Christian university sued by expelled students in Uganda
Two students have taken legal action against the Uganda Christian University for unlawfully expelling them.
According to New Vision, Yasin Sentumbwe Munagomba, the president of the university's law society, and Simon Semuwemba, a second year law student, were expelled on the grounds of allegedly mobilizing a demonstration against the university due to the rise in school fees. The administration was not informed about the protest, a violation of the university's policy that they should be given prior notice to ensure that the rally does not interrupt other businesses in the campus.
The Centre for Legal Aid filed the lawsuit on May 25 at the Civil Division on behalf of the two students who have allegedly been "prematurely, arbitrarily, unjustly, unfairly and irrationally expelled" by the UCU.
"The impugned code of conduct is non-existent and unenforceable because it was not gazetted as required by law," they said. "In addition, the impugned rules are inconsistent not only with the constitutionally and statutorily prescribed human rights norms and standards but also some of the decided cases by the Supreme Court."
The demonstration that Munagomba and Semuwemba allegedly masterminded was a protest against the rise in school fees by 12.5 percent. According to The Observer, the tuition fee for local students at the Mukono-based educational institution had increased by Shs226,000, development fees increased from Shs282,000 to Shs430,000, examination fees rose from Shs63,000 to Shs80,000, while library fees were raised from Shs70,000 to Shs77,000.
Joshua Ziraba and Julius Mugabi, also students, were suspended for an academic year, allegedly for the way they protested against the increase in school fees.
The expelled students, who claim to be activists for students' human rights, want the court to quash the UCU's decision to expel them and to prevent the academic institution from "victimizing, dismissing and penalizing them" without any just cause. A hearing is scheduled on June 29.
