ENTEBBE – Nkumba University Council has blocked the impeachment of Guild President Byron Luswata Expedito and warned that the students behind the illegal process face disciplinary action, including suspension.
In November 2019, a section of students attempted to hold an emergency session to impeach Luswata, who is allied to the People Power movement, accusing him of corruption, incompetence and greed. However, the university leadership blocked the process, saying that the accused had not been given a fair hearing. The management then embarked on an investigation into the matter.
And on January 27, 2020, the University Secretary, Associate Prof Francis Kasekende, wrote to the Guild Speaker, stating that the impeachment proceedings spearheaded by the acting Guild Speaker are in breach of the Guild Constitution.
“In that respect, going ahead to swear in a new person as the new Guild President was a nullity. Therefore, your purported swearing in of a new Guild President cannot be sustained as it was also conducted in breach of the Guild Constitution,” Assoc Prof Kasekende said.
Prof Kasekende warned the guild parliament and all members of the Student’s Guild to refrain from any further unlawful acts that may threaten the peace at university.
“Any student implicated in any such offending activities shall be immediately suspended pending the sitting of the Student Affairs Committee to answer disciplinary charges that shall be considered against him or her,” he added.
The Nkumba University Guild Constitution stipulates that for a Guild President’s impeachment to be successful, the students’ electorate must vote the guild president out of office. This means that the university must have organised a fresh general election for a new guild president, in case one is impeached two months before his/her tenure ends.
In November, a section of students also accused Luwasta of embezzling Shillings 20 million meant for the Guild council; another Shillings 3.8 million meant for Health Service Delivery and failure to settle grievances among students.
