Victoria University has condemned the arrest of Dr. Lawrence Muganga (pictured), the Ag. Vice Chancellor following his violent arrest last week.
After his arrest, army spokesperson Brig. Flavia Byekwaso said Dr. Muganga was arrested for “espionage and illegal stay” in Uganda.
But according to eyewitness accounts, the situation was more than just meets the eye.
“The unfortunate incident happened on Thursday 2″d September 2021, when armed men in civilian clothes led by one Denis Musumba (according to the National lD which he presented to Reception Desk)) entered the University premises on Plot 1-13 on Jinja Road Kampala and arrested Dr. Lawrence Muganga and his body guard and whisked them off in a vehicle which headed towards Nakawa direction along J inja Road. The Personal Assistant to the Vice Chancellor, Mr. Herbert Kayongo, took off on a boda boda and followed the vehicle. He too was arrested. This was about 10am. The University community was cast in shock and panic. The University was not accorded any reason for the arrest,” the University said in a statement on Monday.
After about one hour, the University said, Dr. Muganga was returned for a supposed search.
“Dr. Muganga was brought back to the University by men in UPDF uniforms and others in civilian wear and were travelling in what is commonly termed a ‘drone’. They proceeded with Dr. Muganga, who was in handcuffs, went to the office of the Vice Chancellor. The men were seen carrying a laptop from his office and they drove him off again,” reads the statement.
To this, the University condemned Dr. Muganga’s arrest.
“The University condemns the manner of arrest of Dr. Muganga which did not follow the known lawful procedures of effecting arrest of a suspect,” the statement reads.
The university, however, appreciates the efforts made by his family in a bid to get Dr. Muganga’s release and “remaining strong in face of such difficult circumstances.”
“The University notes with appreciation messages of support and encouragement from the wider Victoria University family and the media for keeping the ordeal of Dr. Muganga topical and demanding that the letter of the law should be upheld and the human rights of whoever resides in Uganda should be respected by security agencies. The totality of these efforts resulted in the release of Dr. Muganga gives us reason to celebrate,” the statement further reads.
The University says that whereas they expect all her staff to be law abiding, in case they are suspected to have broken the law and have to be arrested, they should be handled in accordance with lawful procedures.
“We assure the general public, our dear staff, students and their parents and guardians that the University is calm and its programmes are running normally,” said the statement.
