The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The management of Olympia Hostel in Kikoni, a Kampala suburb has succumbed to pressure and suspended its caretaker, Reuben Nahabwe for alleged sexual harassment.
Dr. Joseph Byamugisha, the managing director of the Hostel communicated the suspension in his August 19th, 2019, letter to Nahabwe.
“It has been alleged that you have been involved in acts of sexual harassment against residents of Olympia Hostel. Following these allegations, management has decided to suspend you from work to pave way for thorough investigations,” Dr. Byamugisha’s letter reads.
Nahabwe’s suspension follows a number of complaints of sexual harassment raised against him by female students. On Monday, student leaders led by Marion Kirabo, the Makerere University Guild Minister for Gender, Ethics and Integrity issued an ultimatum to Olympia Hostel management to suspend Nahabwe by 10:00am on August 20, 2019.
This followed a resolution by Makerere Guild leadership to set up an independent sexual harassment committee to investigate the matter further. During a consultative meeting between the hostel managers and Makerere University officials on Tuesday, it was resolved that an independent committee be constituted to investigate the sexual harassment claims at the hostel.
The meeting was attended by Jovita Byamugisha, the wife to the hostel proprietor, Patricia Mworozi and Alexandra Kamatsiko, both student representatives from the hostel, Marion Kirabo and Severino Twinobusingye, the Legal counsel to the hostel management.
The committee established will constitute; a member of the civil society, a student representative from the hostel, a member of Makerere University Gender Mainstreaming directorate, two representatives of Olympia Hostel and a representative of Makerere Students Guild as an ex-official member.
The meeting asked management of the hostel to restrict employee access to student rooms for security and preventing related cases. The meeting also proposed that Makerere University considers setting up a committee to address issues that affect off campus students.
“Today, the management of Olympia responded to our call and Suspended Mr. Reuben Nahabwe who has been harassing the girls in ways so ignoble,” Kirabo said in a statement issued on Tuesday evening.
Adding that; “We thank management for heeding to this call and hope that the investigations pin Reuben hands down because, as the old adage goes…There’s definitely no smoke without fire!” Two weeks ago, residents of Olympia Hostel led by Patricia Mworozi started an online petition calling for the custodian’s dismissal.
In the petition, female students stated that; “We are entitled to the right to protection from degrading treatment and his continued presence and position is a risk to the safety and dignity of all women.”
A text on the Olympia students WhatsApp platform read: ‘Why do you feel unsafe if the harassment is not done on you? If the accusations are false, how would we get costs? I f I was these girls I would have gone to other hostels where I won’t be harassed.”
“Reuben was very touchy, all that happened in my first year. Actually it all started when I was getting my hostel room. I came with my current roommate to check out the rooms and Reuben locked himself in the bathroom and started touching her,” a female resident disclosed to URN.
She adds that; “When the semester was going on, he actually offered me money asking me to sleep with him which I actually refused. Then some days later he calls me to leave the door open for him to come and sleep over.”
Recently, Makerere University recent suspended three academic staff for allegedly sexually harassing their female students. The vice seems to be spilling to hostels outside the campus
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