Makerere University’s Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe has interdicted a lecturer who was filmed slapping a student, Uganda’s oldest and largest higher learning institution has announced.
The interdiction followed the circulation of a video in which the lecturer was captured slapping a student at the same university. The lecturer has been identified as Benard Wandera. In the video, he was seen approaching a female student to a place where she was seated as he shouted at her to get out of his class. The lecturer is then seen slapping the student as she stood up to obey the instruction to leave.
After the video went viral online, Makerere University condemned Wandera’s action, saying it was “unacceptable” and in contravention of university rules.
“The Makerere University Management has noted with regret a video on social media that was recorded showing a student and a course instructor in an altercation that resulted in the faculty assaulting a student,” said Makerere University in a statement.
“We firmly condemn the instructor’s conduct because it goes against several university policies. The conduct of the faculty is unacceptable and portrays an abuse of authority entrusted to him to nurture and guide students as they pursue knowledge at our great University.”
The university also said it had begun investigations into the lecturer’s alleged misconduct with the view of taking disciplinary action against Wandera. The institution has also reached out to the slapped student and regretted the misconduct.
“We have instituted processes that should lead us to take the necessary disciplinary action against the faculty involved in this unfortunate incident. Students should feel protected and guided by the academic staff they hold in high regard,” the university’s statement further read.
“The Director of Gender Mainstreaming has reached out to the affected student, shared our regret, and promised to investigate this matter with the utmost sincerity. We shall keep the university community and general public updated on further steps taken to address this incident.”
Hours later, the university announced that it had interdicted Wandera to pave way for a probe into his misconduct. This means that the lecturer will only be reinstated once he is found innocent and could be in more trouble if he is found guilty of abusing his authority and of acting contrary to university rules.
“Pursuant to provisions of the Public Service Standing Orders, the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, and our Human Resources Manual, Vice-Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe has interdicted Mr Benard Wandera for allegedly assaulting a student in class pending investigations,” the university announced.
The incident and suspension of the lecturer comes days after another senior university lecturer was fired for forcefully attempting to ‘chew’ his female students. (See Details Here).
