Three students from Nkumba University were yesterday arrested for inciting violence that left one of the lecturers, Prof. Mwiru Mubi injured. The arrested students include Ronald Mukiibi, David Mulero and Lillian Onyango who were sent behind bars for planning and executing a protest at the university premises.
The arrested scholars were challenging results of the Saturday guild elections that saw Byron Luswata emerge winner of the race. The third-year law student won with 205 votes against his closest rival Timothy Obua, a second-year student of social sciences, who secured 203 votes. The two candidates were both people power diehards.
Others in the race were Darius Agaba who got 161 votes, Isaac Lodu 139 votes, Josephine Namatovu 103 votes and Marvin Lwanga who got 41 votes. Eight votes were invalid.
Obua’s camp demanded re-election, a request that led to violence immediately after the declaration of results. Members of the electoral commission were locked inside one of the rooms at campus as angry students from the aggrieved party pelted stones all over the place.
The violent crowd was dispersed by police using teargas, however, no arrests were made on that day, until yesterday when the three were netted.
According to Christopher Kasasa, the university dean of students, controversy was mainly on two ballots that were reported missing. However, when they were found, one was classified as invalid while the other was misplaced in another box.
“The Monday fracas was led by Paddy Awany and his fellows who are former students but I can assure you that we’re going to arrest them,” the dean of students said.
The dissatisfied group stormed the university yesterday protesting against the results until when police, with the help of university officials arrested them. Others are currently on the run but police continues to hunt for them.
