PARLIAMENT – Nine public universities have in the last three years failed to collect Shs11.8 billion in tuition from private students, Parliament has learnt.
According to the Auditor General’s report for 2018, failure to collect the money has affected implementation of key government programmes.
According to the report, Kyambogo University, is the most affected, with Shs4.5 billion not collected. Makerere University is the second with Shs3.5 billion not collected, and Gulu University Shs1.4 billion.
The report blamed the universities for not fully implementing measures meant to collect tuition from students.
“The under-collection of tuition fees affects implementation of planned activities and intended objectives,” adds the report.
“I [Auditor General] advised the universities to ensure adequate adherence to guidelines set out in the fees management policies.”
Tuition fees management at the public universities has been problematic over the years. At Makerere University, the decision to implement a 15 percent fees increment policy last year resulted in demonstrations.
At Kyambogo, students many students were last year allowed to graduate despite not paying fees.
The vice-chancellor, Prof Elly Katunguka, told journalists that unlike the previous years where tuition defaulters were not allowed to graduate, the university this time round decided to consider only academic requirements as opposed to financing considerations.
Prof Katunguka, however, said much as the fees defaulting students would be allowed to graduate, they would not receive their academic transcripts and certificates until they clear the outstanding balance.
