A group of nine University students who were last week remanded to Luzira Prison for allegedly staging a protest over the Uganda-Tanzania oil pipeline project have been released on bail.

The group was arrested on their way to the European Union (EU) offices on Tuesday, last week. 

They were supporting the EU parliament’s resolution of delaying the construction of the oil pipeline for one year, over alleged human rights abuses.  

The students were part of a larger group that carried placards, calling on French energy giant TotalEnergies to “Stop East African Crude Oil Pipeline” as they marched through the city wearing blue and red undergraduate gowns from the universities of Kyambogo, Gulu and Makerere.

These were, however, stopped by the Police in the vicinity of the Kingdom Kampala Mall and some of them loaded onto the ready Police patrol cars.

The students have since denied charges of common nuisance before Buganda Road Court Grade One Magistrate Fideris Otwao.

The court released each of the students on a cash bail of sh100,000 and their sureties, who included parents, fellow students and environmentalists, were directed to execute a noncash bond of sh5m.

“Each surety will be compelled by the court to pay the money if the accused persons fail to turn up in court,” Otwao warned.    

Prosecution alleges that the accused, while at Kingdom Kampala, obstructed and inconvenienced the public in exercise of their common rights by being rowdy and blocking walkways.

The students are Imran Ntabazi, David Musiri, Vincent Lubega Nsamba, Gerald Wenani, Gonga Akisi, Marktom Kajubi, Benjamin Akiso, Alphonse Nkuruziza, and Alex Wasswa Lyazi.

The matter was adjourned to November 25, 2022, for hearing after prosecution revealed that inquiries are complete.