STELLA NYANZI ASK FOR SH1B FROM MAKERERE UNIVERSITY

Former Makerere University researcher Dr. Stella Nyanzi has asked the court to award her sh1b over failure to reinstate her in office as per the University Tribunal directives. In 2018, Nyanzi sued Makerere University seeking payment of her salary as per the orders of the University Staff and Appeals Tribunal. However, Dr. Nyanzi was sacked from the University later. The decision to sack Dr. Nyanzi, a research fellow at Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR), was reached by the university appointments board at its 587th meeting held on December 11, 2018. She was sacked alongside 45 other personnel from various units at the institution. 

Notably, last year, the Tribunal chaired by Prof George Omunyokol ruled that Nyanzi’s indefinite the suspension was illegal and offended Section 63(2) of the Employment Act, 2006, which says that an employee cannot be suspended for more than three weeks or the inquiry period.  Court records indicate that Nyanzi was officially dismissed from the university on February 7 this year following her suspension in 2016. Yesterday, Dr. Nyanzi through her lawyer Isaac Ssemakadde asked High Court Judge Lydia Mugambe to penalize the university for Contempt of its tribunal directives when it failed to pay her outstanding salary arrears in addition to reinstating her as a researcher fellow. According to Ssemakadde, Nyanzi was earning sh250m annually through research and that the University would benefit 10% of the grants. Nyanzi who appeared composed before the court was seen smiling as his lawyer made her final submission in the matter.

Although,  the university through its legal officer Hudson Musoke told the court that Nyanzi’s contract had expired and there was a need for her to be reinstatement. When probed by the Judge on when did Nyanzi’s contract got expired, he said he did not know since he is a new university employee. Musoke asked the court to dismiss Nyanzi’s case on grounds that it lacks merit. Recently, Makerere University human resource director, Andrew Abuyang conceded that Nyanzi’s prolonged suspension was against the university human resource manual but it was beyond their control. The Judge has adjourned the matter until October 16 when she would give her judgment in the matter.