Makerere University Calm As Admisistration Suspends Tuition Policy

Written by: 
Tumusiime Chris

Makerere University administrators yesterday held an emergency meeting where they extended the tuition payment deadline to the 12th week from the 6th week of the semester.

The guild president, H.E Bala David Bwiruka  said, "Gallant Makerereans, I am just from an emergency meeting with the IGP and the University administration. They have offered to suspend the tuition payment deadline to the 12th week, 2 weeks more than they had earlier extended it. It should be noted that this is just a temporary measure...”

This was after students staged a demonstration to show their resentment towards the tuition payment policy that caused destruction to the university and its neighborhood thereby causing the the administrators to put in place a temporary policy so as to calm the situation.

 Students accuse the University of Failure to consider those from humble backgrounds, but equally need to study from the same institution like those from well-to-do families.  Asobora Godfrey, a second year student majoring in Chinese said, “However much the university needs financing it's various activities, it should consider the poor too... Some of us used to pay secondary school fees in three installments, how can we clear this colossal amount of tuition within weeks? We need fairness in Makerere."

The university administration says that most students do not pay tuition in time, yet they need proper services and in time. The vice chancellor, Prof. Ddumba Ssentamu, had earlier passed on information to students, informing them that the university has maintained its stand on the validation of the policy.

The current situation at the university is calm and students have resumed their lectures as they wait for the final resolution from the university council body.