Entrepreneur Vasundhara Oswal Files Human Rights Petition Against Senior Government Officials Entrepreneur Vasundhara Oswal, Executive Director of Oswal Group Global and a leading investor in Uganda’s biofuel sector, has filed a human rights petition at the High Court of Uganda accusing senior security and prosecutorial officials of arbitrary arrest, illegal detention and inhumane treatment. The petition arises from events in October 2024, when Ms Oswal—then 26 years old—was arrested and detained for 21 days despite what her legal team says was a lack of evidence and the existence of a court release order. Now 27, the European citizen of Indian origin argues that the case represents not only a personal injustice but also a broader test of Uganda’s commitment to constitutionalism, judicial independence and investor protection. The petition names several high-ranking officials, including Assistant Inspector General of Police and Interpol Director Joseph Obwona; former Commissioner of Police for Interpol Allison Agaba; Joseph Kyomuhendo, Head of the Human Trafficking Division in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP); and police detective Thomas Bbale, who was the investigating officer in the matter. It also cites Annette Karungi of the Criminal Investigations Directorate and Santosh Dwibhashi, a former employee alleged to have orchestrated what the petition describes as an extortion scheme. According to the court filings, Ms Oswal alleges she was imprisoned without lawful basis and subjected to degrading treatment while in custody. She claims she was denied medication, restricted from accessing her legal team and deprived of basic necessities such as food, water and hygiene facilities. The petition further alleges that her family was subjected to extortion attempts during the period of detention. Her lawyers argue that these actions violated Article 23 of Uganda’s Constitution, which protects against unlawful detention, and Article 24, which prohibits cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. They also cite violations of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). In addition, the petition claims that jewellery and bond money amounting to $200,000 (Shs780 million) were unlawfully seized and remain unreturned despite repeated requests to the DPP’s office. The Oswal family has also petitioned the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to review Uganda’s handling of the case and to call for accountability for officials involved. In a statement, international law firm Volterra Fietta, acting for the family, described the case as “an egregious breach of both Ugandan legislation and international human rights law,” adding that the petition seeks justice, accountability and systemic reform to ensure that similar abuses do not recur. Ms Oswal maintains that the legal action is not meant to undermine Uganda’s institutions but to reinforce them. She says the case will demonstrate whether the country’s justice system can hold individuals accountable while safeguarding the rights of both citizens and foreign investors. Despite the ordeal, she reaffirmed her commitment to Uganda’s industrialisation and renewable energy agenda through PRO Industries, one of East Africa’s largest bioethanol production facilities. She warned that unresolved allegations of rights abuses could weaken investor confidence and send negative signals to the global business community. At the same time, Ms Oswal expressed gratitude to President Yoweri Museveni for his continued support of Uganda’s industrial development, noting his visit to the PRO Industries plant in late 2025. She said she remains confident that Uganda’s judiciary will uphold the rule of law and ensure that justice is served. The High Court is expected to set timelines for hearing the petition in a case likely to draw significant attention from human rights advocates and the international investment community.

Dar es Salaam 7 Oktoba 2021 – Timu 32 za mikoa za mpira wa kikapu zinatarajiwa kuchuana vikali katika mashindano ya mpira wa kikapu “CRDB Bank Taifa Cup” yanayotarajiwa kufanyika katika viwanja vya Chinangali jijini Dodoma kuanzia tarehe 5 hadi 14 Novemba 2021 ambapo jumla ya zawadi za shilingi milioni 29 zitashindaniwa.

Akitangaza zawadi hizo, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Benki ya CRDB, Abdulmajid Nsekela alisema kuongezeka kwa zawadi katika CRDB Bank Taifa Cup mwaka huu kunatokana na kuongeza udhamini wa Benki hiyo katika mashindano hayo kufikia shilingi milioni 300. “Tumeona tuongeze zawadi mwaka huu ili kuongeza ushindani kwa timu na vijana watakaoshiriki. Tunaamini kuongezeka kwa zawadi kutakuwa na motisha kwa vijana kuonyesha vipaji vyao.”
Nsekela alisema Benki ya CRDB imeendelea na uamuzi wake wa kudhamini ligi hiyo ya taifa ya mpira wa kikapu kwa mara ya pili mfululizo ikiwa ni sehemu ya jitihada za benki hiyo kuwawezesha vijana wa Kitanzania kupitia michezo. Aliongeza kuwa Benki ya CRDB kupitia Sera yake ya Uwekezaji katika Jamii (CSI Policy) imekuwa ikiwekeza katika michezo ya vijana kwa kuamini kuwa inasaidia kuongeza ushiriki wao katika shughuli mbalimbali za maendeleo katika jamii.

