Prominent international business executive Vasundhara Oswal has filed a petition with the Uganda High Court, alleging that senior security officials illegally arrested and detained her for nearly three weeks in October 2024. The 27-year-old executive director of Oswal Group Global and PRO Industries claims her constitutional and human rights were violated during the ordeal.
The petition names several high-ranking Ugandan officials, including Assistant Inspector General of Police Joseph Obwona, the third-highest officer in the Uganda Police Force, former Interpol Commissioner Allison Agaba, and officials from the Human Trafficking Division and the police detective unit. Oswal alleges she was held despite a court order for her release and a lack of evidence to justify her arrest or continued detention.
Oswal, a European citizen of Indian origin, oversees PRO Industries, which operates East Africa’s largest ethanol plant in Uganda’s Luwero District—a flagship industrial investment. Her petition details claims of arbitrary arrest and imprisonment, citing both the Ugandan Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It further alleges inhumane treatment, including denial of medication, restricted access to legal counsel, and degrading conditions. Her family alleges officers demanded money for basic necessities like food and hygiene supplies, and accuses police of colluding with local business interests to prolong her detention.
The case has drawn attention from legal and economic analysts who note its implications for the rule of law and Uganda’s efforts to attract foreign investment. Oswal’s petition seeks a court declaration that her rights were violated, prosecution of the officials involved, and the return of approximately USD 200,000 in confiscated property and bond money. Her family has also submitted the case to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
In a statement, Oswal expressed confidence in Uganda’s judicial system, stating the incident reflects the actions of a limited number of individuals, not systemic failure. She thanked President Yoweri Museveni for his support of industrial projects like hers. The named officials have not publicly responded.
The High Court’s handling of the petition is being closely watched by investors and rights advocates, as its outcome may signal Uganda’s commitment to constitutional governance and its standing as a stable destination for international capital.
