Parliament can't help suspended Uganda Christian University students

UCU suspended pregnant students: News from the Parliamentary committee on education and sports is that parliament will not intervene to stop the suspension of pregnant students from Uganda Christian University (UCU).

This follows a petition from civil society organisations under their umbrella Voices for Health Rights, a coalition of 30 civil society health rights non-government organisation.

The Civil Society Ordanisation had called for the review of the policy, in order to save the affected students

Students of Bishop Barham University, an affiliate institution of UCU were suspended afterbeing found pregnant during a random test. Read story UCU suspends pregnant students

Sylvia Namabidde, the chairperson of the Parliamentary committee on education and sports told one of the dailies  (New Vision) that private universities are bound by their own rules, and as an organ of government they cannot interfere.

Namabidde said being a private university, their role in the matter would only be advisory and not binding.

A number of religious founded universities among them Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), and Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi outlaw sex outside wedlock and punish any students practicing premarital sex.