By Our Reporters
Makerere University new Director Legal Affairs Counsel Henry Mwebe has announced the existence and availability of free legal services accessible, 100% free of charge, by all students and staff. Mwebe, whose recruitment left long serving University lawyer Goddy Muhumuza with an egg on his face because he felt he too was suitable, says the free legal services will universally be accessed by all staff and students under the legal aid clinic the University has put in place. He says it’s the initiative of the Directorate legal affairs. The legal aid clinic will be running and open to serve students and employees every Friday from 9am to 12pm. In his letter dated 3rd July 2018, Mwebe lists areas in which students and staff will be legally assisted including interpretation and proper application of the University policy as well as employment relations for the University employees.
Mwebe concludes by urging College Principals, Schools deans, Heads of Departments and students’ guild to mobilize employees and students while making them aware of the availability of the new services that some have welcomed as part of efforts to broaden the University’s CSR initiatives. However, the development is totally free of controversy as sources close to him say, longer serving Muhumuza who actually competed with Mwebe for the same job a few months ago is unhappy that the University management withheld all these good things, saying there was no money, and they are only being implemented now when he is no longer in charge. Asked why Muhumuza would be aggrieved, a University source said: “My friend this is a big thing. Its coming with a huge budget, prestige for the Director’s legacy and with time donor funding could be attracted plus many collaborations because this offer of free legal services is new and unprecedented at Makerere.” Muhumuza is said to be nursing a devastatingly broken heart and has never forgiven top management bosses for not doing enough to ensure he took the job ahead of Mwebe at the job interviews. Some say integrity concerns and past track record combined to deprive Muhumuza of the juicy position. For comments, call/text/whatsapp us on 0703164755.
