Agony of shot student’s parents

Brian Amuoga, a Kenyan student shot dead by a security guard at Makerere University, left home three weeks ago full of confidence and hope for a bright future after completing his studies.

He told his parents and relatives at his rural village at Shipalo in Kakamega East District of his plans to practice law after college. The 22-year-old had been in high spirits and sought out his father, Oscar Amawa Livasia to say farewell before travelling back to Makerere.

Break the news

The father of four said he had done everything to ensure his first-born son succeeded in life. Mr Livasia has a younger son and daughter in secondary school and does not know how to break the news of their brother’s death to them.

Brian went to a high school in Uganda for his A levels after he scored a B in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exam and failed to get a place in a local university. “My son decided to do his A levels in Uganda to qualify for admission at Makerere University,” Mr Livasia said.

His parents have been following his progress with keen interest and were confident he had a bright future ahead of him. But as fate would have it, his dream was abruptly cut short when a private security guard opened fire during a scuffle between rival groups jostling for student leadership.

His distraught father, accompanied by grief-stricken relatives, travelled to Kampala to collect his body on Tuesday after they heard news of his death. Mr Livasia said they were received well by Ugandan authorities who briefed them on the incident and promised to carry out investigations and ensure the guard was charged.

He said the Ugandan authorities did everything to help the family transport the body home. Officials from Uganda’s Foreign Affairs ministry have been updating them of progress in investigations. “Brian was the hope of the family and his life has been brutally cut short. All we are demanding is justice,” said Mr Livasia. Brian will be buried at his parents’ home on Saturday.