Student Forces Makerere to Suspend Plans Of Closing Fort Portal Campus
Submitted by Christopher Tusiime on
Moses Mugisa a second year student of Business Administration from Fort Portal Campus has successfully halted plans by Makerere management to close the western based institution.
Last month, Mugisa dragged the university to court for breaching the contract after their acting vice chancellor Dr Ali Twaha, at the end of the semester, gave them circulars indicating that the campus would not open this academic year, 2016/2017.
Mugisa, shocked by the news, rushed to his lawyer Richard Bwiruka who immediately went to High court in Fort Portal to seek legal redress for his client. Mugisa argued that the move by Makerere close the six-year old institution and relocating students to the main campus in Makerere and Jinja campus was very illegal.
Consequently, Last week, Fort Portal High court Judge David Batema, advised the two parties to settle the matter amicably and report back to court.
The two sides yesterday morning resolved that the campus will continue operating until 2018, to enable the current students complete their studies and then no more in-take would be effected.
The Makerere University Council's decision to close the campus was erected on the foundation that there was a poor student enrollment since the inception of the campus about six years ago. Currently, there are about 200 students.
This move now cancels the earlier communication by the Makerere University deputy vice Chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration Prof Barnabas Nawangwe who had ssued circulars to all students and staff from the Fort Portal indicating that they would be relocated to Makerere and Jinja campuses with effect from the 2016/ 2017 academic year.
Prof Nawangwe had also promised free accommodation to all the 200 students at their new campuses. These students are pursuing degrees, diplomas and certificates in various disciplines.
Despite the few students, the Fort Portal campus is meant to serve students from Kabarole and neighboring districts Kibaale, Ibanda, Hoima, Bundibugyo, Bushenyi, Kasese, Kyenjojo, Kamwenge and Ntoroko. The campus currently has 200 students on certificate, degree and diploma courses and only five full-time
lecturers who have been at the campus since 2010.
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