JUDGE THREATENS TO RESIGN.

Masaka. Justice Julia Sebutinde, a judge at the International Court of Justice, has threatened to resign her recent appointment as chancellor of the Buganda Kingdom-owned Muteesa I Royal University over persistent strikes at the institution. Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II appointed Justice Sebutinde to the job last year. Presiding over the university’s sixth graduation ceremony at the main campus at Kirumba in Masaka District on Friday, Justice Sebutinde said she would not accept to have her reputation tainted by irresponsible conduct, characterised by unjustified students’ strikes. Guarded reputation “…I jealously protect my reputation and love it more than money,” Justice Sebutinde said, adding: “If students continue to present such barbaric ways of resolving issues and Muteesa I Royal University becomes another rogue university in Uganda, I will go back to the Kabaka and tell him that I have failed the duty he assigned to me.” She particularly regretted scenes of the strike in August last year that left the vice chancellor’s official car and several university property vandalised and the university closed for two weeks. The students, who were protesting poor service delivery, also locked up members of the university council in a staff lounge and it took the efforts of police to rescue them. Justice Sebutinde cautioned students to desist from any violent means of expressing their dissatisfaction and urged them to embrace dialogue with authorities. Her statement was echoed by the kingdom’s education minister, Dr Twaha Kawaase, who condemned students’ strikes in all institutions of learning, saying strikes can never be a solution to the underlying problems. The graduation was also graced by the Buganda Katikkiro (prime minister), Charles Peter Mayiga. A total of 1,142 students walked away with different academic awards from various disciplines. Prof Arthur Sserwanga, the university vice chancellor, used the graduation ceremony to unveil a modern equipped engineering and technology unit, which he said would enable students acquire more hands-on skills before graduating. For the first time, all graduates walked away with their academic transcripts. Previously, graduates could wait for months to get their transcripts.