UCU Boxed into Corner at Court as its Expelled Students Appeal for Financial Help

It’s never over until it’s over. When Uganda Christian University (UCU) expelled Simon Semuwembwe and Yasin Sentumbwe for allegedly holding an illegal protest over tuition increment, its administration thought it had finally gotten rid of what it presumed to be the “rotten tomatoes” sowing seeds of defiance among its hitherto meek students.

For the quick-fix it sought against simmering discontent among its student-population, UCU now finds itself neck-deep in all manner of legal, reputational and financial chaos for the ill-fated expulsion.

Besides suing the university for damages and other reliefs, the two expelled law students have taken to the streets in downtown Kampala, visited students hostels around UCU, dominated the press and their videos gone viral on social media in an unrelenting two-man demonstration-cum-disparagement of the UCU administration over their expulsion and other grievances because of what they call high handed treatment and wanton violation of student’s rights by the university.

The duo’s startling reaction to their expulsion has reportedly thrown the university administration in disarray, blown the lid off untold student intimidation and persecution at this Anglican Church-founded institution, and obliterated the veneer of meekness among its students.

Now, appearing before Lady Justice Eva Luwata at the High Court in Jinja yesterday morning, UCU‘s lawyer Cynthia Musoke pleaded with the Judge to reign in on the two student-litigants, particularly Yasin, alleging that their actions are in breach of the sub-judice rule and that they should stop collecting money from members of the public to on the pretext of seeking legal fees to sustain their litigation.

Ms. Musoke’s plea was however contested and rejected by the students’ lawyer Isaac Ssemakadde who rubbished the claims as mere allegations for which no evidence had been provided. Mr. Ssemakadde also insisted that in any case, the students have a right to exercise their constitutional freedom of speech and expression which should not be even lightly whittled away by unsubstantiated allegations.

Lawyer Ssemakadde also submitted before Court that the affidavit replies that UCU had made in response to the applicants’ case had not only been made out of time but were also defective, for which he asked Court to order the university to pay costs if it was desirous of correcting them by filing fresh affidavits. Ms. Musoke prayed that UCU be indeed allowed to file fresh affidavits but remained silent on the issue of costs.

The case was adjourned to 5^th September 2016 when the judge will give her ruling on the three main issues, i.e. whether UCU may file additional affidavits, the issue of costs for the inconvenience so far caused by UCU’s delay, as well as the issue of sub judice – whether the duo should be stopped from making any further comments in public and to the press about their case.

Meanwhile, Yasin and Simon continue appealing to kind members of the public to come to their aid financially. The indigent students say they need the money to cover the legal expenses they are incurring in order to sustain their fight for justice and right to affordable education, “not only for ourselves but other students at UCU for whom we are fighting, who continue to suffer silently at the hands of an autocratic administration” – as Yasin said.

With the Court having jurisdiction over UCU located in Jinja, the students have had to incur significant expenses in transport and accommodation not only for them but also their lawyer and his assistants in Jinja town.

Having run out of money, Yasin and Simon had taken to travelling to Jinja a day earlier and spending the night in a hired car until their luck ran out on Tuesday night when they were booted from the parking lot of the YMCA centre where they had on previous occasions booked rooms and spent the night.

“We drove away in silence, parked on one of the streets in Jinja town and spent the night there.” – recounted Simon with sad eyes.

They can be contacted on their personal numbers +256 700 966 287 (Yasin) and +256 754 562 946 (Simon).