Students sue Makerere over closure
Sep 06, 2011
MAKERERE University student leaders yesterday sued the university over its indefinite closure.
By ANDANTE OKANYA
MAKERERE University student leaders yesterday sued the university over its indefinite closure.
The students said the university council chairman, Dr. Charles Wana-Etyem, acted illegally without the entire council’s approval.
The university was closed on September 1 following strikes by both staff and students.
The staff are demanding better pay, while the students were agitated for not having lectures due to the strike.
The closure followed a sit-down strike by academic staff who are demanding a pay rise and sh16.7b in pension arrears from the National Insurance Corporation.
Led by the Guild President, Denis Oneka-lit Amere, the student leaders filed an application for judicial review at the High Court in Kampala.
Others are guild vice-president Doreen Nyanjura, guild prime minister Latif Maido Waiswa and Isaac Semanyi.
A Judicial review is conducted by the High Court in relation to proceedings and decisions taken by subordinate courts and tribunals or bodies.
The students are seeking for orders to compel the university authorities to reopen it.
“The chairman of the university council acted outside his powers when he ordered the closure of the university on September 1, 2011,†they contend.
The students want court to quash the decision to close the university. They are also demanding costs of the application.
Oneka-lit said before such a decision (closure) is made, the council must deliberate on it and reach a consensus.
“I know that all decisions must be taken by the council as deliberated upon by members who must be invited to a meeting for the purpose of a decision reached either by consensus or majority,†Oneka-lit contends.
He said when he asked Wana-Etyem for an explanation, he was told that the closure was done in consultation with the Central Government.
In his affidavit, Semanyi contends that students had been inconvenienced by the closure, yet most of them had paid their tuition and accommodation fees in the various hostels.
Semanyi said Wana-Etyem was insensible when he ordered the indefinite closure.
Hearing of the application has been fixed for September 22 before Justice Vincent Zehurikize.
MAKERERE University student leaders yesterday sued the university over its indefinite closure.
The students said the university council chairman, Dr. Charles Wana-Etyem, acted illegally without the entire council’s approval.
The university was closed on September 1 following strikes by both staff and students.
The staff are demanding better pay, while the students were agitated for not having lectures due to the strike.
The closure followed a sit-down strike by academic staff who are demanding a pay rise and sh16.7b in pension arrears from the National Insurance Corporation.
Led by the Guild President, Denis Oneka-lit Amere, the student leaders filed an application for judicial review at the High Court in Kampala.
Others are guild vice-president Doreen Nyanjura, guild prime minister Latif Maido Waiswa and Isaac Semanyi.
A Judicial review is conducted by the High Court in relation to proceedings and decisions taken by subordinate courts and tribunals or bodies.
The students are seeking for orders to compel the university authorities to reopen it.
“The chairman of the university council acted outside his powers when he ordered the closure of the university on September 1, 2011,†they contend.
The students want court to quash the decision to close the university. They are also demanding costs of the application.
Oneka-lit said before such a decision (closure) is made, the council must deliberate on it and reach a consensus.
“I know that all decisions must be taken by the council as deliberated upon by members who must be invited to a meeting for the purpose of a decision reached either by consensus or majority,†Oneka-lit contends.
He said when he asked Wana-Etyem for an explanation, he was told that the closure was done in consultation with the Central Government.
In his affidavit, Semanyi contends that students had been inconvenienced by the closure, yet most of them had paid their tuition and accommodation fees in the various hostels.
Semanyi said Wana-Etyem was insensible when he ordered the indefinite closure.
Hearing of the application has been fixed for September 22 before Justice Vincent Zehurikize.