MAK Given One Week to Pay Stella Nyanzi

Makerere University has been given up to July 30th to reinstate and pay suspended staffers their outstanding arrears or face the courts of law.

The suspended lecturers including social activist and Kampala Central Woman MP hopeful Dr. Stella Nyanzi, Dr. Juma Anthony Okuku, Dr. Denis Asiimwe, Mr. Steven Tumwetegyereize and Dr. James Ocita had been knocked off the payroll pending investigations over alleged indiscipline.

Following an appeal, to the University Staff Appeals Tribunal, the University was ordered to reinstate the staffers pending further investigations into the matter. This was in addition to paying the suspended staff their outstanding arrears.

The order was given on Wednesday July 15th but there has not been any response from the University.

Counsel Isaac Ssemakadde from Centre of Legal Aid who represents Kampala Woman MP hopeful Stella Nyanzi and other suspended staff  wrote to the Ivory Tower administration reminding them of their obligations to pay.

“You are required to reinstate our clients onto the payroll with immediate effect as employees who are on suspension pending determination of their appeals and clear arrears due to our clients in form of half pay from the time they were struck off the payroll to the time of reinstatement to the payroll”.  Ssemakadde wrote.

The lawyer said that failure to pay before 30th July 2020 will lead to lawsuits and financial loss to the University.

The issue in the tribunal arises from a decision by the University Appointments board made in December 2018 in which a whopping 45 senior academic and administrative staff were sacked by Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe the MAK Vice Chancellor.