In February, I accidentally deposited money into Makerere University Endowment Fund's bank account. It was in haste, given the pressure that comes with clearing graduation fees and whatnot.  As I write this painfully and hopelessly, several months have since passed without any refund or compensation.

As the law of equity suggests, Vigilantibus non dormientibus aequitas subvenit, which is loosely translated as: Delay defeats equity. I was in time to seek justice, since equity aids the vigilant and not those who slumber on their rights.

One would ask, "Why didn't you use other channels to get your issue sorted out?"  or rather, "Why bring a private matter into the public domain?" Another person would equally be forced to think that this should not be a matter of public interest, but it is.

I will respond as follows. I believe that effective communication is key for brands or organisations to effectively settle scores of grievances between them and their stakeholders. The brand in question, when I diplomatically sought to be helped, instead opted otherwise, a thing I found challenging to date.

There are people of the kind who share the same refund problem as myself but lack a podium for utterance. So, this article should serve as both their voice and mine, in quest of finding the solution to the problem. Silence does not amount to conflict resolution.

I have, on my own account, visited their necessary staff offices more than once, let alone made continuous calls to those in charge about my matter, all pleas falling on deaf ears. This write-up comes after all hope has been lost, leaving this as the last yet bold alternative.

But then, why should several other alumni and I be pushed to such a bloody wall? Why would a strategic, financial vehicle tasked with managing the university’s long-term resources fail to do the bare minimum?

If it takes them loads of months to clear a minor financial grievance like this, then they shouldn’t pride in achieving the long-term goal or core mission of the university, which in this case is academic excellence, research and innovation.