They include Steven Nuwamanya, the Guild Speaker Ndejje University, Phionah Kukunda and Ferdinand Ampaire and Felix Atuhaire. The four were part of 200 students who were fined Shillings 750,000 each for their involvement in the strike.
The students protested their suspension, saying the punishment is unjust and violates the sole purpose for their enrollment at the university. On November 11, 2016, Beatrice Atingu Stella, the Assistant Registrar of the High Court Civil Division issued orders restraining Ndejje University, its servants or agents and any persons from preventing the students from accessing the University campus, and sitting examinations until their application is determined.
However, Eriabu Lugujjo, the Vice Chancellor Ndejje University, says they can't readmit the students since they don't fulfill the requirement of attending 75 percent of their classes, adding that they can neither sit exams since they haven't done the two required tests. He also said the students have not paid fee.
Lugujjo wondered which degree the students would be getting once they are readmitted. He said the university has discretion to determine the kind of punishment administered to students. "If you commit an offence, and you are given a punishment for it should you reject it saying it is too much. The institution gave several students different punishments but these four decided to go to court," he said.
According to Lugujjo, the university legal team will look at the extent of the matter and advice accordingly. The affected students, say the university must make special arrangements to enable them catch up with their course mates.
Yasin Sentumbwe, a member of the Students Activism Forum Uganda has backed the students and advised the university to abide by the court order. He says the question of students not sitting certain tests shouldn't arise since it is the university that suspended them.