Former Makerere graduate murder case deferred

By Farooq Kasule

THE Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s court has adjourned the case in which three Makerere University students are charged with the murder of a former student of the university.

David Otim Ojok was killed by the Nkurumah Hall mob on April 12 this year suspecting him to be a thief.

The accused include the chairman of Nkurumah Hall, Marvin Mutungi, as the main suspect in the matter.

Others are Martin Atukwase, 21, and Derrick Wagoli, 23, all residents of Nkurumah Hall.

On Thursday, the Buganda Road Court presided over by the senior principal grade one magistrate Pamella Ocaya remanded the trio to Luzira Prison after prosecution led by state attorney Peter Mugisha told court that investigations in the matter are ongoing.

The case was adjourned to May 19 for mention.

The suspects were not allowed to take plea in the matter because the court lacked jurisdictions to try the case since they are charged with a capital offence that is only tried by High Court.

Prosecution alleges that on April 12, this year, while at Nkurumah Hall at Makerere University, the trio and others still on the run, attacked David Otim Ojok, beat him up, leaving him unconscious suspecting him to be a thief.

Ojok, a graduate of computer science who had gone to demand his money from one of the Nkurumah residents worth sh500,000 died on April 13 at Mulago Referral Hospital where he had been admitted. He was buried three days later at his ancestral home in Kolkil village, Pader district.

According to the police spokesperson Fred Enanga, the police are still hunting 12 more students who are said to have been among the group who beat Ojok.

“We have already spotted 12 more students who are said to have engaged in the murder of their colleague and are yet to be arrested and arraigned before court” Enanga said.