Africa-Press – Uganda. 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.
