The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has issued a temporary order stopping the expulsion of a 25-year-old pregnant student, Ms. Sarah Namukisa, from the Medical Laboratory Training School in Jinja City. Namukisa was discontinued on May 16 after the school discovered she was pregnant.
In a letter dated June 11 to the school’s principal, Mr. Moses Ibwala, EOC Vice Chairperson Joel Cox Ojuko stated that the school’s action violated constitutional protections against discrimination and the right to education.
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According to the Uganda Law Society (ULS), Namukisa was expelled under Regulation No. 13 of the school’s rules, which classifies pregnancy as a disciplinary offense warranting dismissal. She was also barred from sitting for her final exams scheduled for June 13, 2025.
Mr. Ojuko noted that a preliminary review found the rule to be inconsistent with Articles 21 and 30 of the 1995 Constitution, which ensure equality and the right to education.
Quoting Section 15(3)(b) of the EOC Act, Mr. Ojuko ordered the school to reinstate Namukisa, allow her to sit her final exams, and halt any punitive measures based on her pregnancy until the matter is fully investigated.
Efforts to reach Principal Ibwala for comment were unsuccessful, as his phone was reportedly off. Sources claimed he was in meetings.
Background to the Case
In the May 16 expulsion letter, Mr. Ibwala advised Namukisa to stay home following a positive pregnancy test, suggesting she undergo antenatal care and breastfeed for six months before resuming studies. He later told reporters that he was following government policy.
According to guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education and Sports in September 2023, pregnant students are encouraged to take leave and return after childbirth and a six-month breastfeeding period. The rules also state that re-admission depends on whether the student reported the pregnancy voluntarily, maintained discipline, and performed well academically.
Namukisa had reportedly agreed to these rules upon her admission.
However, her dismissal has sparked criticism from ULS and the Unified Medical Laboratory Students’ Association-Uganda (UMLSA). UMLSA Vice President Asuman Mubiru appealed for clemency, noting that Namukisa was in her final semester and had committed significant time and effort to her studies.
He also argued that the school’s actions contradicted the Constitution, which recognizes anyone above 18 as an adult.
On June 10, ULS Vice President Anthony Asiimwe wrote to the EOC, arguing that the expulsion violated constitutional principles of equality and non-discrimination, as well as Namukisa’s right to education.
About the Institution
Founded in 1967, the Medical Laboratory Training School is a government-run institution and the country’s leading training center for medical lab professionals—producing about 70% of Uganda’s lab workforce.
In recent years, the school has experienced leadership upheaval. Mr. Ibwala assumed the acting principal role on September 11, 2024, under a fast-track promotion that some insiders say sparked internal resistance.
The school has also dealt with disciplinary incidents, including a student allegedly stealing fuel meant for the athletics team and later assaulting a warden. That case is under investigation by Jinja Central Police. Other issues include poor class attendance among third-year students and two students who were sent home for drug-related misconduct.
Mr. Ibwala declined to confirm details regarding these cases.
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