High Court Awards University Student Shs100 Million Over Disputed Credit Transfer

The High Court in Kampala has awarded Shs100 million in general damages to a law student after finding that Uganda Christian University (UCU) acted unfairly and irrationally in handling the transfer of her academic credits from King’s College London.

In a judgment delivered on Friday through the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS), Civil Division Judge Bernard Namanya ruled that the university breached the student’s legitimate expectation and failed to follow fair administrative procedures.

The court found that UCU initially admitted Samantha Mwesigye on the basis of transferred credits from King’s College London but later reversed that position as she neared completion of her studies.

Court records show that Mwesigye joined UCU in 2022 after completing her first year of a Bachelor of Laws programme in the United Kingdom and was admitted to proceed to Semester Two of Year One under a credit transfer arrangement.

However, as she approached graduation in 2026, the university informed her that she was required to complete additional courses, including Bible studies, Legal Writing, Fundamentals of Criminal Law and Constitutional History, as well as obtain a certificate of equivalence from the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).

Through her lawyers from Kampala Associated Advocates (KAA), led by Ferdinand Tumuhaise, Mwesigye challenged the decision, arguing that it was unlawful, irrational and breached her legitimate expectation.

UCU argued that the case was premature and maintained that the student had not formally met all academic requirements for graduation.

However, Justice Namanya ruled that the university’s own admission letter confirmed the credit transfer arrangement and could not later be disregarded without justification.

“The respondent recognised the applicant’s transfer of credits from King’s College London at the time of admission in 2022, but later and without rational basis purported to withdraw that recognition in 2026 when the applicant was on the verge of graduation,” the judge said.

The court also found that UCU had not clearly communicated any requirement for NCHE certification at the time of admission and that such a condition could not be imposed retrospectively.

It further noted that the student had progressed through the programme without objection and had even been cleared to contest for guild leadership, a position requiring satisfactory academic standing.

Justice Namanya held that the university’s actions violated Article 42 of the Constitution, which guarantees fair administrative treatment, and created a legitimate expectation that Mwesigye would graduate without additional conditions.

While the court declined to interfere with the university’s academic mandate, it held that UCU’s decision-making process was unlawful, irrational and procedurally improper.

The court awarded Shs100 million in general damages, saying the student suffered loss, inconvenience and unfair treatment. The award will attract interest at 25 percent per annum from the date of judgment until payment in full, and the university was also ordered to pay costs.

SOURCE: URN