Strike, death at Makerere University

Makerere

Makerere University students have taken to the streets after a trigger-happy guard, Richard Akasia, allegedly shot dead two and critically injured one of them at God Is Able Hostel in Marerere-Kikoni.

Police say many students had gathered at the Hostel for the final leg of the Guild election campaigns when the watchman, suspecting one of the students could have intended to damage a vehicle in the parking lot, opened fire.

Earlier reports suggested supporters of Simon Kamau, one of the contestants in the guild presidential race, clashed with those of NRM's John Taylor, prompting the shooting of the Kenyan students.

“We have arrested the suspect and is being held at Old Kampala Police Station as investigations continue,” Police Spokesperson, Judith Nabakooba, says.

A resurgent riot, just after some relative calm, is forcing the Police anti-riot crew to dash back to the campus after retreating to the city earlier in the morning.

Students wearing red gowns and brandishing tree branches have gathered at the University main building and the campus freedom square to demonstrate the killings.

Ms Nabakooba says identities of the victims are not clear due to conflicting information.

It had been reported that Brian Awaga and Simon Peter Mungeni were those shot.