IUIU dragged before the Equal Opportunities Commission for discrimination

Perhaps, there’s no better time to address the issue of discrimination in Universities especially those with a Religious Background than now. The Islamic University in Uganda (Kampala) was yesterday on the 27th of March, 2018 hit with Breaking news embedded in a letter from the Equal Opportunities Commission signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mr. Mujuni Mpitsi and addressed to the Dean halting the said University’s Law Society Elections upon strong allegations of discrimination against two of their students namely Kibuuka Ivan (LLB3) and Ntambi Michael Blair(LLB2).

In a summon letter from the Equal Opportunities Commission, Kibuuka Ivan the first complainant under Complaint Ref. No. EOC/CR/024/2018 stated that he had been excluded from running in the Elections simply because he’s not Moslem by faith hence a form of discrimination on the basis of religion whereas Ntambi Michael Blair argues in Complaint Ref: EOC/CR/025/2018 that the Electoral Commission under the direction of the Speaker cancelled his nomination for Presidency for the Law Society on grounds of being in Second Year contrary to the election practice and procedures in the previous years.

A similar challenge was faced by Turinawe Bayern, a first year Law Student at UCU, Mukono who was rendered incompetent to run for Law Society President on grounds of lack of experience.

In a phone call interview with one of the Complainants, Ntambi Michael, he unwaveringly stated that “If the Law Society does not recognize that their law is unjust and discriminatory, then we need the Equal Opportunities Commission to guide us.”

These two complaints were consolidated into Complaint Ref: No. EOC/CR/024/2018 since they relate to the same facts and parties. The University is by law required to file a response to these allegations not later than 3rd April, 2018, the same date the hearings are expected to commence.

This is a matter of great public interest as many Universities with Religious backgrounds apply such rules they are allegedly discriminatory in nature.