

Kampala; Makerere University Council has announced the suspension of the 88th Students Guild leadership and this year’s elections following the death of one of the top campaigners in the hotly contested race.

The murder in cold blood of one Batungura Bewotti, a Law student at Uganda Christian University Mukono who had gone to solicit support for his friend Justus Tukamushaba the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has the university under massive unrest thus the suspension.

According to police, the incident took place yesterday evening during the last guild Presidential open campaigns at rugby grounds Makerere University.

”It is alleged that during the campaigns a scuffle ensued between two Political party supporters that resulted in the stabbing of the deceased by students who were allegedly led by Hon. Kabuye Frank among others” Police Confirmed in a statement.

The Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed that Police were informed and upon reaching the scene we found blood stains believed to be for the deceased inside Nsibirwa Hall where he hid there after the scuffle that led to his stabbing.

”We have arrested three people whom we believe were part of the chaos. These are; Hon. Kabuye Frank who is detained at CPS Kampala, Ssekidde Allan currently detained at Wandegeya police station and Kabuurwa Muzafaru who is detained at old Kampala police station,” Owoyesigyire noted.

The Guild Electoral Commission had organized Friday 15th July as a voting day for Makerere university students to choose their leaders for the new Guild Government.

The suspension has been announced via a notice issued by the chairperson of Makerere University Council, Lorna Magara in a letter she addressed to the University Vice-chancellor where she cited several chaotic incidents associated with guild campaigns.

“Makerere University Council is appalled by the violent events that have characterized the electoral campaigns for the 88th Students Guild leadership, which resulted in the loss of the life of one of the young people participating in the campaign activities,” Magara noted.

“The University Management and Council have repeatedly raised concerns about the persistent cases of indiscipline and violent altercations among members of the Students Guild and the Students Senior Common Room, which often resulted in damage to University property and injury to University Students and staff,” She added.

“Management and the Council have repeatedly engaged the Student leaders at the Guild and SCR levels to address the violent behavior, but the engagements have not yielded any improvements,’’ Magara further states adding, “The ongoing elections for the 88th Makerere University Students Guild leadership are suspended indefinitely.”

The Council has also suspended with immediate effect the guild leadership and this suspension includes the Guild Care Taker Government and the Students Common Room too.

”Management shall investigate all cases of violence in the electoral campaigns for the 88th Students Guild leadership and report to the Council for appropriate action,” says Magara adding, ”The Council will convene in an emergency meeting on Friday 15th July 2022 to consider further actions to address student indiscipline and violence at the University.”

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