The Vice-Chancellor of Makerere University Prof Barnabas Nawangwe had told Journalists the university is an “international secular institution” hence may fail to perform if the President agrees to have particular interests of Christian denominations prioritized or implemented.
“Makerere University may fail to perform if Saturday is ever set aside,” Mr Nawangwe stressed.
President Yoweri Museveni over the weekend said measures are going to be taken within the education sector so as cater for the interests of Christian students that need to be freed from school examinations on Sundays and Saturdays.
This was after receiving complainants from the SDA Church.
Through their World leader, Pastor Dr Ted Wilson, the group requested that Students have no exams on Saturdays which is observed as Sabbath by the SDA faith.
“I thank you for visiting Uganda. The SDA members in Uganda are disciplined. I will give instructions to ensure that exams are not set to take place on Saturdays in Uganda,” Museveni said.
Should the directive not be implemented, Bishop Daniel Maate, an official of the SDA church says students will continue missing exams and worshiping on the Sabbath.
Media reports show that the constitutional court in 2003 dismissed a case filed by three seventh day adventist students at Makerere University law school who claimed that the University infringed on their religious rights by compelling them to take exams and attend lecturers on saturday.
Uganda currently has over 4 million seventh day adventists while Makerere University has at least 2000 who have registered in the faith, according to NTV Uganda.
