Gulu University on strike over allowances

Nov 05, 2009

GULU University government-sponsored students yesterday demonstrated against the delayed payment of their monthly living-out allowance.

By Chris Ocowun

GULU University government-sponsored students yesterday demonstrated against the delayed payment of their monthly living-out allowance.

The students argued that their landlords had started complaining about the delayed payment. Each student is entitled to sh151,000 allowance every month.

According to the representative of the students, Rosemary Igira, they also want accommodation allowance increased from sh40,000 to sh60,000 per month and food allowance increased from sh3,000 to sh5,000 per day. They further demand that the charge of sh50,000 for late registration should not apply to continuing students.

The university managers and lectures fled the campus as the students forced their colleagues to join the demonstration.

The vice-chancellor, secretary, academic registrar and the dean of students stayed away as the students stormed their offices.

When the bursar, Kenneth Akena, arrived at the university, the rowdy students surrounded him, asking for the money.

Akena promised that the living-out allowance would be put on the students’ accounts by 2:30pm.
“Just give me two hours and 30 minutes to organise the cheques so that I can take them to the banks,” he pleaded.

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