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Prove all things..(1 Thesa.5:21)
Test Spirits..(I John 4:1)
Like the Bereans, check whether things are so(Acts 17:11)
A staffing crisis has forced Kyambogo University management to resort to part-time lecturers.
Vice chancellor Prof Eli Katunguka notes
that the university has only 404 full-time teaching staff members out
of the approved structure of 1,208 lecturers. The university has only
five professors out of the required 63 professors. It has 23 associate
professors instead of 113, and 62 senior lecturers instead of 206. There
are 176 lecturers while the university needs 312.
“There have been years when I was the
only professor at Kyambogo, and this situation has persisted for the
past decade. To address the shortage, we have hired over 500 part-time
lecturers. These lecturers are paid from outside the university’s
regular wage allocation, which is set at Shs 67 billion,” said
Katunguka.
With part-time lecturers hired at various levels,
including professors and other academic ranks, Kyambogo needs at least
Shs 16.5 billion to cover their salaries. They are paid Shs 50,000 per
hour. The university owes part-time lecturers Shs 6.5 billion in
arrears.
Due to the arrears, some lecturers have
tended to withhold student marks around graduation time. The university
is appealing for increased government support to enhance senior academic
staffing, especially in critical fields like engineering and science.
Katunguka said without the needed support, the university plans to
review and increase its tuition fees.
Kyambogo is
among the public universities charging the lowest tuition fees. It has
reportedly maintained those rates for the past 16 years. For instance,
diploma courses range from as low as Shs 320,000 for special needs
programs to Shs 850,000 for engineering courses, with other diploma
programs priced around Shs 400,000.
For bachelor's degrees, the highest
tuition at Kyambogo is Shs 1.47 million for engineering programs, which
is significantly lower than the over Shs 5 million per semester charged
by other institutions.
Most other degree programs at Kyambogo
range from Shs 420,000 to Shs 1.05 million. Katunguka stated that while
Kyambogo is reviewing its tuition fees, the increases will not match the
higher rates charged by private institutions. Instead, the new fees
will be aligned with, or potentially remain lower than, those of other
public universities.
He explained that the need for a fee
adjustment stems from significant changes over the past 16 years,
including increased costs for teaching materials, particularly in
engineering and science programs. He also noted that the budget is under
pressure due to the expenses associated with part-time staff, which has
led to outstanding arrears on other critical items, including utilities
such as water.
Fooling us about Uganda’s neutrality in the Congo Conflict!!!
Militarizing the Congo to help USA and allies to rape Congo resources: DRC
troops, civilians fleeing to Uganda after rebel clashes
End of the M23 Era but no end yet to USA and her clients’ looting of
Congo resources : Kabila Congratulates Congo Army for Defeating M23 Rebels:
FARDC captured Ugandan and Rwandan Nationals fighting alongside M23 Rebels
At least 98
Congolese National Police (NPC) officers and more than 2,000 refugees
have entered Uganda after the M23 rebels captured Nyamilima town.
Nyamulima town in Rutshuru territory,
North Kivu province is located about 10 kilometres from the Uganda-DR
Congo border of Ishasha in Kanungu district. The rebels allegedly
captured the town on Saturday at around 4:00 pm without much resistance.
Afterwards, the police officers who were attached to the Ishasha side
of DRC fled into Uganda.
The villages of Ngwenda, Nyabanira,
Kasave, Kiseguro, Katwiguru, and Kisharo in Binza Groupement territory
fell into the hands of the rebels. M23's Lt Col Willy Ngoma, released a
statement on Sunday claiming the capture of Nyamilima town. He also
described the fleeing of police officers to Uganda as shameful.
“On Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.,
the lions were welcomed with jubilation at NYAMILIMA 10km from ISHASHA,
UGANDA border to the applause of the population. Colonel Justin
KARANGWA and other AFC/M23 commandos ensured the total security of the
City. Government police officers from the border town of Ishasha flee in
masses to Uganda following the triumphant entry of the AFC/M23 into
Nyamilima. Very shameful to the cowards of an incompetent enjoyer
Tshisekedi,” Ngoma said.
Maj Kiconco Tabaro, Uganda People's
Defense Forces (UPDF) 2nd Infantry Division public information officer
confirmed to our reporter on Sunday the entry of 98 Congolese police
officers.
Tabaro says that the officers who were armed were
received and are being handled as per the international law guidelines.
Tabaro also says that in the last 72 hours, about 2,000 Congolese
nationals also fled to Uganda through the Kyeshero and Ishasha borders
in Kanungu district as well as Bunagana and Nteko in Kisoro district.
Tabaro
says that the UPDF is on high alert to make sure that no negative
elements use the tense situation to cross into Uganda. He called for
calm saying that the army is on standby to thwart any kind of fighting
that crosses the border.
The conflict between M23 and the
Congolese government began in March 2022, led by Bisimwa and Makenga.
M23-AFC controls large areas in the territories of Rutshuru, Masisi,
Nyiragongo, and Lubero. The DR Congo government has repeatedly accused
Rwanda of supporting M23, a claim that both Rwanda and M23 deny. The
rebels assert that their fight is against corruption, xenophobia, and
discrimination within the DR Congo's leadership.
