Disciplinary Committee trashes suspension of Makerere strike leader

KAMPALA – The Makerere University Students Disciplinary Committee has quashed the suspension of Siperia Mollie Saasiraabo, who is accused of leading a strike over the 15 per cent tuition fees policy.

Siperia, alongside 9 other students were on October 22, 2019, suspended by the university management for allegedly inciting violence in the run-up to the strike.

But in a verdict issued on Tuesday, December 10, 2019, the Disciplinary Committee chaired by Justice Beinga Ngabirano said they did not find any merit in the case levelled against Siperia and ordered that her suspension is lifted.

“We have looked at the file and the charge and the posts of social media as basis for the charge. The posts don’t disclose the offence stated and therefore the student has no case to answer. We order that the suspension be lifted. Formal write up for lifting her suspension to be sent,” Ngabirano ruled.

The ruling came after Siperia and other students, earlier suspended over the strike, appeared before the Disciplinary Committee at the university on Tuesday. Siperia was in the company of her lawyer Isaac Ssemakadde.

During the hearing, the Dean of Students, Mr Cyriaco Kabagambe, produced Siperia’s Facebook post of October 31, 2019, to back up the university argument that she incited violence.

“We are neither deterred nor compromised. Our resolve is still as clear as our conscience. Ours is a noble cause and whereas our bodies are limping, our spirits remain resilient. I will be at the frontline as soon as I can be able to stand. #FeesMustFall,” her post read.

But the Disciplinary Committee said the student’s Facebook posts were not inciteful

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