Assaulted Makerere University students ‘forgive’ slapping lecturer

The two female students from Makerere University who were allegedly slapped by their lecturer Bernard Wandera, have written to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) asking that the case of assault be dropped.

Wandera’s lawyer, Derrick Bazeketta presented a letter purportedly written by Patricia Aikoro and Prisca Mirembe before Buganda Road court grade one magistrate Fedelis Otwao, saying that the students had since reconciled with their lecturer and that it’s now upon the court and the DPP to set his client free.

In the video posted on November 17, 57-year-old Wandera, a lecturer at the department of Social Works and Social Administration (Swasa) is seen walking to the back of the lecture room before slapping a female student and ordering her to leave his class. 

The incident is said to have happened during a lecture session at the Frank Kalimuzo Central Teaching Facility. According to witnesses, the two students had ignored the lecturer’s persistent pleas to stop making noise or move out of the lecture room.

Following the incident, the university vice chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe interdicted Wandera and directed investigations into the matter. Meanwhile, police also picked interest and opened a case of assault and started the prosecution process. The prosecution told court that Wandera had assaulted both Aikoro and Mirembe.

When he was arrested and presented before court, Wandera denied the charges and was released on a cash bail of Shs 1.5 million. Yesterday Thursday, when Wandera returned to court for trial, his lawyer Bazeketta informed court that the two victims have since forgiven their lecturer.

But magistrate Otwao told Wandera and his lawyer that they need to convincingly address him on the law and sections pertaining to the withdrawal of charges before he exercises his discretion in the matter. He, therefore, adjourned the case to January 30, 2023.