Makerere University murder suspects denied bail

By Farooq Kasule                                                     

Kampala High Court has rejected a bail application by three Makerere University students charged with the murder of their counterpart, David Otim Ojok.

On Friday, Justice Atwooki Rugadya of Kampala high court ruled that a key ground for granting the accused bail was to allow them sit their exams, however he was informed that the accused are writing their exams from Luzira prison comfortably.

“I was informed by prosecution that the accused are sitting their exams; I am hereby dismissing the applicants’ bail application” he said.

He further evoked them of their constitutional right of appeal within 14 days after his ruling.

This followed the state attorney’s objection to the applicants’ plea, saying the trio who include the chairperson of Nkrumah Hall Ivan Mutungi, Marvin Atukwase and Derrick Wakhooli were writing their exams from Luzira prison.

Esther Nalungi also presented a letter from Makerere University written to the Commissioner General of Prisons, Johnson Byabashaija seeking permission to allow the students sit their exams.

The students are now set to appear before the Buganda Road Court Grade One magistrate Pamela Ocaya on June 4 for mention of their case since investigations in the matter are ongoing.

Once the police investigations are complete, they will be committed to the High Court for trial since they were charged with a capital offence.

The trio is accused of participating in a mob at the university’s campus that beat up David Ojok after mistaking him for a thief. The victim died later in hospital.

He had reportedly gone to Nkrumah to demand his money from one of the resident students. Students who were close to Ojok said the debtor whom they declined to name, had on several occasions dodged him whenever Ojok came to ask for him money.

On April 24 the accused were charged with one count of murder and remanded to Luzira.