While speaking at the Alternative Justice System Summit in Munyonyo, Hon. Norbert Mao amused the audience—which included the Chief Justice, judiciary officials, cultural leaders, and church leaders—by recounting how, as a student at Makerere University in the 1990s, he and fellow students “suspended” the then Vice Chancellor, Prof. Senteza.
Mao explained that he and his colleagues were often blamed for instigating strikes at the university. In response to what they saw as unfair treatment, Mao and a group of fellow students decided to symbolically suspend the Vice Chancellor. They went as far as drafting and issuing a mock suspension letter dismissing him from office.
In retaliation, the Vice Chancellor ordered their immediate suspension from the university.
Desperate to challenge their suspension, Mao and his peers sought legal help. They were advised to consult a reputable lawyer in Kampala at the time—none other than the current Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo. Mao recounted how they explained to the lawyer that without intervention, they would be forced to leave the university without qualifications, which would be a major setback for both them and their families.
Justice Owiny-Dollo agreed to represent them. Upon reviewing the suspension letter that formed the basis of their expulsion, he discovered that it had not been ratified by the university senate, as required by statute. This meant that the suspension was legally invalid, and the students were able to remain at the university.
Mao concluded by noting that if such an incident occurred today, it could be better handled through the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system rather than immediately resorting to courts.
He urged all stakeholders—from cultural institutions to universities—to embrace ADR mechanisms in resolving conflicts and misunderstandings in schools, universities, and workplaces.
