UCU expels two students over strike

Uganda Christian University (UCU) has dismissed two students and suspended two others for one full academic year over what the university termed as an unlawful protest.

The two are accused of masterminding the demonstration that took place last month against the 12.5 percent tuition increment.

A fourth year law student and also the president of the UCU law society together with a second year law student have been expelled after a decision was reached by the university disciplinary committee.

The other two that have been suspended are both from the faculty of social science for also participating in the "unlawful" demo. The duo is expected to resume studies in September 2017 academic year.

Pius Nyikirize, the university guild president and Moses Ssenyonyi the General Secretary in the guild government were also cautioned for their participation in the strike.

However sources close to the disciplinary committee say that Nyikirize and Ssenyonyi also narrowly survived being expelled from the university.

The two were summoned two weeks ago by the university disciplinary council to explain why students held such an unacceptable protest in the university.

The university ‘s public relations officer, Ganzi Isharaza said that the decision was aimed at prohibiting students from partaking in such unacceptable conduct.

Isharaza says that it is not a crime for students to express their grievances, but the means used by the expelled students were wrong and totally unacceptable.

The university policy on protests and demonstrations states that any public protest or demonstration on university premises may be conducted only after the Vice Chancellor has been informed a day in advance and that no demonstration or protest may be held without his approval and that of police.

However, in this case the school administration including the Vice Chancellor was not informed thus got by surprise.

The expelled students are reported to have mobilized others with whom they interrupted important university activities including the end of semester examinations that were on going last month.

The tuition was increased by sh.226, 000, the development fee was also increased from 282,000 to 430,000, examination fees from sh. 63,000 to sh. 80,000 and library fee from 70,000 to 77,000.

Background

UCU students for the first time in 19 years held a demonstration over what they cited as "unfair alterations" by the university in regard to their tuition policy where the disgruntled students convened at the Agape Square in the university demanding an explanation from the administration.

The students argued that the university council had made the resolution without even consulting or involving the students' guild.