Nyanzi is facing charges of offensive communication and cyber harassment when he insulted President Museveni’s mother.

While appearing at the Buganda Road Court on Friday, the Makerere University researcher denied the charges read to her by Gladys Kamasanyu.

She therefore asked court to summon President Museveni and be a key witness and show how the posts insulted his mother.

“Police should complete investigations in the shortest time possible and also bring President Museveni to face court and explain how he was offended by my posts,” she said.

The State asserts that on  September 16 and 19, 2018, Dr Nyanzi posted on her Facebook page words abusing President Museveni’ s late mother and continued to post messages that disrupted the peace of the president.

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News coming in indicate that Uganda feminist and Makerere University researcher, Dr Stella Nyanzi , 

Dr. Nyanzi allegedly tried to access her offices at the University which prompted the SIU to arrest her before ‘havoc’ could unfold.

She had, earlier this week, promised to stage a silent protest in a bid to have her job back.

On March 31, 2017, with an order from the appointments board chairman, Bruce Balaba Kabaasa, the then vice chancellor Prof John Ddumba-Ssentamu gave Nyanzi an indefinite suspension on allegations of attacking the First Lady and Education minister Janet Museveni on Facebook.

However, in early October this year, the Makerere University staff appeals tribunal  ordered university administration to reinstate Dr Stella Nyanzi and pay for the damages caused.

Before Nyanzi could enjoy her reinstation, the women activist was resummoned by they the Makerere University Appointments Board on October, 22 on allegations of insulting First Lady Janet Museveni in 2017

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Makerere university researcher and women activist, Dr Stella Nyanzi has been re-summoned by the Makerere University Appointments Board on allegations of insulting First Lady Janet Museveni in 2017.

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The Makerere University staff appeals tribunal has ordered university administration to reinstate Dr Stella Nyanzi.

The tribunal ruling states that Dr. Nyanzi’s suspension was done through an illegal procedure. The University is therefore tasked to pay the doctor outstanding emoluments within ten working days after the order.

On March 31, 2017, with an order from the appointments board chairman, Bruce Balaba Kabaasa, the then vice chancellor Prof John Ddumba-Ssentamu gave Nyanzi an indefinite suspension on allegations of attacking the First Lady and Education minister Janet Museveni on Facebook.

The tribunal chairperson, George Omunyokol, blamed the appointments board for abrogating the statutory rules by not conducting Nyanzi’s disciplinary hearings within  four weeks after suspension.

It further observed that the letter seeking the researcher’s suspension had not detailed aspects of dehumanization that the accused had allegedly uttered.

Omunyokol urged the disciplinary committee to convene disciplinary hearings on the issue within ten working days to provide a disciplinary report on Nyanzi.

According to Isaac Ssemakadde, Nyanzi’s lawyer from the Legal Brains Trust, the ruling was a land mark that will aid in the protection of other disoriented Makerere staff.

“The tribunal has in very strong terms stated that it’s the supreme authority in all matters of labour and employment at Makerere University. The university put up a very strong set of objections for this case not to go forward, but they have all been dismissed by the university staff tribunal. And we’re overjoyed to learn that the staff tribunal has been sensitive to the requirements of justice in crafting remedies that are appropriate for Dr Stella Nyanzi. We’re exceedingly impressed by the clarity of jurisprudence, the impartiality and boldness displayed today by the members of the university staff tribunal.” Ssemakadde said.

Woman Activist and Makerere researcher Dr. Stella Nyanzi. The tribunal has ordered the University to reinstate her and pay her outstanding emoluments.

In her vote of thanks to the tribunal and the entire public, Stella Nyanzi said “the university staff  tribunal has proved itself that there’s a remnant of academics of legal minds that understand the importance of protecting the sacred grounds of the university.”

“If the university will not allow its scholars to critic those that abuse power, those that centralize the abuse of power, then we can as well pack up Uganda, there is no reason to have any thinkers in Uganda if the university can do this,

“For those of us who are thinkers and value the right to think and express our  thoughts – whichever way, whichever way this for me is a major win…For me this is historical, we’re changing the law of employment, labour rights in Uganda because the abuse had penetrated to the very core of the heart that think for and about Uganda.” Nyanzi stated.

