EOC halts expulsion of pregnant student
One of the dministration blocks at the Medical Laboratory Training School in Jinja City on June 12. The Equal Oppor- tunities Commission (EOC) has issued an interim order, halting the discontinuation of a 25-year-old pregnant student from the Medical Laboratory Training School in Jinja City. PHOTO/DENIS EDEMA
What you need to know:
The EOC says the decision to expel the student goes against the the Constitution, which protects everyone from discrimination and guarantees the right to education.
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has issued an interim order, halting the discontinuation of a 25-year-old pregnant student from the Medical Laboratory Training School in Jinja City. Ms Sarah Namukisa was on May 16 discontinued from the institution with immediate effect, after it was discovered that she was pregnant. In a June 11 letter addressed to Mr Moses Ibwala, the school’s principal, Mr Joel Cox Ojuko, the EOC Vice Chairperson, said the decision to expel the student goes against the Constitution, which protects everyone from discrimination and guarantees the right to education. “The Uganda Law Society (ULS) alleges that Ms Namukisa was discontinued pursuant to Regulation No. 13 of your institutional rules and regulations, which deems pregnancy a violation meriting expulsion.
It is further alleged that she has consequently been barred from sitting her final examinations scheduled for Friday, June 13, 2025,” Mr Ojuko said. “Upon preliminary review, the Commission is of the view that the said regulations and its application is inconsistent with Articles 21 and 30 of the 1995 Constitution (as amended), which respectively guarantee equality of freedom from discrimination, and the right to education. . .,” he added. Mr Ojuko furthet stated: “In light of the above and pursuant to Section 15(3) (b) of the EOC Act Cap 7, the Commission hereby issues an interim order staying the discontinuation of Ms Namukisa from Medical Laboratory Training School – Jinja.
You are accordingly ordered to allow her to sit for her final examinations and to refrain from implementing any punitive measures based on her pregnancy status until this matter is fully investigated and concluded by the EOC.” Efforts to get a comment from Mr Ibwala the Principal of the Medical Laboratory Training School, Mr Moses Ibwala, were futile by press time as his known number was off. Sources close to the principal said he was held up in meetings.
Background
In a May 16 letter, Mr Ibwala advised Ms Namukisa to stay home after urine sample tested positive for pregnancy. Mr Ibwala further advised her to attend antenatal care and breastfeed the baby for at least six months before resuming her studies. Mr Ibwala later told this publication in a brief interview that he was simply implementing government policies. The Ministry of Education and Sports’ rules and regulations governing health training institutions (September 2023), signed by then Permanent Secretary, Ms Ketty Lamaro, discourage students from getting pregnant before completing their programmes of study. “A student found pregnant and reported to the administration shall be granted leave and report back after delivery and breastfeeding child for a period of six months,” Page 23 of the manual reads in part.
It adds: “The re-admission shall also be conditional to whether the student had reported the pregnancy voluntarily, with good disciplinary record and satisfactory academic performance.” It has emerged that the student signed and consented to the above rules and regulations prior to her admission to the institution. However, the school’s decision was criticised by the Uganda Law Society (ULS) and the Unified Medical Laboratory Students’ Association-Uganda (UMLSA). The UMLSA Vice President, Mr Asuman Mubiru, appealed for leniency, saying: “The affected student is in her final semester and has invested significant time.”
The UMLSA is a registered association for all medical laboratory students in Uganda, one of whose objectives is to advance for the better welfare of the students aimed at enabling them to finish their academic programmes. Mr Mubiru further cited the “inconsistency” with the Constitution, which considers anybody above the age of 18 years as an adult. Mr Anthony Asiimwe, the ULS Vice President, on June 10 wrote to the EOC, saying discontinuing the student “raises serious concerns about the school’s compliance with principles of equality and non-discrimination embodied under the Constitution, and infringes on her right to education”.
About the School
The Medical Laboratory Training School is a government institution that was set up in 1967. It is known as the country’s top training centre for medical laboratory professionals and has trained about 70 percent of Uganda’s lab health workers. But in the past two years, the school has gone through major changes in leadership. Sources say Mr Moses Ibwala, who took over as acting head of the school on September 11, 2024, is facing opposition because he was among those given a fast-track promotion. Other sources also mention that he has had to deal with some cases of indiscipline at the school. One such incident happened last September when a student was caught for allegedly stealing fuel meant for the athletics team.
That same student later attacked the warden. The case is now being handled by Jinja Central Police Station. “Another case includes the discovery last October that a significant number of students had not attained the required academic class attendance, with only 13 of the 76 third-year students having attended the mandatory 75 percent of the class attendance,” the source said. The source added: “Two certificate students were found intoxicated after ingesting illicit drugs and have since been sent home for rehabilitation after involving their parents.” Mr Ibwala declined to corroborate this information.
