The prosecution stated that on November 11, 2024, the accused gathered at Parliamentary Avenue, causing disruption and inconvenience by holding an unauthorized demonstration in the road while displaying placards and banners opposing the oil pipeline. The protest caused a standstill in traffic and disrupted work in the area.
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Accused Kyambogo University Students Appearing before the Court.
The Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court has remanded 14 students from Kyambogo University and one from Makerere University Business School following their protest against the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Project at Parliamentary Avenue.
The students, identified as Simon Peter Wafula, Gary Wettaka, Martin Sserwambala, Erick Ssekandi, Arafat Mawanda, Akram Katende, Dedo Sean Kevin, Noah Katiti, Oscar Nuwagaba, Oundo Hamphrance, Bernard Mutenyo, Nicholas Pele, Shadiah Nabukenya, Shafiq Kalyango, and Mark Makoba from MUBS, were presented before Grade One Magistrate Sanula Nambozo. They faced charges of being a common nuisance.
The prosecution stated that on November 11, 2024, the accused gathered at Parliamentary Avenue, causing disruption and inconvenience by holding an unauthorized demonstration in the road while displaying placards and banners opposing the oil pipeline. The protest caused a standstill in traffic and disrupted work in the area.
Police officer Gonzaga Ssemanda, the complainant, testified that he heard the protesters chanting slogans against crude oil exploitation around 9:30 am and commanded officers, including Sergeant Kasowole, to arrest them. The students were detained and charged at the Central Police Station.
In court, the students denied the charges. They appeared with some of them shirtless, having lost access to their belongings, including dismantled phones. The Magistrate advised them to apply for bail but set their remand until November 26, 2024, as none had sureties present.
One student pleaded for a shorter remand period, citing imminent university exams, but the magistrate maintained the date. State Attorney Allan Mucunguzi mentioned that investigations were ongoing.
This case is part of ongoing protests against the $3.5 billion EACOP project, which will transport crude oil from Uganda’s Albertine region to Tanzania’s Tanga seaport. The project has faced criticism over delayed compensations for affected persons and secretive agreements. Despite a European Union resolution against the pipeline, President Yoweri Museveni has insisted it will proceed as planned.
