Uganda Christian University sued over expulsion of students

Two students who were expelled from Uganda Christian University (UCU) have dragged the University to court seeking to quash their expulsion.

Yasin Sentumbwe Munagomba, the University's president law society and Simon Semuwemba, a second year law student, were early this month expelled from the University for violating the university's policy on demonstrations.

The expulsion was meted out after the duo allegedly masterminded a demonstration against a sh12.5% increment in tuition fees by the University. Tuition fee for the local students increased by sh226, 000, development fees increased from sh282, 000 to 430,000, examination fees from sh63, 000 to sh80, 000 and library fees from sh70, 000 to sh77, 000.

It is alleged that they did not inform the University prior to the demonstration as per the dictates of the University's policy on demonstration. The policy states that students intending to demonstrate should notify it to ensure that they are guided and that their activities do not interrupt other business.

In their suit filed at the Civil Division on May 25, 2016, the duo who describe themselves as students' rights activists said that they were prematurely, arbitrarily, unjustly, unfairly and irrationally expelled by the University, allegedly for violating its code of conduct.

"The impugned code of conduct is non-existent and unenforceable because it was not gazetted as required by law. 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," they said.

Through their lawyers from Centre for Legal Aid, the duo wants court to quash the university's decision and all the yearly publications of the university's code of conduct handbook.

They also want court to bar the Mukono based University from enforcing their decision, code of conduct and from victimizing, dismissing and penalizing them without a just cause.

The University is yet to respond to the accusations. However, the matter has been set to be heard on June 29, 2016.