Ugandan lecturers told to marry

The vice chancellor has had enough of sinning staff

A university in Uganda has given cohabiting staff until the end of February to marry or lose their jobs.

The authorities say this will keep them in line with Christian teachings.

The vice chancellor of Uganda Christian University said they were not trying to force staff out - just ensure they "fit in with the requirements of the job".

"If someone feels strongly that they do not want to marry then they shouldn't be at a Christian university," Reverend John Senyonyi told the BBC.

"If someone decides that he doesn't want to work with us then there is nothing we can do about it," he said.

The vice chancellor of the college in Mukono told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that the university was actually trying to help the staff as many of those living together were doing so because they could not afford to get married.

"So far I have 12 couples who have registered to get married. They are saying they want a mass wedding," the vice chancellor said.

He said he suspected there were about 30 unmarried members of staff living with a partner.