The Makerere University lecturer recorded in a video clip slapping a female student has been arraigned and charged in court.
Benard Wandera 57,was charged with two counts of assault by Buganda Road Grade One Magistrate Fidelis Otwao for allegedly assaulting two of his female students.
He is accused of assaulting two of his female students Patricia Aikoro and Prisca Mirembe. Wandera has pleaded not guilty to both charges read against him.
He was also tasked to deposit his original National ID in court and a letter from the LC1 chairperson of his area of residence.
The trial magistrate adjourned the case to December 15th, 2022 to allow the prosecution led by the State Attorney Joan Keko to complete investigations into the case.
The Criminal Investigations Directorate -CID took interest in the after Wandera was recorded in a video over the weekend slapping the student during his lecture inside the Frank Kalimuzo teaching facility.
The interest came after the Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, suspended Wandera to allow the university investigate him for assault, harassment and misconduct.
Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, said on Monday that the CID headquarters has taken an interest in the matter because the administrative sanctions are not prohibitive in nature.
Enanga explained that CID headquarters has since instructed the Kampala Metropolitan CID team to ensure the case is properly investigated for prosecution purposes as opposed to the sanctions by the university like half pay or dismissal.
According to police, in most cases, Universities and other institutions of learning only suspend or dismiss the perpetrators of violence against students and they end up securing jobs in other educational institutions where they continue to unleash terror on learners.
“We are happy that the University took administrative action to suspend the lecturer but the matter has a criminal dimension. Many human rights defenders, parents, guardians, and students have criticized several universities for mishandling such acts of physical harassment. Usually, settlements are arranged for these perpetrators such as voluntary resignation but such are not prohibitive,” Enanga said.