George Muzaale, 56, a pastor, and father to Joshua William Mukisa, a third-year Law student and former guild presidential aspirant at Makerere University has come out to set conditions for the university if his son is to resume studies.
Muzaale’s statements have come few days after Mukisa was allegedly kidnapped and dumped in a swamp located in Bulenga, just near Iganga District.
Among the conditions, Muzaale wants the university to allow his son sit for the missed exams in addition to guaranteeing his safety at the state owned institution. “First, I want the university to allow my son to sit for the (four) papers he missed. I request them to give him an opportunity to do them after his recovery, especially having lost all his paperwork and assignments.” Muzaale said.
“I also want the institution to guarantee his safety because he currently fears to return to the university and an assurance that his tormentors are brought to book. My wife received a call on May 20, inquiring if my son was home because he had not been at the university since May 17, and she answered in the negative,” Muzaale added.
While explaining how he learnt about his son’s disappearance, Muzaale narrated that he learned from Fred, a close friend to Mukisa.
“The next day, I rung his friend called Fred who told me that my boy has been missing for days and that they were heading to Makerere University Police Station to file a missing person case,” Muzaale narrated.
On the other hand, the Makerere University official in charge of communication, Dr. Muhammed Kiggundu, revealed that there is a procedure to be followed when a student misses exams and he cannot guarantee Mukisa’s safety because the institution is an open place.
“Once he follows the procedure, the papers will be given to him at the next sitting. But I can’t guarantee his safety because that’s the work of security and Makerere is an open space,” Kiggundu said.
In an interview with Daily Monitor, a local newspaper, Mukisa revealed that he found his way to a nearby petrol station where he was given a phone to contact his friend.
“I was blindfolded and could only hear voices directing me to leave politics lest it destroys my studies. All this was happening in a dark room. I don’t know how I got out of the confinement, but found myself at a swamp in Bulenga then started walking to a nearby petrol station,” Mukisa said.
“It was there that I found a pump attendant who gave me a phone to call a friend whose number I knew off head. The friend, together with others, found me at the petrol station, took me for treatment and informed my parents,” adds Mukisa
Mukisa, who up to now has no idea why he was kidnapped added that he has strong political ambitions while highlighting about his initial plans before he was abducted.
“I have no idea of who could be behind this, but as the People Power guild presidential candidate, I have strong political ambitions. I was also going to petition the university against the 15 per cent increment in tuition fees, but didn’t know I would end up being a victim,”Mukisa explained.
He is currently undergoing a one-month treatment as well as psychiatrist visits.