The Makerere staff Appeals Tribunal has ordered the University Appointments Board to hear afresh the disciplinary case that resulted into suspension and transfer of Dr Stella Nyanzi, a research fellow at Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR). According to the tribunal report dated October 16, 2017, a copy seen by Uganda Radio Network, the University Appointments Board has been tasked to hear the case again in 60 days.
As the appointments board hears the case afresh, the tribunal directed that Dr Stella Nyanzi be reinstated as a research fellow at MISR. The tribunal further directed the appointments board to consider Dr Nyanzi’s application for promotion to the position of senior research fellow within sixty days.
This means the tribunal has quashed the decision of the appointments board that resulted into suspension Dr Nyanzi and transfer from MISR.
“The decisions of the appointment board made against the appellant (Dr Stella) at its 544th meeting held on Wednesday 10th February 2017 are hereby set aside. The appointments board is hereby by directed to hear and complete the disciplinary proceeding against Dr Stella Nyanzi arising from the findings of the investigations committee set up by the appointments board to carry out in depth investigation into MISR issues within sixty (60) days from the date of this decision,” the Tribunal report reads in part.
The tribunal says that at the said hearing, the party representing Makerere University shall first call witnesses to testify against Dr Nyanzi.
“The appellant shall be free to cross examine any witnesses who testify against her. Thereafter the respondent will close its case. The appellant shall then proceed to produce her witnesses, if any and the respondent’s representatives shall equally have the opportunity to cross examine the appellant’s witnesses,” the report further reads.
