Police in Kampala have confirmed the arrest of Kassada County MP Hon. Kabuye Frank over the death of a university student killed during Makerere University Guild campaigns.
According to Police, Kabuye led a group of rowdy students who instigated violence during the campaigns, that led to the death of the student. Police says during the campaigns between two Political party supporters, the deceased was stabbed by students allegedly led by Hon. Kabuye among others.
Makerere University council has suspended the election of students’ guild leadership the victim was stabbed during a scuffle between supporters of two opposition parties.
The deceased Michael Betungura Bewatte, a law student at Uganda Christian University -UCU, and resident of Kikoni, Makerere, died during campaigns on Thursday at the university Rugby Grounds where the NUP candidate was holding his last rally.
A fight ensued between supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) guild candidate Lawrence Alionzi alias Dangote and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate Justus Tukamushaba.
It is alleged that the FDC supporters tried to forcefully make their way into the University Rugby grounds where their NUP counterparts were holding a last rally , ahead of elections on Friday.
The FDC supporters reportedly pelted stones and broken beer bottles at NUP supporters during the rally at 8:30pm prompting retaliation from them.
Some students allege that the deceased hurled insults at members of the NUP prompting someone within the crowd to stab him with a broken bottle. He was stabbed on the neck and his assailant disappeared without being noticed.
Luke Owoyesigyire, the Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson says Hon Kabuye was leading a team from the National Unity Platform party, when the deceased was stabbed.
Owoyesigyire says Police arrived at the scene and tried to disperse the crowds, however, it was already late for the deceased as blood stains believed to be his were found at Nsibirwa Hall where he hid after the scuffle that led to his stabbing.
The victim who was bleeding profusely ran to Nsibirwa hall bathrooms to clean the blood but it was too late. He was later rushed to the University hospital but he had lost a lot of blood. He was pronounced dead moments they at the hospital.
He says the suspects in custody include; Hon. Kabuye Frank currently at CPS Kampala, Ssekidde Allan at Wandegeya police station and Kabuurwa Muzafaru who is detained at old Kampala police station.
He says the body of the deceased was conveyed to city mortuary Mulago for Postmortem from Makerere hospital where he succumbed to the wound.
“We have cordoned off the area, statements are still being recorded and CCTV footage will be retrieved to aid in the ongoing investigations. More details will be availed as soon as they are available.’says Owoyesigyire
Following this, the university council canceled the elections slated for today.
The council chairperson, Lorna Magara made the announcement in a letter addressed to the Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe and copied to the Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, her deputy Thomas Tayebwa and the First Lady, Janet Museveni who doubles as the Minister of Education and Sports.
She states that the 88th Makerere university students’ guild leadership were suspended indefinitely due to the violent events that had reportedly characterized the electoral 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.
“The victim who was bleeding profusely is said to have run to Nsibirwa hall bathrooms to clean the blood but it was too late.
“We tied a cloth around his neck but it couldn’t help. We had to rush him to the University hospital but he had lost a lot of blood. He was pronounced dead moments after we arrived at the hospital,” he added.
Photos and video footages seen by this reporter showed a pool of blood on the floor of the bathroom where the victim is said to have tried to clean himself before he passed out and was rushed to the health facility. More gruesome photos also showed the victims face covered in blood as he lay on a bed at the health facility.
