UCU scraps annual tuition fees hikes

Photos by Juliet Kasirye

The Uganda Christian University (UCU) has halted its annual tuition fees increments.

Presiding over the sixth part of the university's 17th graduation ceremony yesterday, Vice Chancellor Rev. Canon. Dr. John Senyonyi said the University will maintain the fees structure for students right from the year of entry to graduation.

"Over a year ago, the University council took a decision to keep tuition fees constant for students from the year of entry to graduation. The purpose was to allow parents and guardians to plan better", said Dr. Senyonyi to ululations and clapping from parents and students.

"It is a good decision. I wish it came earlier. The increments were affecting us parents because we did not know what to expect. We occasionally had to dig for more resources. This decision makes it predictable which makes it difficult for one to fail to pay", said Emmanuel Gatera, a parent.

In agreement Mzee Zadoki Kubiragume, another parent said, "I am so happy that UCU has finally taken this decision to pay constant fees. I have educated all my children through this University and I am proudly associated to each stride it takes in the right direction."

According to a press statement issued by the University on November 26, 2015 UCU Council meeting resolved to keep tuition fees fixed effective September 2016. The council hoped that would help parents, students, guardians and sponsors to plan and budget for their student's tuition fees better.

That same council meeting resolved that international student's tuition fees be reduced to 1.5 times that of home students. Previously, international students paid twice the amount paid by home students.

Medical school project on

Dr. Senyonyi further revealed that UCU will open doors to students into its medical school in partnership with Mengo hospital as soon as the National Council for Higher Education clears the programme. He however revealed that the university continues to raise resources for this cause and announced a contribution of over $ 40,000 by World Vision and African Palliative Care.

The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, His Grace Stanley Ntagali urged the graduands to remember God because there is more to life than a mere academic transcript.

This year's graduation was officiated by Rt. Rev. Dr. Mwita Akiri, bishop of the Anglican diocese of Tarime in Tanzania. He urged the graduands not to fall prey to the ills that are suffocating the world today.

"Our continent is being devoured by its human hyenas who forget that God's world is big enough to satisfy everyone's need but will always be too small to satisfy everyone's greed," he said.

 The graduation

A total of 435 students graduated with diplomas (34), bachelor's degrees (316), postgraduate diplomas (03), and master's degrees (82). The number of male graduates is 243 (55.9%) compared to 192 (44.1%) female. Of these, nine (09) got first class degrees.

The graduates included pioneer students in the Master of Science in Agriculture & Rural Development, Master of Science in Agriculture by Research, Master in Water & Sanitation and Master of Research in Public Policy graduated. These new academic programmes are meant to meet the growing need for a curriculum relevant and appropriate to the national agenda.