Nine people arrested during a demonstration in support of the European Union (EU) Parliament resolution calling for delaying the development of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), have been charged and remanded in custody at Luzira prison.
The nine which include students from Kyambogo, Gulu and Makerere universities are; Java Ntabazi, 25, Vicent Lubega, 21, Alphose Nkurunziza, 23, Gerald Wenani, 24, David Musiri, 34, Benjamin Akiso, 22, and Akisi Gonga, 23. The others are Alex Waswa Lyazi, 25, a tour guide, and Marktom Kajubi, 23.
They appeared before Magistrate Fedelis Itwau at Buganda Road Magistrates Court, where they were formally charged with public nuisance. They, however, denied the charge brought against them by the state.
The prosecution alleges that the 4th of October group in the Kingdom of Kampala obstructed and embarrassed the public in exercising their common rights to be rowdy by blocking the aisles, thus concluding as a common nuisance.
Armed with placards bearing ‘STOP EACOP’ protest messages, students stormed EU offices in Kampala on Tuesday with a petition addressed to the EU’s envoy to Uganda, but were intercepted by the police near the door.
The arrest of these students came just a week after a group of students under their umbrella, the Uganda National Association of Students (UNSA) guarded by police, marched through the streets of Kampala to protest against the resolution of the EU of 16 September.
They will return to court on October 11 for a bail hearing.
