Kampala | UCU | Law student | MUK Guild campaigns
Uganda Christian University (UCU) Law Society Kampala Campus on Thursday, July 14, 2022 evening mourned its student Michael Betungura Bewatte who was reportedly stabbed in the neck with a broken bottle following a scuffle involving two political camps at the Guild campaigns at the Rugby grounds.

The Thursday evening scuffle involved the two political camps of the National Unity Platform (NUP) camp which has a candidate in the names of Lawrence Alionzi and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) camp which has a candidate by the name of Justus Tukamushaba.

According to FDC Betungura had come to the University from UCU to support Tukamushaba who was his classmate in High School.

In a statement, UCU Law Society through their Speaker Bills Duncan Kumbaine noted, ‘It is with a heavy heart and deep sorrow that we have learned of the demise of our very own Betungura serving members of the Law Society’s Sports Committee and a Student of LLB2 earlier this evening .”

The statement said, “too many he has been a friend, a brother, a classmate and a keeper. It is in this spirit that we send our heartfelt condolence to his family, relatives, and friends but most importantly to the LLB2 family and Kampala Campus for losing such a friendly soul, brilliant mind, and a promising lawyer in the making.”

His colleagues said that further communication in regards to his vigil and funeral will be communicated through the LLB class representative a one Moses Waiswa who will also be to receive any form of condolence.

The UCU Law Society noted that two numbers had been set up to receive condolence and these included 0758785815 registered in the names of Judith Nabirye and 0784591705 in the names of Natasha Noweria.

A scuffle ensued at the Rugby Grounds just below Nsibirwa hall after the FDC camp attempted to gain forceful entry into the venue prompting an exchange of words between the two camps.

Students present at the venue noted that someone charged at the FDC supporters and stabbed Betungura in the neck and that despite attempts by his colleagues to rush him to the Nsibirwa bathrooms and try to clean his wounds, he died due to over bleeding inside the hall bathrooms.

Harold Kaija FDC’s Deputy Secretary General confirmed, “The UCU Law student has been killed at a bloody rally while supporting his fellow old student Tukamushaba for Guild President Makerere.”

On Thursday evening, Makerere University Council suspended the election of students’ guild leadership following the death of A Uganda Christian University student who was stabbed to death following a scuffle between supporters of two political parties in the race.

Lorna Magara Makerere University Council Chairperson in her Thursday evening letter dated July 15, 2022, addressed to the University Vice-Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe directed that “the ongoing elections for the 88 Makerere University Students Guild leadership are suspended immediately.”

The suspension comes a day after the University was supposed to hold elections on Friday to replace the outgoing guild.

Magara also indicated that “the Makerere University Students Guild is suspended with immediate effect. This suspension includes the Guild caretaker Government and the Students Common Room.

Magara indicated, “Makerere University Council is appalled by the violent events that have characterized the electoral campaigns for the 88th Students Guild leadership, which resulted in the loss of the life of one of the young people participating in the campaign activities.”

She said the University Management and Council have repeatedly raised concerns about the persistent cases of indiscipline and violent altercations among members of the Students Guild and the Students Senior Common Room, which often resulted in damage to University property and injury to University Students and staff.