MAKERERE– Makerere University council has today July 9, approved a 15 percent tuition increment across all programmes effective August 2018/2019 academic year as proposed in the students’ leaders’ committee report.
In a statement on social media, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, the University Vice Chancellor confirmed the development saying “…University council has approved a new fees structure for undergraduate students starting August 2018/2019, next academic year, with an increase of 15%.”
The council’s decision comes a week after a 15-member student committee constituted by the Guild President; Papa Were submitted a report suggesting a 15 percent tuition increase for only new students instead of increasing tuition by 49 per cent and 91 percent, as it were in the earlier management proposal.
“This will enable management to make major improvements in service delivery and infrastructure so that our students can have an experience of a top University that Makerere is,” Nawangwe wrote.
However, a section of students’ leaders have since vowed to strike over the now effected increment saying it is not reasonable for many students.
During the weekend, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) branch at the university initiated impeachment proceedings against the Guild President, accusing him of failure to fight for rights of the common student at the university.
Mr Mugabe Edmund Kahiigi, who heads the FDC Makerere chapter, said in na statement at the weekend, that Mr Were had failed to represent the student interests.
“We totally challenge the manner in which the committee executed its exercise more so when it benchmarked on the University of Nairobi which is based in a stronger economy than our own,” Kahiigi said.
The chapter president earlier said they are to battle the proposal using all possible means including striking.
“This [increment] comes at a time when everyone is in holidays.
They tried to pass these policies when we were here; we fought tooth and nail and they suspended them. Now we are off for holidays and they want to pass these policies. I assure you, we shall protest if this proposal is approved,” Mr Kahiigi warned.