A
section of human rights activists has petitioned the Uganda Human
Rights Commission (UHRC) over suspects who were allegedly sodomised
whilst in police custody following their arrest during the
anti-corruption protests.
The
allegations first emerged when activist and cartoonist Jim Spire
Ssentongo shared a post on X (formerly Twitter), claiming that some
protesters who had been released reported being sodomized and physically
assaulted by police officers during their detention last week.
These
claims have sparked outrage on social media, with many Ugandans calling
for an independent investigation and accountability for the
perpetrators. However, police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke dismissed the
claims as false and unfounded. Addressing journalists at Naguru police
headquarters, Rusoke appealed to the alleged victims to report the
matter to the police for investigation.
"We call upon those who say they are
victims to come out and report to us, instead of talking on social
media. But no one has reached out to the police on this matter," Rusoke
noted.
Alex Luswa Luwemba, a human rights activist and lawyer,
told URN that most of the sodomized individuals were those not presented
in court on Tuesday and Wednesday last week.
"Not all individuals arrested during the
protests were presented in court on the same day. Some were detained in
police cells overnight without their families or lawyers being granted
access to them. These are the people who were victimized," Luwemba
explained.
Tomas Bagonza, another activist from New Chapter
Uganda, stated that the allegations of sodomy in police cells are among
the top concerns they have brought before UHRC through a petition
calling for a thorough investigation and appropriate action.
"If
the police spokesperson is seeking evidence, he should be patient and
await its presentation. We have already submitted our evidence to the
Uganda Human Rights Commission. Although we anticipate the commission
might not take action, we are prepared to escalate our concerns to the
High Court and other international human rights organizations to ensure
this issue is addressed,” Bagonza noted.
Several Ugandans have
been arrested in recent days for participating in anti-corruption
protests, which the police have deemed illegal. On Wednesday, over 50
protesters were remanded for their participation in the protests.
The Ugandan judiciary is increasingly perceived as a tool of state oppression rather than an impartial arbiter of justice.
In the recent past, it has been observed
that magistrates are exploiting their power to impose harsh bail
conditions and remand suspects such as protesters, transforming the
legal system into a mechanism for punishing dissent. This blatant
manipulation of the law undermines the very principles of fairness and
impartiality that the judiciary is meant to uphold as enshrined in the
Constitution.
Instead of
protecting the rights of citizens, the courts appear to be
rubber-stamping state injustices, eroding public trust and highlighting a
troubling trend towards judicial partiality and state capture. The law
is being brazenly weaponized against the people, with the scales of
justice tipping firmly in favour of the ruling authorities.
For instance, the state makes a choice
between taking the suspects into police custody or rushing them to court
with trumped-up charges. It is easier to get a police bond but harder
to secure bail at court. The purpose of taking suspects to court is not
to accord them fair trial but find a way of punishing them before trial
and to appear as if the law is followed.
The principle of presumption of
innocence which is a cardinal doctrine in our Constitution seems
abstract in the minds of magistrates. This erosion of judicial
independence is a grave threat to democracy in Uganda.
A robust, independent judiciary is the
cornerstone of a free society, providing a critical check on the power
of the executive and legislative branches. When the courts become
subservient to political interests, it gives the government free rein to
trample on the fundamental freedoms of the people.
The imposition of harsh bail conditions
and the arbitrary detention of protesters without due process are clear
violations of human rights. These tactics are designed to chill dissent
and stifle the legitimate expression of grievances. They strike at the
heart of the democratic principles that Uganda claims to uphold.
The Ugandan government must take
immediate steps to restore the integrity of the judiciary and reaffirm
its commitment to the rule of law. This will require a complete overhaul
of the judicial appointment process, the implementation of robust
mechanisms to safeguard judicial independence, and the prosecution of
any magistrates who have abused their power for political ends.
Failure to address this crisis will only
deepen the public’s mistrust in the legal system and further erode the
foundations of Uganda’s democracy. The people deserve a judiciary that
is truly independent, impartial, and dedicated to the pursuit of justice
for all. Anything less is a betrayal of the nation’s democratic ideals.
Human rights dons, lawyers slam Ugandan courts, chief justice over independence
Uganda's
leading constitutional and human rights lawyers have launched scathing
attacks on the judiciary and chief justice, Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo, demanding a return to the rule of law and constitutionalism.
Dr Busingye Kabumba, Dr Adrian Juuko, and George Musisi say the judiciary, and in particular chief justice Owiny-Dollo
has been salient amidst what they termed as judicial impunity. The
lawyers' anger stems from the way courts have handled cases related to
the recent arrest, remand, and bail applications of anti-corruption
protestors.
The lawyers join the public chorus that the
judiciary of Uganda has turned an accomplice with the state authorities
in serious violations against human rights. Saturday Monitor
over the weekend published a screaming headline titled “Judiciary on
trial”. The newspaper criticized the courts for entertaining defective
charge sheets, demanding stringent bail conditions, and accused the
judiciary of silent dissent instead of upholding the rule of law and
constitutionalism.
