Members of the 82nd Guild Representative Council (GRC) at Marerere University are furious over reports of suspension of their colleagues after the botched food riots in several halls of residence.
This followed the circulation of a communique by the Vice Chancellor Prof John Ddumba-Ssentamu, asking the 15 students to leave the campus with immediate effect.The GRCs are now demanding for an emergency meeting to discuss the matter.
“Why are we silent about the rampant suspension of students around Campus? Is it that we haven’t heard about it or we are ignoring it?” wondered the Guild Clerk, Owen Natukunda.
Natukunda added: “Prof. Ddumba as an individual is taking things in his own hands and I beg that your sober minds stand together and defend Makererians against such injustices.”
Article 109 (3) of the Makerere Students’ Guild Constitution gives the Guild Speaker powers to convene meetings of GRCs. The same constitution in Article 110 (2) calls for meetings that are not more than 4 in a semester except during emergencies when they are advocating for something.
For the previous two weeks, students at Makerere University have been in riots against what they call poor quality food. The demonstrations have been characterised students pouring cooked and raw food, breaking plates and cups among other things.
It is because of such scenarios that the owners of these catering service providers calculated losses and came up with a substantial level of damage caused and submitted to the University Management.
Noah Omollo Juemah, a fourth year student of Law and East African Community Youth Ambassador said: “Makerere (administration) never learns. You cant effectively dismiss somebody even temporarily without a hearing.”
Juemah’s argument revolves around Article 28 (1) of the Constitution of Uganda that establishes the right to a fair hearing.
It states that, ‘In the determination of civil rights and obligations or any criminal charge, a person shall be entitled to a fair, speedy and public hearing before an independent and impartial court or tribunal established by law.’
He argues that a decision to suspend or expel someone cannot be reached without the victims being rendered a chance to be heard.
In 2013, former Makerere Guild Presidents Ivan Bwowe and David Bala Bwiruka successfully challenged their expulsion from the University in a landmark case that saw the University eat their humble pie and get them re-admitted
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