 

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Dr Stella Nyanzi is currently in Luzira prison.

Human rights activists under their umbrella body National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders in Uganda (NCHRD-U) have urged government to respect Dr Stella Nyanzi’s right to be presumed of sound mind, describing attempts by authorities to examine her mental state as a violation of her rights.

The organisations also demand government to investigate the circumstances under which the NTV journalist, Gertrude Uwitware was kidnapped, blindfolded and threatened by unknown people.

The organizations want a speedy and fair trial for Dr Nyanzi who is charged with two counts of offensive communication and cyber harassment under the Computer Misuse Act 2.

The organizations including Advocat Sans Frontiers, Chapter Four Uganda, Defenders Protection Initiative, Defend Defenders, Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, Human Rights Network Uganda, Human Rights Network for Journalists Uganda, Human Rights Centre Uganda, Uganda Law Society and Unwanted Witness Uganda argue that Dr Nyanzi also has the right to apply for bail since the crime she is charged with is bailable.

“We express deep concern towards the rising critical cases of violations of fundamental rights to freedom of assembly, association and expression as enshrined under Article 29 of the 1995 Ugandan Constitution and various ratified international legal instruments,” the joint statement by the organisations reads in part.

The statement adds that, “as the wheels of justice start to roll, it is important that the court process is respected and that Dr. Nyanzi’s rights are respected.”

How Nyanzi was arrested

Dr Nyanzi was under the cover of darkness waylaid and picked by unknown people last Friday as she left a Kampala hotel where she had just delivered a keynote speech at a rotary event.

Police arrest a female political activist in Mbarara

The police later confirmed having her in their detention facilities after several hours of holding her incommunicado. Police further indicated that she was being held in connection with her Facebook posts that are deemed offensive first family.

Dr Nyanzi, a social researcher at Makerere University and a single mother of three, has since been arraigned in court on charges of cyber harassment and offensive communication under the Computer Misuse Act2 to which she pleaded not guilty.

The charges result from her social media postings about of President Museveni and his wife Janet Museveni, who is also the Minister of Education.

Rights defenders targeted

The organisations further condemn the kidnap and torture of NTV journalist Gertrude Uwitware who was last Saturday kidnapped by unknown assailants who blindfolded and drove her around Kampala while intimidating and threatening her.

This happened despite Ms Uwitware reporting threats against her life after posting a blog supporting Dr Nyanzi on her social media postings.

While the organizations commend police for taking action to ensure Ms Uwiware’s safe return, they demand thorough investigations to bring her abductors to justice.

“It is concerning that HRDs seeking to report and document human rights violations, including academicians, journalists, and pro-democracy activists have their freedom of movement and access obstructed; freedoms of expression and association violated, and are further at risk of arrest and detention because of their work,” the statement further states.

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Dr. Stella Nyanzi in her good times.

Dr. Stella Nyanzi, the controversial former Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR) staff has been summoned to appear before the appointments board of the university this Friday to clear some issues before her fate is known.

Nyanzi, who was suspended in April this year following her nude protest at the institute, has previously said she is no longer part of MISR. Nyanzi accused her boss, Prof Mahmood Mamdani of lawlessness and dictatorship, claims that were later found baseless by the investigations committee.

However, while releasing the findings of the investigations that were also made public under the PHD program on Tuesday, the chairperson of the appointments board Bruce Kabaasa said that the committee was not able to make concluding recommendations  pertaining   Stella Nyanzi ‘s job   but will have to interface with her again before they make a final conclusion.

“We have written to her to appear before the committee and defend herself before we can finally decide on whether she should remain a staff member of MISR,” Kabasa said.

Nyanzi a few weeks ago told friends on her widely read Facebook page that she had gotten a better job in South Africa in the same field would earn her an average of Uganda shillings 17 million. It’s not yet clear whether she is out of the Country.

The appointments board had been mandated to carry out in-depth investigations into the standoff at Makerere institute of social research and to review the management of the PhD program and research at MISR.

Among the recommendations of the committee was that all researchers at Makerere institute of social research are required to participate in the PHD program.

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