Makerere University has suspended Dr Swizen Kyomuhendo, a lecturer at the School of Social Sciences, who is currently facing allegations of sexually harassing female students.
The embattled academic was exposed in a recent investigation aired by NBS TV which uncovered his unethical tendencies that he allegedly uses to sexually exploit female students in exchange for better academic grades.
In the damning story, Dr Kyomuhendo is recorded using a concealed camera, luring one of his students to meet him at a hotel near Makerere. Later, the lecturer is captured on camera in the hotel room where the student meets with him but promises him to return later in the day.
According to the Makerere University code of conduct, any meeting held between a lecturer and a student in a location outside the campus but concerns academic issues, is considered as sexual harassment.
But the lecturer denies the allegations.
It is upon this basis that the Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe has suspended Dr Kyomuhendo pending findings of an investigation into the allegations.
He has been restricted from accessing the university premises and to hand over all property of the institution including students’ scripts that he might possess.
“The Vice Chancellor has suspended Dr Swizen Kyomuhendo with immediate effect to allow smooth investigations into the matter,” Ritah Namisango, the Makerere University Public Relations Officer said.
In a letter written to the accused lecturer, the Vice Chancellor says; “You are strongly advised to desist from any access to the College premises and/or interaction with any student (s) of the University until investigations are completed”.
“You are required to hand over all University property including students’ scripts that may be in your possession and any other work in progress under your care,” the letter further reads.
In the mean time, the Vice Chancellor has set up an investigation committee to probe into the allegations.
The committee comprising of five Professors will in the course of its investigations receive submissions from the public on these allegations case and any other sexual harassment cases.
Accusations relating to sexual harassment by lecturers at Makerere, Uganda’s oldest and biggest institution of higher learning first came to the fore when in 1998, Guild President Ms Sarah Kagingo and Guild Speaker James Opigo held a press conference, and condemned sexual harassment of students by lecturers and some members of the University’s administration.
Instead of investigating the allegations, the student leaders were paraded before a kangaroo court chaired by Justice Odoki and suspended for two months. The two leaders were then ordered to make a public apology in the media as a condition to resume their studies.
Students condemned the fact that some of the accused administrators participated in the disciplinary committee that dismissed their leaders.
Makerere University has often come under the spotlight for cases of sexual harassment which the Management is criticized for tolerating.
Some of the victims have accused the Management of failure to investigate their complaints, but it is suspected that the majority fear to report for fear of stigma and possible consequences.
Former Guild President Ms Kagingo who is currently a communications consultant described the decision by the University to suspend Dr Kyomuhendo as a milestone.