Gov't suspends Makerere's 60% fees policy

KAMPALA - In an effort to end strikes at Makerere University, Government has intervened, suspending the 60% tuition policy at Uganda’s oldest public university.

This policy required students to have paid 60% of the tuition fees by sixth week of the semester, something that has often triggered strikes by students since its implementation in 2012.

In a letter dated April 10, 2016, the chairman of the university council – the institution’s highest decision-making body – said the policy has been a failure as it has often resulted into demonstrations whenever the administration tries to enforce it.

This was after a directive by government following a meeting on Sunday convened by Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda at his office in Kampala.

The meeting was attended by Makerere’s university council represented by head of finance committee Thomas Tayebwa, Vice Chancellor Prof. Ddumba Ssentamu and the Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura.

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 ‘Policy not workable’

PM Rugunda directed the university council to kick off consultations with various stakeholders to establish mutually favourable measures in collection of the fees, and that these new measures should be put in place by the beginning of the next semester.

It is from this meeting that the university administration agreed to implement the directive with immediate effect.

“Government has learnt with concern of the unrest at Makerere University over the payment policy of 60% within the first six weeks of the semester.

“Government has further learnt that the university council has agreed to suspend with immediate effect pending a review,” said the Prime Minister.

He added:  “To our understanding, this policy has been suspended on several occasions after the unrest by the student community. This is an indication that the policy is not workable. This is therefore to request u to revoke the policy.”

Rugunda said that the government supports the university council’s implementation basing on students’ request that all the tuition fees be paid by the end of the 12th week into the current semester to ensure smooth administration of the examinations.