Makerere University Boss in Trouble; Wanted By Police for Assaulting UMEME Employee

Thomas Tayebwa, the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Makerere University Council – the supreme governing body of Uganda’s oldest institution of higher learning and Member of Parliament for Ruhinda North is in deep trouble after Umeme Limited opened a case against him on allegations of assaulting one of their contractors.

In a video that has since blown up social media, MP Tayebwa, who is running for another term in office is seen questioning the helpless UMEME employee who had disconnected power of a construction site that the MP owns. According to initial reports, the site had illegal power access that prompted the contractor to take it off, something that didn’t go down well with MP Tayewa.

The MP then orders his driver to strip the man and he receives up to 10 strokes of the cane – all of which, the UMEME contractor captured on video.

“UMEME’s attention has been drawn to a video making rounds in which one of our contractor employees is seen beaten at the premises said to belong to Hon. Thomas Tayebwa in Busabala, Kampala. Umeme strongly condemns acts of human rights violation,” Peter Kaujju, the Head of Communications at UMEME said in a statement.

Mr. Kaujju said a case of assault on Ref: SD/87/26/2020 has been reported at Katwe Police Station.

Former Makerere University Appointments Board Chairperson Bruce Balaba Kabasa and MP Tayebwa were nominated as members representing the public to the Makerere University Council two years ago, much to the disbelief but prior prediction by the Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA).

Their appointment attracted a physical protest by MUASA chairman Dr. Deus Kamunyu Muhwezi, an action that led to his suspension from the university for a while.

In his private life, MP Tayebwa is a lawyer and businessman.