Makerere threatens to expel students
Sep 16, 2008
MAKERERE University has threatened to expel 10 students who petitioned Parliament last week over what they described as ‘exorbitant fees at the institution.’
By Francis Kagolo
MAKERERE University has threatened to expel 10 students who petitioned Parliament last week over what they described as ‘exorbitant fees at the institution.’
The students, under their organisation, ‘Concerned Students Association (MUCOSA)’, were led by former guild presidential contestant George Jjagwe and Fred Kirunda, a mobiliser of the Democratic Party-youth wing at the university.
The group asked the Parliament to probe the new development fee of shs123, 500 and technology fee of sh50, 000 being collected from first year private-sponsored students.
Accusing the institution of financial mismanagement, they also asked Parliament to investigate sh6.8m, which the Government gives to state sponsored students annually.
“It is unfortunate that the so-called ‘Concerned Students Association’ in pursuit of selfish political agenda, has decided to politicise this payment,†read the warning issued by the university management.
The warning also explained that the technology fee is levied to support the university to increase its bandwidth and improve the internet and information communication services.
In October last year, Makerere’s internet was cut off over a sh600m debt owed to Uganda Telecom, their major service provider.
In a Friday meeting with the guild leaders, Dr. Maria Musoke, the university librarian said the development fee was to contribute to the construction of a new phase of the extension to the main library.
In 2007, she said, Makerere received a sh42b grant from the US-based Carnegie Cooperation, to build a model university library in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“According to the agreement, we are supposed to contribute sh3.4b for the project, which we must collect from the students,†Musoke said.
MAKERERE University has threatened to expel 10 students who petitioned Parliament last week over what they described as ‘exorbitant fees at the institution.’
The students, under their organisation, ‘Concerned Students Association (MUCOSA)’, were led by former guild presidential contestant George Jjagwe and Fred Kirunda, a mobiliser of the Democratic Party-youth wing at the university.
The group asked the Parliament to probe the new development fee of shs123, 500 and technology fee of sh50, 000 being collected from first year private-sponsored students.
Accusing the institution of financial mismanagement, they also asked Parliament to investigate sh6.8m, which the Government gives to state sponsored students annually.
“It is unfortunate that the so-called ‘Concerned Students Association’ in pursuit of selfish political agenda, has decided to politicise this payment,†read the warning issued by the university management.
The warning also explained that the technology fee is levied to support the university to increase its bandwidth and improve the internet and information communication services.
In October last year, Makerere’s internet was cut off over a sh600m debt owed to Uganda Telecom, their major service provider.
In a Friday meeting with the guild leaders, Dr. Maria Musoke, the university librarian said the development fee was to contribute to the construction of a new phase of the extension to the main library.
In 2007, she said, Makerere received a sh42b grant from the US-based Carnegie Cooperation, to build a model university library in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“According to the agreement, we are supposed to contribute sh3.4b for the project, which we must collect from the students,†Musoke said.