Court has ordered Makerere University to reinstate suspended Makerere University Scholar, Dr Stella Nyanzi, nineteen months after she was suspended indefinitely by the university Management.
Following court’s order on Tuesday, to the university, Stella Nyanzi took to her facebook account to celebrate her reinstatement. She posted a photo with her lawyer, Isaac Ssekamadde.
Nyanzi was suspended from Makerere University in 2017 for attacking Minister of Education, also First Lady, Janet Museveni on Facebook. .
In a letter dated March 31, Appointments Board chairman, Bruce Balaba Kabaasa asked then Vice Chancellor, Prof John Ddumba-Ssentamu, to suspend Dr Nyanzi from the university service with immediate effect.
According to Kabaasa, the university Management could not tolerate Dr Nyanzi’s continued use of social media to violate the university’s policies. He said it was regrettable that Nyanzi had made it a habit to insult, dehumanize, and castigate the line minister of Education and Sports under whose docket Makerere University’s supervision falls.
Subsequently, the Vice Chancellor wrote to Nyanzi suspending her until she is cleared by the University Disciplinary Committee. But Nyanzi later challenged her suspension in the courts of law.
Over a year later, court has ordered Makerere University to have her reinstated. Her indefinite suspension was lifted with immediate effect.
The tribunal ruled that the second indefinite suspension to which Makerere University subjected the academic, was unlawful and illegal because it contravenes Sec 63 (2) of the Employment Act (2006).
As such, the Appointments Board headed by Kabaasa was found to be in breach of the law and gross failure to conduct its statutory duty.
She posted on her Facebook expressing excitement about the ruling by court, saying she felt like David after slaying Goliath. She also celebrated her lawyer, Isaac Ssemakadde for winning the case.
“This is a brilliant and rare day for justice, rule of law, and respect of labour rights of public servants in Uganda. This is a great win for academic freedom, freedom of expression, and freedom of conscience and thought. I feel like David after slaying Goliath,” Dr Nyanzi wrote.
“….the university must pay to me all emoluments owed to me – including all monies withheld from me by virtue of the illegal suspension – within the next 10 working days,” she added.
