Gov't clarifies on 15% fees increment at Makerere University

MAKERERE UNIVERSITY   TUITION INCREMENT 

Government has clarified on the 15% fees increment at Makerere University that sparked off a violent protest by students recently.

A government statement said the increment is expected to generate sh40.6b over the next five years.

Makerere University has of late been a centre of violent clashes between the joint security force and students protesting against the 15% tuition policy approved by the University Council in July last year following a report of the special committee of guild representatives. 

Below is the government's full statement on the student unrest at Makerere University;

STATEMENT ON THE UNREST AT MAKERERE UNIVERSITY

Following the unrest at Makerere University, Hon MSE/H presented a statement to Parliament on Wednesday, 30th October 2019. 

In his statement, members were informed that the main reason put forward for the strike was the new fees policy for the University which came into effect in July 2018. 

He further informed the House that the policy was approved following a report of the Special Committee of Guild Representatives, which provided for a new fees structure with a 15 percent adjustment on all undergraduate programmes starting with the 2018/ 2019 first-year intake. 

Furthermore, he informed Members that on 29th October 2019, the University Council held a meeting with the Guild President, the Guild Speaker and the entire Guild Cabinet. The following resolutions were made by Council;

a. That the 15% fees adjustment shall continue to be applied on tuition fees for the remaining period of three years.

b. That the 15% adjustment in fees shall not apply to functional fees for the remaining period of implementation of the fees structure adopted in July 2018. Functional fees shall be capped at the rate applied on the admission cohort for 2019/2020 academic year for the next three years. 

c. On the same day, a Petition of Makerere University Students and the Association of Guild Presidents was jointly presented by Hon. Mwiru Paul, MP Jinja Municipality East and Hon. Nambeshe John Baptist, MP Manjiya County; with prayers that: 

• Seeking intervention of Parliament in the implementation of the recently approved Tuition Policy by Makerere University Council.

• Students who were suspended be reinstated. 

• The Vice-Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe resigns 

• Government halts the 15% annual tuition fees increment approved by Makerere University Council

• The security operatives be withdrawn immediately from the precincts of Makerere University 

• The House constitutes a Select Committee to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct by security operatives against female students.

d. MSE/H assured the House that Government was working with the University to bring an end to the strike. He also assured them that the students at the University including those who had brought the petition to Parliament were safe.

e. The Speaker deferred debate on the matter to, Thursday, 31 October 2019.  At the close of the session on 31 October 2019, after a long and heated debate, the House appreciated the critical importance of this matter and resolved to refer it to the Sectoral Committee on Education and Sports for further investigation and insightful discussion. The Committee is to present a report on Wednesday, 13 November 2019.

f. Contrary to reports in the media, the fees increment is expected to generate sh40.6 Billion over the next 5 years and not sh4.6billion. Furthermore, the proposed resolution in the House did not call for the resignation of the Vice-chancellor.