Kyambogo University has pronounced the dismissal of its former acting deputy vice-chancellor, Dr Lawrence Eron, who is facing charges of aggravated defilement.
Dr. Eron was in charge of finance and administration and at the same time the dean of the Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation.
Kyambogo University vice chancellor Prof. Eli Katunguka on Tuesday told the journalists that the university served Dr Eron with hearing notices through his email address and his daughter Eron Akello, in vain.
“At its 196th meeting held on July 24, the appointments board disciplinary committee received and considered the written submissions from the university legal team and agreed with the complainant to dismiss Dr Eron from the service of the university,” he stated.
Before the university reached this decision, Katunguka said the appointments board directed management to re-invite him.
“The print media summons was published on June 5 in the New Vision, requiring him to appear before the board disciplinary committee on June 19. Again, on June 19, during the 193rd meeting of the disciplinary committee, Eron still did not appear and it is at this moment that the committee concluded that the university had exhausted all avenues of trying to reach Eron and agreed to proceed ex parte,” Katunguka explained.
The vice-chancellor also denied allegations that he protected Eron prior to his arrest.
“The Police had been looking for him. And to my disappointment, many people believed I was the one hiding him. How do you hide an adult? Under my bed?” Katunguka asked.
The vice-chancellor said the dismissal would be communicated to Eron in prison.
The suspect therefore appeared before the Grade One Magistrate, Jonathan Tiyo who remanded him until August 14, 2024.
Dr. Eron (56), is facing charges of aggravated defilement at Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court. It is alleged that he defiled a 16-year-old blind student whom he also infected with HIV/Aids.
Court put it that on October 12, 2023, between Kyambogo University and Namugongo-Nsawo Cell in Kira Municipality, Dr. Eron sexually abused a visually impaired Senior Four student.
He was first arrested on October 23, 2023, but was released four days later after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) requested for more evidence. Later, samples of the Eron’s DNA were picked and matched against those found on the victim’s body.
On May 20, the Police placed a sh10m bounty on his head after he failed to honour their summons. He consequently went missing until he was arrested from Kenya on July 5, charged and remanded to Luzira Prison until July 17. He last appeared before Nakawa Court Grade One Magistrate, Jonathan Tiyo for mention of his case on July 31, and he was remanded until August 14.