Students, parents want 'permanent solution' to Makerere strikes

Dec 28, 2016

“Almost, every year, there is a strike at the university, which complicates students’ programmes, especially those from far and outside Uganda,”

A number of parents and students called on Government to find a "permanent solution to Makerere strikes" after the university's top governing organ the council said the institution was "now open" following two months of closure.

Andrew Bagala, a parent at the university, said the "now and then" strikes did not improve the institution's public relations and called on "relevant stakeholders" to find a lasting solution to the problem.

A second year student at the school of fine art said the "endless strikes and closures" affected students and parents the most.  "Almost, every year, there is a strike at the university, which complicates students' programmes, especially those from far and outside Uganda," the student said.

A third year psychology student Emmanuel Mogga said the "constant strikes and university closures" had to stop. "I am in my final year. But was slowly getting desperate (over the institution's closure)."

This was the same call made by the chairperson of the body that unites the university's alumni and parents Tanga Odoi.

Odoi said: "I am really happy that a decision has been reached to re-open the university. But we need a permanent solution (to the strikes and closures).

"Government should continue to find a lasting solution to this problem. If it means taking over the wage bill, let it (Government) do it to stop (this chaos that is killing our university)."

The Makerere University Council announced Saturday that the institution had opened with "immediate effect" after their Academic Staff Association (MUASA) suspended their strike on December 19.

Prior to the association's decision, all was gloom at the country's largest institution of higher learning, with parents and students unsure of their academics.

During a press briefing on Saturday at the University's main building, council chairperson, Eng. Dr. Charles Wana-Etyem, said all staff members would resume work immediately. All students would return for continuation of first semester on January 2, 2017.

He said students "shall comply fully" with the university's tuition policy, which requires them to have completed payment of all fees by the 12 week of the semester — in this instance, two weeks after resumption of studies i.e. January 16, 2017.

Those who had completed fees payment won't have to pay anything.

He said arrangements had been made to ensure students did not lose anytime as a result of the closure of the university.

"Ordinarily, a semester is 16 weeks. The university was closed after the 10th week. Students will be allowed the remaining six weeks before the second semester opens," the council Chairperson said.

MUASA chairperson Dr. Mohammad Musoke Kiggundu said his staff did not have "any issues" with returning to class and called on them to dust their books.

"We don't have any issues with returning to class," he said. "If you recall, in a December 19 meeting, we agreed unconditionally to suspend our strike."

The chairperson, however, said the Visitation committee, which has been instituted to carry out a thorough audit of the university's revenue and expenditure, needs to do its work to stop any "similar circumstances (strikes)".

"We suspended the strike to allow the committee to do their work. If there are thorough engagements involving the institution and the visitor and the ministry of education and any other authority which are geared towards staff and students' welfare, we can get to the root cause of the problem."

Council chairperson said lectures' salaries for November and December (2016) had already been paid.

But he did not disclose the source of money for the salary payments, nor how much it was.

He said the university's Vice Chancellor would announce the 2017 graduation dates at "some later time". "But most likely they (graduation ceremonies) will be held in March," he said.

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