Sunday September 24, 2017
Police in Uganda have said the 48 suspects arrested protests against plot to scrap presidential age limit will be taken to court next week.
Twenty five Makerere University students were arrested in running battles with police and military police.
AMENDMENT
The students had joined other protestors in different parts of Kampala to demonstrate against the scheme aimed at paving way for President Museveni stand for another term in 2021.
Some MPs allied to the National Resistance Movement, President Museveni’s party, want to amend Article 102(b) of the Constitution that bars anyone above 75 years and below 35 year from contesting for presidency.
Some other 23 suspects were arrested in the Wednesday and Thursday joint operations between police and military in Kasangati, Natete, Ndeeba and Kampala streets.
The 25 Makerere students were still being detained at Wandegeya Police Division on Friday while others were at Kampala Central Police Station.
STONES
Police Spokesperson Asan Kasingye said he was yet to get details on the number of protesters arrested in various parts of the country and referred the daily Monitor to Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Emilian Kayima.
Mr Kayima maintained that police had only 48 suspects, including the 25 Makerere university students.
He said the suspects were being interrogated and would be screened.
“Chaos was only at Makerere and outside Parliament. There was no chaos in other parts of Kampala. We are now interrogating the suspects and those we find culpable shall be taken to court,” Mr Kayima said.
Wandegeya Division police commander Joseph Nsabimana said the students would be taken to court on Monday or Tuesday after their files are ready.
He said police had preferred violence charges against the students because they beat up and stoned civilians and police officers, including him.
DISMISSAL
“I was hit with a stone on my left leg. I am now limping. The stone was thrown from Douglas Villa hostel. They also beat up other civilians. They have to be taken to court to account for their actions. What they did was criminal,” Mr Nsabimana said.
Mr Nsabimana claimed that Makerere University had resolved to dismiss students who orchestrated the ugly protests.
However, the university’s spokesperson Ritah Namisango said she was not aware of any resolution to dismiss students.
At least 20 people, who were arrested on Monday and Tuesday, were by Friday still in Kampala, Nalufenya and Iganga cells.
Ten were detained at CPS, five in Iganga and unspecified number were locked up in Jinja.