Uganda: Kyambogo University top officials arrested

By Frederic Musisi.

The protracted fight over the management of Kyambogo University took a new twist on Friday following the arrest of seven members of the university council at the institution on orders of the Inspector General of Government (IGG).

This is the first time officials are arrested since the squabbles at the institution started a decade ago. They are being held at Kiira Road and Central police stations. 

The IGG, Justice Irene Mulyagonja, said the group was arrested for disregarding her orders, adding that preliminary investigations showed that they were responsible for causing the administrative mismanagement and faulting the procurement processes at the university.

“They were all implicated by the evidence we have so far in mismanaging the institution but we thought that taking action would be the last course,” Justice Mulyagonja said.

The arrest comes less than a week after the IGG wrote to the administration on May 3, halting any disciplinary action against the embattled Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaiah Ndiege, before the conclusion of her investigation into mismanagement of the institution.

“I only directed that the council suspends any meeting to take action against the VC but received insults and warnings in return,” she said. Those detained include Prof. Opuda Asibo, the acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Okedi, the chairperson of the University Council, Mr Sam Akorimo, the university secretary, Mr Ham Mugyereza, the university bursar, Ms Christine Kyayonka, among others.

Witnesses at the time of the arrests told the Sunday Monitor that detectives from both the IGG’s office and police with an arrest warrant raided the senate building where the group was holding a meeting.

Charges

The ombudsman said the charges preferred against the officials included abuse of office, conflict of interest and obstructions of directions of the Inspectorate of Government Act.

The 13-year-old university has been dogged by several challenges ranging from mismanagement and alleged corruption since inception.

By press time Saturday, other university officials were trying to seek for the release of their colleagues.

Source: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Kyambogo-University-top-officials-arrested/-/688334/1849246/-/8uxg3j/-/index.html