Mgeni rasmi katika hafla ya uzinduzi wa CRDB Bank Taifa Cup 2021, Naibu Spika wa Bunge la Jumhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, Dkt. Tulia Ackson aliipongeza Benki ya CRDB kwa kuendelea kuwa mstari wa mbele katika kusaidia jitihada za serikali kuendeleza michezo nchini. Dkt. Tulia alisema Serikali ya Awamu ya Sita inayoongozwa na Rais Samia Suluhu Hassan imeweka kipaumbele kikubwa katika michezo kwa kutambua fursa za kiuchumi zinazotokana na sekta hiyo.
“Niwapongeze pia kwa kuona umuhimu wa kuongeza timu za wanawake zinazoshiriki CRDB Bank Taifa Cup mwaka huu kufikia 16. Kwa miaka mingi ushiriki wa wanawake katika michezo huu umekuwa chini ikilinganishwa na wavulana. CRDB Bank Taifa Cup inakwenda kubadilisha sura hii na kuwapa nguvu wasichana wote wanaotamani kushiriki katika mpira wa kikapu,” alisema Dkt. Tulia.
Dkt. Tulia pia alizipongeza kampuni na taasisi za GSM, Sanlam, Azam, PSSF, Tulia Trust na Chuo Kikuu cha Dodoma (UDOM) kwa kuungana na Benki ya CRDB kusaidia kuandaa mashindano hayo ambayo yamepewa kaulimbiu ya “Ni Zaidi ya Game, Ni Maisha,” ikionyesha namna ambavyo mpira wa kikapu unavyoweza kutumika kutengeneza fursa za ajira kwa vijana na kuwawezesha kiuchumi.

Kwa upande wake Rais wa Shirikisho la Mpira wa Kikapu Tanzania(TBF), Phares Magesa aliishukuru Benki ya CRDB kwa kuendelea na udhamini wa ligi hiyo huku akibainisha kuwa udhamini wa Benki hiyo kubwa hapa nchini umesaidia kuongeza hamasa na mapenzi ya mpira wa kikapu kwa vijana kama ilivyo kwa mpira wa miguu na michezo mingine.
Phares alimueleza Dkt. Tulia kuwa mbali na udhamini unaotolewa na Benki ya CRDB, benki hiyo imekuwa ikishiriki katika kila hatua kuhakikisha mashindano hayo yanafakiwa ikiwamo na kusaidia kushawi taasisi nyengine kushiriki kufanikisha mashindano hayo. “Tunapowapongeza GSM, Sanlam, Azam, PSSF, Tulia Trust na Chuo Kikuu cha Dodoma (UDOM) kwa kudhamini mashindano haya tuwapongeze Benki ya CRDB mara mbili kwa kuwashawishi kushirikiana nasi.”

Naye Msimamizi wa vipindi vya michezo Azam TV, Michael Maluwe amewataka Watanzania kuanza kufuatilia CRDB Bank Taifa Cup 2021 kupitia chaneli ya michezo ya Azam Sports 2, ambapo kimeanzishwa kipindi maalum kuelekea mashindano hayo ya mpira wa kikapu. “Azam TV itaweka kambi Dodoma kuwaletea burudani Watanzania wote kuelekea mashindano haya, niwakaribishe Watanzania tujiunge na Azam TV ili kuwashangilia vijana wetu,” alisema Maluwe.

Mashindano ya CRDB Bank Taifa Cup mwaka jana yalifanyika mkoa wa Dodoma katika viwanja vya Chinangali na uwanja wa Jamhuri ambapo vijana 900 kutoka kutoka mikoa yote Tanzania bara na visiwani walishiriki. Katika mashindano hayo timu ya mpira wa kikapu ya mkoa wa Mbeya iliibuka mshindi katika michuano hiyo.
Naibu Spika wa Bunge la Tanzania, Dkt. Tulia Ackson akirusha mpira golini kuashiria uzinduzi wa mashindano ya CRDB Bank Taifa Cup 2021, yanayotarajiwa kuanza Novemba 5, kwenye viwanja vya Chinangali, jijini Dodoma, Uzindizi huo umefanyika leo kwenye hoteli ya Serena jijini Dar es salaam. Wanaoshuhudia pichani kutoka kushoto ni Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Benki ya CRDB, Abdulmajid Nsekela, Afisa Biashara Mkuu wa GSM, Allan Chonjo, Rais wa Shirikisho la Mpira wa Kikapu Tanzania, Phares Magesa na Mwenyekiti wa CRDB Bank Foundation, Martin Warioba. Picha zote na Othman Michuzi.












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