Makerere Tear Gas, Bomb Innovator Writes To Prime Minister Rugunda

Written by: 
CHRISTOPHER TUSIIME

Samuel Mugarura, the third-year student of Bachelor of Science in botany (Chemistry) at Makerere, who made tear gas from sugar and promising to make bombs too, has written to Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda seeking support of government.

Mugarura has been making rounds on social and in mainstream media after he demonstrated his first successful teargas cannister last week behind Caltect Acamemy, a few metres from Makerere University.

However after the demonstration of how his tear gas works, the university's vice chancellor Prof John Ddumba-Ssentamu disowned him, saying he is not a student of now Africa's third best university. Police too warned him against trying to distablise the security of the country, saying “he should go slowly”.

Now, Mugarura has refused to back off, and has gone a step further to formally inform the Prime Minister about his innovation.

Mugarura demonstrating how his tear gas works
Mugarura demonstrating how his tear gas works

The letter partly says thus;

“With much respect and honour, I write to you presenting my great innovation that would change the technology development of our country Uganda. Am a 23 year old Ugandan studying at Makerere university offering a Bachelor of Science in Botany (Chemistry) under the College of Natural Sciences (CONAS).

After thorough and longtime academic research, I developed formulas that led me to the creation of the above ammunitions technology. This has been overwhelmingly covered by our local media in other East African countries. However, several government departments especially security agencies have negatively perceived my ideas as a national security threat.

As an optimistic student and one who believes in the future of our country, I have officially written to you about my innovation so that government can give its position on the same. I also inform you that the entire county is immersed in the debate of whether the government is willing to support innovators, since the president of the republic of Uganda H.E Yoweri  Kaguta Museveni has always promoted science and research.  Am very optimistic about my idea and if government embraces it.  It’s an encouragement to Millions of Ugandans.”

For now, Mugarura’s fate and enthusiasm lies in Dr Rugunda’s hands.