Muslims at Uganda's Makarere University Win Concessions for Veiled Women after Protest

02 January 2011

Makarere University's administration has assured Muslim students that they are free to wear their veils to exam rooms, but that females will have to be checked by female invigilators before entering the examinations room.

This decision came about after a large cross section of Uganda's Muslims protested against Makerere University for an invigilator preventing a female Muslim student to enter the examination room unless she removed her veil. As a result, the student missed her exam.

The protests were led by Sheik Nuhu Muzata, who said Makerere University needs to change its examinations regulations to accept Muslim dress.

Muzata suggested the university should have provided a female invigilator to check females putting on veils or any body covering dress instead of taking muslim dressing as a crime. the university agreed.

Mutaza says the major problem is that Muslims are not represented In Makerere University's Council and top management, which causes such bodies to make regulations insensitive to Muslim needs.