The Conflict between the Right to Religion and University Policies: Analysing a Policy Impact

Abstract

A country that has no state religion demands that government institutions shall not take on a particular religion as their main. Makerere University being a government institution is committed to recognising and treating equally all people from the religious divide. This article explores the relationship between University policies and students' right to religion. Focusing mainly on students wearing religious symbols, being availed physical places of worship, and having days of worship free of other academic programmes, the study explores a conflict between policies and the right to religion. It concludes that a positive attitude should be developed that religious symbols not only regulate students' behaviour but also identify them with their religions; doing justice to all in a pluralistic society demands that all or none is catered for by the university as regards providing a place of worship; and university and religious groups should make flexible programmes to enable students who fail to attend at some hours to do on other hours.