Makerere VC, guild clash over suspensions

Makerere University leadership suspends some guild leaders and warn others over meetings to organise a protest against fees policy

Makerere University Guild President Vincent Nsamba has condemned what he calls unfair treatment of guild leaders by Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe.

This comes after the vice chancellor issued suspension and warning letters to some guild leaders for their alleged involvement in acts of indiscipline.

The warning letters were addressed to Rodney Adroni, the Guild Representative Councillor of the School of Built Environment, and Joseph Nsamba, the Guild Representative Councillor of the School of Medicine.

In a memo dated September 10, Nawangwe noted that the two guild leaders, along with yet-to-be-identified students, had participated in planning and mobilising fellow students to demonstrate against the university's fees policy.

Nawangwe stated that such behaviour contravened the university's rules and regulations and warned that it could have consequences for the duo's leadership and professional careers.

"As a student leader, you ought to know that this kind of behavior is not acceptable," he said.

"I have decided to draw your attention to this matter so that you may understand that such behaviour could have negative consequences not only on your leadership but also your studies and future profession."

Additionally, Nawangwe has suspended Silah Besigamukama, from the College of Agricultural and Developmental Sciences, for his participation in the anti-university fees policy protest.

"Because of your involvement in the above offensive acts, and in order to ensure the security of our students, I hereby suspend you from Makerere University with immediate effect until further notice," Nawangwe ordered.

The warning and suspension letters have sparked sarcastic reactions on social media, as the vice-chancellor, notorious for dishing out suspension and warning letters, used templates from 2022 to send the memos without correcting the dates.

"I have seen a warning letter that was written in 2022 by the Office of the Vice Chancellor circulating on various social utility platforms. The same letter highlighted Sept. 9th, 2024, as being a Saturday when it was a Monday. I seek clarity on who this letter was addressed to!" Adroni posted on X.

Guild President Responds

In a September 11 letter, the Guild President said the suspensions and warning letters were based on hearsay, disregarding the rules of natural justice.

He added that this had caused not just distress among the accused but also unrest within the entire student body.

"It is extremely absurd that you issued these letters to members of the Students' Guild based on unfounded allegations and hearsay with disregard to rules of natural justice," Nsamba said.

Nsamba demanded that the vice chancellor withdraw the letters until he has gathered sufficient evidence to incriminate the individuals.

"We also ask you to expound on these allegations and clarify when and where such a meeting happened. Some of the members you allege were not on campus premises on that day at 1:00 a.m. As the law dictates, he who alleges must prove," he stated in the letter.

Nsamba further mentioned that Nawangwe's decision contravened Articles 42 and 44(c) of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda.

Article 42 provides that any person appearing before any administrative official or body has a right to be treated justly and fairly and shall have the right to apply to a court of law in respect of any administrative decision taken against them.

"The members were not notified prior to the issuance of the letters, and the suspended students have not been given a chance to defend themselves against the allegations therein. I condemn the unfair treatment these members have been subjected to by being treated as guilty before being proven so," Nsamba added.

Is Freedom of Association at Makerere at Stake?

Following Nawangwe's suspension letters, the dean of Students issued another memo to the guild, addressing the implementation of the university fees policy and adherence to the university's peace and stability requirements.

In the letter, the dean suspended all student gatherings under the assumption that student leaders intended to incite violence.

The dean further advised students with grievances to address them through established channels, including the Students' Guild, asserting that these grievances had always been addressed therein.

However, the guild leadership argue that the dean's letter shows double standards, asserting that by suspending meetings, the channels for discussing grievances are also closed.

"This decision by your office to suspend student activities curtails our mandate under the Makerere University Students Guild Constitution 2022, Article 155, which empowers student leaders to deliberate on all matters that affect the members of the Guild and resolve measures to be taken," Nsamba argued.

He asked the dean's office to withdraw the statement to allow students and their leaders to associate freely for their overall well-being.

"We want to make it explicitly clear that we shall continue gathering to deliberate on students' concerns as mandated," Nsamba asserted.

Prof Nawangwa told the Nile Post in a brief response that demos are not banned, but "they must be for a clear cause".

"The fees policy is not new, it was approved in 2016 and it has been implemented since that time. So, what was the planned demo about?" he said.

Under his leadership, Nawangwe has been accused of using an iron fist to run the university, suppressing dissent at all levels from cleaners to academic staff and the Students' Guild.

He has also been accused of suspending staff and students before conducting investigations.