KAMPALA, Uganda
14 students of Kyambogo University and one from Makerere University Business School (Mubs) have been remanded by Buganda Road Chief Magistrate's court over their protest against the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project.
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 remanded by grade one magistrate Sanula Nambozo.
The prosecution stated that on
November 11, 2024, the accused gathered at Parliamentary Avenue, causing
disruption and inconvenience by holding an unauthorized demonstration on 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 at around 9:30 am and commanded officers, including Sergeant Kasowole, to arrest them.
In court, the students denied
the common nuisance 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 as none of them 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.
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