Following his failure to submit a written explanation or face a disciplinary hearing where he was required to explain himself, Makerere University has suspended Dr Swizen Kyomuhendo, a lecturer at the institution over sexual harassment of a female student.
Dr Kyomuhendo was last week exposed in an investigative story into ‘sex for marks’ at Makerere University by NBS. The lecturer at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences was recorded coursing a female student to allow him sleep with her in exchange for marks.
The principal of the Makerere University College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Associate Prof Josephine Ahikire, last week gave Dr Kyomuhendo up to yesterday, Thursday, March 1, to offer a written explanation over the matter or face disciplinary action, both of which he declined to do.
According to the university’s public relations officer, Ms Ritah Namisango, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe the University Vice Chancellor, has with immediate effect suspended Dr Kyomuhendo to allow smooth investigations into the matter.
The suspended lecturer has also been stopped from accessing any of the college premises, or interact with any student of the university before investigations are completed.
The VC also ordered the implicated lecturer to hand over all university properties to school authorities and vacate his offices as soon as possible.
A five-member committee was also set up to investigate the scandal.
Similar cases of sexual harassment have beenreported at Uganda’s oldest university with a recent reference to Mr Brian Musaga, a former assistant lecturer at the School of Statistics and Planning, who was accused of sexual harassment by a female Third Year student.
Then vice chancellor, Prof Ddumba Ssentamu, investigated the matter and suspended Musaga.
