Makerere University scraps free food

May 04, 2009

MAKERERE University Council has scrapped free meals to all students due to the high food prices and the financial squeeze at Uganda’s biggest university.

By Francis Kagolo

MAKERERE University Council has scrapped free meals to all students due to the high food prices and the financial squeeze at Uganda’s biggest university.

The council, the institution’s top governing body, yesterday resolved that the new measures take effect next academic year, which opens on August 15.

Every student in the Government scholarship scheme will instead get a daily meal allowance of sh2,000.

“The university council resolved to disengage from the provision of all meals in the halls of residence,” the resolution, passed after yesterday’s day-long meeting, read.

“It is no longer economically viable for the university to continue feeding the Government-sponsored students.”

The decision cuts across all institutions affiliated to the university, including the Nakawa-based Makerere University Business School (MUBS).

The council directed the university management to invite private companies to run restaurants in the students’ halls of residence. The private caterers will have to pay rent and buy their own gas for cooking.

There are 33,488 students at Makerere University, about half of whom sponsored by the Government have been getting three free meals daily from the nine halls of residence at the campus.

Until last year, the menu consisted of matooke, rice, posho, potatoes, meat and beans, while fish was served once a week. However, late last year, the university dropped some of the items on the menu, except for beans and posho, citing escalating food prices.

During yesterday’s meeting, chaired by Matthew Rukikaire, the council also debated the proposed increment in tuition fees but it deferred the matter to Friday, according to a source.

The Government recently approved the institution’s proposal of hiking tuition fees for private students by sh400,000.

Last year, the university also increased accommodation fees for private students, from sh340,000 to sh460,000 per semester.

Gilbert Kadilo, the university publicist, confirmed the new policy adopted but declined to give details.

However, guild president Robert Okware said the policy would affect many students from poor families.

“Many government-sponsored students come from poor families.
Stopping to feed them will disrupt their academics,” Okware said.
The students had called for a strike but Okware urged them to stay calm.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});