Police in Uganda Christian University arrested Herbert Bahati Wanendeya a second year Procurement and Logistics student who doubles as the Member of Parliament representing non residents for allegedly stealing laptops.
Bahati was arrested on Saturday 24 January after two students filed a case SD/08/16/01/15 accusing the legislator for allegedly stealing their laptops compelling the police to embark on a hunting spree for Bahati whom they arrested and detained at UCU Police Post but was later released on police bond as investigations continue.
The complainants Felix Okot and Ronald both second year students of Bachelor of Divinity residing in Nsimbabi Hall room C118 reported the matter to police on 16 January after their laptops went missing on 15 January. After investigations it was found out that Bahati did not hand over a copy of the room key to the warden after the guild leader’s workshop that ran from 3 to 10January.
Abrahams Tukunde the O/C station UCU post said Bahati was arrested after his close friend in E.K Vision hostel also filed a complaint accusing Bahati of allegedly stealing his clothes before he relocated to Kinawataka but after a dialogue with his friend on phone, Bahati agreed to return the clothes and the laptops.
“We used the help of his friend in E.K Vision hostel who helped us track him down and arrested him in satellite beach in Mukono town when he was returning the clothes and we recovered one Acer laptop and a Lenovo,” Tukundane said.
Tukundane said police is still carrying out investigations for further prosecution noting that the decision taken by the university administration will also be very vital in determining the continuity of the case.
Bahati however pleaded guilty and admitted to have committed the alleged crimes pleading with the complainants for forgiveness noting that he has suffered cerebral problems since August 2014.
In an interview with Campusbee, Bahati said that he was out of his senses when he was picking the laptops revealing that he has been suffering from cerebral problems that need treatment.
“I have a cerebral problem. One time I visited a psychiatrist who advised me to go to International Medical Centre; only that I didn’t have enough money to go there. Sometimes when it attacks me, I do things that I do not understand,” Bahati said.
He added that as he was at his place, when the guild deputy speaker called him and asked him about the missing laptops. “The deputy speaker Bwambale called me and told me that there were cases about missing laptops in the room where I was sleeping. I came into my senses and realised I had some laptops,” he added.
“When I came to police, they told me I had a case to answer. I got shocked and thought I would just come and apologise for what I did,” but I was detained
The guild deputy speaker Wilbaforce Bwambale told Campus bee that Bahati might have to resign if police investigations prove him guilty.
He also advised all guild leaders to know and uphold the code of conduct of UCU and set examples to fellow students, he however expressed total disappointment in the manner which Bahati conducted himself saying it’s a shame to the guild government.
Bwambale expressed that Bahati was a vibrant MP who contributed intelligently during parliamentary sessions, “This will be very absurd to lose such a vibrant person in parliament. He has always discussed issues concerning students,” Bwambale said.
However, following the guild constitution, article 54, clause 5 stipulates that a “Member of Parliament shall vacate his or her seat in Parliament if that student is found guilty by the appropriate Tribunal of violation of the leadership code of conduct and the punishment imposed is or includes the vacation of the office of a Member of Parliament.”.
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