Court orders for the reinstatement of Stella Nyanzi at Makerere

The month of October started on a good note for Dr. Stella Nyanzi after court ordered for her immediate reinstatement at Makerere University, Tuesday afternoon.

The court order comes after close to nineteen months ever since the Makerere University Council resolved to suspend Dr. Stella Nyanzi for allegedly attacking the person of First Lady, Janet Kataaha Museveni who also doubles as the Minister of Education via her social media platforms.

The Makerere University vice chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, working on orders of  Bruce Balaba the Chairperson, Appointments Board at Makerere, wrote to Stella Nyanzi in March last year informing her that she was suspended from her position as a research fellow at the Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR) until she gets a clearance from the Makerere University Disciplinary Committee.

Dr. Nyanzi however, decided to take matters to court to challenge the suspension and after a period of close to nineteen months, court has lifted the suspension and ordered that Nyanzi is reinstated "with immediate effect."

" The indefinite suspension to which Makerere University subjected Dr. Stella Nyanzi was unlawful and illegal because it contravenes Sec 63 (2) of the 2006 Employment act," a statement from court reads in part.

A seemingly excited Stella Nyanzi took to her Facebook page to celebrate the win with her lawyer in what she referred to as a "brilliant and rare day of justice, rule of law and respect of labour rights of public servants in Uganda."

She said;

" This is a great win for academic freedom. Freedom of expression and freedom of conscience and thought. I feel like David after slaying Goliath."

Makerere University was also ordered to pay Dr. Stella Nyanzi all emoluments owed to her including all the money withheld by virtue of her suspension with in the next 10 working days.

Dr. Stella Nyanzi served as a research fellow at Makerere University's Institute of Social Research before the suspension.