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Police in Mbarara have launched investigations into the death of a university student during a guild campaign rally.
The deceased is 21-year-old Desire Akankunda, a student at Metropolitan International University Mbarara, who hailed from Rubaare in Ntungamo district.
She was a first-year student, pursuing a Bachelor’s course in Information Technology.
Akankunda met her death while on a campaign trail for the university’s 8th guild election.
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A video shared by her family showed her friends riding on a pick-up truck in a playground.
The pick-up was being driven recklessly in circles at a high speed before the driver lost control and overturned it.
All students at the back are seen being thrown off the pick-up bed in the video.
A family member, one Katsigazi called on the Uganda Police to “do something” to regulate the university campaign regulations.
Residents in Mbarara also took to social media to complain about the behaviour of the students at the university during the campaigns.
“The rallies are being carried out on busy highways…this is bad,” wrote one Joseph Kanyesi.
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Police speak out
AIGP Asan Kasingye, the former Uganda Police Chief Political Commissar called on the security bodies in Mbarara to “regulate the conduct of the student rally participants.”
On his part, the Uganda Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said the police force had “taken note” of the incident, and condoled with the family.
Conrad Ainyebyona, the Metropolitan University caretake in a statement, confirmed the death of Akankunda, describing her as a “beloved student”
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Despite the tragic incident, the university carried on with the guild elections which took place yesterday, Saturday, March 22.