The Vice-Chancellor of Victoria University Dr. Lawrence Muganga was arrested on charges of espionage and illegal stay in Uganda.

According to viral CCTV footage, Muganga was picked from his office by3 armed men dressed in plain clothes and dragged into a waiting vehicle, and whisked to an unknown destination.

The video also shows a female security guard trying to fight the armed guys with pistols although she is overpowered both are violently dragged into the vehicle.

Staff at the university says there were 4 other people in the mysterious car adding that took Muganga.

The university authorities insist Muganga was kidnapped and not arrested since his captors had no warrant and were violent in grabbing him.

However, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces-UPDF Spokesperson Brig. Flavia Byekwaso confirms Muganga was arrested by a joint security force team at Victoria University offices in Kampala.

She has trashed reports that Muganga had been kidnapped.

According to URN Byekwaso dismissed reports that the VC was brutally arrested. “I wasn’t at the scene, but he was not tortured or assaulted because he didn’t resist the arrest,

She reportedly told the URN in a phone interview “I can only say he is safe in hands of security agencies. He has been staying here without a Ugandan passport or even a working permit. So security suspects that he has been involving in acts of spying for another country or other illegal activities, but Investigations will reveal all that. ”

Victoria University Director Ravij Ruparelia confirmed the incident said he could not comment and said the University management would release the official statement regarding the arrest of the Vice-Chancellor by Saturday. 

Muganga has been part of the group spearheading efforts to rename the community of Rwandan Origin living in Uganda,

“Abavandimwe” on grounds that they are being segregated in the name of calling them “Abanyarwanda”. 

The group argues that they are systematically locked out of the economy and public service, by a system that does not allow them to get Ugandan passports, secure SIM cards, open up bank accounts, and acquire loans.

Relations between Rwanda and Uganda remain strained due to counter accusations of sabotage and espionage. 

 Rwanda blames Uganda for arresting its nationals and holding them incommunicado.