International 'Observer' sticks to massacre story

Press, 16 August 1976, Page 6

International 'Observer' sticks to massacre story

KZPA london The “Observer" Sund newspaper, London, said yesterday that, despite denials bv President Idi Amin, there was little doubt that killings and widespread brutality had taken place at Uganda's Makarere University earlier this month. “About 800 students . . . are still unaccounted for after raids on the campus by President Idi Amin’s troops,” the weekly newspaper said in a report from David Martin in Dar-Es-Salaam. He was quoting sources in Kampala. The death toil was still Impossible to assess accurately. “But three in-

n dependent sources yesterday quoted the figure as over 100,” the report said. It said a large number of students had been taken to Bugolobi. a former housing estate converted into a barracks for the commando and marines regiments. “All sources agree th the greatest brutality occurred there, and it ■ thought that up to 400 students mat have been detained at Bugolobi. There are mounting fears that some were beaten to death and buried in a mass grave,” the “Observer” said. i The “Observer” said some Ugandan studen's

were known to be fleeing to neighbouring countries, and that the first one L..J reached Tanzania. Others were hiding inside Uganda. ‘Despite denials by Amin, there is little doubt that killings and widespread brutality have taken place. And beyond that there may have been a massacre at Bugolobi,” the “Observer” said. It said that the students ha<‘ been criticising President Amin's economic programmes, describing him as “a murderer who had destroyed Uganda's economy.”

“As patriots, they said, they had decided to give their lives for their country',” the “Observer” said