Kampala, Uganda – In a major turn of events, Makerere University Vice Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe has lifted the indefinite suspension of three students who had led protests demanding overdue living-out allowances.
This decision follows intense legal pressure from the Uganda Law Society (ULS) and a public outcry, spotlighting the issue of student welfare and disciplinary practices at Uganda’s top university.
The controversy erupted when students Aliat Oyet, Francis Opira, and Felix Losiru organized a protest to press the university for long-delayed government-sponsored allowances, essential for covering living costs.
In response, Nawangwe suspended the trio indefinitely, citing misconduct just a week before their semester exams.
The students quickly turned to the ULS for support.
ULS President Isaac Ssemakadde, an outspoken advocate for student rights, condemned the suspensions as unlawful, citing court precedents that prohibit indefinite suspensions by universities.
Asserting that the students’ rights were infringed, Ssemakadde issued an ultimatum to Nawangwe, demanding their immediate reinstatement or face legal action.
“Universities have been warned repeatedly against these kinds of disciplinary measures,” Ssemakadde stated.
“Yet Professor Nawangwe continues to operate in defiance of the law.” He pledged to mobilize ULS’s legal resources if the suspensions were not lifted within two days.
“I have 5000 lawyers ready to make sure the administration gets the message that intimidation of students is over,” he warned.
The pressure was mounting as students, activists, and legal professionals voiced their discontent over the university’s approach to student discipline.
As the ultimatum’s deadline loomed, Nawangwe rescinded the suspension, explaining that his decision was based on an appeal from Guild President Vincent Lubega Nsamba, who had called for leniency on behalf of the students.
In his letter to Nsamba, Nawangwe urged the Guild President to advise the students to avoid any further “acts of hooliganism.”
The university has also now started disbursing the delayed allowances, addressing the root cause of the protest.
Many students rely on these funds to cover essential living costs, and delayed payments disrupt their lives and academic focus.
The administration’s delayed response to these needs underscores the tension between students’ demands and university bureaucracy, an issue that has sparked repeated protests in recent years.
Students have welcomed the reversal, viewing it as a win for their rights and a precedent against indefinite suspensions.
“This is a step forward, but we must ensure that students’ rights are respected at all times, not just after public pressure,” a student representative commented.
The incident has amplified calls for transparency and accountability in university governance, especially in disciplinary measures that have often been criticized as heavy-handed.
Legal experts believe the Makerere case could set an example for universities across Uganda, prompting them to reconsider how they handle protests and disciplinary action.
