The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has halted the expulsion of Namukisa Sarah, a pregnant final-year student at Medical Laboratory Training School – Jinja, ordering the institution to immediately reinstate her and allow her to sit for her final exams.
The EOC’s injunction, issued on June 11, 2025, follows a formal complaint by the Uganda Law Society. Namukisa had been barred from taking her final exams, set for June 13, under a school regulation that treats pregnancy as grounds for discontinuation — a policy now under fire from rights groups and legal experts.
Pregnant = Expelled? Not Anymore.
In its review, the Commission declared that Regulation No. 13 of the institution’s rules violates the Ugandan Constitution — specifically Articles 21 and 30, which guarantee equality, non-discrimination, and the right to education. Citing its authority under the Equal Opportunities Commission Act, the EOC ordered the school to back off.
“You are accordingly ordered to allow her to sit for her final examinations and to refrain from implementing any punitive measures based on her pregnancy status,” the directive reads.
The injunction takes effect immediately and blocks any further action by the school until the Commission concludes its investigation.
Turning Point for Student Mothers?
This case is more than a single student’s fight — it’s a flashpoint in a national crisis. According to Uganda Bureau of Statistics, 1 in 4 Ugandan girls aged 15–19 is already a mother or pregnant, and early pregnancy remains a leading cause of school dropouts.
Rights groups have long condemned school rules that penalize students for pregnancy, saying they entrench gender inequality and trap young women in cycles of poverty.
“This ruling affirms that educational institutions cannot invoke pregnancy as a lawful ground for exclusion from education,” said Edith Atukwase, a Kampala-based human rights advocate. “Namukisa’s courage and the Commission’s decision may well change the future for thousands of girls.”
A Wake-Up Call for Education Policy
The injunction now sets a major precedent. Schools across Uganda may soon be required to rewrite internal regulations to comply with national laws and the Constitution. The EOC emphasized that its role is to ensure learning environments are inclusive, fair, and legally sound.
The Medical Laboratory Training School – Jinja has not issued a public response as of press time, but the message from the Commission is clear: pregnancy is not a crime — and it’s not a reason to block a student’s future.
The case remains under investigation, but for Namukisa Sarah — and for countless other girls watching — it’s already a victory.
