Makerere University Deputy Registrar in charge Certification, Ceremonies and Production Division (CCPD) in the department of the Academic Registrar, Margaret Etuusa has run to court challenging her suspension.
Etuusa has filed an application before the Civil Divisions of High Court through her lawyer, Rashid Ssemambo, seeking an interim injunction blocking Makerere University from pursuing the disciplinary proceedings against her.
Makerere University and Associate Prof. Okello Ogwang, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs are first and second respondents to the suite respectively.
Associate Prof. Okello Ogwang, the Makerere University Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs suspended Etuusa for abuse of office and over stepping her powers. The university accused Etuusa of illegally contracting Exxon Contractors Limited to provide phone custody services during the graduation ceremony held between February 21 and 24 after paying Shillings 1 million into the academic registrar's account.
"My client contends being suspended without having been offered an opportunity to be heard and that respondents acted without applying the rules of natural justice," Ssemambo told Alex Mackay Ajiji, the Deputy Registrar of the Civil Divisions of High Court on Monday.
In her affidavit Etuusa notes that; "the whole process of my suspension is roused with procedural impropriety and irregularity. I have never received any suspension, verbal or written warning. No formal letter detailing the misconduct prior to the suspension." Etuusa contends that she has never fully handed over office and as a result major activities in her office including processing certificates for graduands have stalled.
"The minutes of the 4th meeting of ceremonies committee up to date have never been prepared and are still pending because of the suspension of the applicant. The meeting slated for 30th March to evaluate the graduation ceremony has in fact never sat," Ssemambo said.
According to Ssemambo, the suspension will cause irreparable damage to his client that she has earned for the last 24 years she has served at Makerere. He wants court to lift the suspension and her costs of the suit. However, the in their response, the respondents dismiss the complaints raised by the Etuusa as mere allegations and nonexistent.
They argue that since the applicant handed over her office key and physical offices, she can't claim that she didn't hand over fully. They also allayed fears by the complainant her suspension will cause her irreparable damage, saying she is still a member of staff, adding that there is no evidence to prove the claim. They have asked court to dismiss the application with costs.
Alex Mackay Ajiji, the Deputy Registrar of the Civil Divisions of High Court has set Thursday May 18 to deliver his ruling on the application.
On March 7th, 2017, Makerere University suspended Etuusa for illegally hiring a company that fleeced money parents and graduands during the recently concluded 67th graduation ceremony at the university under the guise of keeping their phones.
Prof. Ogwang, says the action of the officials were susceptible to fraud, abuse of office, and tantamount to gross misconduct contrary to the well-known and laid down procurement laws, policies and procedures of the university. The company charged Shillings 3000 for each phone presented by the 14,897 graduands and their parents and guardian for safe custody.
It is believed that each of the graduands was accompanied by two people, which means the company could have collected up to Shillings 44,685,000 from the graduands alone if each of them turned up with their mobile phone.
