Uganda National Students Association (UNSA), an umbrella organisation for all students in post-primary institutions in Uganda and also Ugandan students studying abroad whose existence and operations are hinged on the Education Act 2008 (Part VI, Section 30), is at the verge of facing a suit from a section of dissatisfied students.
UNSA was established on December 16, 1988 and the underlying rationale was to prepare and produce Disciplined, Patriotic and Self-reliant Citizens for National Development.
It was also hoped that such an umbrella body would be used to mobilise students, by virtue of the position students occupy as the vanguard of the youth and due to their pivotal endowment in light of enlightenment, energy and resilience. The UNSA membership is made up of approximately 7 million students from Secondary/High School, Tertiary & Vocational Institutions and Universities.
In accordance with article 3(d) of its constitution, UNSA aims at advocating for the preservation of the rights of students through empowering them to participate and seek for the upholding of fundamental Human Rights as stipulated in the constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995. Furthermore, UNSA has the mandate to guide and support all the Students in Uganda in the promotion of their academic pursuits and the achievement of successful careers, among others.
However such aspirations notwithstanding, some disgruntled students in their capacity as UNSA members, have instructed a law firm called Mutembuli & Co. Advocates to file a suit against UNSA. These students, led by a one Solomon Nabuyanda from Makerere University, allege that the term of the 31st UNSA Executive Committee expired in December 2020 and that according to the UNSA constitution, the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Executive Secretary, who are in charge of running UNSA’s day to day activities are tasked with calling a General Assembly within 30 days after the dissolution of the National Executive Committee. The students allege that this has not been done.
These aggrieved students further allege that the current UNSA President, Mr. Ezra Byakutangaza is firstly, illegally holding office due to the fact that he is no longer a student, having graduated from Makerere University recently. Secondly, that he has continued to spend the association’s funds without the requisite approval. It is the hope of these students that the current UNSA leadership will heed their call or else, the matter will be resolved in the Courts of Law.
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