On 26th April 2014 a college affiliated with Uganda Christian University suspended 26 female students after it was discovered, through random testing, that they were pregnant outside of wedlock. While pregnancy, in any capacity, is by no means a punishable offence under the Ugandan constitution, a number of faith-based institutions (including IUIU and UMU) have outlawed sex outside of marriage and made unplanned pregnancy, by proxy, a punitive offence.

While we fully appreciate the necessity of moral codes of conduct in private-religious institutions, a right that is meticulously defended by the constitution, we equally understand and respect the fact that the constitution is the supreme law in Uganda and any laws or customs in void of it are tenuous.

The extreme and imbalanced moral policing, particularly of young women, abound in our society and few can speak out against it. By signing this petition you can potentially influence a policy that is not only unjust but also unconstitutional, and in so doing we can prevent future students from having to bare the burden of this boorish policy in isolation.

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We the undersigned insist that the Ugandan Christian University amend their policy regarding expectant mothers to afford for their physical and mental wellbeing as well as for that of their unborn child.