Kenyans are enjoying cheaper education in Uganda

Nov 11, 2008

EDITOR—The protest by Makerere University Kenyan students was unrealistic. Their claim of being unfairly charged is does not justify their action. These students should have first asked themselves how much Kenyan universities charge and compared it with what makerere is charging them.

EDITOR—The protest by Makerere University Kenyan students was unrealistic. Their claim of being unfairly charged is does not justify their action. These students should have first asked themselves how much Kenyan universities charge and compared it with what makerere is charging them.

For example, a course of sh900,000 at makerere, is more than sh8,000 (Kenya currency) which is about sh2m in Uganda.

The Ugandan students studying in Kenya are not contesting this. At Makerere, Kenyan students make up about 40% of the total student population and forget the fact that their influx here is because the universities in Uganda are comparatively cheaper than theirs.
Besides, other East African students like Tanzanians and Rwandans are not complaining.

Why Kenyans? These angry students should know that Makerere was meant to benefit Ugandan students first. However, many of them are not benefiting simply because they are poor and cannot afford the fees. The benefits of this national university mostly goes to foreign students from neighbouring countries. What would happen if all students were to be charged the same rate?

Maybe Makerere should introduce a quota system of admission for foreign students.
- Samuel I. Ocen
Makerere university
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EDITOR—Kenyan students who riot and threaten to burn up Makerere, East Africa’s oldest university must be punished.
Those students must know that in every country foreign students pay higher university fees than the local students.

Kenyan students should blame their home education system that they themselves dislike.

Many of them come to Uganda because education is more affordable than in their country.
Uganda has quality university education at a low cost for Kenyan students and they know this very well. Hoisting a foreign flag in a sovereign state is a delusion for Kenyan students. They should be suspended.

Jenn Jagire
Ontario, Canada

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