Troubled Makerere University has been sued by Team Uniform Limited, a Ugandan company that was contracted to supply customized graduation gowns for the university. The company seeks to recover over UGX 2 billion in arrears.
The company contends that on 22nd December 2015, it was contracted to supply graduation gowns for a period of three years starting with the 67th graduation ceremony up to the recent 70th. According to the contract, each gown was to be made at a fee of UGX 90,000 which includes the university’s 10% fee on each gown.
Apparently, things didn’t move as expected as the company was allegedly required to sell the gowns to the students directly for the 67th and 68th ceremonies. More details indicate that the university continued to collect the 10% fee as commission.
The company is also accusing Makerere of undermining its sales when they (Makerere) allowed students to purchase un customized gowns from Wandegeya street vendors. Towards the 69th graduation ceremony, the university allegedly violated the contract further when it decided to change the mode of payment without the company’s consent.
It should be recalled that Makerere changed the payment mode by including the gown on the graduation fees, which is paid directly to the university accounts.
The already troubled Makerere University, still dealing with the fire scandal and abrupt resignation of the Deputy Vice Chancellor has been summoned to submit their defense within 15 days ahead of the case hearing.