The High Court has ordered Uganda Christian University (UCU) to pay Shs100 million in general damages to a former student, Samantha Mwesigye, after finding the institution acted unlawfully in refusing to transfer her academic credits.
In a judgment delivered on June 12, 2026, Justice Bernard Namanya ruled that UCU’s decision not to recognise Mwesigye’s first-year law credits obtained from King’s College London was irrational and procedurally improper.
Mwesigye, a Ugandan student, had initially enrolled at King’s College London in the United Kingdom, where she successfully completed her first year of a Bachelor of Laws degree. Seeking to continue her legal education closer to home, she later applied to Uganda Christian University with the expectation that her previously earned credits would be recognised.
Court documents indicate that she formally requested a credit transfer upon admission to UCU. However, the university declined to recognise her prior academic work, compelling her to repeat the first year of study despite her qualifications from a reputable international institution.
The court heard that Mwesigye made several attempts to engage the university administration to review the decision, arguing that her coursework met the required standards. Despite these efforts, UCU maintained its position without offering sufficient justification or granting her a fair hearing.
Justice Namanya found that the university’s actions breached Mwesigye’s legitimate expectations and violated her right to a fair hearing. The judge noted that the refusal to credit her prior academic work lacked a sound legal and procedural basis.
“UCU’s failure to transfer the credits was tainted by irrationality and procedural impropriety,” the ruling stated noting that the decision also amounted to a breach of legitimate expectation.
As part of the orders, the court awarded Mwesigye Shs100 million in general damages, with interest at 25 per cent per annum from the date of judgment until full payment is made.
The university was also directed to meet the costs of the application. The ruling deepen the obligation of academic institutions to act fairly and consistently when handling student transfers, particularly in cases involving international qualifications.
