Over 200 students to miss out as Court okays Kyambogo University’s 17th graduation
Over 200 students are set to miss out next week’s function after the High Court in Kampala cleared Kyambogo University’s 17th graduation ceremony set for next week to continue.
A section of the students whose names are missing in the graduation booklet had petitioned the High Court seeking an order to halt the September 21 graduation ceremony until the main case in which they challenge the disappearance of their data from the university’s database is disposed of.
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However, on Friday, the Principal Judge, Dr.Flavian Zeija threw out the application in which students sought to halt next week’s graduation ceremony after it was found out that the affidavit to support the application was not made before the commissioner of oaths as required by the law.
“It is clear the affidavit of Moses Arupei was not sworn before the commissioner of oaths. I accordingly dismiss the application,” Dr.Zeija said on Friday morning.
The case
It was recently it was reported that results and data for over 2000 students had been deleted from the university system and Prof.Elly Katunguka, the Kyambogo University Vice Chancellor confirmed that among those affected are graduands.
The students ran to court to halt the forthcoming 17th graduation ceremony.
On Friday, the university lawyer Cyrus Baguma asked court to throw out the application since the lone affidavit being relied on by the students was not sworn in accordance with the law and that it didn’t have a date.
The lawyer also argued that those who ran to court to halt the graduation did it without permission from other affected students, adding that it should be dismissed.
Students make their case
Through their lawyer, Ronald Bwire, the students argued that it would be appalling for their quest for justice to be dismissed on mere grounds of technicality.
He explained that due to the urgency of the matter, they were only able to prepare one affidavit but noted others could be availed if required.
“This is a matter of livelihood where thousands of students are affected. This court should not rely on technicalities to defeat justice that the students came to seek,”Bwire told court.
However, Justice Dr.Flavian Zeija ruled that that since the lone affidavit had not been sworn in accordance with the law, the application could not stand, and consequently threw it out.
Speaking to journalists shortly after court, Kyambogo University spokesperson, Ruben Twinomujuni said the graduation of 9536 students will now go on in peace next week.
