Uganda Christian University-UCU students with missing examination marks have expressed dissatisfaction to the university management for ordering them to opt for retakes.
Students revealed during a public lecture at the university organized on Friday supported by the American Bar Association-Rule of Law Initiative.
The lecture mainly attended by law and media students was organized under the theme ‘The right to freedom of expression and assembly in Uganda’ aimed at generating a discourse on contemporary issues on freedom of expression and assembly.
Students used the lecture to pass over the discontent saying mismanagement of marks has ended up causing demonstrations and protests in other universities across the country.
Asifa Nakiryowa, a third year student of Law says it disturbing to loose marks for the examinations they wrote from home during the covid-19 period amidst challenges of limited lack of resources such as gadgets and poor internet.
She attributes the mess to the unreliability of the university’s ‘e’ system designed to control submitted exams and marks.
Another law student, Lilian Kiconco Kamahoro says some students suffer since some lecturers are transferred before submitting results for entry in the data base.
She notes that despite of raising the complaints to the responsible authorities nothing has been taken serious.
The Insight Post has been not able to establish the number of students whose marks are missing since there is no official list printed yet for students to do retakes. A retake at UCU goes for Shillings 600, 000.
Dr. Peter Mutesasira, the Dean Faculty of Law at UCU says students facing any grievance or affected by policies brought up should always approach responsible authorities since they are always ready to address any issue amicably.
Nonetheless, the issue of missing marks among student has been complex at various universities across the country. Last month of February, Kyambogo and IUIU university students protested over missing marks days after ten students from Makerere were also suspended protesting against online classes and missing marks.
Dr. Livingstone Ssewanyana, the Executive Director of Foundation for Human Rights Initiative says universities should avoid open avenues for complaints and also offer feedback to students to avoid demonstrations which ends up in riots and protests.
Meanwhile, the American Bar Association-Rule of Law Initiative is funding several engagements among higher institutions of learning to increase participation of programs aimed at improving freedom of expression, assembly and association as a way of contributing to national development.
Nicole Zarifis from the American Bar Association says they intend to support university students share ideas freely as well as allow critical thinking and engagement with different perspective. She applauded students for as well using the platform to speak out on matters pressing them.
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