Oppressed Non-Muslim Students At Islamic University Seek For Redress

Bukuri Kakooza

The decision to establish an Islamic University in Uganda came out of the Heads of states summit of the OIC member states that took place in 1974 in Lahore, Pakistan. It was decided that two Islamic Universities be set up in Africa; one in Niger to serve the French speaking African states and one in Uganda to serve the English speaking states.

In the case of the IUIU, preliminary works began and it was decided then that the University would be set up in West Nile district of Arua at a place called Arivu. Unfortunately, the University never took off until the late Idi Amin Dada’s government was overthrown. During the early 1980s the then government changed the site of the University from Arua to Mbale and offered the premises of Nkoma Secondary School to accommodate the University.
However, the university did not start until February 10, 1988 when it opened its doors to its pioneer students. The University started with two faculties-the faculty of Islamic and Arabic Languages and the faculty of Education.

Initially it was thought that the Faculty of medicine would also be started, but when government of Uganda withdrew the school of hygiene which it had previously donated, it became impossible to start a medical course then.
The Main Campus is approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 mi), north of the city of Mbale, in eastern Uganda, on the Mbale-kumi Road. The coordinates of the main campus are 01 05 35N, 34 10 37E (Latitude: 1.0930; Longitude: 34.1770).

Students at all campuses of IUIU are required to dress in a decent manner befitting the norms of an Islamic Institution. In case of;

Female students

Female students must put on traditionally accepted Hijaab, covering all parts of their bodies except the face, fingers palms and feet. The hair should be covered too,
They should not put on male dressings , All other types of tight fitting dresses that portray/depict the body alignment or those that are short, transparent and slitted are strictly forbidden. Transparent head covers are also not allowed.

Male students
Male students are required to dress in a decent manner befitting the norms of an Islamic Institution. Female clothing, shorts, bangles, necklaces, or other ungentlemanly clothes e.g. sleeveless vests, kinky dresses, dread locks etc are not permissible to male students.

Non-Muslims not happy about the Situation

Non-Muslims at IUIU though live a different life , according to Kamugisha Maureen a second year mass communication student at females’ campus Kabojja life here is not difficult as such because on Sundays they allow us non-moslems to go out for prayers though moslems are favoured most mainly in students politics when even us are capable of leading this institution and the main problem is the University forcing us to do some papers which are not in line with the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).

At IUIU, papers like Introduction to Arabic and Introduction to Islam are done by every student regardless of religion , tribe , country and the programme offered, failure to do them and pass by 50% a student can not graduate.
And also someone to head students’ body or to be on the executive must be a practicing Muslim. Non muslims are given smaller posts like state ministers and member of parliament.

“Muslims are favoured to the extent that even in class they are considered first”. Aggrieved Maureen added.
However , Amulen Maureen (22), doing Bachelor of Development Studies at main campus in Mbale who joined IUIU because it builds moral characters in students especially female students in terms of dressing despite the fact that being a non Muslim she finds it a bit exigent to put on hijab (Islamic dress) for the whole day. “They should atleast leave us to put on our usual clothing’s in Weekends”. She added.

According to the University Public Relations Officer ( PRO), Mr Lukoya Shaban, bringing the education gap that was created by the mistakes made during post-colonial Uganda; which left many Muslims lagging behind education wise , it’s the reason why IUIU was established.

“The founders of this university thought of an affirmative action in the education field to bring the unfortunate Muslims at per with others whom the education system favoured”. He said.

Lukoya added against such back ground , supporting the Muslim student by exposing him to many things including leadership was not by commission but by design. About the issue of favouring the Muslim students in terms of awarding marks he said those are baseless allegations that he can’t give credence by commenting on them.
Presently the University now has 8,553 students. It offers 57 academic programmes, ranging from certificate courses to PhD degrees offered in 7 faculties. It is the only University in the region which has a girl’s only cam pus at kabojja , one of its four campuses.