The judiciary later stated in response that
its role is not to descend into the arena of disputes but rather wait
for the matters that are filed before the courts for determination.
“The
criminal justice system involves, among others reading charges to the
accused, consideration of bail which may or not be granted. These are
judicial processes that are handled with judicial discretion,” read part
of the statement as the Judiciary promised to follow due process in
line with the law
However, constitutional lawyer and Makerere Law
School Don Busingye rubbished the judiciary’s statement and stated that
the courts have become transitional centres to transfer suspects
arrested from the streets to prison.
“You know once the police
officer and the DPP say this person is accused of being a common
nuisance, it’s the judge’s or the magistrate’s role simply to process
your papers and you are sent to prison. Is there no role for the
judiciary in that instance?” asked Kabumba.
Busingye
was one of the speakers at X Spaces where the issue of judiciary
independence was discussed. He said judicial independence and immunity
while important; do not mean or include judicial impunity. Busingye
insists that what Uganda has now is a judiciary on trial.
“A judiciary that stands exposed, with
chief justice who is silent, basically a third arm of government that is
not acting in the way it is supposed to be,” said Busingye.
Busingye
and the Uganda Law Society (ULS) president, Bernard Oundo have been
part of the protracted struggle to secure bail for the peaceful
demonstrators who demanded the resignation of the speaker of parliament
Annet Anita Among. The two lawyers and others have criticized the courts
for stringent measures for bail applicants and their sureties. Some of
those measures have ensured that the suspects remained on remand even
when they were entitled to bail.
Oundo stated that bail is not
designed as an income-generating activity to which bail applications are
made. Oundo restated a ruling by justice Rosette Comfort Kania, “What
is pertinent about sureties is that there must be an indication that
they have been advised of their roles as sureties, that they have
identified themselves properly, and have proved and shown their
authoritative relationship in respect to the applicant. Showing that
they are able to exercise their authority and command the appearance of
the applicant in court when needed.”
Human rights lawyer, George
Musisi, also managing partner at PACE Advocates also criticized the
courts on the way they have handled bail applications. He says the
impunity in the judiciary has been going on because some authoritative
voices keep quiet. He said while there is no political case unit taught
at law schools, the courts in Uganda have invented what he describes as a
political case.
“You find
that those cases which are deemed political are hot potatoes to touch.
It becomes even harder to handle these cases.”
Musisi said he
has witnessed some judicial officers demanding what he described as
extralegal requirements during bail applications yet they are not
anchored anywhere in the law.
“You reach a court and a judicial
office tells you our practice here is this. When the practice is not
anchored in the law," he said.
"The issue of sureties, you find court
saying sureties are not from the jurisdiction despite court
pronouncements including High court pronouncements that sureties don't
necessarily have to come [from the same jurisdiction]. They can come
from any part of Uganda. Then one time the state attorney said you know
we're supposed to verify the location of the accused person whether the
LC of the accused person indeed comes from there. Then I said but the
charge sheet describes him as coming from there. Do you doubt your own
charge sheet? Which parts do you believe and which parts don't you
believe?"
The most recent of such incidents was on Tuesday when
the magistrate denied bail to Aljab Musinguzi a resident of Nakawa
Division because the introduction letter from the LC I chairperson was
different from his area of residence yet the sureties of the applicants
had been identified.
Chief justice Owiny-Dollo
Kabumba says that under Article 23(6) of
the constitution, there is a right to apply for bail, and the law
provides that one can be released under the conditions that the court
sets.
"But does not take away from the fundamental premise that
every accused person has a fundamental right to bail. Which is routed
from the presumption of innocence. You are presumed innocent until
proven guilty. You are presumed innocent until proven guilty or until
you plead guilty. What is happening in Uganda is that the judiciary
seems to be applying the presumption of guilt. Even from the moment of
the arrest, there seems to be a general presumption within the judiciary
that you are presumed guilty. Once you are charged and the charges are
sanctioned, it is even worse," he said.
He said there are so many constraints that the judicial officers are pacing t the right to liberty.
“The idea that your surety must be a
substantial person. What is this? It is steeped in colonialism. Who is a
substantial person? The idea is that you must bring a letter of
introduction from your employer. What if I am self-employed but the
accused person is my son or daughter? It is steeped in the colonial
mindset,” said Busingye.
Owiny-Dollo challenged
Busingye is challenging the chief justice Owiny-Dollo and his deputy, Richard Buteera to come out and speak for judicial independence.
“It
does not mean that even in a dictatorship, the judiciaries cannot speak
and cannot struggle, and cannot fight. For God’s sake, during the Amin
period, we had judges and magistrates who stood out for what was right.
In September, this judiciary is going to have Ben Kiwanuka Memorial… but
what did Ben Kiwanuka do? Ben Kiwanuka stood up and sacrificed his own
life to preserve the ideals of constitutionalism.”
“The chief
justice cannot be silent when such grave violations of human rights,
constitutional liberties, and the constitution itself are going on. We
have been asking since last week. Where is the chief justice?” he asked.
