Four Makerere University students of law have threatened to drag the university to court over non-functioning lifts in the university main library among other things.
In a written petition to the Librarian of the university, the four students Najib Kasole, Ivan Busulwa, Fahim Matovu and Bob Ethan Matsiko who are all 4th year students, decry the negligence by the library staff to rectify some of the “pressing issues” in their persuit of academic work and consequent usage of the library.
The petition was copied to the vice chancellor and his deputy i/c of academics, the dean of students, principal school of law and the guild president.
Among the pertinent issues raised include the non-functionability of the lifts in the main library. 
They assert that their collegues who are disabled cannot access certain levels of the library because of the staircase.
“(Students) with disabilities have a right to fully enjoy the library facilities like any other student without being discriminated or confined to only the ground floor of the library”, the petition reads.
They are further aggrieved by the library policy of handing over bags before you can access the library. They say that on top of being inconveniencing and time wasting, their female counterparts have been discriminated against in the process.
“So what if a girl is in her periods and she has to carry pads and tissue in her bag?” Mr. Busulwa asked.
They further asserted that the policy is also extortive since there is a charge levied on whoever leaves their bag with the library management.
The petitioners also seek an explanation from the librarian as to why the entrance at the old section of the library (opposite the school of forestry) has been abandoned and put out of use.
They ended the petition by asking the management to open that entrance for convenience purposes since their section (law section) is proximate to it and they have to walk miles within the library to be able to access and leave the structure.
“We have given them 24 hours to address our concerns or we shall seek court redress”, Busulwa concluded.
This would not be the first time Makerere University is dragged to court by its own students and we shall keep you posted incase of any developments.
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