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KAMPALA - The fate of former Kyambogo University deputy vice-chancellor Dr Lawrence Eron, 56, who is accused of sexual misconduct, now lies in the appointments board.

This was after it emerged that the committee that had been set up to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct after he reportedly defiled a visually impaired minor found him culpable for gross sexual harassment, acts or omissions that damaged the image and status of the university.

Eron, who was in charge of finance and administration and the dean of special needs and rehabilitation, is accused of repeatedly defiling a 16-year-old minor, who was a beneficiary of the “All We See is a Possibility” project when they returned from a conference from Nairobi on October 12, 2023.

While presenting the findings of the committee to the media on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, Kyambogo University vice-chancellor Prof. Elly Katunguka Rwakishaya, who was flanked by university acting secretary Arthur Katongole, said the committee, “conducted their inquiry from November 13, 2023 to January 19, 2024. The investigations found Dr Eron culpable for gross misconduct, sexual harassment, acts or omissions that damage the image and status of the university, and unprofessional or unethical conduct".

Prof. Katunguka noted that Eron would also be charged with insubordination and abscondment from duty: “It is worth noting that since the investigations commenced, Eron has never appeared and his whereabouts are unknown. He has, therefore, absconded from duty as well”.

Katunguka revealed that Katongole, presented the report to the appointments board during its meeting held on Thursday, February 15, 2024.

“The board agreed to study the report further and reconvene to handle it in accordance with its disciplinary rules. The board is scheduled to further consider the case on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 (yesterday),” Katunguka said.

Katongole noted that they had temporarily removed Eron from their payroll. “We didn’t put him on half pay because it comes as a result of interdiction and interdiction comes when you are still conducting investigations. Because investigations are concluded and we are not seeing him, we couldn’t continue paying him.

So, effective March 2024, we have withheld it because he is not working and we cannot continue spending money on him. If he appears and is acquitted by the board, then we shall pay him effective March 1, 2024. If the board takes another decision, then we will have stopped paying him in February 2024," Katongole said.

He said if Eron doesn’t appear before the appointments board well aware the Police are looking for him, “The rules of procedure provide that the moment the appointments board prefers charges against any staff and the staff is supposed to appear, what they are supposed to do is to serve.  

If we know his place, we shall do that. If anybody is there we shall serve and we shall swear an affidavit of what we have done in the service. If we don’t get any of his relatives, we can use his email and indicate in affidavit what we have done. If we fail to reach him, we shall go to the media and serve him. If he doesn’t come, the disciplinary rules of procedure provide that in his absence, then the decision can be taken expert. The board can proceed and based on the evidence available either convict or acquit him,” he said.

Katongole said Eron has 14 days to respond to the accusations against him.
Katunguka denied reports that the university administration had shielded Eron noting that,  “Today’s press briefing is meant to put the record right and to appeal to our stakeholders including the different embassies that support the university in various projects to believe that the university is doing whatever it takes to address this unfortunate situation, without going against its policies and set guidelines to be used in handling such matters”.

Eron’s arrest

Eron was arrested in October last year but absconded the Police bond on December 14, 2023.

This was after the DPP sanctioned his file on December 13, 2023, over the aggravated defilement of a girl with a disability when he is HIV-positive and also a person in authority over the victim, contrary to sections 129(3), 4(b), (c) and (d) of the Penal Code Acts.

His three sureties: Lawrence Olobo, 48; Gertrude Adoch and Paul Among, 54, were asked to produce him before the Divisional Police Commander at Jinja Road Police Division.

According to Police spokesperson Fred Enanga, Eron travelled as a caretaker with students, including the 16-year-old, disabled victim, to Nairobi-Kenya for a conference. However, it is after the trip that he allegedly defiled the girl.

He was arrested but later released on a police bond after the office of the resident state attorney in charge of Kira requested for more evidence.

Following an outcry to First Lady Janet Museveni over the manner in which the file had been handled, the Director Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID)  and Director Public Prosecution intervened and it later turned out that the  DNA samples recovered from the suspects’ car matched with the samples found on the body of the victim.

It’s believed that the suspect may have been tipped off about the sanctioning of his file that made him flee.

Katunguka said the University was aware that the Police had also concluded investigations into the matter and the Director of Public Prosecution, upon perusal of the sanctioned charge of aggravated defilement against Eron. 

Stop the misinformation

Katunguka appealed, “to all interest groups, especially non-governmental organisations, and associations that work with people who are visually impaired to stop spreading" false information and to give the university chance to handle the matter.

He said Kyambogo University would improve the way they handle their ethical standards and issues and that their anti-sexual harassment policy was ready and had gone to top management and soon, it would be approved so that whoever gets involved in such acts, the law would take action on them.