Kampala Uganda, 14th October, 2024: Vasundhara Oswal, Executive Director of PRO Industries and a key figure in East Africa's ethanol production industry, is currently facing severe human rights abuses after her illegal detention by Ugandan authorities. The charges against her stem from a former employee of the Oswal family who not only stole valuables from them but also had taken a loan of $200,000 from the family. His family, acting as guarantors for the loan, refused to repay it and instead filed false allegations against Vasundhara in an attempt to escape their financial obligations. This individual escaped from Uganda and was later apprehended in Tanzania with evidence of the theft. Despite this, Vasundhara has been unjustly accused, and the legal process has been manipulated against her.
Vasundhara was detained on October 1st, interrogated under degrading conditions, and held for over 90 hours without access to legal counsel, family, or basic rights. She was paraded as a suspect, stripped of her dignity, and isolated in prison despite her medical condition. Despite a court order for her unconditional release the police did not let her go, instead they slapped inadmissible charges on a Friday evening in a lower court so that she could not even get bail and threw her and her lawyer straight into a prison and continued isolation. After that they purposely switched a few prisons around making it difficult for her family to contact her, and even though she’s officially in remand, she’s been kept in a prison of convicted murderers and made to sleep amongst them, where she is scared for her life every second. She’s made to wear the prisoner uniform even though she’s not been convicted and no trial has ever been done. Till today, she’s not received her charge sheet or what charges she’s booked under or what evidence is against her. There is no paperwork that has been given to her or her lawyers. Latest news shows how Mukesh Menaria has been found under criminal charges in Tanzania, and is in a prison, even then Vasundhara’s charges of kidnap with intent to murder have not been removed. Which is entirely strange and malicious as the person that this was framed around has been found and is a criminal.
The Oswal family, a prominent and respected business conglomerate, has been the target of political and corporate jealousy. With major achievements like establishing the world's largest ammonia plant in Australia, Pankaj Oswal’s credibility on the global industrial stage is undisputed. Vasundhara, educated in India, Australia, and Switzerland, has demonstrated strong leadership in the global expansion of the Oswal Group, particularly in East Africa amongst her business achievements she has won many awards including global youth icon award for 2023 and being named woman of the year by the Economic Times.
The injustice faced by Vasundhara Oswal highlights the misuse of Uganda's legal system. Despite an exit permit and full compliance with immigration requirements, her detention has continued without justification. Pankaj Oswal has escalated the case to the United Nations, seeking international intervention for her release. The Oswal family's status and contributions to the corporate world have not shielded them from this politically motivated attack.
This case raises alarming concerns over the handling of justice in Uganda and the blatant disregard for human rights, exposing the country’s vulnerability to corporate and political manipulation.
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