HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I An Indian investor has dragged the Attorney General and five senior police officers to the High Court, demanding a refund of about Shs700 million in bond money allegedly confiscated from her family during her detention, in a case that has reignited debate over human rights and abuse of power by security agencies.
Vasundhara Oswal, an executive director at Oswal Group Global and also a director of Luwero-based PRO Industries, was arrested in October 2024 and detained for 21 days over allegations of kidnapping with intent to murder a former family employee. The same employee later reportedly admitted to having lied to security personnel.
In her petition, Oswal argues that her detention was unlawful, unconstitutional and malicious, insisting that there was no evidence to justify her arrest. She says she was kept in custody despite a court release order, in violation of both Uganda’s Constitution and international human rights law.
A key demand in her petition is the refund of $200,000 (about Shs700 million) in bond money and property allegedly taken from her family during her arrest and detention. Through her lawyers, Oswal claims the money was confiscated illegally by security officers and has never been returned.
The petition, filed through the elite global law firm Volterra Fietta, seeks prosecution of officials who facilitated what she describes as her illegal arrest and detention. She also wants the court to order compensation for unlawful detention, reputational damage and psychological trauma.
Oswal has named Interpol director Joseph Obwona, Commissioner of Police Allison Agaba, Joseph Kyomuhendo from the human trafficking division in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and detectives Thomas Bbale and Annette Karungi as respondents in the case.
According to court filings, Oswal was subjected to degrading and inhumane treatment while in custody. “During her detention, she was denied medication, prevented from accessing her legal team, subjected to degrading treatment such as kneeling and stripping in front of police officers, and denied basic necessities such as water, food and access to hygiene,” the petition states.
The petition further alleges that police and prison officials, working in connivance with her accuser and unnamed local business figures, took advantage of her detention to extort money from her family members.
Oswal has now asked the High Court to determine whether her constitutional rights were violated and to order the implicated officials to return her confiscated property and bond money, in addition to paying damages for the suffering she endured.
According to Miscellaneous Application Number HCT-00-CV-MA-0079-2026 dated February 11, the matter is scheduled for hearing tomorrow, with the Attorney General and the implicated police officers summoned to court.
